By Your Side

Chapter 32

Irene

Pasko ngayon pero nakakainis dahil umagang-umaga may katok ng katok sa pinto ng kwarto ko. Mag-5am na rin ako nakatulog dahil sa kulit ni Greggy.

Literal na halos walang tulog kaya malapit ko nang saktan 'tong kumakatok ngayon.

I opened the door and it revealed, Liza. Joke lang pala 'yun.

"Yes?" I asked, kahit bangag at sobrang antok na antok pa.

"Did I disturb you from sleeping?" she asked. I smiled and shooked my head. "No, not at all." kung hindi ka lang buntis baka kanina pa kita nasipa.

"What can I do for you?" I added, "Can you cook for me?" she asked.

May Yaya tayo, Liza. Tapos andyan pa yung asawa mo.

"Wala si Kuya?" I asked. "Ayokong makita yung pagmumukha non." Liza replied.

"Ano ba yung iluluto ko sayo?" I asked, no choice e. "Pancake then please add some pickles." napa-awang naman ako ng labi.

"Are you sure? pancakes with pickles?" I asked, she nodded, smiling.

"Okay, I'll wash my face and brush my teeth lang. Pakihintay nalang ako sa baba." I told her.

"Okay, thank you." she replied and left. Then I closed the door at doon na napasapo sa noo.

Pancake with pickles?

I checked my phone and it's 6:32am, isang oras palang tulog ko oh.

"Love..." Greggy called me when he noticed that I'm not in the bed anymore.

"I'll cook Liza's cravings lang. Dyan ka lang, babalik ako." I told him and went to the bathroom.

When I'm done, I immediately went downstairs and to the kitchen. Naka-ready naman na ang kailangan ko, pagbaba ko.

Then I noticed the mayo and catsup, like what for?

"Para saan yung mayo at catsup?" I asked, Liza. "For pancake." she answered.

Malapit na akong mabaliw dito, help.

Hinayaan ko nalang at nagsimula na. I chopped the pickles into a tidbits and added to the pancake mixture.

Then I started frying it. Iniisip ko palang yung lasa tapos lalagyan pa ng mayo at catsup, masuka suka na ako.

Now I'm already done, I made 10 pancakes kahit na siya lang ang kakain neto or baka ipakain kay Bonget.

I gave it to her the plate. "Wow, thank you, Irene!" she said, I just smiled at her.

"Una na ako sa taas, andyan si Manang kapag may kailangan ka." I told her and about to leave when she stopped me.

"Dito ka lang, Irene." she said, I looked at her. "Manang pakitawag si Imee, Bongbong at si Greggy." She told, Manang.

"Pati pala si Aimee, Manang!" pahabol pa niya.

Pinaupo naman niya ako sa upuan ko, at nagsisimula na akong kabahan.

Rinig ko naman ang mga yabag pababa ng hagdan. "What's the matter?" I looked at Ate, na may suot pang eye mask sa ulo.

"Sit here.." Liza told her, at halatang walang ka-alam alam.

Then sumunod naman na sila Greggy, Kuya, Aimee. Lahat kami ay antok pa talaga.

Hindi ko lang talaga alam kung saan napulot ni Liza ang energy niya ngayon.

Greggy sat beside me. "Why, what's the matter?" he asked, I just shrugged my shoulder, hindi ko rin alam!