High Wind and Waves (Provincia de Marina Series #2)

Kabanata 32

"Ada, nandito na si Isidore." My father announced from outside the house. Inangat ko ang tingin kay Reeve. I caught him staring at me and back at the door.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa pinto para salubungin si Isidore. I told him that it was my mother's birthday and that he could stop by anytime. Si Mabel ay hindi pa rin naman dumadating dahil nag-OT pa raw sa trabaho. Baka nga hindi na makapunta.

"Sid!" Ngumiti ako sa kaniya nang masalubong na siya. Rinig ang pagbati ng iilang kainuman ni Papa na nagt-trabaho sa farm nang sumulpot na si Isidore.

"Ada!" Ngumiti siya. "Sorry, ngayon lang ako. Marami bang bisita si Tita?"

"Naku, halos wala nga. May dalawa kanina pero hindi rin nagtagal. Mga kainuman ni Papa lang din. Uh, si Mabel, hindi pa dumadating. OT daw sa work eh," I explained.

"Nagdala ako ng cake." He raised the box of cake that he was holding.

"Nag-abala ka pa. Mayroon naman dito."

"It's okay. Para marami na rin ang handa, diba?" He moved his brows and laughed a bit.

"Pasok ka? Kumain ka muna. Saan ka pa ba galing?"

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng bahay. He stopped midway while answering me. Nang iangat ko sa kaniya ang tingin ay naroon na pala ang atensyon niya kay Reeve na katabi ni Mama sa aming hapag.

"Isidore, buti at nakarating ka, hijo." Lumipat ang tingin ni Mama sa kaniya. Agad ding nagbago ang ekspresyon ni Isidore at ngumiti kay Mama.

Tumayo si Mama at lumapit naman kami ni Isidore. Ang tingin ni Reeve ay nasa kapatid hanggang sa lumipad iyon patungo sa akin. I just looked away pretending to be fascinated at the food that I left on the table.

Kausap ni Mama si Isidore kaya naupo na ako. Ginalaw ko nang kaunti ang aking pagkain ngunit natigil din nang batiin ni Isidore ang kaniyang kuya.

"I didn't know that you'd be here, Kuya," ani Isidore.

"I was invited by Ada." Tumingin sa akin si Reeve. Agad namang bumalik ang tingin ko sa aking pagkain.  "Tita Lourdes won't stop bugging her so she just invited me here. Ikaw? Where have you been? Dumaan ka pa ba sa bahay?"

"Yeah. I bought something for Mom and then pumunta na ako rito." Isidore rounded and took a sit at the empty chair beside me.

Bumalik si Mama para bigyan siya ng pinggan at hayaang kumuha ng pagkain sa mesa. I watched Isidore as he picked his food, almost serious and jaw clenching. Nakalimutan kong sabihin na nandito pala si Reeve. I know that he was trying to build his relationship with his brother but I don't think he was really doing it.

Lagi naman siyang wala kaya papaano ba iyon? I don't think he was contacting Reeve, either. Kasi kung mayroon nga, sana alam niyang pupunta rin si Reeve dito kahit hindi ko sinasabi.

Naging tahimik ang mesa pagkatapos. When my mother came back to sit, it was a bit awkward. Si Reeve ang kinakausap niya at paminsan-minsan ay si Isidore rin. If I was a stranger, I would think that Isidore's just someone who sat with them.

"How was the clinic today?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang kumakain siya. I saw how his face lit up when I poured my attention on him.

"Okay naman. We've received a request if we could shelter a pawikan on the clinic and we agreed. Bukas yata ay darating na iyon."

"That's great. Galing ba sa injury o wala lang mag-aalaga?"

"Wala na raw mag-aalaga. It had been with them for a week but they don't know how to take care of it."

Tumango ako. "Maybe I could come visit next week? Gusto kong makita." I said with excitement.

"Sure. Ikaw? How was the clinic today?" balik niyang tanong.