EVER SINCE WE WERE TEN

CHAPTER 20

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just been cleared to land at the Ninoy Aquino international airport. Please make sure one last time your seat belt is securely fastened. The flight attendants are currently passing around the cabin to make a final compliance check and pick up any remaining cups and glasses. Thank you.

After a 17- hour fight, nakarating na rin. Pagkbaba pa lang ng eroplano, naramdaman ko na agad ang init ng hangin. Shawn and I collected our things. Sinundo naman kami ng driver na kinuha ng daddy nuya to drive us while were here.

"Ang init pa rin ng Pilipinas!" Almost 3pm pa lang kaya sobrang taas pa ng araw.

We rode the car and it drove us to the house. Nakatulala lang ako buong sa sobrang sama ng pakiramdam. Dahil siguro sa jet lag, dagdagan pa ng kaba baka magkita kami ni Kyle. I miss him, tita annalies too.

"Shawn? Sleepy?" Napansin ko kasong parang mahuhulog na ang ulo ni shawn sa antok. I let him sleep in my shoulders first. Napagod rin to sa sobrang haba ng byahe at pagpapagaan ng loob ko buong byahe.

The house didn't change a bit from the outside. I smiled at the thought. I unconciously looked at the house accross ours. There house is still the same too. I smiled at the thought, how are they doing?

Tinulingan ni Shawn ang driver sa pagpasok ng mga gamit namin. I decised to help too, but he just told me to go inside and rest.

"Riaaaan! Kumusta ka nang bata ka?! Antagal kitang hindi nakita, gumanda ka lalo!" Napatawa naman ako sa sinabi ni ate melai. She literally jumoed at me when I opened the door. Nagluluto pala siya ng meryenda namin ni Shawn.

"Ate, ok lang po. Ikaw? Hindi ka ba nabobore rito at ikaw lang mag-isa?" sinabi niya lang sakin na hindi siya laging narito at umuuwi siya sa kanila.

"Aba't asan na ang mapapangasawa mo?"

"Nasa labas pa ate, binababa ang nga gamit." iniwan na ko ni ate sa loob at pinuntahan agad si Shawn sa labas para usisain at tulungan.

Pumunta agad ako sa itaas. I scanned my old room, I smiled as I remembered some memories. I missed this. I missed my home.

I opened the drawer in my side table. There I saw some pictures of me and Kyle. We look so happy, I miss him. I miss us.

My jet lag is killing me so I decided to sleep and rest. Hindi pa rin umaakyat si Shawn, baka hindi pa tapos kausapin ni ate. Alam ko namang ihahatid lang siya ni ate rito.

I woke up around 6:30pm. Shawn is now sleeping beside me. Bakit kaya nandito 'to? Marami namang guest rooms ah. Hindi ko nalang siya ginising. Itook a half-bath kasi parang ang dumi ko na, and medyo maalinsangan. I then headed downstairs. Nakita ko si ate Melai, nagluluto na ng ulam. 

"Ate, anong niluluto mo?" napaigtad pa siya sa gulat. Mukhang hindi niya napansin na nakababa na 'ko.

"Jusko namang bata ka, nagulat ako sayo. Kare-kare ang niluluto ko. Baka namimiss mo na eh, mukhang wala pa namang ganito sa America." nakakain pa rin naman ako ng filipino food sa America kasi pinay ang mga kasambahay namin doon. Pero hinayaan ko nalang si ate Melai.

"Aba't ang gwapo ng mapapangasawa mo ineng. "yon nga lang, nastress akong kausapin, ingles eh" natawa naman ako sa sinabi ni ate. Marunong naman yang mag english kahit konti, sinasalihan niya lang talaga ng biro.

"Naku! nakakaintindi 'yon ng tagalog ate! Fil-Am 'yon, tinuturuan siya ng mommy niya. Slang nga lang" nagpatuloy pa ang biruan namin ni ate at tinulungan ko siyang mag set-up ng kainan. Namiss ko ring kumain dito. Hindi rin naman ako madalas kumakain rito noon kasi kela Kyle ako laging tumatambay. Gusto ko sanang magtanong sa kanya tungkol sa kanila pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. Ayoko munang maraming iisipin. Kakarating lang namin dito at marami pang trabahong gagawin. I need mental peace.

I went back upstairs para gisingin na si Shawn. Mukhang pagod talaga tong isang to.

"Shawn? Wake up. Hey, let's have dinner." He woke up grudgingly. Hindi pa nga siya nakapagbihis.

"Go down first. I'll just wash my face" nakapikit pa ang isang mata niya sobrang antok. pinabayaan ko nalang siya sa kwarto at nauna nang bumaba. Susunod rin naman 'yon.

I busied myself looking at some old furnitures. Wala masyadong pinagbago pero napakaayos pa rin. Mukhang naalagaan ni ate Melai ng maayos.

I heard the doorbell rang. Nasa kusina pa si ate Melai kaya ako na ang nagbukas. And the peace of mind that I was saying earlier? It got thrown out of the window.

"T-tita Anna?" I did not expect to see her immediately lalo na't gabi na. She brought some brownies, hindi niya naman siguro alam na nandito ako ngayon diba?

"R-rian?! Oh my god, Rian!" halos maiyak siya sa gulat. She immediately embraced me tight. I missed her, I missed this feeling.

"Tita" I can't utter more words. I didn't plan seeing her right now. Not that I hate her. It's just that, my mind will just keep thinking about her and Kyle. I missed them so much.

"How are you? Matagal kang nawala. Are you ok now? I heard what happened. Kyle was --------

"Love?" Hindi na natapos ni tita Anna ang sasabihin. Shawn appeared from nowhere. Tita Anna, just stared at him, then at me.

"L-love? O-oh. Who's this young man?" He asked curiously as he stared at Shawn. Hindi naman nag atubiki si Shawn at inabot ang kamay kay tita.

"Shawn, ma'am" mgalang na pakilala ni Shawn. Tinanggap ni tita ang kamay niya at tumango-tango pa.

"Well, I think I need to leave. Rian, pakibigay nalang kay ate Melai mo ang brownies ha? Konti lang 'yan pero wag kang mag-alala, I'll bring more tomorrow." Ibinigay niya sakin ang brownies at palipat lipat pa rin ang tingin sakin at kay Shawn.

"Tita, dito ka na po magdinner?" And where's Kyle? I stopped myself from asking. It's not a good time.

"No, thank you dear. Nakapagluto na rin ko ng ulam. I'll catch up woth you tomorrow? Sa bahay na kayo mag dinner bukas. Nice to meet you, Shawn. Bye Rian!" Nagmadali pa si titang umalis. Binalingan niya ulit si Shawn bago umalis and waved good bye to both of us. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. This isn't a good start. And that was awfully awkward.

"So she's the mother?" Shawn asked. Alam na niya ang buong kwento ko. He knows who tita Annaliese is for me.

"Yep, I want to meet the "son" but not now." I said honestly. I can't keep any secrets from him. He knows me too well already kaya nahuhuli rin niya ako pag nagsisinungaling.

"I can't wait to see some childhood sweetheart drama!" he's teasing me again. Patuloy lang siya sa pagtawa hanggang sa kusina pero hindi ko na siya pinansin. Lokong 'to, paano magkakadrama eh ako lang naman ang problema, at may problema.