Hindi mapipigilan ni Bliss ang kabahan. Hindi sya mapakali dahil ngayon na yong schedule sa operation ng ina nya.
"Bliss, relax. Everything will be alright. Tita Amara Clarisse is brave. She can survive the operation because she loves you." Jam said tried to calm her down.
"I can't be at ease Jam not until I know that she is fine." she said worriedly.
"There is a chapel here. I guess you need to stay there for awhile. Always remember that God is with us. Come on. You are not like that. Tita wouldn't like to see you like this. Ako na lang maghihintay dito.okay.I'll call you." sabi ni Jam sa kanya. She is grateful to Jam kasi Hindi say iniwan nito sa panahong kailangan nyang karamay.
Taimtim na nanalangin si Bliss habang nakaluhod at nakaharap sa Altar. Sa panahon ng wala ng makakapitan , ang Panginoon ang syang tangi nating mahahawakan. Hindi nya tayo pababayaan kahit nag-iisa tayo naglalakad sa kadiliman. Siguro may pagkakataon sa buhay na akala natin wala sya pero ang totoo nasa tabi lang natin ang Panginoon gumagabay sa atin.
"Lord, I am not perfect. I disobeyed you. I did a lot of mistakes in life. But, I can't do anything without you. Save my Mom. Please help her to fight and survive the operation. I dunno what to do if I lose her." she said while is sobbing. She can not hold her tears. She may be tough but when it comes to her mom, she becomes weak.
Nanatili sya muna sa Chapel para mahimasmasan ang kanyang nadarama. Then, her phone rang
"Hello, boss.Wazzup?" sagot nya pilit pinasigla ang boses.
"Hey, How are you Amarie?" tanong nito
"I am perfectly fine ,boss." sagot niya
"I know you are not. I am sorry if I wasn't there. Cheer up, Ms. Sexytary." sabi nito. Napangiti naman sya nito sa huling sinabi
"Salamat, Mr.Pogi." banat nya naman.
"Yan. That's it.Dapat ganyan ka. Anyway, I'll be back next week ." sabi nito
"No problem , boss. Papasok na rin ako pagbalik mo." sagot nya
"Well, okay lang naman na di muna. Take care of your mom first.I understand."
"Salamat boss. Nahihiya na ako."
"Wow, marunong na sya mahiya." he said teAsingly.
" Grabe ka boss ha. "
"hahaha, Bye, Amarie. Cheer up okay. " sabi nito
"Bye , boss. Salamat.Pasalubong ko ha." sabi nya
"Jam, nakalabas na ba sila?" tanong nya
"Hindi pa, Bliss. But relax okay." sagot ni Jam
She is uneasy. Hindi nya maiwasang mag-alala hanggang wala pang assurance na maging okay na ang kanyAng minamahal na ina. Para sa kanya parang ang tagal tumakbo ang oras.
Ilang oras ang nakakalipas.. Lumabas ang mga doctor sa operating room.
"Doc, kumusta po yong mama ko po?" nag-alala nyang tanong
"Don't worry hija the operation was successful. She will be transferred to the room. As of now, she is still unconscious. We still need to monitor her state." paliwanag ng Doctor.
"Thank you so much. Thank you." she said joyfully in tears.
"You are welcome ,hija.Excuse me."
"Ma, gising na. Miss na po kita. Hihintayin ko po kayo." sabi nya ng nasa isang private room na ang kanyang ina.
"Promise Ma di na po ako magpapasaway sa inyo. Slight na lang. Di na po kita masyadong kulitin. Slight lang po.Kaya gising na, Ma ha.Diba gusto nyo pa makita anak ko? hehehe. May instant anak ako , Ma.Sorry Ma if I need to pretend na maging Mommy. Ang dami ko na pong e kwento sayo, Ma. Kaya gising na po. At magpagaling ka." patuloy nya.
Isang araw ng lumipas pero di pa nagising ang mama ni Bliss.
Pero kailangan nya ng bumalik sa trabaho kasi nakabalik na rin naman ang boss nya.
"Hi, boss. Long time no see. " bati nya sa binata.Sa kabila ng pinagdadaanan nya hindi pa rin nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi
"Hi, beautiful. Na miss ko kaingayan mo." sabi nito
"Grabe ka boss. kaingayan talaga? di pwede kagandahan?" biro nya
"Hahaha of course. isa rin yan. How are you? Pumayat ka." komento ng binata
"Okay naman boss pogi. Sexy yan ,di payat." sagot nya
"Sos, di ka lang kumain ata. Halika ka at kakain tayo." sabi nito
"Boss , kumain na ako." sabi nya
"Kumain nga pero kunti lang. I asked Ms. Cruz and she said kunti lang kinain mo. I ordered food na so don't worry." sabi ng binata.
"Bait mo ata boss." tukso niya sa binata
"Always naman ako mabait. hahaha"
"Eeh bakit yong iba natatakot sayo? Ang sungit mo daw." sabi niya
"Because you are exempted and special." sagot nito pero hindi nya narinig masyado yong huling salita nito kasi mahina lang. "Let's eat." yaya ng binata. Wala na syang choice kundi sabayan ang boss nya na may saltik din minsan.
Bliss is busy doing her job kasi ilang linggo din syang naka leave. Tambak ang trabaho nya.
Di nya namalayan na gabi na pala.
"Bliss, let's go home. It's already 6:00 in the evening." sabi ni Light sa kanya
"Hala. Akala ko hapon pa." sabi nya."Eh boss bakit di ka pa umuwi?"
"Hinihintay kita matapos. But para kang walang balak umuwi eeh. " sabi nito
"Naku boss. Bakit nyo pa ako hinihintay?" tanong nya habang inayos ang mga gamit nya para makauwi na.
"Do I need to have a reason to wait for you? You are my secretary." he retorted.
"Naku naman. Bait mo ngayon boss ah. Sana kunin ka na ni Lord. hahahaha." biro nya.
"You are so mean." he said but smiled at her. "Wala ka ng boss na gwapo pag nagkataon."
"Boss, ang hangin na. Baka biglang bumagyo." sabi nya
"Ms. Salvador,don't you agree that I am handsome?"
"Hindi. hahahaha."
"Ouch." sabi nito at kunwari sumasakit ang dibdib nito sa pinagsasabi nya.
"Drama mo boss. Halika na nga." sabi nya.
"Where do you want to eat? Tanong ni Light nang nasa sasakyan na sila.
" Doon na lang ako kakain sa bahay boss." sagot nya
"No. This is my treat. "
" But boss"
"No buts anymore Amarie," he said and maneuvered his Lamborghini.
"Boss, mag Jollibee na lang tayo." sabi nya.
"Okay, if that is what you want. Anyway, what is on the Jollibee that a lot of people eat there?" curious na tanong ng binata sa kanya.
"Ewan ko, boss. Tanuningin mo na lang yong may-ari. " sarcastic nyang tugon pero tinawanan nya lang sya ng binata.
Pumili sila sa pandalawahang table. Siya na lang pumila sa counter kasi parang wala naman alam ang boss nya at first time ata pumasok sa Jollibee. Sosyalin din tong boss nya . She ordered 2 super meals for them and a sundae.
"Boss, ito na oh." sabay lapag nya sa tray sa table nya.
"Chicken, spaghetti, rice, burger steak?" tanong nito
"Boss kumain ka na lang kaya. Promise masarap naman to." sabi nya.
While eating she dipped her French Fries into the sundae and ate it. Tiningnan sya ni Light na parang ang weird nya sa ginawa. Tinawanan nya lang ito. She dipped another fries again to the Sundae and fed it to Light. Natawa sya sa reaction nito.
"I didn't know it tastes delicious." sabi nito parang batang tuwang tuwa.
"See? This is the answer to why people love to eat here. It is delicious and affordable." sabi niya. They enjoyed their meals and Light did what she did to the french fries and Sundae.
"Balik tayo dito ha." sabi nito parang bata nangungulit sa kanya.
"Boss, di rin pwede araw-arawin kumain dito no." sabi nya
"I didn't say naman na araw-araw. " sagot nito." Ihatid na kita sa inyo.Pupunta ka ba sa hospital pa?"
"Uuwi muna ako sa bahay, boss para mag bihis ." sagot nya.
"Okay. Ihatid kita sa inyo."
"Thank you, boss." she said
"I won't say you are welcome. You gonna pay for it by eating with me again in the Jollibee." sabi nito.
Tinawanan nya lang kalokohan ng boss nya. Sobrang bait talaga nito .
"Boss, salamat sa paghatid ha." sabi nya ng makababa na sya sa sasakyan.
"Are you sure na di ka na magpapahatid doon sa hospital?" tanong nito.
"Naku. Huwag na, boss. Nakakaabala na pa ko ako sa inyo."tanggi nya
" No . You are not. It is fine with me."
"Salamat talaga boss pero okay na ako. Ihahatid naman ako ng Tiyo ko doon."
"Okay. If that is it. I gotta go. Good night."
"Thank you again , boss. Good night and ingat po." sabi nya at kinawayan ang amo ng paandarin na nito ang sasakyan.
Bubuksan na sana nya ang gate ng bahay nila nang marinig nya may tumikhim sa likuran nya. She turned around and was shocked when she saw Night at her back and they only have an inch distance. She smelled his manly scent . It's Calvin Klein perfume.
"It is almost 8:00 in the evening and I waited for almost 2 hours here. You never answered my calls. " he said in a baritone voice.
"Mr.Monteverde?" she said in unease. Dumistansya siya ng kunti sa binata."A-anong ginawa mo dito?" tanong nya
"Well, I called you awhile ago but you did not answer my calls.Serenity is always looking to you." He said."I guess it is rude if we are talking that issue outside your house." sabi ng binata. She immediately opened the gate and entered the house.
"Have a set muna dyan, Mr. Monteverde." sabi nya sa binata
"Drop that casualty. You can call me by my name." he said
"ah okay. Soda or juice?"
"Just a glass of water." he said
"Wait for a while." she said went to the kitchen to get the water in the fridge.
"Here." "Why are you here, Mr.Monteverde?" she asked him. Night glared at walked towards here. Napalunok sya dahil sobrang lapit nito sa kanya.
"Call me that again and I'll kiss you." he said.
Itinulak nya ang binata palayo sa kanya
"Well, I am here to tell you that starting tomorrow you will do your job to be my daughter's mom. " he said "She keeps on looking to you. You haven't shown up."
"Hindi naman kita tatakasan. May kontrata akong pinirmahan kaya, may responsibility ako."
"I didn't say that you run away but at least you just check my daughter before you hang out with your boss.may pasubo subo kayong nalalaman. Is he only your boss or your lover? sabi nito.Napantig ang tenga nya sa sinabi nito
" wait lang ha.wait lang. Akala ko ba walang pakialaman ha? Saka may gosh sinusundan mo ba kami kanina?" sabi nya
"Of course not. It was just a coincidence that I was there." he said defensively.
"Oh? really?" sabi nya.Tinaaas -taas pa ang kilay nya
"What is that? Bakit kayo ba may ari ng Jollibee. I have the right to eat wherever I want." sabi nito.
"Okay . sabi mo eeh. Huwag ka mag-alala di ko tatakbuhan yong kontrata nating dalawa. " she said assuringly.
"Okay then." sabi nito at umupo sa couch. Tinaasan nya naman ito ng kilay.Akala nya aalis na ang binata
"Di ka pa ba aalis?" tanong nya
"It is already dark. I guess wala ng sasakyan papunta sa hospital. I'll just drop you there." he said
"No need na. May rerentahan naman tricycle diyan." sagot nya
"No, and that is final. It is dangerous for you to ride in a car at this hour. You don't know what awaits you there." sermon nito sa kanya at ipinikit ang mata
"Bipolar talaga.Bahala ka dyan." usal ni Bliss sa mahinang boses
"I can hear you. I am not bipolar. I am just making sure that you are safe because you'll be my daughter's mom." sabi nito.
"Whatever." she whispered and rolled her eyes.
Nag-umpisa na syang mag impake ng gamit nya. Kunti nga lang yong dinala. Di nya maiwasang malungkot. Di muna nya makasama ang ina. Nasanay sya na nasa tabi nito pero kailangan nya gagawin ito alang -alang sa ina. Pagkatapos malagay ng gamit sa maleta ay naligo muna sya.Mainit ang panahon. Sinoot nya ang white V-Neck and paired with black maong short. Nag step-in white sandal na lang sya and inipit ang buhok nya.
Nang nasa sala sya nakita nyang nakapikit ang mata ni Night . Natutulog na nakaupo lang.Nilapitan nya ito para gisingin. Parang ang pagod na pagod ata to eeh. Naawa sya gisingin nya ito
"Gwapo ka naman pag tulog. Para kang maamong tigre pero pag gising sarap mo patayin." sabi nya sa isip."Did I say gwapo?" protesta ng kabilang isip nya.
"omo hindi ah. Mas gwapo pa bossing ko sa kanya. Mabait pa." sabi ng kabilang isip nya. Napangiti sya ng maisip si Light. "Bakit kasi magkatunog pangalan tong dalawa.tssk" sabi nya. "Ano ba tong iniisip ko.Baliw na ata ako." usal ng isip nya. Bumuntonghininga sya pinag-iisip nya
"Staring is rude." sambit ng binata na nakapikit ang mata na ngayon nakadilat na. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata
"H-hindi ah. Hindi kaya kita tinitigan." depensa ni Bliss sa binata.
"Okay. If you say so" sabi nito at tumayo ." Anyway, I just bring your things na lang now para you don't need to bring it tomorrow na." sabi nito.
"Nasa kwarto ko." sagot nya. " Wait lang kukunin ko." bumalik sya sa kwarto para kunin ang maleta. May kabigatan pala ito.
"You could ask me to help you instead." sabi ng binata at kinuha ang maleta sa kanya.
She opened the car door sa back seat. Tiningnan sya ni Night ng masama.
"I am not your driver. Seat on the passenger seat." sabi nito
"Malay ko ba pwede ako umupo dyan." she protest and transferred to the passenger seat.
Night manuevered his car to the hospital. Tahimik ang duration ng byahe.Nobody started the conversation . Di namalayan ni Bliss na nakatulog na pala sya.
Pasulyap sulyap na tinitigan ni Night si Bliss. He covered her on his jacket para di ito lamigin.
He hates to wake her up kahit nasa parking lot na sila ng hospital. She sleeps peacefully. He sighed deeply.
Then his phone rang
"Hello."
"Daddy" tinig mula sa kabilang linya
"My princess, why are you still awake?" malumanay nyang tanong sa anak
"I can't sleep,daddy. Where is Mom? She said she will come back soon." malungkot na sambit ng bata
"Baby it is not good for you to sleep late at night. Go to your bed now. I am with your Mommy. " Sagot nya sa anak.
"What did you do,daddy? Are you having a date?" inosenteng tanong ng bata. He smiled because of what his child just said a while ago.
Nope baby. We are just talking."
"Ayy. Can I talk to mommy ,dad?"
"She is sleeping,baby. You can't talk with her."
"Ayyy. Okay."
"Go to your bed and sleep. Good night baby and I love you."
"Good night, daddy. I love you too."
Naalimpungatan si Bliss sa boses na narinig nya. Binuka nya ang kanyang mata at bumungad sa kanya ang mukha ni Night.
"Kanina pa ba tayo dito? Sorry nakatuLog ako." sabi nya
"It is fine. You look so stress out. " he said
"Okay lang naman ako. Sige salamat sa paghatid." sabi nya and lumabas.
"Bliss, wait."
Lumingon si Bliss sa binata.
"Take this. Your short is too short." he said na parang iritable pa ito.Nagugulohan sya. Short nga eeh.malamang maikli talaga
"Aanhin ko namang jacket mo? Saka malamang maikli ang short." sagot nya
"Cover yor legs. Men will look at your legs." sabi nito
"Eeh.. bahala sila.Hanggang tingin Lang naman sila." sagot nya "Hoy Mr. Monteverde walang pakialaman remember." sabi nya
"Whatever." sabi nito. At pinaharurot ang sasakyan.
"Napaka talaga ng lalaki yon.Bipolar.Aanhin ko naman tong jacket nya." sabi nya and shake her head
"Good evening, ma. Kailan ka kaya gigising? Miss na kita,Ma. Yong tawa mo. Yong luto mo. Ma, bukas pala aalis na ako. Babalik din at bibisitahin rin kita ,Ma.Huwag kang mag-alala. " sabi nya sa ina kahit di naman ito nakakarinig sa kanya
."Pagaling ka ng mabuti, Ma ha."
Hinahaplos haplos nya ang buhok ng kanyang ina gaya ng gagawin nito ng bata pa sya.
Di nya mapigilan mapangiti sa mga alaalang kasama ang ina. Kahit mag-isa lang ito na itinaguyod syA hindi ito ng nagkulang ng oras at pagmamahal sa kanya. Pagmamahal ng inang walang katumbas na halaga.