Visiting Kyla (Part II)

As the elevator carefully opened, Kyla and I have reached the 15th floor of the condominium. Looking at the open window, I was extremely impressed by the view of Makati and its many towering structures.

"So this is what Makati is all about," I thought to myself.

Seconds later, Kyla knocked on the door and when it opened, her house servant welcomed us to her unit.

"Good morning Kyla," the housemaid greeted her.

We sat down on the sofa while the maid prepared the day's lunch. As Kyla turned on the television, I could not help but feel curious about her employing a maid.

"So when did you start having a servant in your unit?" I inquired Kyla about it.

"About five years ago," she happily replied. "It's a long story Christine. Maybe we can talk about it later."

Kyla grabbed the remote control and switched to a different channel. Not surprisingly, she opted to watch a live NBA game on television.

"You must be a huge NBA fan," I commented favorably on Kyla's lifelong hobby.

"Indeed," Kyla responded joyfully. "My sister Kelly also follows NBA games during her free time."

"So which was the team you enjoyed watching the most?" I sought her back.

"Growing up, I was a Celtics fan since elementary," Kyla revealed. "I even watched them win a championship during fourth grade. Unfortunately, Kelly follows the Cavaliers since she fiercely admired LeBron James. So much that she frequently teases me whenever her squad loses to my team."

Just then, the maid placed a plate of piping hot chicken adobo and a bowl of freshly steamed rice. Lunch was ready to serve, and we promptly walked straight to the dining table.

"Ouch," I painfully reacted upon chewing the hot rice and chicken.

"Christine, don't you know a thing about blowing the heat off of your food," Kyla amusingly replied. "Next thing you know, your tongue is in flames."

"Sorry about that," I shook off the burning sensation after ingesting the food.

Kyla and I continued taking part in some lunch while watching an NBA game on television. Shortly after, we strolled to the bedroom.

Kyla's bedroom was painted green and had posters of NBA players draped all over the walls. Inside her dresser, countless pairs of sneakers were stored along with her cherished collection of jerseys and basketballs.

There was also a small plasma television screen equipped with an XBOX console. On the right side of the room is a bookshelf containing an extensive collection of basketball books and magazines.

"No wonder basketball runs through your veins," I commented on Kyla's vast collection. "This is such an awesome bedroom you have here."

After briefly touring the entire bedroom, Kyla and I went to bed for a short nap. My body was so weary that rest was a must at that point.

It was already 2:30 p.m. when I first woke up from the afternoon siesta. Just as Kyla aroused herself, I noticed a picture frame placed on her dresser.

"Who are they?" I grabbed the frame and pointed towards the picture while Kyla yawned loudly.

"Those were my parents Karen and Kenny," she promptly answered. "Unfortunately, both of them died years ago."

Kyla then uncovered a box from under her bed. It contained a few photo albums inside, some of which were dusty from years of storage.

After wiping the dust off the albums, she presented me some of the pictures from her childhood days. But as Kyla pointed at a photo of herself and her family from high school graduation, she started crying in agony.

"Christine, that was the last picture of me and my parents when they were still alive," Kyla tearfully reflected on the poignant image.

"And then what happened?" I asked her about that terrible moment.

"A few months later I learned they were killed in a car accident," Kyla responded back, her tears still falling. "It was so devastating for Kelly and myself. For weeks, we couldn't sleep remembering that fateful tragedy. Even now, the deaths of my parents still haunt me so much."

Kyla closed the album shut and sobbingly went straight to my arms. I gently patted her back and told her, "Well Kyla, you're not alone. One of my closest friends also lost her parents in a car crash a few days ago."

"Really?" Kyla stunningly reacted to the news. "So who was the closest companion you're talking about?"

I opened my smartphone and showed her the Facebook page of my close friend.

"Kyla, let me introduce you to my dear friend Ella," I pointed my finger at the screen. "Michelle and I have been classmates with her since fourth grade."

"Ella looks pretty and dainty," Kyla nodded upon looking at Ella's account. "Turns out both of us have something in common.

Kyla wiped off her tears and briefly looked up on the ceiling, after which she offered me an enticing proposal.

"Well, would you like to introduce me to your friend Ella during your free time?" Kyla said.

"No problem," I swiftly replied. "Michelle and I always walk and dine with Ella during our free time. If ever you sighted us somewhere, don't hesitate to come in."

"Sure thing Christine," Kyla nodded towards me.

After the box had been stored away under the bed, Kyla and I stood up and walked back to the living room. At that point, I started asking her about the housemaid.

"Well Christine, it was Kelly who hired her to be my housemaid," Kyla revealed as we sat down the sofa. "Ever since our parents died, Kelly developed into the de facto breadwinner of the family and she became hands-on with all the day-to-day responsibilities. Even I had to pitch in as well."

"And how about going to and from school?" I inquired Kyla about her routine. "Do you commute as well?"

"Indeed Christine," Kyla nodded back. "The condominium is just three jeepney rides away from school. Typically, it takes 30 minutes for me to go to school and back."

Just then, Kyla's maid gently placed two glasses of orange juice and two plates of bacon sandwich on the table. We immediately consumed those delicious snacks while she promptly opened the television to watch some cartoons.

Shortly after we left Kyla's unit and walked straight to a neighbouring church. It has been truly a wonderful visit up to this point, but my day with Kyla is far from over.