GANGTHROB

CHAPTER FOUR

Lumipas ang 11 o'clock at kailangan na nilang umuwi dahil malalim na ang gabi. 'Tsaka pare-parehas kaming bawal magpuyat dahil wala pa kami sa tamang edad.

Niyakap ko silang lima dahil paalis na sila. "Be careful" I said and hugged again. "Thank you for the gift and for coming"

They all smiled. "Always. Happy Birthday again, Tin!" Josh habol.

Nang makasakay na sila sa kaniya-kaniya nilang family car ay kinayawan ko sila. Josh wave at me and smiled, kumaway ulit ako sa kaniya. Nang makaalis na silang lima ay...

"Hoy!"

I looked behind to face her. "Ate Irene, why?" I asked in surprise but still gave her a smile.

"Mommy call you" she said flatly.

"Bakit daw?" tanong ko ulit.

"Pwede ba, sumunod ka nalang" she rolled her eyes at me at tinalikuran ako.

Kaya wala akong nagawa kundi pumasok sa loob at dumiretso sa kusina. Naroon na si Tita Ericka na nakaupo sa dining chair na humihigop ng coffee. Mommy ni ate Irene yun, second wife ni Daddy.

Si Mama siya yung legal wife ni Daddy pero nabuntis ni Daddy si Tita Ericka noon at nauna siyang nabuntis kesa kay Mommy, kaso month lang naman ang agwat namin ni Irene pero tinatawag ko siyang ate. Gusto ko rin kasing magkaroon ng kapatid, eh.

Dumiretso ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa nasa harapan ko na si Tita Ericka.

"Bakit po Tita? May kailangan po ba kayo?" tanong ko.

"Please, sit down"

She pointed to his opposite seat which was just next to me. She made me sit down so I just followed his orders.

I even looked at his hand spinning the spoon in the cup. Para siguro lumamig ang kapeng iniinom niya. And slowly look at me. She smiled before speaking.

"Gusto ko lang mag sorry sa lahat ng ginawa namin sayo ng ate Irene mo" Tinignan pa niya si ate Irene na ngayon ko lang napansin na nasa tabi niya pala ito. "I'm so sorry, Tintin. I hope we get long. And I just want to say a happy, happy birthday to you. Sorry kung ngayon lang ako babati, huh" she said the last word very softly.

I don't know if their smile is real or they are just pretending. But because I didn't want this day to be ruined, I smiled at them even though I was hesitant.

"Uhhh--- Nga pala, sabi ng Daddy mo matulog ka na daw" Napatayo siya sa kinauupuan niya.

"Sige po. Good night po" Napatayo rin ako upang umalis para umakyat na sa taas, kaso...

"Tin wait. Hindi ka ba iinom ng milk mo? I thought before you go to sleep, you drink your milk first" habol na saad sa akin ni ate Irene.

Napaharap ako sa kanilang mag-ina. "Oo nga pala" Bahagya ko pang nakamot ang ulo ko.

I sat down again in the seat I was sitting earlier. My eyes searched for Tita Ericka and I saw her just finished brewing my milk. She took it and walked towards me.

"Here" Tita Ericka said with a beautiful smile. She placed the glass full of milk in front of me. I immediately took it and drank it.

"Masarap yan... Inumin mo lang ng inumin" Rining ko pang sabi ni ate Irene habang ako'y lumalaghok. Nang biglang...