Chapter 4

Nanatili ako sa kaniyang silid ngunit sa balcony ako umupo para hindi siya maistorbo. Mga ilang minuto ang lumipas at nanatili lamang akong nakatanaw sa mga bundok hindi kalayuan sa lugar na ‘to. I can see their big garden from here. May mga trabahador sa garden, ang iba ay pinapaganda ang mga halaman. 

I turned at where Azril is, then I saw him standing and getting something on his drawers. Bumalik ito sa kinauupuan at tumingin sa akin bago muling bumalik sa pagbabasa. My phone vibrates from a message. 

Vince: How are you? Nasa trabaho ka ba? 

Vince: I can't call you right now, I'm sorry. Babawi ako. I hope you're okay. 

Vince: May iniwan akong pera na nasa drawer ko. That money is for you, Lor. Kung kulang, magpapadala ako just tell me. 

I sighed as I read his messages. Agad akong nagtipa ng reply sa kaniya. 

Ako: I'm fine, Vince. I'm working right now. Hindi ko naman kailangan ng pera, alalahanin mo ang sarili mo. I hope you're doing fine there. 

I want to ask him kung kailan siya babalik. Isa pa ay wala ako sa bahay namin at hindi niya alam iyon. Gusto kong tanungin siya kung nasaan ba siya pero alam kong wala naman akong makukuhang sagot. 

Vince: Okay. Ayos na ko na malaman na ayos ka. Basta kung may kailangan ka magsabi ka lang. 

Ako: Okay, Vince. Take care. 

I turned off my phone and put it in my pocket. Azrill was still busy with his books. Marami na rin ang libro na nasa lamesa niya. Tahimik akong lumabas sa kaniyang room at bumaba sa kusina. 

“Gusto ko po sanang maghanda ng snacks para kay Azi.” Agad na tumango ang nga kasambahay room at hinayaan akong kumilos. 

 

Naisipan kong mag-bake ng cookies para sa kaniya. Naroon lang ang mga kasambahay at may kaniya-kaniyang trabaho ngunit alam kong ang mga mata nila ay nasa akin. 

Dulce came. Lumapit ito sa akin nang makita akong gumagawa ng cookies. Habang inaayos ko ito sa lagayan ay binalingan ko siya. 

“Gumagawa lang ako ng cookies para kay Azril,” paalam ko. 

Tumango ito at ngumiti sa akin. “M-Maayos kung gano’n. Hindi mo na kailangan magpaalam at gawin mo lang ang gusto mong gawin dito. Paniguradong magugustuhan ‘yan ni Azril…” sabi niya habang tumatango. 

“Sige po, dadalhin ko na ‘to sa kaniya.” 

Bitbit ko ang tray na may cookies at milk nang magtungo ako sa silid ni Azril. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin nang mapasin ang pagpasok ko. Mula sa seryosong mukha ay nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata nang makita kung ano ang hawak ko. 

I smiled. “I baked cookies for you, Azi.” Tumayo siya mula sa kaniyang study table at lumapit sa lamesa kung saan ko iyon nilapag. 

“You made cookies… for me?” may bakas sa kaniyang boses ang pagka tuwa at gulat. 

“Of course, Azi. Para sayo. Here, taste it. Sana ay magustuhan mo. Just eat whatever you can,” sabi ko. 

Tumango siya at umupo sa tabi ko. He started eating. Dire-diretso niyang kinain iyon. Para bang iyon lang ang focus niya gaya ng kung paano siya nag-aaral kanina. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti habang pinapanood siya. Hanggang sa naubos niya iyon lahat. 

“Is it good? I'm glad you liked it, Azi,” natutuwa kong sabi. I took a wipes and wiped his hands and mouth. He's still chewing and staring at the empty plate. Ininom na niya ang kaunting gatas na natira. 

“I love it! Masarap!” sabi nito. 

I chuckled. “Tomorrow, I'll bake again for you.” 

“Thank you for the cookies, Mo–” he stopped and pouted. Lumikot ang mga mata niya na parang nag-iisip. 

“I'll finish everything you bake if you bake for me everyday.” 

“Ofc course! I'll bake everything you want.” I comb his hair using my fingers. 

“Thank you…uhm,” parang nag-iisip pa ito ng idudugtong. Bahagya akong natawa at napagtanto ang nasa isip niya. 

“You can just call me Ms. Elora, or anything you want to call me, Azi.” Ngumiwi ito at hindi agad sumagot na animoy malalim ang iniisip. 

“Okay…but can I call you…” Tumikhim ito na parang importante ang usapan namin. He tilted his head as he was still in his thoughts. He really looks like his Dad. 

“What is it?” I asked because he's still not saying anything. 

He sighed and looked down, then looked up to me as if he realized something. “Okay. I will just call you Ms. Elora,” tipid siyang ngumiti. 

I nodded. “Azi. Liligpitin ko muna ang mga ito at babalik dito. You can go back to your study now. Do you want something else?” 

He shook his head and stood from his seat. “I'll go back to my study now. I'm already solved with your cookies.” 

Ngumiti ako at tumayo na. Bumalik na siya sa kaniyang pwesto kanina at nagsimulang mag seryoso sa pag-aaral. Nakakatuwa siyang panoorin sa totoo lang, talagang masipag at halata sa kaniya na gusto niya ang kaniyang ginagawa. 

Nang maligpit ko na ang mga iyon ay bumaba na ‘ko para hugasan lahat. Naisip kong maayos naman ang samahan namin ni Azril at nagugustuhan na niya ‘ko. So I don't have a problem with dealing with Azi, I can sense that he's fine with me. 

Time passed and I was still in Azi’s room. Ako ang mga nag-aayos sa gamit ni Azi, mga natapos na niyang libro ay binabalik ko na. Wala naman din kalat ang kwarto niya kaya iyon na lang ang ginawa ko, ang asikasuhin siya. 

Night comes and now he's finished with everything. He's done with his readings, study, practice solving maths and playing chess. Naroon ako habang ginawa niya lahat, at bilib na bilib ako. There's a time when he's taking a break, we talk for a bit. I'm really already fond of him. 

“Can you call Dad? I want to know what time he'll go home," Azi asked beside me, eating his dinner. Tumango ako at nagtungo sa telepono dahil wala akong personal number nito. 

“Hello,” malamig na boses ang bumungad sa akin mula sa telepono. 

“Uh, si Elora ito. Azi wants me to call you.”

There was silence between us before he spoke. “Elora. Need something? At bakit ka rito tumatawag? You don't have my personal number?” sabi nito. I can sense the exhaust in his voice as he talks. 

“Wala akong number mo.” 

“Okay. I'll give you my contact number when I get home. Doon ka na tatawag sakin.” 

I nodded even though he couldn't see it. “Okay, Aaron. Anong oras ka uuwi?” I asked. 

There was a short silence again. “You want me to go…home?” My eyes widened with his response. It's not from me, it's from Azi! 

“N-No! What I mean was, anong oras ka uuwi dahil iyon ang gustong malaman ni Azi,” I corrected. I heard him scoffing on the other line. 

“I'll get home by nine. Will you wait for me too?” His husky deep voice was so good that I could listen to it all day. 

I cleared my throat and stopped myself from that thought. “Yes, I will. Azi I will wait for you to come home,” sabi ko. 

Muli itong natahimik bago magsalita. Nagpaalam na siya at pinutol na namin ang tawag. Nagtungo na ako kay Azi kung saan ay nanatiling kumakain. 

“He will get home by nine, Azi. Let's wait for him,” sabi ko. He nodded at me and smiled. 

Natapos kami sa pagkain nang magpaalam si Azi na gusto ng mag half bath. I walked him into his bedroom. Inayos ko na ang mga gagamitin niyang damit na pantulog. I arranged his dark blue bed and turned the lampshade on his bedside table. Natapos na si Azi at humiga na sa kaniyang kama. I looked at the clock and it's really nine. 

“Do you want milk?” tanong ko habang inaayos ang comforter niya. 

“No. We can just wait for Dad here with me. Don't leave until he gets here.” 

I smiled. “Of course, Azi.”

Sabay kaming bumaling ang tingin sa pintuan nang bumukas ito. Aaron entered the room with his coat on his hand, messy hair, and the sleeves of his polo was now folded to his elbow. 

“Hello, Dad!” 

He walked towards us. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkaupo sa kama at tumabi para bigyan ng space si Aaron. Even with his cold eyes, I can see from here that he is smiling at his son. Kahit na nakatalikod siya sa akin ay kita ko ‘yon. 

“Sleepy?” Aaron asked his son. Tumango lang si Azi sa kaniya at humikab. Aaron chuckled and told him to lay down to sleep. 

“Good night, son,” malalim ang boses ngunit bakas ang pagmamahal. 

“Good night, Dad. Goodnight, Ms. Elora.” Azi smiled at me with his sleepy eyes. 

“Good night, Azi. Sleep tight and sweet dreams. Ipagluluto kita bukas ng breakfast. Good night,” sabi ko. 

Their eyes were on me now. Azi smiled at me. Pumipikit na ang mga mata. “Dad, I'll finally get a good sleep.” Those were his last words before he fell asleep. Para bang may kahulugan ‘yon. 

Aaron stood and faced me. His eyes were tired and looked sleepy but his deep gaze was still there. I saw how he bit his lower lip and combed his hair using his fingers. 

“We will talk. Come with me to my room.”