Fifteen Grace

FG - 17

SHINICHI

"Shinichi, open the door," my Dad called me from outside. Pagkarating ko kasi sa bahay ay dito na ako dumiretso sa kwarto.

"Tomorrow, Dad. I'm dead tired," sagot ko. Which is true. I am not even sure kung makakatulog ako ngayon.

All I can think about is the lady I left from our Ancestral house.

"Exact 8am," paalala niya. "I want you to be ready dahil susunduin natin ang mga auntie mo sa airport."

"Alright," bulong ko. Not giving a damn if he heard it or not.

As I heard his foot steps getting away from my earshot, I closed my eyes and the kisses we've shared earlier automatically flash. I moan in confusion, why is it I'm always having difficulty not to kiss her whenever she's near to me? Can't even control myself not caress her soft long hair.

"Kung may naiisip kang kalokohan pwes itigil mo na 'yan. Pag ikaw ang nahulog sa sarili mong patibong ay baka hindi ka na makaalis."

Bigla kong naalala ang sinabi sa'kin ni Daddy. Ito ba ang tinutukoy niya? Nahulog ako sa sarili kong patibong, nahulog ako kay Fifteen? Now I can't manage to get out, I became her prison. And what happen between is irrevocable.

I may fell on my own trap but this - this is something I won't regret. And why would I regret this if we both know deep down that I change her.

That I won.

That God, I love her so damn much.

*****

"Mommy! Mommy! Can I go to the pool with these plastic fluffy duckies?"

"Mommy! Mommy! Can I go upstairs?"

"Mommy! Mommy! Can I eat this thing?"

"Mommy! Mommy! Can I play with Kuya Conan?"

I think I will be having an extreme headache. These creatures are pain in the ass. Ang kukulit! Hapon na ng makauwi kami mula sa pagsundo kaila Auntie. Summing it up ay 14 silang sinundo namin kanina sa airport at sa labin-apat na 'yon ay may apat na kasamang bata. Si Aunt Maricar ay may isang anak, si Ashley; kay Aunt Vanessa ay si Vince and Diego at kay Aunt Elsie naman ay si Dylan - kaya ang resulta, ang ingay at ang gulo sa loob at labas ng bahay.

So I am gonna bear this for the next two days? I silently groan.

"Vince, not now. Stay here with Mommy okay?" Paalala ni Aunt Vanessa sa anak niya. Bumusangot na lang si Vince na may tatlong taong gulang, nanatiling nakaupo at tahimik na sinubo ang lollipop niya.

"And you, Diego," baling naman niya sa isang anak. "Play alone with your duckies or with your brother but never go -" may itinuro siya sa kaliwa, "- in that pool. Understand?" Tumango lamang ang anak niya bilang saot

"Dylan, No! Where did you get that?" Pagdako ng tingin ko kay Auntie Elsie ay may kinukuha siya sa kamay ng anak niya.

"This is a piece of rock for Pete's sake! How will you be able to eat this?"

"Uhm, boil it for 30 minutes?" He innocently suggested. I laughed on Dylan's Idea.  

This day is entertaining.

"Never take dirty things like this again okay? Look at your Kuya Shin. He's laughing at you." So the boy glance at me, he automatically pouted the moment he confirmed that I indeed laughing at him.

"Ask Kuya Conan if he wants to play with you." Napabaling ako ng tingin kaila Aunt Maricar.

Siyempre akong si Shinichi (Cudo) ang tinutukoy niyang Conan. Lumapit agad si Ashley sa'kin na may dala-dalang santan na pula. 

"Kuya Conan!" Magiliw niyang bati. "Where's Ate Ran?" At talaga namang ginawa niya 'kong anime.

"We're not in good terms," I replied, while she's happily settling herself on my lap.

"Why?" Dismayadong tanong niya.

"Well, I've done something wrong."

"Then give her candies," suhestisyon niya. "Girls like me love sweets," sabi niya habang tinatanggalan ng petals ang mga santan.

But Fifteen's different.

"If that can simply reconciles us, why not."

"Kuya Dylan, Kevin and Vince 'pag ni-away kami niyan, bati agad kami," kwento niya at ngumiti ng napakatamis. "Just say your sincerest sorry and promise that you'll never do it again," tumingin siya sa'kin at tinapik ang balikat ko. Muntikan na 'kong mapasamid. She's not an old lady living in a young body right? "Then we're playing again like nothing happens."

"Only because you're still a child. Everything for you now is simple but when you grow up, things will going to be a lot complicated."

"Then make it simple. It's a choice, Detective." I'm not Conan. "When I grow up, I'd rather choose the simple things rather than the complex ones." She handed me the flower. "Tell me about Ate Ran, maganda rin po ba siya?"

Sasagot pa sana ako kaso nga lang ay narinig ni Aunt Maricar ang tanong niya sa'kin.

"Batang 'to, matsismis," naiiling na natatawang sambit ng Mommy niya at binuhat na siya.

"But Mommy! Hindi pa niya nasasa-"

"Shhh," pigil niya sa kanyang anak. "Kakain na tayo." Nauna na silang pumasok at naiwan ako ditong hawak-hawak ang santan.

"Shinichi," dumako ang tingin ko sa tumawag sa akin. "get inside." Tumayo na ako at sinunod ang sinabi ni Mommy.

Pagpasok ay sumalubong sa'kin ang ingay nilang lahat. Kapwa bata, matanda ay nagkwe-kwentuhan. Hindi malabo dahil isang beses sa isang taon lamang ang family gathering ng Pamilya Ho. Halos lahat kasi ng kamag-anak namin ay nasa U.K na naka-base at iilan na lang kaming nandito sa Pilipinas, lalo na kami dahil hindi naman pwedeng iwan ni Daddy ang company.

Nagbibiruan silang lahat. Si Mommy at Daddy ay ang lambing sa isa't-isa kaya tinudyo silang baka masundan na nila 'ko. Ako? Masusundan? I cringe at the thought.

Sa kabilang dako ay nandito rin si Kuya Renz, engage na siya at ang kasal nila ay sa sunod na taon na.

"Shin," pukaw ni Uncle Dan sa atensyon ko. "Take your seat." Tumabi ako kay kuya sa pagkaka-upo.

"You know what, Shin, ganyan din ang itsura ko no'ng nag-away kami ni Jessa," tukoy ng kapatid ko sa fiancee niya. Umugong ang asaran kung kaya't sinamaan ko ng tingin ang si Kuya Renz. "If you want to be with her, eh 'di sana ay sinama mo na lang siya," dagdag pa niya.

"Just shut up," malamig kong tugon at inabala na lang ang sarili sa pagkuha ng pagkain.

If bringing here is easy I will. If only it was easy.

"Oh no, you're whipped," asar niya pa.

"Shut. Up." Madiin kong sambit.

So what if I'm whipped? I never want to experience this agony called  missing her badly. Tss.

To be continued...