Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 11

Pati ako ay natawa sa sinabi ni Castian. I bit my lower lip and came to a complete stop to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Was it always the four of you—Mommy, Ninang, and your Tito?" Rigor carefully asks. "Or is there... anyone else?"

"Hmm... there's one!"

"Sino?"

I exhale and step out. Castian's eyes quickly dart towards me and his lips broke into a huge grin.

"Hi, Mommy!"

Nginitian ko ang anak at sinenyasan siya na lumapit sa akin. Tumayo agad siya at pinagpagan ang suot na shorts bago tumakbo palapit sa akin. Rigor follows him, closely watching me.

"Kumain muna tayo." I gave him a glance and a small smile.

"Daddy, up!" Castian lifts his arms into the air. Rigor obliges without a protest. He lifted his son into his shoulders and held both of his thighs tighly while Castian grabs his hair. Patawa-tawa pa ito nang bilisan ni Rigor ang paglalakad patungo sa bahay.

Napailing ako pero nakangiti. Nang makapasok kaming tatlo ay tapos na sa pagsi-set si Shantel sa lamesa. Sinigang ang niluto ko at si Kyros naman ay adobo. Shantel doesn't know how to cook so she's assigned in setting the plates. Castian jumps into his seat, looking hungry and ready to eat.

I reach for my usual chair but Rigor beats me to it. He drags it for me.

"Here."

"Thank you." Ngumiti ako at umupo. Tumabi naman siya sa akin samantalang si Kyros at Shantel ang nasa harapan namin.

We said grace before eating. inabot ni Rigor ang kanin at nilagyan muna ang plato ni Castian bago ang sa akin. Nakatingin si Shantel at Kyros sa aming dalawa. Kyros leans into Shantel's ears but I could hear him clearly.

"Pucha, by pair pala pag kakain? Hindi ako na-inform, ah."

Shantel laughs before smacking his shoulders. Siningkitan ko ng mga mata si Kyros pero dinedma lang ako at kumuha ng sarili niyang kanin.

Sila Shantel at Kyros lang ata ang nag-iingay sa hapag-kainan. Rigor is silent but he's keeping an eye on his son. Kapag may nahihirapang abutin si Castian o nakikita niya sa mga mata nito na gusto pang kumain, kaagad niyang tinutugunan.

Rigor also informs the two about the party. Hindi ko alam kung nahihiya ba talaga si Kyros na dumalo o talagang may duty siya sa araw na iyon. Shantel refuses because she has a recit to prepare and she's also keeping an eye on her sick father.

"Just let me know if Stormie is going to be there," tinabihan niya ako habang naghuhugas ako ng plato at bumulong.

I gave her a sideglance, still trying to figure out if it is appropriate to ask her questions about her sister. She always takes it personally when it comes to Stormie.

"Bakit hindi mo nalang tawagan?"

Shantel looks down at the dirty dishes, her lashes glistening with unshed tears. If she'd look up, I'll be expecting a pool of sadness in her eyes.

"She barely answers my calls." She bit her lower lip. Her voice is barely audible.

Tumango-tango ako. While I was pregnant with Castian, something happened to her sister. Her family is quick to bury the issue and paid off the media to stop writing any article about it. I never really got the details, but I think it was a car accident. Shantel blames herself for what happened and couldn't even bring herself to visit her while she was in the hospital. Nasa labas lang siya, nag-aantay. Their parents failed to act like parents to her at that time. Tanging ang Lola lang niya ang nakabantay sa ospital hanggang sa magising siya.