“I am in love with someone else,” I answered back. I looked at her, pleading.
She didn’t utter any word about what she heard. She was silent for a moment. She sipped her black coffee and looked at me again. I knew coffee could calm her nerves. She put down the cup on the table then she spoke.
“Who’s the lucky rat?” she asked and stared at me intently. I didn’t answer.
“Ah! I think it’s better if I’m going to rephrase it…” she said and sipped again on her cup.
“Who’s the lucky woman?”
“I found her, mom,” I answered and smiled like an idiot.
“Oh!” she exclaimed.
“Can I meet her?” she asked, then continued eating.
“We will go there, mom,” I said, then drink a glass of water.
“On the right time,” I added.
She just smiled at me and didn’t bother to comment. I didn’t know if what she heard was okay with her or what. It was also a bit surprising because she didn’t force Natasha anymore but I hope she continues like that.
“What about dad? How is he?” I diverted the topic by asking how dad is in the States. I wiped my lips using a tissue.
“He’s good, sweetie,” she answered back without glancing at me. I didn’t know what she was thinking about right now but I hope it is not against Angela.
I love her.
“Oh! I have to go! I have a client meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Salcedo today!” she exclaimed as if she had almost forgotten. She put down the fork and knife and then got up from her seat. She took a glance at her wristwatch.
“Bye for now,” she said. She approached my direction and kissed my forehead then walked away.
I sighed again in relief.
It was good news that mom had a meeting today. Angela is free to move around here at home. I know she hasn’t been comfortable with mom since we were in high school. I remembered her saying that mom looked scary. I laughed at her when I heard that.
She saw mom before when there was a parent meeting at school. But mom hadn’t seen Angela yet.
I smiled as I remembered those days. I shook my head and got up from my seat before leaving the house.
“Manang Belen, I’ll go ahead. Take care of the house,” I bid goodbye to our maid. She nodded in agreement. I nodded back as well and smiled. I got inside the car and drove it away.
* * * *
I didn’t go straight to Angela’s house. I went first to a fast-food chain and ordered a bucket of fried chicken and burgers that I’m sure the kids will love.
After ordering, I got back in my car and drove it away.
About a few minutes later, I was pretty close to Angela’s house when my gaze shifted to the side of the road as I entered the corner of the street.
Magda suddenly came to my mind.
She lives here, right? This is the place where I dropped her off that night.
I stopped the car next to Magda’s house. I looked at the food I bought lately. It was quite a lot for us so I decided to get some for Magda and finally got out of the car.
“Hello?!” I shouted in front of the gate.
“Hello! Is anybody there?!” I shouted again and knocked. The neighbor’s dogs started to bark.
The people on the street are looking at me as if I was an alien who landed on the planet Earth. What’s new? They are always like that when I’m here in their village.
I knocked once again on the gate.
Knock! Knock!
“Wait for a second!” the voice of an old lady answered me.
I shut my mouth and waited. Then after a second, the gate opened. I saw an old lady that I think is between seventy to eighty years of age.
“What’s it, Sir?” she asked. She looked at me from head to toe. As if I was a specimen under a microscope that was to be examined.
When she was content, she shifted her gaze back to my face.
She opened the gate slightly. She didn’t bother to let me in.
“Ah…” I uttered nervously and scratched my eyebrow.
Is this her grandmother? She looks scary, indeed!
“I’m looking for Magda,” I said.
“I brought some food for her,” I added and smiled awkwardly. I scratched the back of my head.
I was devastated when her eyes narrowed as if she were reading me.
“Who’s Magda?” she asked confusedly.
“There’s no Magda here. Go away!” the old lady scolded me and turned her back. I panicked.
I hold the gate quickly to avoid closing it. She stopped because of what I did.
“Grandma, I’m looking for Magda. The one who works at…” I paused. I breathe deeply.
“… entertainment club,” I said almost in a whisper.
The old lady immediately looked at me after hearing it.
“I don’t know who’s Magda that you’re talking about but there is a woman living here who works in the place that you’re saying,” she said and raised her drawn eyebrow.
“Ah… Yes! Maybe it’s her,” I guessed and managed to smile.
“Okay. I’ll call her.”
I nodded at her in response and smiled.
The old lady entered the house. I remained standing in front of the gate and patiently waiting.
She’s living here. I know that because I’m the one who drove on her way back home.
Later, the old lady came out again to the gate.
“She’s coming. Just wait for her,” she informed and went outside the gate.
She walked away in my direction. Looked like she was going somewhere.
I breathed deeply and remained standing in front of the gate.
The surroundings were noisy and almost everyone was watching me. Even children playing on the street, fish, and vegetable vendors were staring at me.
I fished out my cell phone from my pocket and fiddled with it to divert the awkward feeling that the neighbors were giving me.
“Who are-”
I looked up when someone spoke in front of me. My eyes widened and I stopped what I was doing right after I saw who’s the woman standing in front of me.
I saw her eyes filled with questions, and so did I.
“Bel?” I uttered in shock.