Si Analsito?!

Akma kong ibababa ang telepono but he said, "ikalma Prescilla, alam kong galit ka sa akin dahil sa ginawa ko kay Alice but can you please listen muna?"

"Listen your goddamn face Analsito!" singhal ko. I can't handle this anymore. "you hurt Alice's feelings and that's enough for me not to listen to your words!"

"I didn't realize na magaling ka sa English. Akala ko simpleng katulong ka lang" he chuckled sa kabilang linya at may kinakalikot.

"And you're supposed to be with ma'am Alice, right? Bakit ka narito sa Pilipinas imbes na nasa Japan ka?"

"I have some errands to do, Prescilla" his voice creeps down to my spine. Parang nakakairita na nakakaakit na nakakatukso.

Seductive ba kamo? Hindi ko rin alam eh.

Karin called me pero umabot talaga sa puntong kinalabit ako. "what is it Karin?" I asked.

"Who's that person you're calling?"

"Ah. It's nothing" I answered. Bumalik na siya sa taas at binaling ko ang tainga ko sa telepono.

"Stop with your errands, errand errandsin ko pagmumukha mo Allan eh"

Nakatitig lang ako sa magandang scenario rito sa garden. Punong-puno ng lavender at hydrangea ang buong pasilyo and it was a peaceful one to remember.

I saw Karin watching me from the stairs and I told her to sleep. "but why? That man... You're talking to mama's co-worker. Allan Jairo, right?"

Paano niya alam?!

Damn, I should've hide that fact.

"Ah, yes, he is. Why are you asking me about him?" I smiled and asked her na nakaupo pa rin sa hagdan.

"He told me that he took a liking to you" I nodded. Good thing I put the call down or he'll start asking me things na hindi makakatulong sa balak ko.

To find a cure.

'Well, thank him that he didn't see my fury again or he'll never make it alive. Pagkatapos ba naman ng ginawa niya kay ma'am Alice'

I received a call again. Tinugon ko ang tawag and I am relieved when the caller is none other than my boss.

"Is everything alright? How was Karin?" panimula niya. I could hear and feel her happy voice while she's helping the people in the project.

"Everythings fine ma'am, Karin is already eating veggies"

"Talaga? How come? Karin never eat such a thing like vegetables. Mabuti naman at nakakain siya, I always noticed na hindi maganda ang health niya and maybe it's time for her to learn to eat nutritious foods" napangiti ako.

"I cooked some stir-fry spinach topped with sesame seeds po. I didn't realized that she'll enjoy the meal" I answered while I saw her na nasa baba, watching TV.

"I see, I see. Oo nga pala, ilang araw nang wala ang co-architect ko" she's pertaining to Analsito.

Thay guy never shows up. Two architects and one engineer, pero ang nandoon sa Japan ay dalawang architect lamang.

Bwiset ka talaga kahit kailan architect Analsito! Argh!

Hindi ko rin masabi na nandito si Analsito at baka madismaya na naman siya. Until now, hindi pa rin siya nakaka-get over sa lalaking 'yon.

I felt sadness all over me para sa kanya.

"Baka hindi po muna siya dadating dyan dahil may kailangan pa pong asikasuhin siya rito sa Pinas" I lied.

Mukha namang chill sa buhay 'yan si Allan at parang akala mo walang project sa Japan.

"I see. Then, I'll leave the house on your hands Prescilla, please manage it for me" huling sabi niya sabay binaba ang tawag.

I put the telephone down slowly, ngunit sumunod naman ang tunog ng doorbell. Binuksan ko ito and I saw Allan in the door, kasama si Mia.

"I'll leave Mia in your hands, Prescilla" narito na naman ang nakakairitang ngiti ni Allan.

Nagsabi nalang ako ng okay at pumasok si Mia. Maingay ang bahay dahil sa kulitan ng dalawang bata.

"Good thing you decided to go to Japan—"

"Only for business purposes only" natawa ako sa dahilan ni Allan. "business purposes? Business purposes only?" I smiled, not believing his words.

"Of course, ano pa ba'ng iniisip mo dyan Prescilla?"

Napataas ako ng kilay. "syempre kwento mo 'yan, malamang magsisinungaling ka"

Napag-alaman ko kay ma'am Alice na may babae siya na haponesa doon sa nasabing bansa. Kaya alam na alam kong hindi ang project ang habol niya kundi ang babaeng 'yon.

"I'm serious, Prescilla. Don't tell me nagpapauto ka dyan sa amo mo—"

"It's better kung aalis ka na sa pamamahay niya. Ayoko kitang makita" I slammed the door on his face and walked away.

Mia greeted me and showed me her toys... A dollhouse, a cooking toy, and... A blue hourglass...

A blue hourglass, the reason why I exist for hundred years.

But I remained myself calm, dahil laruan na blue hourglass ang dala-dala niya at hindi ang blue hourglass na aristocratic ang design.

The next day, kinumusta ako ni ma'am Alice. "currently, Mia's here"

"Mia Analsito? Ah, Jairo's adopted daughter" sabi lang niya at binaba lang ang tawag.

Luh si ma'am.

I watched the two kids having their fun sa isang cartoon show. I sighed at nagluto ng agahan para sa mga ito.

Kay aga aga cartoons na ang inaatupag. Ngunit nang tapos na ako sa niluluto ko, saka naman may tumawag sa telepono.

I answered the call, "how's Mia? Is she enjoying it there? Tell her that daddy will come back after this project is finished"

"Ah. She's indeed having fun with Karin here. And are you totally sure that you're in Japan for the project and not to your whore—"

"Wait, how did you know?" sabi ko na nga eh tama hinala ko.

"Nothing. Instincts" I answered. Pero ang totoo ay alam ko ang mga ito dahil kay ma'am Alice.

"But you still have a great intuition. You know what, you look like my jealous girlfriend—" binaba ko nalang ang tawag. Naiirita na naman ako sa boses niya.

I told the kids na kakain na. Masaya silang tumakbo papunta sa mesa as I pour their glasses juice and their plates with deep-fried sandwich.

Kariman ika nga sa Mini Stop.

I watched the two kids having fun habang kalaro nila ang mga manika na hanggang dito sa kainan ay dala pa rin nila.

Kumain na rin ako ng gawa ko. Masarap kahit tuna ang filling ng tinapay instead of meat or poultry.

I wad having fun eating, until the telephone ringed again.

I went to the living room and answered the call.

"Hi babe" boses ni Allan na nakakarindi sa pandinig ko. Binaba ko ang tawag but he stopped me.

"Are you going to end the call again? I need someone to talk to"

"Talk to your face!" sigaw ko at padabog kong binaba ang telepono.