Charm's POV
After RJ informed me about having the presence of Patrick in the dinner we are preparing for their VIP clients, I choose to excuse myself in attending the said event. I am very happy because RJ understands my decision. Maliit nga ang mundo at hindi ko ito papaliitin pa sa amin ni Patrick.
And to compensate my absence in the coming family event, I made sure to give Lola Linda all the help she needs in the preparation of the dinner hosted by the Faulkerson family. Sayang I will miss my supposed first family affair as a Faulkerson, call it cowardness but I know I did the right thing.
Pero susmaryosep, halos nalibot na namin ang lahat ng restaurants dito sa Maynila, walang mapili si lola na venue para sa darating na dinner with the VIP clients. Malay ko bang sobrang old school itong si Lola at ayaw mag-research muna sa internet. She said she is more comfortable if she sees the places with her own eyes. Kaya naman pala she needs assistance, ganito pala mag-scout si Lola for an event. Literal na nakakapagod. Mabuti na lang sinamahan kami ni Rizza, may taga-pigil sa mga imposibleng trip ni Lola.
"Pasensya ka na Ate Meng, ganyan talaga yan si Lola, gusto perfect lahat. Ewan ko ba naman dito kay Daddy bakit hindi na lang pina-organized sa secretary nya ang dinner na 'to." Rizza said.
"Ok lang naman Rizza, nagulat lang ako na sobra pala syang metikulosa pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay." I replied.
"Don't worry mukha naman gusto na nya yung last na pinuntahan natin." Rizza said.
"I hope so, umiinom ba ng energy drink 'tong si Lola at parang hindi napapagod? Halos isang buong araw na tayong naglilibot sa mga restaurants ah." I said.
"Ganyan talaga yan pag excited. Tara mag-meryenda muna tayo, malapit lang naman ang mall dito, walking distance lang para hindi na tayo lumipat ng parking." Rizza said.
"We don't have time for a snack Rizza, kanina pa naiinip ang Lolo nyo sa office, sasabay sya sa atin pauwi." Lola Linda said.
"Gutom na ako Lola." Rizza protested.
"O sige, pero sandali lang ha, ayokong maiinip ang Lolo mo." Lola Linda said.
"Bakit hindi na lang si Lolo ang pumunta dito sa mall, para makakapag-meryenda tayo while we wait for him. I'm sure sa sobrang traffic from the office to here tapos na tayong mag-snack bago sila dumating." Rizza said.
"Nice idea apo, sige tatawagan ko na lang ang Lolo mo kapag nasa mall na tayo. Papuntahin mo na yung driver sa kanya." Lola Linda said.
We walk to the mall which is only a few blocks from the last restaurant we checked. We had sandwiches and drinks and while we are enjoying our food Lola Linda saw someone she knows.
"Is that Ellie?" She asked and quickly calls the lady when she is certain she knows her, "Ellie." She exclaimed.
The lady walks towards us with her tray of snacks upon recognizing us and sweetly greeted Lola Linda. "Ex yan ni Kuya RJ, first love nya to be exact." Rizza whispered.
"Nice to see you here Lola Linda, how are you po?" This Ellie politely said and gave Lola Linda a kiss. "Hello Rizza, good to see you again." She said and gave Rizza a cheek to cheek.
"Are you alone, iha?" Lola asked.
"Yes po Lola, naglalakad-lakad lang dito sa mall, kakatapos lang po kasi ng shift ko, eh nagutom ako kaya pumasok ako dito." Ellie said.
"Come join us na lang dito sa table namin para hindi ka kumain mag-isa. By the way Meng, I would like you to meet Ellie, dati naming neighbor sa Sta. Rosa." Lola said.
"Hello Meng, pleasure to meet you." She said.
"Same here." I replied beaming pero hindi ako natutuwa sa presensya nya kahit maganda sya.
"Wife sya ni Kuya RJ." Rizza added and why did I saw a smirk on her face? Bitter ka lang teh kasi hindi ikaw ang pinakasalan?
"Ah yeah, nakita ko nga sa newspaper." She said. "Goodluck ha." She added.
Nang-aasar ba 'to? Bakit goodluck ang greetings, di ba dapat best wishes? "Nakakatakot naman ang goodluck mo, ano naman ang ibig mong sabihin? Was RJ that bad for you para hindi sya maging deserving to be my husband?" I asked.
"I mean goodluck sa pakikisama dyan kay RJ. He is a monster when he is annoyed and irritated, pero don't worry he quickly tames din naman, lambingin mo lang." Ellie said.
"Yun lang pala. I turn into a monster, too, when someone irritates me. Therefore that makes the two of us. Also, I never give him reasons to be irritated so maybe, the monster in him will not be unleashed." I said.
"Speaking of Kuya RJ, anong ginagawa nya dito?" Rizza said and we all turned our heads to the front door.
"RJ, what are you doing here? You are supposed to be at work, bakit ka naglalakwatsa?" Lola Linda asked while RJ gave her his respect.
"I'll be your driver going home Lola. Pagdating ni Mang Kiko sa office diretso na daw silang uuwi ni Lolo. Ayaw na ni Lolo na pumunta dito kasi siguradong maiipit daw sila sa traffic. And since he knows I am within the vicinity he calls me para sunduin kayong tatlo." RJ said.
"Look who's here RJ." Lola Linda said.
"Hello Ellie nice to see you again." RJ greeted and all smile talaga ang anak araw na 'to. He gave her a cheek to cheek at ramdam na ramdam ko ang kilig ng babaing ito ah, sabunutan kaya kita dyan?
Mag walk-out kaya ako, tingnan ko lang kung hahabulin ako ni RJ. Pero wag na baka mapahiya lang ako kapag pinabayaan lang ako ni RJ sa walk-out scene ko.
"Pinagod ka ba ni Lola sa restaurant scouting nyo sweetheart?" he asked and kisses me on top of my head while he sits beside me. Siraulong anak araw 'to, kung magnakaw ng halik sa akin sa harap ng mga kakila ko sa tracks eh ganun-ganon na lang pero ngayon kaharap na itong ex nya, para na akong lola na hindi man lang umabot kahit sa noo lang ang halik.
"Why are you scouting for a restaurant Lola?" Ellie asked.
"We have an important guests and Ricky wants to host a small dinner for them with the whole family four days from now." Lola Linda replied.
"I work in Royalties Hotel Lola, our prince hall is perfect to accommodate less than twenty people." Ellie said.
"Really iha? That's great then. Baka pwede sa Royalties na lang kami mag-book ng dinner namin. I hope may available na small function room to accomodate us even for a short notice." Lola Linda happily said.
"Hindi naman po peak season ngayon Lola, I'm sure may available room for a small event like yours. I will talk to Sir Philip to give you a good discount." Ellie said.
"Oh you are an angel, iha." Lola Linda said. Nabubulagan na 'tong si Lola Linda, how can she say this lady is an angel when she is obviously flirting with a married man.
"No problem Lola, basta po kayo. Since malapit lang naman ang office mo sa Royalties Hotel, RJ, maybe you could visit us tomorrow to check on the venue." She said.
"Lola is in-charge of that Ellie, and my wife is helping her. I have other important things to do tomorrow." RJ replied, infairness nagustuhan ko ang sagot ni Tisoy kasi kung nag-agree ang anak araw na 'to itutuloy ko ang pag-walk-out ko, promise.
"Here is my card, you can reach me anytime you need me." She said and gave the card to RJ which I quickly grab. Ako nga ang kakausapin dapat eh, so dapat sa akin ibibigay ang calling card hindi sa asawa ko.
"Sige Ellie, I'll give you a call tomorrow if we are on our way to Royalties Hotel. Pag-usapan muna namin ni Lola what time kami makakapunta." I said.
"Sige, naka-duty naman ako tomorrow, every Friday ang off ko, from seven in the morning to four in the afternoon ang shift ko." She said habang kay RJ nakatingin. Eh ano naman ang pakialam ng asawa ko sa shift schedule mo? Ako ang kliyente at ka-meeting mo bukas teh, ako ang kausapin mo at tigilan mo yang pag-papa-cute sa ex mo dahil may asawa na yan, at ako yun.
"I'll take note of that Ellie." I said.
"Mauna na po ako Lola baka mahirapan na po akong sumakay ng van papuntang Laguna, kasi rush hour na po eh." Ellie said at feeling ko, nagpaparinig talaga sya kay RJ. Ano 'to gusto pang makisabay sa amin?
"Wala ka bang sasakyan, iha?" Lola asked.
"Coding po yung kotse ko Lola, at mas convenient na rin po kapag yung mga van ang sinasakyan ko, hindi po ako stress mag-maneho." She said.
"Bakit hindi ka na lang sumabay sa amin, idaan ka na lang namin sa bahay nyo." Lola Linda offered, at kamuntik ko nang ibuga yung iniinom kong juice.
"May bibilhin pa ako sa jewelry store Lola, baka mainip si Ellie kung isasabay natin sya." Rizza said.
"Ok lang po ako Lola, thank you for the offer." Ellie said at sana talaga nakahalata sya na ayoko syang kasama. "I'll wait for your call." She added while looking at RJ.
"Yes Ellie, expect for MY call." I said and she left after some series of goodbyes and hugs sa Faulkerson family, ayokong bumeso sa kanya that's why I just shook her hand, bakit ba suplada talaga ako eh.
"She haven't change" Lola Linda commented "She is still that sweet girl na kapitbahay natin sa Sta. Rosa." She added.
"I agree Lola she hasn't change, kerengkeng pa rin sya hanggang ngayon. Ang lakas ng loob mag-flirt kay Kuya habang kaharap si Ate Meng. Tamang asal ba yun? Buti na lang talaga nahuli mong may ibang boyfriend yang ex mo Kuya, kung hindi luhaan ka ngayon malamang, first love mo yun di ba?" Rizza said while I saw RJ face turns all red
"Can we please not talk about Ellie in front of Meng" RJ said.
"I'm sorry, iha. Natutuwa lang naman kasi ako sa batang yun eh. I did not mean to offend you as RJ's wife." Lola Linda explained.
"No Lola, I am not offended. RJ can date whoever he wants to, kahit pa ex nya. Alam naman po nating lahat kung anong sitwasyon ang meron kami." I replied.
"Thank you Meng, o tayo na at may bibilhin pa raw itong si Rizza sa jewelry store." Lola said.
"Huh? Ah hindi na lang po Lola, I changed my mind, next time na lang po. Narealized ko po na pagod na po pala ako. Uwi na po tayo." Rizza said and discreetly winks at me. Oh, I love her so much, bukas may gift akong complete spa package para sa iyo my dear sister-in-law.