Juniors Decode: Navigate Atlantis [COMPLETED]

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

Eureka's POV

AFTER OUR LUNCH together, napagpasyahan ng mga co-members ko na mamasyal sa napakalaking mansyon nila Ele. Pumayag naman si Tita Eli, basta si Ele ang magiging tour guide nila.

I thought I would be with them along the stroll, pero nagulat ako nang bigla akong hilahin ni Tita Eli palayo sa kanila, sabay sabi ng...

"Let me borrow Eureka for the meantime. Hihi!"

Um-oo naman ang mga club-mates ko. So, who am I to protest? Wala akong nagawa kun'di ang humiwalay sa mga kaibigan ko at sumama kay Tita Eli.

And eventually, here we are, walking down the huge and elegant hallway. Nage-echo ang bawat footsteps namin habang naglalakad.

I feel a little awkward with her, but I never feel uncomfortable. Honestly, masarap kasama si Tita Eli dahil hindi siya nawawalan ng salitang sasabihin.

She's quite similar to Suzy, but older and more sophisticated.

"Eureka, sorry kung nagulat kita sa mga sinabi ko kanina sa dining room ha?" she said and laughs a bit. "Gusto ko lang talagang magkaroon ng makakasama si Ele. He's the only one I have. At kapag nawala na ako, sino na ang mag-aalaga sa kaniya, 'di ba?"

Tumango-tango ako at bahagyang ngumiti. "Okay lang po. Naiintindihan ko naman po kayo."

"Aw~" She smiled at me as if she was deeply touched. "You really are a very nice girl. I want you for my son, Eureka."

Ayan na naman po tayo. Hay! Hindi ba tayo matatapos sa gan'yang topic? Nakakailang kasi eh.

"I don't think Ele likes me, tita," I replied. "No offense. But he's more attracted in solving mysteries than women."

"You've got a point. Pero kanina, the way my son looked at you... I swear, it was very different. I am his mother and I'd witness his lifetime. At masasabi ko, ngayon lang siya tumitig ng gano'n sa isang babae. Ibang iba ang pagtitig niya sa'yo, Eureka."

"Ehehe. Maybe you're just being exaggerated, tita."

I've known Ele not as long as my other club-mates know him. Pero, hello? I am not stupid to assume that he likes me! He doesn't like me, okay? And I can feel it!

"Ayaw mo ba sa anak ko, Eureka? Don't you like Ele?" Tita Eli asked me, with her cute puppy eyes.

"Ah... Hehe. Hindi naman po sa hindi ko gusto ang anak n'yo--"

"So, you mean that you like him?"

Haysh! Hindi pa nga ako tapos eh!

"Yes, I like him..." I said. "...but only as our club leader. As a friend. Hanggang doon lang po, tita."

"Naku, hija! Love mostly starts in friendships. Ano ka ba?! It's normal for a teenagers like you. Yiiieee! Hihihi!" Pabiro pa ako nitong siniko.

Eh hindi naman gano'n ang point ko eh! Huhuhu! Hands down. Tama nga ang mga club-mates ko. Ele's mother is definitely weirder than Ele himself.

"Oh! Halika! May ipapakita ako sa'yo!"

Bigla na lang hinawakan ni Tita Eli ang braso ko at hinila ako papunta sa isang specific na direksyon.

Afterwards, we stopped in front of a large canvas hanging on the wall. The painting is very familiar, to be honest.

"Look, oh!" Tita Eli proudly presents the familiar painting. "What do you think?"

"Starry Night, Vincent Von Gough's painting," I stated while staring at the beautiful masterpiece.

"Correct!" Tita Eli snapped her fingers. "That's a perfect replica from Von Gough's artwork, Starry Night. Aba! Mukhang maalam ka sa mga arts, ha? I love arts, do you also love arts?"