ATM 2:A True Madness (FBS#1)

23

I'm back!

By the way, busy Samantha on the picture! Cute!

"Wala ka pa bang balak kausapin ako?"tanong ni Angelo kay Samantha na tila wala yatang balak na kausapin siya buong araw. Tanghali na ng magising siya at wala na ito sa kanyang tabi.

He found her in their library in front of her laptop. Inaya niya itong kumain but she said she's done. Pero ikinatuwa niya naman na kahit galit ito sa kanya, ipinagluto pa din siya nito. Mukhang hindi talaga siya kayang tiisin ng babae.

At kaya mo... His subconscious butt in. Umiling-iling siya upang tanggalin sa isip niya ang eksenang iyon. Samantha in the rain...

"So..."muli niya itong sinulyapan habang tahimik na kumakain. It's dinner time at hindi siya pumayag na hindi siya nito sabayang kumain. Buong araw itong nasa library lamang, kaharap ang laptop nito.

"Hindi ako galit sayo."tahimik na sabi nito na hindi tumitingin sa kanya."And the food tastes good."he didn't appreciate her compliment.

"Really?"he can't hide the sarcasm in his voice."Nagtatampo lang?"he cocked his head to one side.

"Yes."marahang tumango ito na ikinangiti niya. At least, nakakausap niya na ito ng matino, unlike kanina.

"So, tell me."napaangat ito ng tingin sa kanya. He was quick to hold her stare."What are you doing on your laptop all day?"he was really curious kung bakit tila napaka-busy nito. At kapag susubukan niyang tingnan ang ginagawa nito, agad nitong isasara ang laptop.

"Nothing."umiwas ito ng tingin sa kanya. And in a span of time that they're together, he can tell if she's lying or not."We need to go to Mommy Sandra's house tomorrow morning."kung inaakala nito na hindi niya napapansin ang pag-iiba nito ng usapan, well, she's dead wrong. Pero hinayaan niya na lamang muna ito.

"Okay."tumango siya."What is she up to?"he asked.

"She wants us to visit them and spend some time to their house."she said."And some announcement, I guess..."she added.

"Eight in the morning we will go there. Is it okay with you?"he asked her as he finished the last spoon of his food. Sam's still eating at masaya siya sa ipinapakita nitong gana. She must be. Ito lamang ang pinagluluto niya, as far as he remembers.

"It's all up to you."there's an irony in her voice as she stand up from her seat after finishing her food.

"And what do you mean by that?"he can tell he would like what will she say next.

"Kung mapupuyat ulit ako mamaya, I'm sure we will arrive at your mother's house late."she held his gaze, to his surprise. Ang akala niya ay mahihiya itong sabihin iyon sa kanya. She's so coy!

Mukhang naramdaman nito ang kanyang balak kaya agad itong umalis sa harapan niya dala ang pinagkainan nila.

Napailing na lamang siya habang hindi maalis ang ngisi sa kanyang labi. D*mn! She knows how to leave a man hanging.

She never failed to surprise him always.

***

"I'm so happy you two made it in here!"Sandra throw her arms to the two kid as they approach the house.

"Yeah, mom."Sam catched for her breath as Sandra realize she was choking the two."Sorry we're late."Sandra captured how she blushed when she said that.

She smiled playfully."It's okay, hija."napatingin naman siya sa anak niyang titig na titig sa mukha ng asawa. A boyish grin is plastered on his handsome face.

Looking at her two children now, lalo siyang napanatag.

"Oh, son, Samantha!"napalingon silang tatlo kay Apollo, her husband.

"Dad!"nagkasabay ang dalawa at nagkatinginan. Angelo grinned at her teasingly as she rolled her eyes at him, irritably.

She made her way first to Apollo and kiss him on the cheek. Halatang inunahan nito si Angelo na napailing na lamang.

Nagkatinginan naman siya at si Apollo and they both smile at each other knowingly.

"How are you, pretty girl?"Apollo asked tenderly at Samantha as they hugged each other for a moment while Angelo's waiting for his turn.

"I'm fine, Dad."she smiled sweetly."How about you, handsome?"agad siyang napangiti habang nakatingin sa dalawa.

Samantha put her arms around Apollo's waist and Apollo on her shoulder. Nahuli pa niya ang pasimpleng pagdila ni Samantha kay Angelo. Oh! How adorable is she!

"Handsome as ever, pretty girl."sabay pang natawa ang dalawa.

"Hey! Ako naman."inis na singit ni Angelo sa usapan ng dalawa. Napatingin naman si Apollo sa anak niyang tila inagawan ng candy. Si Samantha naman, parang walang narinig and oh, she's smiling triumphantly.

"Let's get inside, Mom, Dad."aya ni Sam na hindi talaga bumitaw kay Apollo as she lead the way. Natatawa na lamang silang mag-asawa sa inaakto ng dalawa.

"So, I think you two hang out pretty good."Apollo started a conversation ng makaupo na sila sa dining table. Tumabi pa din si Samantha sa kanan nito, at siya naman sa kaliwa. Alam niyang inaasar ni Sam ang anak niya and they look very good together.

"Very."Angelo smiled playfully at Samantha. Agad namang nag-iwas ng tingin ang huli, blushing.

"Yaya, ipasok mo na ang tanghalian."utos niya sa katulong."That's good to hear."she said, smiling. She's happy for the both of them.

"And I heard that you brought Samantha to your Tiya Lorna?"that's an inside tease from Apollo to his son. Of course they know how important her husband's sister to their son.

"Dumiretso na kami doon nang ipasyal ko si Sam sa Bicol."defensive na agap ni Angelo.

"So, ipinasyal mo si Samantha? That's a news."panggagatong niya sa asawa.

"Yes!"Sam excitedly chide in, completely unaware."And I really love the Mayon Volcano! It's so beautiful in there!"masayang-masaya itong nagkwento sa kanila ng experience nito sa Bicol habang kumakain sila ng tanghalian and she can't help but smile. She knows her son is falling to her again. She can tell it the way he looks at her, just like now. The way he tease and smile at her. It's so obvious. But they would not interfere. They will let them both discover their feelings for each other.

"Mom, bakit niyo nga po pala kami pinapunta dito?"tanong ni Angelo maya-maya lang. Nginitian niya ang asawa, signalling him that he tell them instead of her.

Ngumiti din sa kanya ang asawa then he face the two kids."We will go on a vacation abroad."napangiti ang dalawa sa balita ni Apollo.

"That's all?"tanong ni Angelo na nagtataka marahil kung bakit pa sila pinapunta dito para lamang doon.

"For good."it's like she dropped a bomb to the two kids as they gaped at the two of them.