O L I V I A   V A L E Z

Stupid, Olivia. Get yourself together. It would be best if you had not acted like that. 

When I glanced out the window, my mind raced faster than usual because of the things moving fast past us. I sighed and played with my fingertips as our car moved smoothly of the road. I continue fiddling my fingers as the man at front talks nonchalantly. Their baritones voice kept on bugging my head, especially his freaking deep voice. 

We are now on our way to a restaurant to eat our lunch. Sa bigat at bagal ng traffic jam papunta at paalis ng airport, ay inabot na kami ng tanghali sa daan. Napagpasyahan na lang ni Dad at ng kaniyang kaibigan na maghanap ng restaurant na makakainan ,kaysa sa bahay pa kumain. Mas maka-sa-save kami ng oras at makakain nang mas maaga. Masamang may palipas ng gutom tuwing summer sa Pinas. Hindi magandang kombinasyon ang init at gutom. 

Napapitlag ako ng makitang nakatingin na pala sa 'kin ang kaibigan ni Dad. Sa sobrang layo na ng nalakbay ng aking utak, ay hindi ko agad napansin ang mga kulay bughaw nitong mata, na tuwing titigan mo ay akala mo nakatingin ka sa langit. Well, kung sa ganiyang mukha naman talaga ang nagmamay-ari ng ganoong mata, ay para ka talagang nasa langit. 

I blushed because of the things going on in my head, and that didn't go unnoticed by that man. My cheeks heated more when the thought of Mr. Mate thinking that I was blushing because he was looking at me. God, can more things get embarrassing when I'm with this man? I don't want another shameful thing to happen when he's around. 

He glanced sideways, and a devilish smirk made its way to his redding lips. I hate that I'm drawn to this old codger, even though he irritates the hell out of me. There must be something wrong with me. 

"Why are you smirking?" my dad asked as he drives.

Hindi naman sumagot si Mr. Mate sa tanong ni Dad, at inilingan na lamang siya, habang hindi natatanggal sa kaniyang labi ang kaniyang ngisi. Dumeretsyo na siya ng tingin at hindi na muli ako nilingon. 

I heard my Dad murmur, "He must be hungry. The screws on his head had loosened again."

"Hey, I heard you!" 

"Good." then my Dad smirked at him. 

Nawala tuloy ang ngisi ni Mr. Mate sa kaniyang labi dahil sa pang-aasar na ginawa ni Dad. Now it's my turn to smirk too. Hindi pwedeng ako lang ang madidehado rito. 

Our car stopped and parked in front of a fancy restaurant. I think we are in a Thai restaurant. Hindi ko alam na mahilig pala si Dad sa ganitong klaseng kainan. The only Asian food he likes is Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Singaporean dishes. This is my first time eating Thai food, and I'm excited! 

Kapapatay pa lamang ng makina ng aming sasakyan nang lumabas si Mr. Mate. Nagulat ako ng buksan niya ang pintuan sa side ko. My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel my cheeks heating up again. God, here I am again. Gentlemen din naman pala si Mr. Mate. Akala ko ay lagi akong maiinis sa kaniya. Inilahad niya sa 'kin ang kaniyang kamay.

Hindi agad ako lumabas ng sasakyan, at pinakatitigan muna siya. You are a prim and proper person, Olivia. Remember. Mali ang inakto mo kanina sa airport. Kaibigan siya ng dad mo, and you should be polite. Show some manners! This is your time to recover your image. I collected myself first before taking his hands. 

There goes my heart again. Hindi na talaga ako natutuwa.

Remember that he's an annoying old man. Don't be a fool to get attracted to the looks and his devilish smirk. You are better than this, Olivia.

Tumango-tango pa ako dahil sa 'king naiisip na ikinatingin sa 'kin ni Mr. Mate. Agad naman akong tumikhim at nag-iwas ng tingin. Bago binitawan ang kaniyang kamay at dumeretsyo na nang lakad.  We sat at four sitters table and ordered our food. I'm not familiar with the name, so my dad's friend—Mr. Mate, did the honor. I guess siya ang mahilig sa Thai restaurant dahil siya rin ang nag suggest kay dad kung ano ang masarap order-in.

Our food got served. My dad and I used to eat silently and peacefully, but it's hard to achieve with his friend. Hindi ito matapos-tapos kakwekwento ng kung ano-aning bagay. Mula sa kaniyang morning life hangang night life na ikina-iiling na lamang ni Dad. Maya-maya pa ay dumapo na naman sa 'kin ang mga mala-langit nitong mga mata. 

"She really looks like her Mom."

Napatigil si Dad sa pagnguya at tinignan ako. Lumunok muna siya bago ngumiti sa 'king nang malambot, na para bang tuwang-tuwa siya na kamukha nga ako ni Mom.

"Yeah, she moves like her too."

"I doubt." bulong naman ng kausap na rinig naman namin.

Agad na naningkit ang aking mga mata, at mabilis na dumapo sa lalaking may hindi magandang sinabi. Ngumisi agad ito nang makitang sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Humalkhak ito hindi kalaunan ,at tamad akong itinuro gamit ang hintuturo niya. 

"See that? Odette would not do that. She's like a damn angel." he shrugged, then Mr. Mate looks deeply at me,  "Our angel."

I never got to meet my mother, and I'd love to hear stories about her. Dad was too preoccupied to bring up Mom constantly. He says stories, but not too many of them. I assumed that my Mom's death still affects my Dad big time. That's why he doesn't want to talk about her too much. He doesn't avoid talking about her, but he's not also open to tell things. I don't hold a grudge against my dad because I understand him. 

"She is not just Odette's daughter, Atlas. Olivia is my daughter too."

I smile triumphantly at Mr. Mate after my Dad said that. O, God. Ang sabi ko ay magpakababait na ko sa pagkakataong ito, pero tignan mo at tinignan ko pa siya kanina nang masam dahil sa sinabi nito. Prim and proper, Olivia. Prim and proper. Paulit-ulit kong paalala sa 'king sarili. 

As much as I love to hear things about my Mom, I hate being compared to her. Comparing is never good. It is the worst thing to do. This is where insecurities start building its nest to you. When it made its place inside you, you are going to lose yourself. It was like killing who you really are. 

I inhale deeply and slowly breathed out. I composed myself and smiled sweetly at Mr. Mate. He chuckled darkly when he saw my smile like he knew that it was a sweet fake smile. A smile full of venom. 

"Mr. Mate, I am delighted to know that you see my mother's face in me, but I shall educate you that most people actually have genes that are stored on DNA strands that are formed into 23 X- or Y-shaped chromosomes. Such autosomes are housed within the nucleus of a cell, and the DNA they carry is shared equally by both of our parents." mahaba at magalang kong sabi. 

Mas lalong lumawak naman ang ngisi nito dahil sa 'king sinabi, "You probably have more of your mother's genes than your father's. This is due to mitochondria, which are small organelles that exist inside your cells and can only be obtained from your mother." 

Bahagyang napaawang ang aking labi dahil sa sinabi nito sa 'kin. I thought he wouldn't know such things lalo na't matanda na ito. Most older men already forgot what they studied back in their high school days. Napahinto rin si Dad sa pagkain dahil sa isinagot ng kaniyang kaibigan. tinignan niya ito na para bang nahihibang na si Mr. Mate.

"Damn, kumain kana nga. Kulang ka lang sa kain. Dapat pala ginugutom ka namin dati noong nag-aaral ka pa." iiling-iling na sabi ni Dad. "And you young lady, eat your food too."

Mabilis naman akong tumalima, at tahimik nang kumain. Prim and proper, Olivia Valez. Muli kong paalala sa 'king sarili. Nagulat naman ako nang biglang tumawa si Mr. Mate at ginaya kung paano managalog si Dad. I know my Dad has an accent when he's saying Tagalog words, pero hind ko na ito pinapansin. Hindi ko napigilang hindi tumawa dahil sa pangagaya ni Mr. Mate sa accent ni Dad. 

Binatukan ito ni Dad at minura, bumaling naman si Dad sa 'kin at sinabing, "Eat your food, Oly."

Napasulyap muna ako kay Mr. Mate bago muling kumain. Nakatingin din pala ito sa 'kin. He has that devilish grin again on his lips, and I can't help but blush again. I looked away, at dahan-dahang isinubo ang pagkain, still blushing. Damn.  Parang kanina lang ay sinasagot ko siya at alam kong hindi 'yon tama, tapos ngayon naman ay mag-blu-blush ako dahil sa kaniya? Look how Atlas Mate messes my whole being. 

Pagkatapos kumain ay tinanong ako ni Dad kung gusto ko bang gumala. Humindi ako dahil sa tingin ko ay makagagawa pa ko ng mga bagay na pagsisihan ko, at ikahihiya. My reputation is not safe with that man.  Saka alam ko ring pagod na siya mag-drive pati na rin ang kaniyang kaibigan. Malamang ay may jet lag pa ito, at mas gugustuhin na lamang magpahinga. 

Nagulat ako nang pumasok ang sasakyan namin sa bahay. Well, dito naman talaga dapat ito papasok, pero not while this man is still inside our car. Hindi ba rapat ay ihahatid namin siya sa kaniyang bahay? 

"Dad?" 

"Yes?"

Tinignan ako ni Dad sa pamamagitan ng front mirror ng sasakyan. His dark eyes were asking what bothers me. Pasimple ko namang sinulyapan si Mr. Mate na ngayon ay busy pagkalikot ng kaniyang cellphone. Mukhang nakuha naman agad ni Dad ang nais kong iparating kaya ibinalik na niya sa harap ang tingin. 

"Didn't I told you that he'd be staying with us?"

"You did?" taka kong tanong pabalik.

Napamura ako sa 'king isipan nang maalala kong sinabi nga pala niya kaninag umagahan. A month or three. Paulit-ulit kong narinig iyon sa 'king isipan. Hinid ko matanggap. Bakit sa 'min niya pa kailangan manirahan? Wala ba siyang pera pang rent ng condo o hotel? O, wala ba siyang sariling bahay? Hindi naman si Mr. Mate mukhang naghihirap. 

Bumaling sa 'kin si Mr. Mate habang hawak pa rin ang kaniyang cellphone. 

"Why you didn't like me here?"

"Ye—" 

Prim and proper. Bigla kong narinig ang mga katagang iyon sa 'king isipan. Tumikhim ako bago ayusin ang aking isasagot.

"I'm just wondering, Mr. Mate." nginitian ko pa siya nang pagkatamis-tamis.

He scoffed and looked back at his phone—Napatingin din ako roon. Napansin kong puro kulay blue bubble chat ang nakapaskil sa screen, takda na puro messeges niya ang nandoon. Medyo malayo ako kaya hindi ko nababasa ang mga letrang nandoon. Nag tangi ko lang nakikita ang mahahaba at walang reply nitong text.

Agad kong ibinagsak ang aking katawan sa kama pagkapasok sa 'king kwarto. Magalang akong nagpaalam sa dalawang lalaking kasam ko kanina para magpahinga. Walang pag-aalinlangan kong hinubad ang dress ko, at itinapon ito basta-basta sa sahig. Mamaya ko na lamang ito aayusin. Masyado na akong pagod para maglakad sa laudry basket. Pagapang kong kinuha ang aking laptop sa bedside table. 

Naka brassiere lang ako habang nakadapa sa harap ng laptop. Nang bumukas na ito ay agad kong binuksan ang social medai account ko. Laking tuwa ko nang makitang online si Liberty. Walang pag-aatubili ko siyang tinawagan, not minding that I'm only wearing my undergarments. Sanay na rin naman siya. We went to beaches and wear bikinis, so this is not a big deal.

Hindi naman nagtagal at sinagot din agad ni Liberty ang tawag ko. Nakangiti niyang sinagot ang aking tawag. Her dirty blonde hair was in a messy bun, and she's biting the end of her pen. It's one-thirty PM here, so it's midnight in New York. 

"Why are you still awake?"

"I got a hunch that you'll call." Liberty winked at me as she said that. 

I giggle, "Your hunch is right, Ms. Kings."

She raised one of her eyebrows, "So what's the Tea, Sis?"

"We have an annoying visitor, and he'll stay here for months." 

Liberty's eyes shone like she just heard the greatest Tea she could ever have. She smiles mischievously at me. Agad akong napairap dahil alam ko ang ganiyang ngiti at tingin. She's implying something I don't like.

"I don't like him!"

She chuckled, "defensive? I'm not saying anything, Ms. Valez." Liberty put her ring finger to her lip and acted like she was thinking.  "So he is going to stay for months." 

I hated how she said 'he' like she's getting weird ideas just because Mr. Mate is a he! 

"Uh-huh, don't get the wrong idea! He's old, like really old."

Liberty fake gasped and put her hands on her chest like she just heard the most shocking news. 

"Like a Granpa?"

"No!" 

She laughed loudly and said, "See? P'wede pa 'yan, Oly."

"Gaga, he's in his thirties na 'no, and he's really annoying. I really hate him! He always gets on my nerves. O, you should have seen the way he smirks. It's like a devil is smirking at you! Also, his brown long hair irritates me. Tanda-tanda na niya tapos ang haba pa ng buhok niya? Akala niya bagay sa kaniya? Mukha siyang kabayo."

Naputol ang pag-ra-rant ko about kay Mr. Mate kay Liberty nang tumawa siya. Sinimangutan ko siya at napakamot sa baba ko. Umupo ako mula sa pagkadadapa, at inilagay sa lap ko ang laptop.

"I like your bra. It looks good on you."

Inirapan ko siya, "Why are you laughing at me?" pagbabaliwala ko sa compliment niya. 

"Well, I'm happy that you seem to enjoy your summer. Ngayon na lang ulit kita nakitang ganiyan kasigla mula noong graduation day." 

"No way! Anong masigla? I'm annoyed, not masigla."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Oly, but the glint your eyes were giving says it all."

Agad kong naisarado ang aking laptop nang malaks at mabilis. I know that was rude to Liberty, but she won't mind it. Baka nga tinatawanan na ako no'n ngayon. Pabagsak akong humiga sa 'king kama at tumingin sa kisame. 

The glint your eyes were giving says it all.

No. No freaking way, Olivia Valez. That glint was because of annoyance.

That was from annoyance, right?

Damn.

~TBC~

I'm not sure kung may update next week kasi midterms ko na 'yon. Anyway, I didn't proofread, so kindly bear with the errors. 

Madaming nagugulahan or nahihirapang basahin UN ko. Its Colorgreg po. I just made the vowels into 'x', but you can call me Malamaya na lang. 

Feel free to share your thoughts, and keep safe everyone!

Love lots. :>>