Sophia was taken aback by her own word. She was surprised the word that blurted out from her mouth. But she can't help herself, she knows she looks like a fool right now in front of Lucian. " I didn't say that." Came his quick reply. " No, it's okay Lucian..she looked at him..."I mean, you're right..I am assuming." Ibinaling nito ang paningin. She cast her eyes to the clock that was hanging in the wall opposite to where she was sitting. Good heavens, Sophia pull yourself together. "I'm sorry please go ahead." She told him. "Right, as I was saying I'm not kidding when I said Lily needs a friend and a mother." She looked up at him, she noticed how warm he says the name Lily. Maybe , that was the child's nickname. "But, she's not my daughter.." an amused smile was seen in his lips. "She's my niece. Lily is my younger sisters daughter." He paused. "But she died three years ago." Sophia was surprised. She didn't know if she would console him or not. Something stir in her, ramdam nito ang bigat ng kaniyang loob. However, the man shows no emotion. ""She was in grade three at that time."
He further said na masayahing bata ang kaniyang pamangkin at nakikihalubilo sa mga kaklasi nito. Pero simula ng namatay ang ina nito ay halos hindi ma ito nagsasalita. Kaya, ng tumuntong ito sa grade four ay home schooled ma nga si Lileth, hanggang gumradweyt ng elementarya. She wanted to say kung nadala ba nila ang bata sa psychologist. Clearly, the child has been suffering from depression. Losing someone you love is quite depressing. But she held her tongue, ayaw niyang pangunahan na naman si Lucian sa pagsasalita. Ayaw niyang magmukha na naman siyang tanga. He emphasizes that they hire her para may makasama at makausap ang bata. She wonders why not someone who had medical experience? Kailangan na DAW nilang tulungan si Lileth na lumabas sa lungga , makisalamuha sa mga kaedad Niya at kapwa mag-aaral sa paaralan. Just like any normal teens he added. "You mean to say, my work is to convince her to go out of her shell;?...She curses herself for using the word shell , she hopes he's not offended."I mean..,.she hastily added, " Go out from the Villa .? " " If you put it that way Sophia ." he replied. She was speechless for awhile , she has many questions but she can't voice it out yet. I didn't sign for this, ni hindi nga lumalabas ng bahay. Hindi nagsasalita. Poor kid, she must be lonely and suffering. "Where is she?, she suddenly asked him . The question is safe because it is related to their discussion and the reason why she's in Negros Island. Lucian straightened, "Are you having a second thought, Sophia. " It dawned on her, na every time babangitin nito ang pangalan Niya ay parang kakabahan siya na hindi Niya maintindihan ang kaniyang sarili. What the heck. "N no..' was her short reply. I am having a second thought? She asked herself. She can't back off . Paninindigan talaga Niya ang desisyon na mag lie low at magpakalayo layo. " Just do your part as her p.a and it would be a great help if you can convince her to go back to school ..the real school, not home schooled. And mingle with her peers.. I'm worried about her ya know." he paused."You don't have to worry about the salary though. It will be coming on your check tenfold of how much you've earned from the Lullaby Orphanage as a..." he hesitated. " What's your possession again? " he asked. She was shocked! She widened her eyes. Her mind raced. How could she forget? When filling the application online for the personal assistant position of the Del Barrios, she put the Lullaby Orphanage as her first job. It is strictly stated that they need someone experienced enough to be a personal assistant. Crap. She wanted to slap herself . How could she forget. " Uhmm, I'm ..ah, Actually, I'm more in the like ...sorting the finances, oh, .. donations ..so, I'm in the accounting office?" She's not even sure if she specifically put a possession there! She knows , workers' in an orphanage are called orphan caregivers. Lucian raised his eyebrows. Oh my God, please don't let him know that I'm faking some of the information about myself. It's embarrassing. She silently prayed. " Interesting ,," came his short reply. "What do you mean? " she asked. "You're not the sort of girl that is working in that kind of place.. " he said frankly.. "...Look at you , .. you're like a .." he seems to assess her and can't decide otherwise. "... nevermind." He finally said. Sophia breath. "Anyways, to answer your inquiry, Lily is having dinner in her bedroom as ...usual." his replied to her question asking about his niece whereabouts. She expected, that she will be meeting her tonight. After all, she's the subject of their discussion. " You will be meeting her tomorrow." he added. Lucian stood , and she did stand too. " I don't want to delay you any further., let's have dinner already. " he gestured her toward the door.
As they pass the hallway , Sophia studies the portrait in the wall. There is a family portrait. That would be his parents obviously, sitting in what appears to be a garden. Ang ganda ganda ng Ina ni Lucian. Ang kaniyang Ama naman ay napakaguwapo. They both have blue eyes. Sa kaniyang Ama pala ito nagmana ng mata. Maging ang katikasan ng katawan at korte ng kaniyang mukha at ilong.Tiningnan Niya ang dalawang bata na nakatayo sa gitna ng dalawang nakaupo na magulang. Kung nakuha lahat ni Lucian ang katangian ng Ama nito physically. Hindi naman maitatatwa na carbon copy ng kapatid nitong babae ang physical appearance ng kanilang ina.
"Her name was Kassandra.." nabigla si Sophia . Napatagal ba ang titig Niya sa family portrait nila? " I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry..." she apologized. " No, it's okay..you don't need to apologize. You have nothing to do with her death..." She gulped. " Besides, you will know the truth .. eventually. " he added. She couldn't explain her feelings. Why is it that she has the intuition that she will be destined to stay in this place? No. She brushed her thoughts away. Nanibago lang siya . One moment she was in the Big City, happy and alive with the profession she loved. With the man she loves, and partying with her colleagues. The next thing she knows, she's on the other side of the Philippines na. Weird.
" If you don't mind, may I ask where your parents are?'" she changed the subject. She doesn't have to know how his younger sister died. In any case, it's not her business to delve into the secrets of the family. She didn't intend to involve herself with drama. She had enough of her plate. Sa pagkakataong ito, ay nakababa na sila ng hagdan. NASA first o ground floor na sila , on the way to the dining room. They walked side by side. " Hmm.." he hummed. Tiningnan siya ni Sophia. "...my parents actually are the reason that I was there personally at the airport. They want me to chauffeur you personally on the way here." he explained. She felt embarrassed to hear from Lucian the words 'to chauffeur you around ' . She finds it amusing though. Astigin ang dating nito sa kaniya, ..and yet kayang pasunurin ng parents nitong maging driver lang niya. She suprres the urge to laugh. " They are supposed to meet you first. But they have....more important things to sort out. And with me being around the Capital aka Province, .." '" You have no choice but to oblige..." she finished his sentence.He laughed., they both laughed . For a moment, her heart skipped a beat. She ignored it though. "So, who will join us for a bite tonight?" Lucian opens the door in the dining room. He's eyes twinkle as he looked at her. oh crap. Sophia wanted to slap herself again. She swallowed. I didn't mean anything. But why did I say bite.? Why did he have to look at me in a mischievous way.? I am imagining it? Alam ni Sophia, iba ang dating nito sa salotang 'bite'. Ay naku, nag o overthink lang ako, she thought. Nasanay siya sa Maynila sa mga salitang gamit nila ng mga kaibigan Niya. She reminds herself iba mga pala dito. She will be more careful next time. Lucian gestured for her to sit down , the twinkle and smirked on her face. " Just the two of us, Sophia.. let's start having a hearty bite." he said . Binalingan ni Sophia ang dalawang kasambahay na babae , na sa palagay Niya ay kanina pa nakatayo at naghihintay sa kanila sa dining room. " Saluhan Nyo po kami manang.." patay malisya nitong sabi., to cover her embarrassment.