Who Knows I’ll Be Keeping You

Chapter 16: Parents

Marco Buenavista’s Point of View

“Where are you going?” I immediately turn my head towards the left direction.

I saw my grandmother cleaning the dining table so I went near her and kiss her right cheek.

“I wasn’t able to go with you on the first mass. I’ll try catching up the third mass.” pagpapaalam ko kay lola.

We actually don’t have an actual house on our own lot. It’s a very long story but we lost everything because of an accident. Me, my grandma and my three siblings are living here in BGC located here in Taguig. We live in a Penthouse, in Eight Forbestown Road. It’s a 175 sqm area and it has 3 bedrooms. The twins and my grandma shares the same room, Marissa has her own room and I have my own one as well. We bought this penthouse years ago and we got the chance to finally live here after years of buying it. I am glad that I insist on buying this one because this totally saves us from everything. The penthouse is really big so we got to have our own space within this penthouse. It’s really expensive though but we can’t afford to sell it because my parents love this place.

My grandmother is Susan Buenavista. She was a well known entrepreneur back then but something happened and she lost everything. I am the eldest then next to me is Marissa. Mark and Mia are twins but they are not identical. Marissa is a scholar and she’s doing her best to provide for herself and ask something from me for less. I worked hard to provide for the family because they are the ones left to me.

“Bakit kasi hindi ka nagising ng maaga?”

“I’m really sorry grandma. I promise to go with you next time.”

“Sige na, umalis ka na. Hindi ka ba dito kakain?”

“I’ll eat outside grandma. Bye!” lumabas na ako at tinahak ang hallway papunta sa elevator.

Since we are on top of the floors, hindi gaanong karaming residente ang nandito. The room on both of our sides are vacant and I think we are less than ten living on this floor. It’s not hard for my grandma to go down since the elevator is here and it’s working really well. Hindi din naman masyadong lumalabas si grandma kaya wala kaming problema.

I was able to arrive at the basement where the parking lot is. Katabi ng sasakyan ko ang sasakyan ng kapatid ko at mukhang natutulog pa nga siguro siya sa taas dahil nandito pa rin ang kotse niya. Pumasok na lang ako sa kotse ko at nag byahe papunta sa simbahan. The church is far from where we live but grandma loves going there because she knew most of the people and she got more than attached to them. I also went there most of the time because I feel comfortable knowing that most of the people know me really well.

I wasn’t able to take my breakfast because I woke up very late. I think I will have my breakfast on the restaurant in front of the church first before going inside.

I drove for almost an hour at nakarating lang din ako ng maayos. Nagsimula na ang pangatlong misa kaya dumeretso na lang muna ako sa restaurant. Matapos kong mai park ang sasakyan, binati ako ng guard nang pumasok ako sa loob. I sat on a four seat table because this was the only seat left. The place is not totally crowded but since they accommodate a small number of people only, puno na ang lahat ng nga upuan. Pagkaupo ko, binigyan ako ng waiter ng menu. I thank him and told him that I will just call anyone if I already thought about my order.

I was about to call the waiter when I heard the bell at through the door. Tumunog ito dahil sa pagbukas ng pintuan ng restaurant. May bell kasi sa taas nito kaya naririnig talaga namin ang tunog. I don’t have any idea why I was curious about who will get in but my instincts told me to wait for the person to come in. And I am glad that I did!

Mahal na mahal talaga ako ng tadhana!

The couple looked for seats but as what I have said earlier, the last seat is the one that I have right now. A very right opportunity! Tumayo ako at isinigaw ang pangalan nilang dalawa.

“Mrs. Karen and Mr. Martin Diaz!” sigaw ko. Napadako ang tingin nila sa akin at kumunot ang mga kilay nila. I just slightly laugh because I totally look like a fool. I don’t know what I am doing right now because all I know is that they are the parents of Mira. Just by thinking about her, I already miss her.

Kumaway ako sa kanila at pinalapit sa akin. Nagtinginan muna silang dalawa bago dahan-dahang naglakad papunta sa direksiyon kung nasaan ako. Nanatili pa rin akong nakatayo para batiin silang dalawa.

“Hi, uhm, do we know each other?” tanong ni mommy, este. . . mommy pala ni Mira sa akin.

“We don’t but I know both of you very well. I’m a fan.” I said. Inilahad ko ang kamay ko at tinanggap naman nilang dalawa iyon. Bakit ang bait ng mga magulang ni Mira pero siya ay hindi?

“Aw. I was touched by your words. Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure Mrs. Diaz.” I slightly bow to show my respect to both of them.

“Why don’t we take a seat first?” alok ko at tinuro ang dalawang upuan na nasa harap ko. Umupo naman silang dalawa at ngumiti sa akin.

“Can we have your name? I’m really sorry. Hindi ko kasi talaga kilala ang mga taong humahanga sa mga paintings namin. I mean, we don’t have a lot of fans but we are really trying to communicate with them. I am glad that you recognised us.” mahabang sabi ng ina ni Mira at napangiti naman ako dahil doon. Ito na ba ang simula ng pagkakamabutihan ng relasyon ko at sa magulang ni Mira. I can smell victory!

“I’m sorry if I wasn’t able to introduce myself.” tumayo ulit ako at humarap sa kanila. “I am Marco Buenavista.”

“By any chance, do you know Susan Buenavista?” tanong ni Mr. Martin.

Kilala ba nila si grandma?

“Yes. She is my grandmother. Do you know her?” tanong ko pabalik.

Na shock naman ang ina ni Mira at napatingin siya sa kasama niya. So they really know my grandma? But how?

“We know each other. Your grandmother used to buy our paintings and she is a big help for our success today.” nakangiting sabi ni Mrs. Karen sa akin.

I am glad that my grandme helped them. Mabait naman kasi si grandma at strikto lang siya pagdating sa trabaho. Now that we don’t have our business anymore, she stood with us as our dad and mom. She’s everything that we have right now.

“I am glad hearing that one.” sabi ko.

“Your grandma is a very good person. Swerte ka dahil siya ang naging lola mo.”

“I am.”

“Back when we were still new in auctions and selling our paintings, your grandma helped us to advertise our paintings. She was very famous back then and people always believe in everything that she said. She always told us to help others if we got the chance. And now, we ate trying to teach Mira with the same lesson.” halos maubo ako matapos marinig ang sinabi ng ina ni Mira. Kung may iniinom lang sana ako ngayon ay naibuga ko na sa harap nila.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi ng ina niya. Kailan ba tutulong sa iba ang babaeng iyon? Nagdadala lang nga siya ng delubyo sa kaibigan niya. Pft.

“Wait, are you a painter as well?” nakuha naman ang atensiyon ko dahil sa tanong ni Mr. Martin sa akin.

“No.”

“Then how come you know us?” Mrs. Karen asked.

“I am an art student in St. Preston’s Academy and I am a friend of Mira as well.” nakita kong nagulat talaga ang reaksiyon ng mga magulang ni Mira dahil sa sinabi ko.

“May kaibigang lalake ang anak ko? Bakit hindi niya sinabi sa amin?” mukhang nagalit pa yata ang ama niya sa sinabi ko.

“Yes po. Mira and I are friends but she’s trying to hide it from both of you because she don’t want you to get worried. When we were together with some of our friends as well, she always talks about you. How good you are as a parent and as a painter.” I said and smiled.

“Really? Proud ba siya sa amin?” mukhang nabalik na ang mood ng dad ni Mira matapos ko iyong sabihin.

“So proud po. She can’t stop talking about you two.” I said.

“Maybe I can call her. What do you think Martin?” tanong niya sa asawa niya.

“But we have to attend the mass.”

“Nahuli na tayo sa third mass at mamayang alas dos pa ang susunod. Why don’t we have lunch together first?” tumingin siya sa akin at ngumiti.

“What do you think Marco?”

“That is not a problem for me po. I am here for the third mass as well pero nagsimula na po pagdatin ko kaya dumeretso ako dito.”

“That’s great. It’s settled then.” kinuha niya ang cellphone niya mula sa kanyang bag at tinawagan si Mira.

Lumapit naman ang dad ni Mira sa akin at nag-usap kami ng kung ano-ano. Ngunti kahit na magka-usap kami ni Mr. Diaz, nakikinig pa rin ako sa pag-uusap ni Mira at sa ina niya. Magkapatid ba sila at ganyan siya makipag-usap sa mga magulang niya? Kailangan talagang turuan ng leksiyon ang babaeng iyon. Akala niya siguro ay lahat ng tao iintindihan ang pangit niyang asal katulad ng mga magulang niya.

Biglang tumingin ang mom ni Mira sa akin at nagtagpo ang mga mata namin. Akala ko ay magagalit siya o ma cre-creep out pero ngumiti siya at tinanong ako kung pwede ko ba daw kunin si Mira sa bahay nila. Kinabahan ako pero napasagot din ng “oo”. I can finally see Mira again! Hindi na ako makapaghintay ng bukas.

Ibinigay ng ina niya sa akin ang address at nagpaalam na ako at umalis. Hindi nila sinabi sa kanya ang pangalan ko kaya alam kong sasama talaga si Mira sa akin.

I am not obssessed okay? I am just grabbing every opportunity that I can have to be with Mira. I will lie to myself if I say that I don’t like but I am not that into her. I got interested in her that’s why I wanted to know her more. And the only way to know her more is to have time to be with her.

Hindi nagtagal ay narating ko ang bahay nina Mira. Napatitig ako mula sa labas at napangiti ng mapait dahil na miss ko ang tumira sa malaking bahay. Iyong may bakuran talaga kami at pwede naming gawin ang kahit ano sa labas. Living in a penthouse feels so suffocating for me that’s why I always go out to freshen up.

Bumusina ako para marinig ni Mira na nasa labas ako. Dahan-dahan siyang lumabas sa bahay nila at napangiti ako ng makitang nakasimangot nga ang mukha niya. Talaga bang ayaw niya talagang samahan ang mga magulang niya?

I locked the doors at the backseat and she looked confused and worried when she tried to open both of the doors. Did she though for a second if I am a kidnapper or not?

Umikot siya papunta sa passenger’s seat at deretso ang pasok niya sa loob kaya hindi niya ako nakita agad. I smiled seeing her getting inside my car. This is one of my dream and I already achieved it without her knowing. Damn!

Bu the time she locked the door of the car, Mira then looked at me and she looked very shocked. Halos napaatras siya sa kinauupuan niya at ako naman ay ngumiti ng matamis sa kanya.

“Hey there gorgeous.”