03
"Alam ko namang may pinagdadaanan ka, pero bakit kasi d'yan ka dumaan?"
"Bakit pa kita gagayumahin, alam ko namang magkakagusto ka rin saakin.
"Comfort na'tin 'yung isa't-isa, malay mo tayo talaga."
Arthfael is very random. I spent almost an hour scrolling through my news feed and most of his shared posts were popping on my screen. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit binabasa ko talaga 'yung mga shared post niya. Hindi ko lang mapigilan dahil natutuwa ako.
Ngayon alam ko na talaga kung saan niya nakukuha 'yung mga jokes niya.
I turned off my cellphone when I saw Icarius approaching me. His face was serious when he stopped in front of me.
"I can't fix my tie," kunot noo n'yang sabi.
Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang suot niyang long sleeve at itim na suit. Nakasabi sa leeg niya ang itim na necktie. It's not in order and he looks irritated because until now he has not been able to fix his own neck tie.
Tumayo ako at pinantayan s'ya para ayusin ang necktie niya.
"You should learn how to fix your necktie, Riu," I told him. "Lagi mo nalang pinapaayos saakin,"
He frowned as he looked down at me. I calmly looked back at him and patted his shoulder after fixing his necktie.
"Bakit ko pa pag-aaralan kung p'wede namang humanap nalang ng mag-aayos ng necktie ko?" He uttered.
Hindi ko mapigilan sumimangot din sa kanya at umiling.
"Then go and find another one who can fix your necktie."
He nodded. "I'm going to find a girlfriend,"
My lips parted after hearing what my younger cousin said. He smirked at me, then fixed his messy hair.
"Thank you for fixing my necktie, Ate." He told me "I asked Kuya Evandro to fix my tie, but he tried to strangle me."
"Nag-uusap ba kayo o nag-aaway? Grabe namang tinginan 'yan! Hindi ba kayo marunong ngumiti?" Biglang dumating si Kuya Evandro.
Riu and Kuya Evandro were both wearing white long sleeves in their black suits, while I was wearing a baby pink night dress. Pink ang motif ng birthday party ni Viri kaya pink ang suot ko.
Buong pamilya namin ay dadalo sa party ni Viri. Hindi pa man kami dumarating doon ay ramdam na ramdam ko na kung anong klaseng party ang pupuntahan namin.
Inakbayan ako ni Kuya Evandro. Tumingala ako para tingnan s'ya habang malaki ang ngiti niya saakin.
"Ganda mo, ah," he said, teasingly.
"Thank you," I answered.
He laughed suddenly and pinched my cheek. I immediately winced, but he just laughed at me.
"Hindi mo man lang ba sasabihin na g'wapo rin ako ngayon?" Tanong niya.
Umiling ako. "Alam ko namang alam mo na 'yon,"
He laughed loudly after hearing what I said, and I saw Riu making a face. Tipid lang akong ngumiti nang bumaling s'ya saakin.
"Ikaw talaga, Khal! Paborito mo talaga akong pinsan 'no?" Tuwang-tuwa na sabi ni Kuya Evandro habang naka-akbay pa rin saakin.
Inilingan ko s'ya. "Riu is my favorite cousin."
Parang natulala bigla si Kuya Evandro sa sinabi ko habang si Riu naman ay nakangiti nang maliit na tila ba pinipigilan niyang matawa. What's so funny about what I said? Totoo naman si Riu ang paborito kong pinsan.
