"Are you alright?" Timothee asked.Things started to get confusing. Hindi ako makahinga nang maayos. Noon ko pa nararamdaman na may tinatago sa akin si Dad and this event just confirmed that for me. Hindi ako ang bata na ito. It looks nothing like me when I was young."Ava," Tim called my attention."Hm?""Are you okay?" He worriedly asked."Yes. I'm fine," I forced a smile."Are you sure? Bigla ka nalang nag-space out. May mali ba?" He asked.Umiling ako. "May naalala lang. Don't worry about me."Nahinto ang mga mata ko sa pagkain na nasa mesa. Shocks! We're still having our breakfast!"Kumain na tayo," I smiled.Timothee doesn't seemed convinced of me being okay but he chose to smile and continued eating. Buong umagahan kong pinilit ang sarili na hindi isipin 'yung bata. I kept myself busy and talking with Timothee. Pero hindi pa rin nawala sa isip ko. "Where are you going after this?" Tanong niya sa akin.I shrug my shoulders. "Ewan. Maybe uuwi ako.""Uuwi ka na?" He frowned. "Kak
There is no open restaurants nearby. Timothee wanted us to have a date in an expensive place pero kahit ni isa ay walang open. He's frowning while driving. "We can go back naman," I suggested. Siguro no restaurant day ngayon," I joked."May ganun ba?" Inis niyang tanong. "Sa lahat ng araw para magsara bakit ngayon pa kung kailan nililigawan na kita?"Napangiti ako. "It's fine, Timothee."He really did thought of something big. Nililigawan pa lang niya ako ay willing na siyang gumasto para sa akin. I appreciate that pero kahit sa simpleng bagay ay masaya ako basta kasama ko lang siya."I should have prepared more. Dapat inalam ko muna kung anong restaurant ang open," nguso niya.Napailing nalang ako. Isang bagay na napansin ko kay Timothee ay may pagka-perfectionist siya. If things don't go according to plan, he'll start being hard on himself. Hindi na niya tinatantanan 'yung sarili."You really want us to go out?" I asked.He nodded. "Yes! I want us to eat somewhere and bond!""Place
"What?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong.Malungkot akong ngumiti at kinuha 'yung phone ko. I scrolled down the gallery and looked for the photo that I took from Dad. 'Yung litratong dala niya ang batang babae. I showed the photo to Timothee na mas lalong ikinakunot ng noo niya."This is the same girl, diba?" I asked.He nodded. "Yes. And that is your Dad. Ikaw nga 'yan."Umiling ako. "Hindi ko alam kung bakit ito nangyayari. I am confused as well. Pero heto ako." I showed him the photo of me when I was seven and Mom and Dad were at my side.Napangiti ako sa nakita. This was the last photo of us together. Naaalala ko pa ang araw na ito at kailanman ay hindi matutumbasan ang ligaya na nararamdaman ko nung araw na 'yun."What?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong at kinuha 'yung phone ko.He put both photos side by side and examined them. Kitang-kita 'yung kaibahan ng mukha namin. I can tell because I know myself too well. Although we do have the same features but I can still see the difference. Itinabi
I bit my lip as I dialed Timothee's number. Alam kong magugulat siya o maguguluhan kapag sinabi kong dito nalang siya maghapunan. Hindi naman nagtagal ay sinagot na ni Timothee yung tawag."What took you so long to call me?" Bungad niya.Kahit hindi ko siya nakikita ngayon alam kong nakanguso siya."Unexpected things happen," I smiled kahit hindi naman niya kita."Nakausap mo na Daddy mo?" Tanong niya. "Is everything okay?"Umiling ako. "Hindi. Hindi ko nakausap si Daddy." I paused. "Ano, Timothee. Kumain ka na ba?""Hindi pa ako kumain. Bababa na sana para kumain," he chuckled. "Concern ka sa akin no?""Sira!" I giggled. "I'm inviting you kase. Dito ka na kumain."There was a long pause. Paniguradong naguguluhan siya sa biglaan kong pagkasabi. If he'd ask me the same, panigurdong maguguluhan din ako."What's the occassion?" Tanong niya.I sighed. "Gusto kang makilala nina Mommy. Dad told them that I had a date with you kaya ganun nalang sila ka-curious sa'yo."I'm gonna meet your fam
"I have a shoot today."'Yan ang huli kong narinig mula kay Timothee. Pagkagising ko pa lang ay siya na agad ang hinahanap ko. The reason? Hindi ko din alam. I called him the moment I woke up. Ilang rings pa bago niya sinagot 'yung phone. Base sa boses niya ay parang nagmamadali. He said may shoot siya ngayon. I sometimes forget that he's a model.Napag-isipan ko na surpresahin siya. Alam ko naman kung saan sa kadalasang nagsho-shoot kaya hindi na ako mababaliw kakahanap sa kanya. Agad akong bumangon at dumiretso sa banyo. I took a bath and then brush my teeth. Matapos kong magbihis ay dumiretso ako sa baba kung saan naabutan ko sina Mommy at Daddy na nag-uusap sa kusina. Kumunot 'yung noo ko. Bakit silang dalawa lang? Natutulog pa kaya sina Tito Diego.Out of curiosity, sumilip ako at pinakinggan ang kanilang pinag-usapan. It was suspiscious enough that they are talking privately."I'm sorry about what happened last night, Adam. Nadulas ako. Excited lang ako na makita si Timothee.
I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do. Timothee was stunned as I am."Sige 'yan!" Sigaw nung photographer. "Kiss her Timothee!"I bit my lower lip as tears continued crawling down my cheeks. Nanghihina na ang mga tuhod ko. Timothee immediately pulled himself off."What are you doing?!" He asked his partner."What? 'Yun ang gusto nila. Isn't it our job to do what the client wants," sagot nung babae."Timothee ano ba?!" Sigaw nung photographer. "We almost got the shot. What is wrong with you?!" He paused and faced the woman behind me which I assumed as the client. "I'm really sorry about that. I will make sure that we give you the shot that you want.""You better. Ano bang nangyari kay Chandler?" Tanong nung babae. "It's your job to model."Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Timothee and as if on cue, our eyes met. Nanlaki ang kanyang mata and all I could do was to smile forcefully with tears in my eyes."Ava," he mouthed.Umiling ako at tumalikod. I walked away kasi alam kong Timothe
"Okay lang talaga?" I asked Timothee as I parked my car in front of their mansion.Sinabi ko sa kanya na hindi ko alam kung paano haharapin sina Mommy. After everything I knew, hindi ko na alam kung paano sila tratuhin. I'm scared of avoiding them kasi ayaw ko din silang saktan. Timothee told me that I can stay in their house. I was hesitant syempre. How can I come back in that house matapos ko siyang lokohin sa ilang buwan kong pananatili doon. It would remind me of everything I've done."Ava, I thought that we left the past behind us?" He faced me."I'm sorry. I still feel ashamed of what I did.""Stop it," seryosong sabi niya. "Let's not talk about it, okay? Tapos na 'yun Ava. I forgave you already."I nodded. "Okay."Pumasok na kami ni Timothee sa loob ng mansyon at halos walang pinagbago. Nandun pa rin 'yung mga bulaklak na minsan kong dinidiligan araw-araw. The front lawn is still as wide as ever. I bit my lower lip as we get closer to the entrance. Nakakakaba. Alam ko naman na
"Paano ko malalaman kung nagsasabi ka nga ng totoo? Nakita ko kung paano umiyak si Timothee. Hindi ko akalaing makikita ko siya nang ganun," Manang said as tears started forming in her eyes. "Kung pwede ko lang akuin ang sakit na nararamdaman niya ay ginawa ko na.""I'm sorry," yuko ko.Hindi ko na alam kung ano 'yung sasabihin. Saying sorry was what I think is the best thing to say. "Bakit ka sa akin nagso-sorry?"Huminga ako nang malalim. "Kasi alam kong nasaktan ka din na makitang ganun si Timothee." I paused. "Timothee and I settled our differences. Okay na po kami ngayon. We promised to be honest from now on at hindi ko na po siya sasaktan."She sighed. "Nakita ko kung gaano kalaki ang mga ngiti niya kamakailan. Siguro dahil din sa'yo," she said, looking at me. "Kapag narinig kong sinaksaktan mo ulit siya, huwag kang magpapakita sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magagawa ko sa'yo."Bahagya akong yumuko. "Hinding-hindi na po 'yun mangyayari."She stared at me one last time befo