A Love To Remember

Chapter 1: Feels

Chiara

"Are you okay?" tanong sa'kin ni Ms. Lea nang mapansin niyang natulala ako.

Napatampal naman ako sa noo ko, natulala ka pa talaga sa harap ng idol mo? Sa. Harap. Ng. Idol. Mo? Nakakahiya!

I snapped my fingers as I took a deep breath. Get back to your senses, Chiara!

After composing myself, I faced Ms. Lea who's still smiling at me.

Gusto ko siyang tanungin kung hindi ba sumasakit iyang panga niya. Kanina pa kasi siya nakangiti. I'm concern about her but I remained quiet. It suits her, anyway. Mas lalo siyang gumaganda kapag nakangiti.

"O-okay lang po a--ko." I answered, stuttering.

Why am I even stuttering? I didn't even stutter when I met Ed Sheeran last year!

But seriously talking, bata pa lang kasi ako, idol ko na si Ms. Lea. I know all her songs, I collect all her merchandises and albums! I even attended one of her concerts. Ngayon ko lang talaga siya nakaharap ng ganito kalapit.

You can't blame me, she looks intimidating! Iyan siguro ang dahilan kung ba't natatameme ako ng wala sa oras.

"Are you sure?" I nodded. "Anyway, I'm Lea. What's your name, darling?"

I want to tell her that I know her, I can even recite her biography but I was shookt when she asked for my name.

"Ako po? As in ako?" tanong ko at lumingon-lingon pa, maybe she's talking to someone else and I'm just assuming that she's referring to me.

But looking around, no one is in this area except for the both of us so I supposed, ako nga ang tinanong niya.

Ms. Lea giggled, is it because she found that funny or, she found my stupidity amusing?

"Oo, ikaw nga. You're so cute!"

I gasped. Can I die now? As in, now na 'tas buhayan lang ulit ako mamaya?

Kanina, sinabihan ako nina Tita Dawn at Tita Regine ng maganda tapos ngayon, Ms. Lea told me that I'm cute!

Ang swerte ko naman ngayong araw, ano kaya ang klase ng kalungkutan ang magiging kapalit nito bukas?

"I'm Chi--Chiara." mahina kong sambit, nahihiya kasi ako sa inaasta ko. I definitely look like a complete fool infront of her and screw myself for that.

I never acted like this to anyone, I knew better than that but, here I am..

"Hello, Chiara! You have a beautiful name." I blushed because of what she said.

"Thank you po."

"Can I ask you something?" she paused, "By any chance.. do you know where Aga Muhlach's house is?"

Aga Muhlach? My incompetent father, Aga?

"Aga Muhlach?" I repeated even if I heard it perfectly fine the first time. Ms. Lea nodded and that's when I finally understand what's happening.

She's my Dad's leading lady! She is my Dad's freaking leading lady.

"Four houses to your right, it's the one with the high fences." her face lightened up as she smiled at me even more, showing those little dimples behind her lips.

"Thank you, Chiara.." she thanked me and bowed a little. "It was nice meeting you."

She started walking away from my spot as she went back to her car. Maya-maya pa, tuluyan na siyang nawala sa paningin ko.

Unexpectedly, I found myself smiling as well.

"You're welcome.." I whispered.

Halos hindi ko na maalala ang huling beses na ganito ako kasaya..

— ✽ —

"Ma'am Chiara, kanina pa po kayo hinahanap ni Sir Aga. Nandoon po sila sa pool area."

One of the helpers informed me the moment I arrived in our house. Tumango lang ako at nag-tungo na nga sa likurang bahagi ng bahay namin.

"O, Chiara's here na pala." sambit ni Tita Dawn nang makita niya ako, I smiled and waved my hand to greet them.

"Hello po ulit!" bati ko, apat lang sila ang na nandito. Dad is not even around.

Asan kaya 'yon-- wait, why am I looking for that old hag? Ugh.

"Umupo ka na dito at kapag dumating na sina Aga, kakain na kaagad tayo." Tito Richard told me. I nodded and politely followed him.

May long table na inihanda dito sa labas. Nakahanda na ang mga utensils at may mga pagkain na ring nakahain. I sat beside Tita Regine and on my right side is an unoccupied chair.

"Korni mo, Muhlach!" I heard a familiar voice said followed by a series of laughter.

I turned around and I spotted Ms. Lea with my father, walking towards our direction.

"Chiara's finally here so I guess, we can eat!" Dad announced upon seeing me. Ngumiti lang ako ng pilit at saka umupo na ng tuwid.

May naramdaman akong umusod na silya kaya napatingin ako sa kung sino man ang umupo sa tabi ko.

"Ms. Lea?" I called. She wasn't able to notice me at first but when she did, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Chiara?" she asked in disbelief.

"You already know each other, Lei?" Tita Regine asked.

"Yes, she's the one who helped me find Aga's house earlier." sagot ni Ms. Lea at bumaling ulit sa'kin. "Ikaw pala si Chiara na anak ni Aga?"

"Opo, the one and only!" I forced myself to sound and look enthusiastic. I guess it worked.

"Oh my God! You should've introduced yourself earlier as Aga's daughter. Sana, sinama na lang kita papunta dito."

"No, it's fine. The park is not that far anyway and besides, I wanted to walk." I explained.

"O siya, kainan na!" Tito Ogie exclaimed after a little while.

I was about to put rice on my plate when Ms. Lea suddenly did it for me.

"Is that enough?" tanong niya, tumango na lang ako sapagkat medyo natameme ako dahil sa ginawa niya.

"What else do you want?"

"Ms. Lea, you don't have to. I can handle myself."

"I insist, at saka, please take away the 'Ms.', Tita na lang." she said, mimicking Tita Dawn's words earlier.

Mapilit siya kaya sige, pagbibigyan!

"Okay. I'd love to eat shrimp!" masayang aniya ko habang nakanguso sa pinggan puno ng hipon.

Nilagyan ni Tita Lea ng ilang piraso ng hipon ang plato ko, the smell tempts me to indulge them immediately.

"You like that, don't you?"

"This is my favorite." I showed her a naked one. "Why don't you try it?"

"Unfortunately, I'm allergic to shrimp." she replied shortly. She's allergic to shrimp? I don't know why but I made a mental note to myself to remember that one.

"That's sad but, it's okay! Marami pa naman pong ibang pagkain."

"How old are you?" she asked again. Nilunok ko muna ang kinakain ko bago sumagot,

"I turned 17 last month."

Is it just me or, she looked shocked upon hearing my age? Parang natigilan siya na nagulat na ewan.

Hindi na siya nag-salita pa muli kaya tahimik na lang din akong kumain. Today's going to be a long day..

* * * * * *
Note: Kathryn Bernardo as Chiara Isabel ♡