Annex's Point of View #People'sChoiceFYWC2017

fünfundzwanzig

Minutes passed yet Winston is still in deep thought.

Am I crazy? Should I end this? Should I give him fully to Lyra?

Napakunot ang noo ko sa mga naiisip. What the heck, Anne! Should? Should talaga? Ba't mo pinag-iisipan? You're batshit. Goner. Bonkers.

"What are we doing here by the way?" Pag-iba ko sa usapan hoping that it would lessen all the tension.

Napatingin si Winston sa akin, naguguluhan, tila ba nakalimutan niya kung ano talaga ang dahilan ng pagpunta namin dito.

"Ah! Mom wants to see you." He smiled, completely dismissing whatever thought went to his head earlier.

Tinanguan ko siya, "then what are we still doing here?" I demanded.

He turned the ignition on and drove our way inside when the gate opened.

Muli akong namangha sa napakaengrande nilang lugar. There's a fountain ahead of us and behind it is their grand mansion. Napapalibutan ito ng mga halaman, puno, bulaklak at benches. May mini garden sa gilid nito at sa likod naman ng mansion ay ang swimming pool nila.

This place never fails to amaze me. Damn.

A woman in her forties stood in the front door, waving and smiling at us. Her elegance filled the air as we approach.

"Good evening po, tita." Pagbati ko dito. I kissed her on the cheeks.

"My, I'm glad my son brought you here. Oh, does your mother know?" Tanong niya nang maalala anong oras na.

Ngumiwi ako and shook my head. "11 po dapat nakauwi na ako."

She glance at her wrist watch and gasped. "That's only 30 minutes from now!" She shrieked. Inilabas niya ang cellphone at may tinawagan doon.

"Winnona, I invited Anne for dinner. It wouldn't hurt if she turns up late at your front door right?" I saw how tense Tita Cherry is. So, she also fears mami huh?

"No! Of course not! I'll have my son deliver your daughter! I promise you, she'll be home tonight." I can't help but notice how her confidence lessened when talking to mami. I know that they're the best of friends, but, I didn't know that mami is really scary. Even her own bestfriend is scared of her.

"Well, that's a better idea. It's settled then!" Tumingin siya sa akin ng may napakatamis na ngiti.

"You'll be sleeping here sweetie, I hope you don't mind." She sweetly said and turn her back on us.

God, are you kidding me? Sleep...here? Napatingin ako kay Winston agad na nagtagpo ang aming mga mata, agad kong iniwas ang aking tingin tsaka nagmartsa papasok ng bahay.

Dumiretso ako sa receiving area when Tita Cherry called from the kitchen.

"Come here kids, dinner is ready!" With that, I march towards the kitchen.

I can't wait to go home.

Sa isang napakahabang oak table, puno ito ng iba't-ibang masasarap na putahe at inumin. I took a seat beside Tita Cherry and across Winston.

"So, how's your mom, Anne?" Maya-maya ay tanong ni Tita when she handed me the plate of rice.

"Ok naman po siya Tita." Sagot ko.

"Is she still strict about... things?" Tanong ulit nito. Inilagay ni Winston ang paa'ng bahagi ng turkey sa plato ko, I smiled at him.

"She will always be, Tita." Nakangiti kong sagot dito.

"Oh, I would never survive that kind of life!" She moaned. "Winnona is really unfair with you. Back in our college days, she's so free, unlike you, her own daughter, caged." Naiinis nitong paliwanag.

It's not like I didn't heard this story before. Whenever there's a family reunion, they would always tell me how unfair mamita is to me. Mamita was a free girl back then. She can do whatever she want. Go wherever she want. Buy whatever she want and be with whoever she want.

"It's okay tita, I understand that mami just wants what's best for me." I smiled politely and began eating.

Tita rolled her eyes at me. "Well I guess you're right. She doesn't want you to end up like her." Malungkot nitong sabi tsaka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. My actions halted at Tita's words.

"Pardon, Tita?" It's not like I didn't heard what she said, I just want her to delve deeper into that topic. I never heard any of my relatives said words like that whenever they speak of how unfair mamita is to me.

"Oh. You know, about your father." She said habang hinihiwa ang karne sa plato niya.

The utensils I am holding drop to my plate. Napatingin si Tita sa akin, worried.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" Nagtatakang tanong nito. Damn. Like mother, like son. Mga manhid.

I nodded. "You were talking about my father, Tita?" I probe. She nodded.

"Oh yes, your father. It was a nasty story dear. I'd rather not talk about it." She continued eating. I don't know why, but when I heard Tita called my mami and father's love story nasty, hatred started growing in my heart.

Pinulot kong muli ang kutsara at tinidor. I count one to ten to calm myself down.

"Oh come on, Tita. Tell me about it." I cheerily nudge while keeping my tears at bay.

"Well, you're father was really handsome. You're mother is smitten and eventually, they confessed to each other. They were so in love back then. So in love," she said dreamily then shook her head, "but their arrangement is kinda unusual." Dagdag nito.

I barely swallowed my food. Damn, if they're so in love why is my father not with us? Mami didn't even said he's dead.

When I was a kid, I always ask mami where my father is. When she got enough of my questions she told me to shut it. Mami looked really scary back then that I never asked again.

"Your mom and your father gets only to meet occasionally, you know. They can't meet everyday. They couldn't." Malungkot na paliwanag nito saka sumimsim ng wine.

I swallowed my food and force it down my throat. My stomach twisted and I feel like puking. Damn.

"O-occasionally? H-How, Tita?" I asked nervously my eyes set on the piece of meat I am slicing.

Tita smiled sweetly at me, "Dear, I'd rather not delve deeper about it. If you really want to know, better ask your mother." She resumed eating, while me? I lost my appetite. But what's shitty is, I can't even excuse myself. Tita has been so kind to me ever since we met.

I barely enjoyed my food but I'm glad that dinner's over. Dumiretso ako sa naging kwarto ko noon and that means, I'll be walking with Winston since katabi lang naman ng kwarto niya ang kwarto ko.

"Anne, I'm sorry about earlier." Higing paumanhin nito nang makarating kami sa pintuan ng aming kwarto.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "Sorry saan?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"Look, I'm not pressuring you, but I'm ready to break it off with Lyra just to be with you." Seryoso nitong sabi. He looked at me intently. "Just say it, Anne. All you have to do is say it." Bumaba ang tingin niya sa labi ko. My breath hitch and for a while, I thought the place is getting smaller... until he closed the distance.

My eyes widen at his move. Hindi marehistro ng utak ko kung totoo ba tong nangyayari sa akin ngayon. I'm tempted to close my eyes but my eyes didn't cooperate with my brain. It's like every part and system of my body stopped functioning.

"I like you, damn, I really do." Nakangiti niyang sabi tsaka binuksan ang pinto ng kwarto ko. He gently guide me inside my room and after that, he closed the door and left.

Doon lang ako natauhan nang marinig ang pagbukas at sara ng pinto sa kabilang kwarto.

I touched my lips. Damn, it was only a peck. Damn, damn!

Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib. Mahina ko itong sinuntok. "Kumalma ka, tangina, kalma!" I reprimanded but just like earlier, it didn't cooperate.

Damn it, Winston left me with my heart trying to get out of its cage!