Softly, you whisper

Thirteen

"How's your Nana?" I asked as I looked down on her.

"She's sleeping soundly," she whispered and giggled. "Baka nakakahiya kapag isinama ko siya sa inyo. She said she didn't want to go outside either. Sinabi ko kasing pwede naman kaming lumabas."

"Busog na ba si Nana? You could bring some food later pag-uwi."

She gave me a weird stare. "Nakakahiya! Bisita na nga ako, magbabaon pa pauwi."

"It's fine with, Mom. She's too fond of you and she might find it cute."

"Heh. Walang cute sa pagdadala ng pagkain mula sa handaan."

I laughed at her antics. Inaya ko na siyang pumasok na sa sasakyan para makaalis na kami. I am sure my sisters will be delighted to see her again. Kahit na dinadala ko naman siya roon, my sisters were just too fond of her. Gan'on din si Mom.

Hindi nga ako nagkamali dahil hindi pa man nakakapasok ang sasakyan ko sa garahe ay nakatambay na ang mga kapatid ko sa gate. They were wearing cute pajamas for our Christmas theme. Hindi ko sinabi kay Nori na may gan'on kasi ang mga kapatid ko na raw ang bahala.

"Nori, we've missed you!" bati ng mga kapatid ko nang lumabas na si Nori sa sasakyan. She cutely hugged my sisters and even kissed their cheeks.

Napanguso tuloy ako. Did I get a kiss from her a while ago? Parang wala ah?

Napailing na lang ako dahil nauna na sila sa loob at hindi ako hinintay. I can hear my girlfriend's giggles from where I was. Sumunod ako sa kanila nang maisara ko na ang pinto ng sasakyan.

"——got matching pj's for you! Size mo naman, don't worry. Wear it tonight coz all of us are wearing PJs too."

"Hindi ako sinabihan ni Zoe na may theme pala. I could have brought my own."

"Kami nga ang nagsabi na huwag sabihin sa'yo. Bonus na pamasko na namin sa'yo." Si Ate Suede ang nagsalita.

"Thank you po. These are lovely. Hindi ako makapili." She looked cute while looking problematic. Lumapit ako sa kanila at inilagay ang aking braso sa kaniyang balikat. She looked up at me, pouting.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang bagay sa akin?" she asked softly.

"Ako, syempre," mayabang kong sagot.

"Crazy," rinig kong bulong ng kapatid ko. Ate Suede was trying not to laugh.

"Dad ang corny po ni bunso," Ate Shil shouted. I rolled my eyes at them before I focused my attention on Nori's hands. Inaangat niya ang dalawang pj's na iba-iba ang design. The other one was a pastel pink and the other one is purple. May kaunting disenyo ang dalawa pero sa tingin ko pink ang babagay sa kaniya. It would compliment her soft and fair skin.

"Wear the pink ones. Bagay sa'yo," I said as a matter of fact. Napangiti naman siya bago ibinaba ang purple para mas lalong i-check ang pink.

"I like this too! May cute strawberries, oh!" Tinuro niya ang maliliit na strawberries na ngayon ko lang nakita. I chuckled as I stared at the cute designs.

My sisters had to accompany her while changing. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay si Nori na ang kapatid nila dahil todo alaga sila sa kaniya. I can't help but be thankful for having sisters like them. My girlfriends from the past had never been into their liking. May ibang nakakasalamuha nila nang maayos, may iba ring hindi. My sisters were always vocal about the girls I've had.

I was younger back then. Of course, I'm not good in picking girls to like. Basta maganda ay okay na sa akin.

Naupo ako katabi ni Dad sa couch. Mom was in the kitchen, taking pictures of the arrangement of our dinner. Nagkunwetuhan lang kami ni Dad at ilang minuto lang ay rinig ko na ang boses ng mga kapatid ko.