Raindrops of Astalièr (Tonjuarez Series IV)

ROA 28

Chapter 28

Like a spring I instantly stepped backward and distant myself from Craig. I turned my back on him to face his mother. Yumuko ako ng bahagya upang magbigay galang habang papalapit ito.

"Ma? What brings you here?" Sinalubong ni Craig ang ina at ako na ngayon ang nasa likod niya.

Isang matamis na ngiti ang ginawad niya sa anak matapos ay sa akin. My heart pounded when our eyes locked. The same traces of pressure crept in me when I was a teenager. She aged but in a fine and elegant way it made her look like a vase, you wouldn't dare to come near in case you might break it.

But her long and light colored dress with unique designs and traces contradicted with her aura. She brightens the whole place, she looks happier now compared to when I last saw her.

"I just came to visit, I got bored sa mansyon at mamaya pa ang dating ng Papa mo." She held on her son's arm before she turned to me again.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am." Mabilis kong bati at yumuko.

"Nice to see you again, Miande... You look so good, you matured so well."

I blushed in her compliment. Lumipat ang mata sa akin ni Craig at iniwas ko agad ang tingin sa kanya. Bumalik sa utak ko ang pinag uusapan namin kanina, narinig kaya ni Tita Clemente?

I hardly swallowed.

"T-Thank you po... But I am nothing compared to you beauty---"

She cut me off with a soft laugh. I bit my lower lip, I looked at Craig to know what's going on but he just grinned at me.

"Hind ka pa rin nagbabago. You never fail to entertain me, hindi talaga ako nagkamali na bisitahin ka. It's been so long I missed you and your goofiness before." Wika nito.

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig, ganoon rin si Craig kaya agad na hinarap ang ina.

"You visited her, Mom? Not me?" Pagtataka nito na parang bata.

Tita Clemente slightly slapped his arm. He's like a tower between his mother and I. I looked up to see his reaction.

"Nandito ako para kay Miande. And why would I visit you? Araw-araw tayo nagkikita sa bahay." Pangbabara ni Tita, I wanted to laugh but I just suppress it and bit my lower lip.

His face looked flustered bago ito itinulak ni Tita Clemente papunta sa pinto. "Just go, continue your work later mag uusap lang kami ni Miande." Sambit ulit ng ina nito.

I pursed my lips in confusion. But Craig looked more lost than I am, hindi niya talaga inasahan ang biglang pag bisita ng ina. Light as a paper, walang kahirap-hirap na naitulak ni Tita Clemente ang anak hanggang sa pintuan ng sarili nitong opisina.

"Anong pag uusapan niyo? Don't tell her uncessesary things! Don't scare her---Ma!"

"I won't! Go now!" Sinarahan na siya ni Tita ng pinto.

She turned to me again and I gulped the strange thing that's blocking in my throat. Maybe, nervousness.

Bakit gusto niya ako makausap?

"Upo ka," alok nito at lumapit sa akin.

Tumango naman ako at inilapag ang mga gamit sa center table bago umupo sa sofa. Umupo rin ito ang humarap sa akin.

I've met several big personalities, business tycoons and politians that trusted their projects on me. Pero hindi ako kinakabahan ng ganito.

"How's life lately?" panimula nito. The softness and carefulness of her voice soothes the nervousness I am trying to fight.