Runaway Girl

Chapter 17

- Saturday Night -

Abala ako sa paghilata sa may sofa bed dito sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay habang naglalaro ng roblox nang may narinig akong ingay ng kotse sa labas ng bahay. Never mind, I'm too busy to care about it. 

"Barbara?! Nice to see you again!" Rinig ko ang  pamilyar na boses ng kung sino hanggang dito. Nakalunok siguro ng megaphone at napalakas ng pananalita nito. Damang dama din ang excitement sa tono niya. 

Siya na masaya. 

"Bianca!" Pasigaw na tawag sa akin ni Tita Baby. 

Walang sigla akong tumayo mula sa pagkakahilata ko sa sofa bed. Clearly, I don't have my social battery charged to interact with someone today. Gusto ko lang mapag-isa, that's it!

Hindi nawala ang tingin ko sa tablet ko habang pababa ng hagdan. Dumiretso ako sa living area because I know that that's the only place Tita Baby will let the visitors of the house to chill and relax, unless they're staying for tonight. May guess room na pwede nilang tuluyan. Guess room na madalas tambayan ni Justin. 

"Oh my-- dalaga ka na pala, hija! Its been years since we last see each other. Do you still remember me?"

Nagulat ako nang may kung sinong biglang bumeso sa akin, hawak ang magkabilang braso ko. 

Iniangat ko ang tingin sa kaniya. I recognize her. She's... Tita Lithe, isa sa mga amiga ni Tita Baby. 

"Glad to see you again, Tita Lithe." Tipid akong ngumiti sa kaniya. 

"How old are you again?"

"17 po Tita, turning 18 this October 5." I answered which made her smile even more.

"The same age as my pamangkin! How about... I set you up with him?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Tita Lithe. I mean— we haven't each other for years and she's acting like hindi! And she's about to set me up to her nephew.

"No, I'm okay Tita." Tanggi ko.

Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Tita Baby. Nakangiti siya ng nakakaloko sa akin na para bang ano mang oras ay aasarin niya ako.

"I refuse your refusal, hija. He's good looking, a genius and the most important of all..." She paused.

"What Tita?" Tanong ko dahil sa kuryosidad na hindi ko mapigil sa loob-loob ko.

"He is the only heir on his father's oil tycoon business! He is rich!"

Now, we're talking...

Nagliwanag ang mukha ko sa mga salotang narinig mula kay Tita Lithe. He's rich, something that I'm looking for a man. I don't care about his outside appearance or age, as long as he is rich, papatol ako.

Like come on! Pera na 'yon, tatanggihan ko pa ba? And I have the charms to attract a rich man. Maganda naman ako. Maganda ako outside lang, not inside. Baka maldita 'to.

Besides, I like it when someone spoils me. It gives me this satisfaction and pleasure that I can't explain.

I don't like getting attached to someone though. Worse, to trust them. Something I'd never ever do to a man neither a woman. Exception si Tita Baby because she stood as my mother ever since Mommy passed away.

Yes, indeed I don't date. Fling pwede pa but dating someone, that's something I can't imagine myself doing.

As Tita Lithe showed me a picture of his nephew, I knew I hit the jackpot. Hindi nagkamali sa pagdedescribe si Tita Lithe sa kaniya. He is indeed a good looking man.