No Gap Between Us

Ikalawa

Mas napadalas ang pagpunta ko sa bahay nila amelyh, days passed by and I became more welcome in their house. I don't know why pero simula nang hinatid kami ng kuya niya ay nagtuloy tuloy na ang mga pakikisalamuha niya samin, despite of age differences. You know it's hard to compromise with people that don't have the same level of intellect, that's what I thought. Or does it depends on the intention? Hmm.. I hope it's not what I'm thinking.

Ang kaibahan ngayon, palagi ko nang nakakasama si ate Artemis dahilan na mas napapadalas ako sa bahay ng kaibigan. I gushed the heaviness out of my chest. Hindi ko talaga makakasanayan na parehas kami ng hangin na nalalanghap.

"Mukhang napapadalas ang paglabas niyo ng ate mo na magkasama, ano na naman ang tinatago niyo sa'kin?" Tanong ni Tatay.

Nasa hapag kainan kami it's weekend at kararating niya lang galing sa trabaho. Parang magkaibigan lang kami ni tatay, truth is, I'm a tatay's girl, not until that unforeseen issue happened.

"Wala naman Tay, nakahanap lang ng kaibigan si ate." Nasamid pa ko sa kaligtaan ng ka-ibigan that's why it's sounded like it. Pinanlakihan ako ng mata ni ate artemis.

"May nasabi si mang Dado sakin, you didn't tell me, you have a suitor Aiyah?" I was stunned by his question. Eh? In their dreams. I won't even allow anyone to court me.

Umiling ako at uminom ng tubig. "Tay ikaw ang unang makakaalam kung meron."

"Pa sa katarayan niyan walang magtatangkang lumapit." Ate with her insulting smile. I just rolled my eyes.

Tatay cleared his throat. "Anyway, natutuwa akong nagkakasundo kayo." I look at him with disbelief, are we? We don't get along, we won't.

Papasok na ako ng kwarto ng magtanong si ate.

"Pupunta ka bukas sa kanila?" She asked while drying her hair with a small towel.

Umiling ako, it's weekend and I want to attend to tatay's small errands na inuutos niya sakin.

"Pupunta ako, balita ko na bukas ang dating ng magulang nila. So it would be pleasing that you don't come" She said with a straight face at pumasok na sa kwarto niya. What's with that? Napailing na lang ako sa ka abnoan niya.

Nagmessage si Amelyh na bukas na nga ang dating ng magulang nila, and she wants me to go there just this one part of the weekend, may pasalubong din daw ako. Natatawa na lang akong nagmensahe sa kaniya.

:Ame you know I can't. Kailangan kong tulungan si tatay to help him a little sa bagong negosyo niya. May bukas pa naman, love youu!

I was busy recording transactions in my laptop when I heard a knock from our door.

Mukhang nagulat siya na ako ang nagbukas ng pinto. Kumunot ang noo ko at tinanong siya gamit ng mata ko.

"Hinatid ko lang yung pinagawang sasakyan ng papa mo, maayos na at napalitan na ng pangmatagalan na makina." He didn't even breathe when he said it all. I nodded and offer my hand to get the keys.. but I think he didn't get what I meant.

He held it and shake it with his. "Teo, at ikaw si Izaiyah" I was taken aback.

I want to laugh but I don't want to embarrass him. I bit my lip, siguro pulang pula na ko sa pagpipigil ng tawa.

He looked away. Mas naaninag ko tuloy ang pagkamatayog niya at pagkamakisig dahilan siguro ay ang mga ginagawa niya kasama ng ama na si manong Dado. Nahalata niya ba na natatawa ako?.

"The keys, can I get it?" I pointed his pocket na pinagsasabitan nito. Mukhang nagulat pa siya at nahihiya itong inabot sakin.

"Thank you." I nodded down before I closed the door.