Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

NAPATINGIN si Eleanor sa kanyang relo para alamin ang oras. It's currently 7:30 am, at malapit ng mag 8 kaya madali nyang inayos ang sapatos na suot. She took one last glace on the mirror, and finally walked out of her room. 

She cursed herself for waking up late. Dinig nya kanina ang alas sais nyang alarm, pero hindi nya nagawang kumilos at gumising. And she's ashamed that a simple forehead kiss made her sleep late. 

What's wrong with me?! She continued cursing herself. 

Lumapit sya sa pinto at pinihit ang doorknob para mabuksan ito. Her eyes widened when she saw Fourth in front of her door. Kanina pa ba ito naghihintay? Tanong nya sa sarili.

"Kanina ka pa ba dito?" She asked immediately.

Umiling si Fourth bago sumagot, "No, I just got out." Muntik na sana syang maniwala rito pero nahalataan nyang nagsisinungaling ang binata.

Hinayaan na lamang iyon ni El at niyaya na si Fourth na umalis. Excited to see Kael, they both walked fast. Hanggang sa nakarating na sila sa parking lot ng condominium. Fourth opened the car's door for Eleanor, then she took her seat on the shotgun. 

"Are you fine there?" Biglaang tanong ni Fourth kay El.

She's spacing out. Ok na sana nung mga nakaraang araw eh. They got along, and started talking normally. But the kiss made her awkward. Oo nga't sa noo lang yun, but, she's new to things like those! 

Geez, I'm overreacting! Just stop thinking about it! Saway nya sa sarili.

"El?—"

"Yes!" Putol nya. "I mean.. oo ayos lang." Peke syang ngumiti saka ibinalik ang tingin sa labas ng bintana.

"I'm excited to see Kael." Pahayag ni Fourth.

Doon napangiti si Eleanor. She's excited too. Very excited! 

"Me too." Aniya.

If only traffic won't get on thier way at makarating agad sila sa amponan. The rest of the ride became silent. Hindi nya namalayang naka-idlip pala sya. 

She got back to her consciousness when she felt a warm hand, brushing off the strand of her hair and tucking it on her ear. Unti-unti nyang binuksan ang mga mata nya. Her eyes and Fourth's locked at each other. 

His deep brown eyes is so captivating. Bagay na bagay ito sa mukha nya. She admits, he's handsome.

"Ang ganda ng mga mata mo." At hindi nya alam kung saan sya kumuha ng lakas ng loob para sabihin yun.

She's still half awake! 

"Your eyes are more beautiful...." His voice was soft, "Even whatever color it wears." 

They both continued looking at each other. Mesmerized by each other's eyes. Ngayon pinupuri na nila ang isat-isa? Doon sya tuluyang nabalik sa huswisyo.

She looked away and started to undo her seatbelt. Narinig nya ang pekeng pag-ubo ni Fourth. She sighed in secret. Nagsimula na namang bumilis ang tibok ng puso nya. For her, it's weird.. really weired.

Ng tumingin sya sa labas ng bintana ay natanaw nya ang bahay amponan. Nasa labas na ng pinto si Kael kasama ang isang staff, parehong naghihintay. The child's eyes looked at their direction. Lumantad ang malaking ngiti sa mga labi ng bata ng mamukhaan sya nito. Kael waved his hand.

"Let's go?" Tumango sya sa paanyaya ni Fourth.

Pinagbuksan sya muli nito ng pintuan. She waved back at Kael ng makababa sya. 

"Ate El!" Sigaw ni Kael saka mabilis na tumakbo papunta sa direksyon nya.

The child jumped in joy and hugged her. 

"Bumalik po kayo! Tinupad nyo yung promise po!" He exclaimed.

Pareho silang napatawa ni Fourth sa reaksyon ng bata. He's so cute! 

"Syempre naman! Sabi sayo eh..." Aniya at ginulo ang buhok nito. "Nagpakabait ka ba habang wala si Ate?" Tanong nya rito.

"Opo! Hindi na po ako umiiyak palagi." Pagkukwento nito. 

"I'll just talk to the staff." Paalam ni Fourth. 

Lumapit muna ito kay Kael at may kung anong binulong dito na nagpangiti sa bata. Saka sya tumaningin ulit kay Eleanor at ngumiti. El's eyes curiously followed Fourth who walked to talk to the staff. Ano naman kaya ang sinabi non? 

May lumapit na staff sakanila at binigyan sila ng upuan. She thanked them and made Kael sat on her lap. 

"Anong binulong sayo ni Kuya Fourth?" She whispered on the kid.

Lumapit ito sa tenga nya at bumulong din, "Pangitiin pa po daw kita.." 

What?

Binalewala na lamang nya iyon. Though, it confuses her. Pinagpatuloy na lamang nya ang paglalaro at pakikipagkwentuhan kay Kael. Hanggang sa natapos na sa pakikipag-usap si Fourth sa staff ng orphanage.

"El.." tawag nito, "I talked to the staff and she said everything's already settled. Pwede na nating isama si Kael." He informed.

Kinuha nito si Kael and carry him on his arms. 

"Sasama po ako sainyo Ate? Kuya? Aalis po si Kael dito?" Kyuryos na ani ng bata.

Surprisingly, Fourth fed up Kael's curiosity. Mabilis nitong na-explain sa bata ang sitwasyon. He's good with kids. Maybe because he has a little sister.

"Ibig sabihin po magiging family po kita Ate El?" Pangkukumperama nito.

"Yes! Gusto mo ba yun?" Aniya.

"Opo! Opo!" Masiglang pagsang-ayon ni Kael, "Pati po ikaw Kuya?" Baling nito kay Fourth.

"Oo naman." He smiled. 

"Yehey!" He exclaimed in excitement.

After bidding their goodbyes to the staffs, Fourth carried Kael to the car. Pagkatapos mailagay sa pwesto ang bata ay silang dalawa naman ang pumasok sa kotse.

"Where should we go next?" Tanong ni Fourth ng maka-upo sa driver's seat.

"Ipasyal muna natin si Kael sa mall." Sagot ni El saka nakangiting bumaling sa batang mukhang natuwa sa idea nya.

Bago pa man nya makalimutan, binuksan ni Eleanor ang bag nya at kinuha mula rito ang facemask at inilahad kay Fourth.

"Here.." aniya.

Mukhang naintindihan naman ni Fourth ang gusto nyang iparating.

"I totally forgot. Salamat." He replied and accepted the mask.

Kailangan nilang mag-ingat. Mainit pa naman ngayon sa mga reporters ang mga De Salvo- especially Fourth - dahil sa patuloy na paglago ng kompanya nila.

The whole drive was fun. Masaya silang nakikipag-usap kay Kael. And their communication seems to got easier because of the kid. Ng makarating sa mall, ay ganon nalang ang saya ng dalawa ng makita ang manghang mukha ng bata. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa at ngumiti. 

"Let's have breakfast first." Fourth stated.

Doon nga ay kumain sila. After having their breakfast, they roamed around the mall, showing Kael around and stoping in some stores to buy for the kid's stuffs. Hindi maiwasan ni El na marinig ang mga bulong-bulungan tungkol sakanila.

"Ay! Ang cute nilang tingnan girl!" Anang isang babae.

"Oo nga! Tsaka, halatang pogi yung Daddy!" Sabi naman ng isa.

"Ok lang din naman yung girl.." nagbago sng tono nito ng sya na ang pag-usapan.

El's mouth parted. Ok? Sya? Ok lang? Slowly, lumingon sya sa mga iyon, na ngayon ay umiwas na ng tingin. She averted her gaze back to Fourth who's been carrying Kael in his arms. Nagulat sya ng makitang nakatingin din sakanya si Fourth. Mukhang narinig din nito ang sinabi ng mga babae. 

"Let's take Kael to the cinema." Simpleng sabi nito ng nakangiti.

Tumango sya, "Segi." She answered.

Pumila yung dalawa para makakuha ng ticket habang sya naman ay bumili ang popcorn at juice. While waiting for her order, nahagip ng mga mata nya ang mga pamilyar na mukha. It was Fourth's friends. She felt anxious.

"Here's your order ma'am." 

"Thanks." Binigay nya kaagad ang bayad at kinuha ang order nya.

She walked back to Fourth and Kael's direction. She felt relieved when they got the tickets. 

"Nakita ko yung mga kaibigan mo." Imporma nya kay Fourth. Napalinga-linga naman ang lalaki dahil sa sinabi.

"Where?" He asked.

Tinuro ni El ang direksyon kung saan nya nakita ang mga kaibigan ni Fourth. Naroroon parin ang mga ito.

"It's fine. Pumasok nalang tayo para hindi nila tayo makita." He said, na sya namang ginawa nila.

After an hour the movie's finally over. Masaya silang lumabas sa sinehan habang hawak sa magkabilang kamay si Kael. Eleanor checked if Fourth's friends are still there, gladly hindi na nya nakita ang mga ito doon. 

They ended up watching Kael play on the timezone.

"Thank you for coming with us." Pagpapasalamat ni El kay Fourth. 

Fourth turned to her while smiling.

Saka ay bumalik ang tingin sa naglalarong bata. El thought of wanting to start a conversation. Then a question pop up on her mind.

"I just want to ask.." panimula nya. He heard her and looked at her. "Why didn't you say no to the arrange marriage? I mean.. you could've said no and stopped the signing." Aniya.

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Fourth at napaisip. "I don't know either." Naisagot nito. 

"Hindi ba magagalit ang girlfriend mo?" 

Where did that came from?! She asked herself.

She heard Fourth chuckled. Bumalik ang tingin nito kay Kael, then he just smile and shrugged off to answer her.

"You don't have a girlfriend?" Pagkukumperma nya pa.

Bakit nga ba hindi nya naisip yun? Mamaya pala ay may lihim itong girlfriend. She doesn't want to be a relationship wrecker.

"I do have a wife..." He answered and looked at her.

Her mouth hanged open when his answer processed on her mind. Napabaling ang tingin nya sa naglalarong mga bata. Unconsciously, she bit her lower lip. Eleanor can still feel him staring at her. 

Hindi na sya nakapagsalita pagkatapos non. Mabilis na nag-init ang pisngi nya.

His wife, huh?

She wanted a distraction. Perfect timing naman at biglang tumunog ang phone ni Fourth.

"It's my Mom." Anito, "I'll just answer this." Paalam niya.

"Hmm." 

Napahinga si El, saka tumingin ulit kay Kael. Inabala nya ang sarili sa panonood sa bata hanggang sa marininig nya ang pamilyar na boses ni Sky Cristos.

"El!" Tawag nito. 

Mukhang kailangan na nilang umuwi. 

"Where is he?" Tukoy nito kay Kael. 

"Ayon naglalaro pa. Teka tatawagin ko muna." And she did.

Sa Scarletti mananatili si Kael. He'll surely be safe there since nandoon ang dalawang kambal. 

"Ate El! Ang saya po dito!" 

Kinuha ni El ang tuwalya at pinunasan ang bata. Tuwang tuwa ito.

"Oo naman, pero kaylangan na natin umuwi Kael. Promise ni Ate pupunta ulit tayo dito sa susunod." She assured.

Pagkatapos nila doon ay lumabas na sila sa mall. 

"I think I can't go with you from here." Ani Fourth.

"Why?" Nsgtatakang tanong ni El.

"My Mom wants me to have dinner with her, so...." Sagot nito.

Tumango sya, "Ayos lang. Salamat ulit sa pagsama samin ngayon." She smiled.

Fourth bid his goodbye to Kael before running towards his own car. Mukhang hinihintay na talaga ito ng ina nya dahil nagmamadali itong tumakbo. She watched his car disappeared on her sight, then she entered Sky's car. 

"Mukhang nagiging close na kayo ha?" Sky teased her.

"We're not close." Pagpapatigil nya rito.

He chuckled, "Kaya nga, nagiging palang." Dagdag pa nya.

Nagiging? It means they'll become close soon? Ng maisip nya yun ay nag-init bigla ang pisngi nya.

"Just drive Cristos." 

And he did. He started the engine and they took their way on the road.