"When I look into your eyes, it's like watching the night sky or the beautiful sunrise"
***
Eiffel's PoV
"Ummm..." How should we deal with this?
Both of us are standing in front of a simple bungalow house, with our luggage and trunks. The house is surrounded by white wooden gates, the front yard was wide, there were trees that gives off fresh air and green plants. It looks so peaceful that you wouldn't think that it is still a part of a city.
Ah...your probably wondering kung ano ang sitwasyon namin ngayon ni Kuya Clyde.
Why don't we go back 30 minutes ago?
.....
Nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan nang matapos naming ihatid sina Daddy at Mommy sa airport ay kasama nina Daddy Gene at Mommy Sophie.
Supposed to be ay sa bahay na ako nila Kuya Clyde titira para hindi raw ako malungkot sabi ni Mommy Sophie pero biglang nagring ang phone ni Mommy at sinagot niya agad ito.
Kuya Clyde and I both looked at each other.
"What? Oh no that is not good, ok we'll fly immediately. Yes, wait for us" she hung up the phone after the short call.
She looked at us and Daddy Gene.
"There is a problem in our company based on Russia, your Daddy and I need to go there kids," malungkot na bulgar niya.
Kipit balikat na sumipol si Kuya Clyde "edi pumunta kayo" biglang sumibangot si Mommy sa sagot ni Kuya Clyde. So I immediately intervened.
"It's ok Mommy, we understand" nakangiwing sabi ko.
Mommy Sophie sighed. "No, you don't understand"
The car stopped "We're here!" pagbibigay alam ni Daddy Gene.
Biglang kumunot ang noo ni Kuya Clyde at ako naman ay nagtaka. We're not in their house.
Lumabas ng kotse sina Daddy at Mommy kaya lumabas din kami.
"You see, matagal kaming mawawala ng Daddy niyo, we will be attending many seminars and other things in the different countries so we're not sure kung kelan kami makakabalik." Nakangiting explain ni Mommy.
"And so?" tanong ni Kuya Clyde.
"And so... We realized that this is a good chance for the two of you to get used with each other again! You know, like when you were kids. Kaya napagdesisyunan naming hindi kayo titira sa mansyon. The both of you will be staying in a normal house and live together! Isn't it a great idea?!" excited na sabi ni Mommy.
Both of us looked dumbfounded like we just heard the craziest idea ever.
"You want us to what...?" ulit ni Kuya Clyde na parang hindi niya naintindihan ang sinabi ni Mommy.
"You both will be living under one roof!" ulit ni Mommy with a wide smile. I glanced at the fuming Kuya Clyde.
"Are you nuts Ma?! Hahayaan niyong bubukod kami sa inyo? We're underage for goodness sake!"
"Oh, don't worry son, everything will be ok, you're just one year from being eighteen and Eiffel is a matured girl" Mommy laughed.
"That's not the point Ma!" nangigigigil na sigaw ni Kuya Clyde
"Diba nga gusto mong magstay sa dormitory sa University niyo? Now you don't have to! This house is just a walking distance from your Eiffel's school and yours"
"Iba yun sa gusto niyo ngayon!"giit ni Kuya.
"Oh, please Clyde, what are you afraid of? Kasal naman na kayo ni Eiffel, unless…"
"M-Mom! Does Papa Raven and Mama Pau know this?!"
"Of course! They already agreed on it, they also believe that by this way, masasanay na kayo sa isat isa at wala nang ilangan in the future!" Mommy Sophie clapped her hands.
"If you're worried sa mga gawaing bahay, you can always call some maids in the mansion to do it but, they can't stay and live with you. Nakausap ko na ang mga maids at kahit anong gawin niyo ay hindi kayo makakabalik sa mansyon. Kompleto narin ang mga gamit sa bahay na ita at mga kailangan niyo. The house is just smaller compared to your house Eiffel, but I know the both of you can get used to it" nakangwing tumango nalang ako sa haba ng sinabi ni Mommy Sophie
"P-Paano ang mga gamit namin?" hindi parin sumusuko si Kuya Clyde.
"Don't worry son, andito na" saad ni Daddy Gene at nilabas ang mga maleta at bags namin mula sa likod ng kotse.
"Your Big Bike is already here, pinadala ko sa driver natin." Nakangiting dagdag ni Daddy at inabot ang isang susi kay Kuya Clyde.
"That's the key to the house, tigisa kayo ni Eiffel"
"Ito ang ATM cards na galing sa magulang mo Eiffel and Credit Cards na galing sa amin. Don't worry, sky is the limit dear, perks of marrying an heir of a big bank" Mommy winked and handed four cards.
"Couple phones niyo, nakarigester na diyan ang mga numbers namin at sa mansyon, call us whenever you want kids" saad ni Daddy at tinapon ang mga ito kay Kuya Clyde na agad sinalo niya.
"Ok, remember, you two are already married, you have to cope with each other and live in harmony, that's all. Ciao!" paalam ni Mommy at mablis silang sumakay ni Daddy sa kotse leaving me and Kuya Clyde behind.
And so...
Ito na nga ang nangyari...
I glanced at Kuya Clyde who looked so angry at the moment pero maya maya ay napabuntong hininga nalang siya at binuksan ang pintuan.
Pumasok kami habang hatak hatak ang mga maleta namin.
The house is great, hindi man siya ganon kalaki at kalawak ay sapat na ito para sa dalawang tao.
Pagpasok mo sa loob ay sala agad ang bubungad sayo, may isang sofa at dalawang single couch na magkatabi, sa gitna ay may lamesita na may nakapatong na isang antique vase. There is also 60 inches flat screen TV at mga speakers na nakapatong sa isang malaking glass table. Sa likod ng sala ay ang dining area, nakalagay ang isang simple round table and four chairs, sa tabi ay may built in counter na nagsisilbing divider ng kusina at dining area, kaya kitang kita ang malinis na kusina. I went in the kitchen at masasabi kong kompleto nga ang lahat ng kasangkapan, there is oven, microwave, rice cooker at kung ano ano pang basic equipment for cooking. Sa gilid ng malawak na kusina ay isang pintuan for the restroom, mayroong bathtub at shower.
From there ay nagtungo na ako sa dalawang kuwarto. Pinasok ni Kuya Clyde ang mga maleta ko sa kaliwang kuwarto at ang sa kanya naman sa kanan. I entered the room which I think is mine, it was white painted air coned room, sa gilid ng pader ay nakalagay ang isang malaking cabinet, sa gitna naman ay isang simpleng kama at sa gilid ay ang study table na may computer. Nakapatong doon ang case ng violin ko. Mayroon ding bookshelf kung saan nakalagay ang madaming libro, kumuha ako ng isang pamilyar na libro, Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet, Mommy Sophie must have remembered my hobby of reading books.
Naglakad ako sa tabi ng kama na may bintana at binuksan ito napatingin ako sa madilim na kalangitan at base dito ay uulan ata.
Paglabas ko ng kuwarto ay kumatok ako sa kuwarto ni Kuya Clyde,
"H-Hubby? Do you need some help?" tanong ko.
"No" naring kong sagot niya at nakaramdam ako ng lungkot, siguro ay naiinis siya na ako ang makakasama niyang tumira dito...
But instead of getting depressed, I went to the kitchen.
Kumuha ako ng mga ingridients sa ref at nagsuot na ako ng apron. I faced the chopping board with a knife in my hand, pero saka ko lang narealize ang isang napakalaking bagay...
I don't know how to cook...
Clyde's PoV
It's already evening and it started raining outside.
Ito ako at nangigigil na nilalagay sa kabinet ang mga gamit ko, I'm so mad right now at kating kati akong mangbugbog.
There's no way na coincidence lang ang mga nangyari! I'm so sure na pinagplanuhan ito ng mga magulang ko, specially by my Mom!
Don't they know that I'm still a man! They're like throwing a lamb in a wolf's den! Though wala naman talaga akong planong gumawa ng kahit ano, I'm just thinking of the possible consequences!
I really hate them!
How come na napapayag nila si Papa Raven at Mama Pau patungkol dito? Those adults are always such scheming devils.
But aside from that, wala akong masasabi sa bahay na kinuha nila, napakasimple lamang nitong bahay at kompleto na lahat ng kailangan naminito saka malapit lang ang mga school namin ni Eiffel so pwede naming lakarin lang.
Mayroon din kaming allowance at malaya kaming gawin ang kahit ano.
Eiffel offered me help earlier, pero sa ngayon ay galit parin ako kaya mas mabuti pang magkulong nalang ako para magpalipas ng galit.
I am in the middle of unpacking when Eiffel knocked again.
"H-Hubby. The dinner is ready..." sabi niya.
I got up but I hesitated, having dinner alone with her would be so awkward "Not hungry" sagot ko nalang.
"S-Sige..." she said back and left.
After unpacking ay humiga na ako sa kama ko thinking kung paano na ako sa mga susunod na araw, are we going stay here for many days? It might me months or even years! Makakabalik paba kami sa mansyon?
Nakakainis talaga!
Malalim na ang gabi pero hindi parin ako makatulog nang biglang may kumatok ulit.
I know it's Eiffel, what does she wants now?
I stood up and open the door slightly
"U-Um... H-Hubby?"
"What is it?" bored na tanong ko.
She is wearing a long sleeve white dress na pangtulog, medyo magulo ang buhok niya and she is hugging a teddy bear tightly and darn! She looks so cute!
She looked so embarrassed na parang nahihirapang sabihin ang dahilan ng pagistorbo niya sa akin.
"C-Can I sleep with you?" nahihiyang tanoong niya and looked at me with her innocent blue eyes.
.
.
.
She wants to WHAT?!!!
Anak ng tokwa! Hirap na hirap na nga ako sa ideyang nasa iisang bobong kami tapos gusto pa niyang matulog sa tabi ko?! KATARUNGAN!
"No" I sternly declined her.
"You're big already," dagdag ko.
She looked at me with a rejected expression "A-Ah... s-sige pasensya na" she stated with a smile at tumalikod na.
Pumasok ulit ako sa kuwarto ko at humiga ulit sa kama ko.
It was raining hard at sunod sunod ang ingay ng mga kidlat.
I know I was rude to her, but I have to do it. I mean, who knows kung ano ang pwedeng mangayari sa amin right now, hindi sa gusto ko namang may mangyari.
I just want to play safe right now since it's our first night together.
Tumayo ulit ako at naglakad papunta sa bintana ko, marahang tinabing ang kurtina saka tinignan ang kapaligiran.
"Ang lakas na thunderstorm to ah"
Teka...
Thunder storm?
Napatingin ako sa pintuan.
"Posible kaya?"
I immediately went out from my room "Eiffel" I called her as I knock in front of her door pero wala akong narinig na sagot mula sa kanya.
Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang pinto at pumasok.
I heard small sobs but I can't see her. Naglakad ako patungo sa kama niya. I kneeled down and saw the one I'm looking for.
Eiffel was under her bed whimpering silently...
I suddenly felt guilty seeing her crying like this.
"Eiffel" I called her once more.
She looked back at me with her tears stained face.
Iniabot ko ang kamay ko "Halika..."
She was hesitating kung ibibigay din niya ang kamay niya.
"Eiffel" I smiled.
Biglang lumiwanag ang ang kuwarto as a signal ng susunod na kidlat at mabilis na yumakap siya sa akin.
I wrapped my arms around her as she leaned against my chest
Sumunod ang malakas na ingay ng kidlat. Dumagungdong ang buong kuwarto sa lakas ng impact ng kidlat.
"Hmp" she cried and hugged me tightly as she shakes in terror.
I inhaled and hugged her more tightly, like assuring her that she is safe, that I will not let anything harm her.
She was still scared of thunders, just like when we were still kids. Naalala ko ang pagiyak niya habang nagtatago sa loob ng closet niya at ang madalas na pagyakap niya sa akin noong mas bata pa kami.
Ang gago mo Clyde, kahit anong gawin niyang magpakamatured, she is still a child.
I carefully stood up and carried her towards my room.
Hindi siya nagtanong pa at nanatiling nakayakap sa akin
Inilapag ko siya sa kama ko at humiga sa tabi niya. She was still whimpering and crying at the sounds of the thunders. I went near her and pulled her into my chest.
"Sshh..." I was trying to calm her as I stroke her long hair but she still kept on crying.
"You can curl up in my arms and let the beat of my heart soothe you to sleep." I stated and smiled.
Dahan dahan siyang yumakap sa akin at hinayaan kong gawin niyang unan ang braso ko.
She looked at me for the last time and silently closed her eyes.
"Thank you Hubby..."
Hindi parin tumigil ang pagkidlat at ang ulan pero ilang saglit lang ay nakatulog narin siya.
Napatingin ako sa mukha niya. Her long lashes that frames her eyes, her porcelain like skin and her pinkish lips. Napakaganda niya habang nahihimbing sa braso ko.
"So... what should you do now Oh-so-great-Clyde?" tanong ko sa sarili ko.
Damn...
Ako naman ang hindi makatulog ngayon!