When the gate opened, Nick sensed that Stacey became all tensed up. Tinignan niya ito. She is looking straight ahead. He saw an elderly but still a very beautiful woman who is probably their mother. Standing next to her is Heather who looks annoyed.
Bago nito ipinasok ang kotse he asked her, "Honey? Are you alright?"
She just nodded.
Though he's not convinced, pinaandar na nito ang sasakyan.
He knows that something is definitely not right. He will know later.
Stacey kept her head down hanggang sa maipasok na ni Nick ang kotse. Ayaw na niyang isipin kung ano ang pwedeng mangyari after tonight. Bahala na. She didn't wait for Nick to open her door. She got off by herself. He still went around the car para salubungin siya and hold her hand. She wanted to protest but she saw something in his eyes so hindi na lang siya kumibo.
She can already feel the tension bago pa sila lumapit sa mama at kapatid niya .The latter's pretty face looks really hostile .She has her arms crossed on her chest. Though her mom's face is more welcoming, alam niya na if may mangyayari, she will always take Heather's side. She just hopes that Nick will not witness anything tonight. The last thing she wants is him discovering her real situation at home. She doesn't want his pity.
"Good evening po mam." magalang na bati ni Nick sa mama niya.
"Magandang gabi." her mother replied.
"I'm Nick Alcantara po." pagpapakilala nito bago inilahad ang isang kamay for a hand shake .His left hand is on her back.
Their mother nodded and shook hands with him. Nakangiti pa din ito. Nick nodded at Heather as a greeting. She is just looking at him.
Iniiwasan ni Stacey na tignan ito. She has her gaze at their mother.
"Let's get inside. Magpapahanda ako ng kape kay Amelia. " her mother offered.
Nick nodded and then looked at her. Hinawakan nito ulit ang kamay niya as if reassuring her that all will be well.
He can't read her eyes. Somehow she is trying to hide how she feels about all this. Alam ni Nick that she's nervous cause her hand feels cold. He squeezed it then he smiled at her. Nagbaba si Stacey ng tingin.
Nakaupo silang apat sa verandah. May rectangular rattan table na may tig-apat na upuan opposite each other.
Nick didn't give Stacey a chance to sit far from him. Hindi nito binitawan ang kamay ng dalaga as he pulled a chair for her.He sat down next to her. Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Heather ng mapilitan itong umupo sa kabilang side katabi ng ina.
"Buti ikaw ang nag-dadrive ng sasakyan ng anak ko Nick? Sabi ni Heather ikaw daw ang bagong boss ni Stacey. My daughter hasn't talked to me about what's happening with her now." tila may tampong sabi ni Mrs.Williams habang nakatingin kay Stacey.
Before Nick can answer sumabat si Heather. "She hasn't even told you mom about the details of her part-time job before working for Nick. Di ba alam lang natin na super late na siyang umuwi? You should really be stricter with her mom. You always let her get away with things. Baka kung mapano pa siya, ikaw din ang magkaka-problema." Heather said while looking Stacey in the eye.
Pinigilan ni Stacey na magsalita. It's the usual thing naman. Binabaligtad na naman siya ng kapatid. Pag nagsalita siya, she knows hahaba lang. Nakakahiya lalo't nandito si Nick.
"Anak, I think kailangan nating mag-usap one of these days." sabi ng mama nila.
Tumango na lang siya para matapos na ang usapan about her.
"Mam." interrupted Nick. " To answer your question, chinek ko lang po if okay na ang takbo ng kotse ni Stacey. Mukhang na-discharge kasi ang battery this morning. I just wanted her to come home safe." Nick said.
Naiinitindihan ni Stacey that he needs to lie. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na parang may kakampi siya. And what's surprising is, si Nick Alcantara pa. Mahirap ipaliwanag but she feels safe and secure now that she is with him .She just hopes na pag sinagot na niya si Derick at binasted na niya ito, hindi naman sana masyadong magalit ang boss niya sa kanya. Tutal naging honest naman siya about Derick. Ayaw niyang isipin ni Nick na ginagamit niya lang ito and ginagawang panakip-butas. She loves him but she has made a promise to herself and she intends to keep it.
"Hindi naman kaya sinadya niyang mangyari yun para ihatid mo siya ?She is very good in manipulating things and people. Just like what happened this morning." Heather said.
Stacey's eyes widened. She knows her sister is bitchy but she is really surprised that she brought up that issue.
"Heather!" saway ng mama nila.
Gustong-gusto na ni Stacey na tumayo para tumakbo sa kwarto niya. Ramdam niya na mag-uumpisa na ang kapatid niya .Ni hindi niya gustong sulyapan si Nick na tahimik lang na nakikinig at nagmamasid.
"Salamat sa paghatid mo sa anak ko Nick." sabi ng mama nila para i-divert ang usapan.
"Wala pong problema mam. You don't have to say thank you.I want Stacey to be always safe." sabi nito bago tumingin sa kanya.
She also glanced at Nick for a few seconds bago yumuko ulit. She feels na what he is going to say next will have a very big impact to either her mom or sister or to both of them.
"Hello po everybody. Here's your coffee." Amy came in holding a tray with four cups.
Pagka-serve ng kape bago umalis she asked, "Ate ganda ,mamamanhikan na yata si sir pogi?"
Bago pa maka-react si Stacey dumagundong ang boses ng kapatid.
" AMY! Go back to the kitchen now!!" sigaw ni Heather
Sumimangot ang kasambahay bago tumalikod para umalis na.
"Ginisang ampalaya, awww!" kanta nito.
Kung hindi lang nasa ganito silang sitwasyon baka natawa pa si Stacey.
"I am glad na nakilala ko po kayo mam." Nick suddenly said.
"You can call me tita Sofia, Nick." sagot ng mama nila.
"Thank you tita Sofia. I am not even sure if it's proper for me to say what I want to, lalo at first time pa lang po nating magkita."
"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin iho?" Her mother's voice sounds really curious. Although alam ni Stacey na she probably has a hint of what Nick will say.
"I like your daughter very much at gusto ko po siyang ligawan." he said seriously.
Nakagat ni Stacey ang labi bago tinignan ang reaksyon ng mama niya.
She saw her mother nod but didn't say anything.
"What?!" biglang tanong ni Heather. Maybe what Nick said to their mother just sank in dahil it took her few seconds before she reacted. She stood up angrily na ikinagulat ng ina nila pero hindi ni Nick at Stacey.
"Heather!" tawag ni Mrs.Williams.
But as expected hindi man lang natinag ang kapatid niya.
"Is this some kind of a stupid joke?!" galit na tanong nito. She looked at Stacey first then at Nick.
Nick is watching Heather's reaction like a hawk.
"Heather anak, please sit down." pakiusap ni Mrs.Williams.
Hindi alam ni Stacey kung saan siya titingin .Ito na ang kinatatakutan niyang mangyari. She did her best to convince Nick na huwag na munang kausapin ang mama nila. Since alam niyang nasa bahay na ang kapatid, siguradong haharap ito with their mother.
At sa sinabi ni Nick, sure siya na Heather will not take this sitting down.
"May I ask why you think that this is all a joke?" Nick questioned Heather in a cold voice.
Pinag-krus nito ang mga braso sa malapad na dibdib habang nakaupo.. His eyes are narrowed as he stares at Heather.
"Because you can't want someone like her!" sigaw ni Heather as she transferred her eyes to Stacey. Matalim na matalim ang tingin nito sa nakakatandang kapatid.
Stacey had no choice but to look at her .Gusto niyang marinig kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito with what she just said.
Tumayo na ang mama nila.
"Heather, tama na anak. Nakakahiya kay Nick." malumanay pa din na sabi nito sa anak.
"And why wouldn't I want someone like your sister? What is it about her that I wouldn't like? As far as I am concerned, she has everything I want in a woman...and more." he said seriously.
Stacey looked at him with her eyes wide. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya. What Nick said blew her away.
GOSH! Did he really mean that? Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa sarili.
Lalong namula ang mukha ni Heather sa narinig.
"Then you are a fool Nick! She is not what you think she is! Looks can be deceiving! Magaling talaga siyang magpaikot ng tao especially men!" sabi pa nito as she looks furiously at Stacey.
Dun na hindi nakatiis na magsalita si Stacey. She also stood up and faced her sister. She must do something to stop her if their mother can't.
"Tumigil ka na Heather! Hindi ka ba kinikilabutan sa sinasabi mo? You really will stoop this low just to get what you want?" she asked her tone cold. She is trying very hard not to cry.
Gusto niyang kainin na siya ng lupa dahil sa hiyang nararamdaman kay Nick. What must he be thinking now about her and her family?
"Stacey anak..tama na. Ako na ang kakausap sa kapatid mo." awat sa kanya ng ina.
"Bakit ako kikilabutan? Hindi ba totoo? Nagmamalinis ka pa? Nagpapaawa effect? Nagdadrama? Like what happened this morning? Nabugbog ni Nick ang kaibigan niya dahil sayo!" she yelled.
"You make it sound as if sinadya ko na bastusin ako ng manyak na lalaking yun! You don't even know what really happened!" medyo tumaas na din ang boses niya.
"Stacey! Lalo kayong mag-aaway ng kapatid mo. Tama na!" saway ng mama niya.
Tumayo na din si Nick. He touched her back as if to support her.
"Well you probably deserved what he said or did to you!" sigaw ni Heather.
"Heather! Can't you just stop this? I saw what happened. Hindi ko hahayaang bastusin ng kahit sinong lalake ang kapatid mo!" Nick said curtly.
"Well she got what she deserved! Would you really want someone like her to be your girlfriend? What will your family say if they learned that you are going out with a woman like her? Do you know that she posed for a men's magazine almost naked?!" she asked Nick. Triumph in her eyes when she saw Stacey's face lost color.