CHAPTER 6

[Kobe’s Pov]

Shit! Why does mom want's to know this irritating girl?

"HOY! San ba bahay nyo? Malapit na?" Tanong nya na naman! For Pete's sake!

I exclaimed a deep breath to control my anger. "Can you please be quiet?" I commanded.

"Ayoko!” I heard her say that kaya napalingo ako sa kanya habang nakataas ang kilay. “ Favor 'to diba kaya mo ko dinala? Then may utang na loob ka sakin kaya dapat, you will treat me well." She said. Like what the hell!

"Excuse me, i'm not the one who asked for this favor! I'm just granting it." I said irritated.

"Wushhu! Kunyari ka pa. Hahaha umamin ka na kasi." She said and laughed. What the hell! Is there something funny for her to laugh? Ugh!

"Shut up." I said in a huge tone na mukhang ikinabigla 'nya naman kaya tumahimik sya.

~*~

[Sharmaine’s POV]

"WOW! Bahay n'yo to Kobe?" I asked. Bongga! Ang ganda ng bahay nila. Ang lawak. Ganito kasi sa labas ng gate nila, may mini garden then pagpasok namin sa loob ang lawak ng parking space! Shocks. Mansion na tawag dito. Hindi na bahay!

"Yeah. Alangan namang sa kapit-bahay namin 'to." Aniya sakin. Tinignan ko naman sya para alamin kung nagbibiro sya, but by the look of it mukhang hindi dahil naka poker face lang ang binata.

I realized din naman na para akong timang na bata na ngayon lang nakakita ng malaking bahay sa tanang buhay ko. Tsk! =_= Bat di ko agad naisip yun? Hmp!

Tahimik na kaming bumaba ng sasakyan nya. Nauna syang maglakad sakin kaya sinundan ko lang sya hanggang pumasok na sya sa loob ng bahay kaya ako naman pumasok na din.

Kung namangha na ako sa labas pa lang ng bahay mas mamamangha pa pala ako sa loob! Jusko! Bahay ba talaga nila to o baka naman Malacanang palace na ito?

Aqua Blue and Black ang theme ng bahay nila. Then may spiral stairs paakyat na nasa gilid.

"Mom! We're here." I heard Kobe shouted. Nasa may living room lang nila kami when i heard footsteps na papalapit samin. And 'nung tinignan ko kung sino yun.

My mouth formed an ‘o’ shape nang makita ang isang babae na naglalakad palapit sa amin. OMG! Ang ganda nya! Kaanu ano kaya 'to ni Kobe? Baka kapatid nya, mukhang bata pa e atsaka maganda.

"Hi Son." The girl said and kissed Kobe's cheek. Napakamot naman ng ulo ‘nun si Kobe at tumingin sakin, maybe nahihiya sya dahil kilala syang hearthrob sa school but then nakita ko syang kiniss ng mommy nya sa cheeks.

But wait....

This young and beautiful girl infront of me call him..

SON??

That means she is Kobe's Mom?

"So you must be Sharmaine Gonzales?" She asked. I just nodded with a shocked face. I can't believe na sya ang mommy ni Kobe. Na sya si Mrs.Arellano kasi ang fresh nya pa eh!

"Hello iha. I'm Amber Arellano Kobe's mother. Nice to meet you." She said and step towards me and asked for a hug. So i gave it.

When we separated from a hug, i smiled at her. "Nice to meet you din po Mrs.Arellano." i answered back.

She smiled at me bago lumingon kay Kobe. "You're Dad is asking for me to bake some cookies, do you want to help me do it?" Mrs.Arellano asked.

"I'm tired Mom. I just wanted to rest." He replied. Tired? Eh wala naman syang ginawa Hmp!

"As always." Mrs.Arellano said and gave me a look again. "How about you iha? Do you know how to bake some cookies?" She asked

Hmmm.

May alam naman akong konti dahil yun ang major ko nung highschool (baking) so i think kaya pa naman.

"Yes po Mrs.Arellano. I will help na lang po." I said with a smile.

"Good then. Ang tamad kasi talaga ng anak ko e." Mrs.Arellano said na halatang iniinis lang si Kobe.

"Mom! I’m just tired." Paliwanag pa nito.

"I don't care.” Then mrs. Arellano teasingly roll his eyes at Kobe. “ Let's go Sharmaine." Mrs.Arellano continued and started walking away so agad din naman akong sumunod. When we get in their kitchen, naglabas na nang gamit si Mrs.Arellano. Like measuring spoons,Baking soda,Baking powder at lahat ng mga iba pang ginagamit sa pagbe-bake.

"We are going to bake Dark Chocolate Cookies Iha. Ok lang bang ikaw na yung mag melt ng Butter?" Mrs.Arellano said.

"Sige po Mrs.Arellano." i said at kumuha na ng frying pan para tunawin na yung butter.

"Masyadong mahaba ang Mrs.Arellano iha. I prefer na Tita na lang." She said kaya um-uo na lang ako.

"Ok po tita." I said na medyo naiilang since it's the very first time we met each other pero tita na agad ang gusto nyang itawag ko sa kanya. It's not like ayaw ko, pero nakakapagtaka lang since ni background nya hindi ko alam.

"Yan! Mas better. Haha." Tita added and because of that we both laughed. I continued melting thw butter when Tita asked me.

“Kamusta na ang parents mo, Sharmaine?” tanong nito na ikinalingon ko. I frowned. She knows my parents?

“Kilala niyo po ang mga magulang ko?” I asked.

Tita smiled at me before nodding. “Yes. Batchmate ko ang Mommy at Daddy mo nuong College. Then now, we became familiar to each other because we are at the same world. Business.” Tita explained na nagpayuko sakin.

By hearing the word business world, bumabalik na naman ang sakit. Nangungulila ako sa presense nila Mommy pero parang bale-wala lang sa kanya.

Mukhang napansin naman ni Tita ang pananahimik ko, “Sharmaine, is there anything wrong?”

I quickly placed a soft smile on my face before lifting my sight. “Wala naman po.” Sagot ko.

“Sharm, nanay ako. Kahit hindi kita anak nararamdaman ‘kong may bumabagabag sayo.” Anito pa. “Tell me, baka makatulong ako.” She continued na nakapagpa-isip sakin. Maybe, it is good for me to share to a person whom I know that can understand me.

I look at Tita, “Tita Amber, is business considered an enough reason for a parent to forget their family?” I asked. I felt Tita’s stare, then I heard her sighed deeply.

“Ofcourse not, Iha. Business needs attention, but family needs love. Family is always more important than anything else.” Tita said. “Hindi ka ba nabibigyan ng atensyon ng parents mo kaya ka nalulungkot?”

I let out a fake smile. “I’m trying to understand them, Tita. Iniisip ko na gusto lang nila na maging maayos ang future ko. But, I need them right now. How can my future becomes successful if my present isn’t a success either?” I said. Hindi ko na mapigilan ang pag-iral ng pangungulila at kalungkutan sa puso ko. Kahit naman hindi kami magkasundo ni mommy, I admit that I still need them.

I felt Tita’s hand’s caressing my back, “Maybe, your parents is lacking in giving some of their time to you, at naiintindihan ko ang pangungulila mo Iha, mas maganda siguro ‘kung kakausapin mo sila. Para naman alam nila kung anong nararamdaman mo, hindi ‘iyong sinasarili mo lang.”

I smiled awkwardly. “How can I talk to them kung sa tuwing nagkikita kami, puro naman pangangaral ang sinasabi nila. Pag nagkikita kami, lagi silang busy sa mga phones nila or doing business related things.”

“Alam mo Sharm, I requested Kobe to bring you here because I want to know you. You are the only heiress of your families businesses, and your mom and dad always say that you are good child. But now, I can see a sad and lonely girl in you. Don’t worry, I’ll try to talk with your parents regarding thi---“

“No, Tita. You don’t have to do that. Kung malalaman man nila ang tungkol sa mga sinabi ko, gusto ko na sila mismo ang makakapansin at makakaalam. Hindi lang dahil sinabi sa kanila ng ibang tao.” I said.

Tita just nod and smile. I smiled back. “Bake nap o tayo, masyado na ‘pong nagiging madrama tayong dalawa.” Biro ko naman.

Tita chuckled. “Okay.”

After an hour…

"Atlast! We are already done. Haha ang ganda nang gawa natin Ija." Tita said look amused.

"Yes tita. Ewan ko lang po yung lasa." I said. Masasabi ko naman na dahil sa baking gumaan at naging komportable na kami sa isa't isa.

"I hope na masarap. But then let's try first." Tita said at agad na kumuha dun sa pinalamig na naming cookies. So i took one too.

Hmmm! Masarap naman sya, tama lang yung texture at mixture nya.

"Hmmm delicious! We made it perfect Iha." Tita said, gladly.

"Yeah! Mabuti na lang.” I said before smiling.

After tasting our baked cookies , niligpit na namin yung mga kalat namin until we heard a doorbell. Napahinto naman si tita."Wait here iha, baka ang asawa ko na yun." Tita said and i just gave her a nod as an answer then with that , Tita started walking away.