"Wait, what?" I asked. It took me a minute to register it in my mind. His...house? My eyes bulged and my mouth formed an 'o'.
Eion was now on the outside of the car, waiting for me impatiently. I opened the door and managed to stand properly without falling. With my jellied knees, my eyes were glued to the house in front of me. I had to practically raise my head higher to see the house's interior. I tried so hard not to gawk, I could feel Eion's gaze from my back.
All I can say is that it was huge, but it was larger than Aunt Maggie's house. If measured, our average house didn't even reach half of it.
I gulped down the drool on my mouth and cleared my throat. Eion started to walk towards the front porch and was motioning his head for me to follow him. And for the first time, I obeyed his command and followed him, my eyes trailing from the green healthy grasses to the violet lilies in the front yard.
When we entered the double doors, I was expecting his mom to be there to greet him but then I remembered her mother was...dead. I gulped at the thought, somehow feeling sad.
Instead, an old woman wearing casual clothes, just a simple blouse, and pajamas. She greeted us as soon as we entered. Her hair was white and her eyes were dark brown. With the crease on her forehead and the wrinkles in her eyes as she gave us a welcoming smile, I could tell she was in her fifties.
"Magandang hapon, anak," (Translation: Good afternoon, son)
She bowed graciously to Eion, causing her hair that was in a bun to slightly move. She raised her head and glanced at me. "May kasama ka, anak?" (Translation: You're with a company, son?")
I paid attention to what the woman was saying. What language was it? I stared weirdly at Eion, who was standing stiff as usual.
"Yeah, Maria, this is my classmate, Snow." Eion said carelessly. So she's Maria? Is she their maid? I sent a shy smile at her, and she returned it with a kind smile, her eyes twinkling with something so warm and nice I felt like I was looking at my grandmother.
"I'll go to my room first," Eion spoke up.
"Sige anak," (Translation: Okay, son)
He glanced at me for a second before going up the stairs down to the hallway. I followed my eyes until he was out of sight.
Maria then turned her head to me. "Naku, ano kaya ang ginawa nun para sumama ka sa kanya..." She stared at me, her eyes glinting with delight before chuckling at herself. (Translation: Oh goodness, what did he do for you to come with him...)
I smiled sheepishly. I really don't understand what she's saying so I just nodded my head. I feel so stupid. I should ask Eion what she was saying...for all we know she was cursing me.....no she won't do it. But the glint in her eyes told otherwise...
Shaking her head as if waking herself up from a daydream, she spoke up. "Come, Ms. Snow." She directed me to a huge living room. I forced down the saliva dripping in my mouth at what I saw. I didn't expect his house to be like this. The shock I experienced earlier from the outside was nothing compared to now.
What more inside? Maria motioned for me to sit in the cushioned seat and I did. I look around me, the beige walls that no picture was hung on, just plain walls. The chandelier with crystal that glistened from the light, the sofa I was sitting on made me uncomfortable because of its softness and aura. The polished floors. The interior of the house was modern and elegant. It was like one of those houses featured in the magazines.
It’s somehow similar to Aunt Maggie’s mansion, but this one is much more glamorous.
I was pulled from my trance of Maria asking me, "Ano pong- I....mean.....What do you want, miss?" She seemed to struggle to speak in English. "A juice? A soda?"
"Juice please," I answered politely.
She nodded gracefully, "Okay Ms. Snow...just wait here."
"Thank you," I said. She was walking away when I called out. "Uhm, Maria?"
"Po?" She turned around to face me.
"What language is that?" I finally asked, I feel like I could die in curiosity if I didn't ask.
"Ah ito ba? It's.....Filipino language, Miss Snow. I'm sorry po...hindi ako magaling mag-english." (Translation: Oh this? It's...Filipino language, Miss Snow. I'm sorry, I'm not really good at speaking English)
"Oh, thank you." I see..so that's why it was kinda familiar. I remember Aunt Maggie sometimes speaking in this language to my mother and teaching her a few words.
"Sige maam, kunin ko lang yung Juice nyo..."
I just nodded my head and she pranced towards the hallway. But then I saw someone approaching her. A tall man. When Maria saw him, she bowed and they made a conversation. After a few words, the man nodded his head then walked towards my direction.
As he came nearer, he's face became more familiar. He was adjusting his tie and when he looked up, he smiled at me. Wait... He looks like Eion. Is he his father? How stupid I am not to realize it sooner.
"I believe I met you." He said, his voice gruff, his aura was intimidating like Eion... No, more intimidating. And if Eion was tall, this man was much taller and held more power and authority.
"Oh, Uhm...Mr. Hudson?" I asked.
He nodded, correcting me, "Yes. Adam Hudson."
"Good afternoon sir,” I said, speaking politely. He chuckled at this, his intimidating aura had lessened.
"Goodaftenoon." He greeted me. When he stopped, he looked straight at me, stroking his chin that had a faint four o'clock shadow. He looked like in his fifties but the smoothness of his face and the small wrinkles on his forehead told him that he's much younger. "You're Evelyn's daughter."
I was shocked to know that he still remembered me but I just nodded at him.
"It's nice to meet you again, then." The corners on his mouth twisted upward, smiling widely.
I smiled. "Nice to meet you again too, sir." When it comes to their physical characteristics...yes, there's no denying the fact that Eion and this man are related. Eion looked like a carbon copy of him. But the attitude...it was miles away from similar. They're different from each other. While Eion looks like he'll murder someone in a minute, his father looks like the one who smiles at every stranger he meets. Although his aura was intimidating, I could tell that his heart was soft as silk.
"You know, my son had never-" he was cut off by a voice.
"Dad?" Eion's faint voice said from afar.
"Oh, there goes my son." He chuckled.
"I thought you were still on a business trip." I noticed Eion changed his previous plain green shirt into a red shirt. He walked in my direction and stood beside me.
"Yes, I was. I just arrived here this afternoon." His father answered, and Eion scoffed.
"Okay."
I couldn't help but notice something... with his creased forehead and now dull-looking eyes, he looked irritated that his father had just arrived. That made me curious.
"We'll just move to my room to finish our school task." He turned around and walked away. I glanced at his father who was smiling sadly while staring at his son.
"Are you coming or what?"