My Other Half

13

Nakarating na kami sa bahay nina Dale pero kung minamalas ka nga naman, naunahan kami nina tita. Tumingin kami ni Dale sa isa’t isa pagkatapos niyang i-park ang sasakyan.

“Ly, please don’t worry. Nothing bad happened to me, they wouldn’t go bonkers.” I laugh at his word. Bonkers.

Bumaba na kami ng sasakyan at kinuha niya ang bag ko sa backseat. Why do this feel like nagtanan kami at bumabalik na kami sa parents niya dahil we regreted our actions? Okay. Relax Lyra Gaze. You’re going bonkers. Haha.

Bago buksan ni Dale ang pintuan ay nginitian niya ako. Maybe to assure me that everything will be okay. I hope so.

“Dale!” Sigaw ni Tita Maddie pagkapasok namin. Niyakap siya ni tita at yinakap din siya ni Dale using one arm dahil bitbit niya ang bag ko sa kabilang kamay.

“Mum, I’m sorry. I didn’t ask persmission. Lyra needed someone and I couldn’t think properly and I just went off to Plymouth. I’m sorry I didn’t tell but I’m not sorry that I left.” Sinabi ni Dale pagkabitaw ni tita sa yakapan nila.

“Dale, what if something happened to you!” Galit na sabi ni tita. “You know it was gonna snow last night. Delikado, sana sinama mo man lang si Cole o di kaya ang isa sa mga kaibigan mo. Paano if may nangyari sa’yo on the way?”

“Mum, nothing happened. I couldn’t bring Cole. Someone had to be in this house. What if something happened during the party last night and there was no owner? And I was rushing and I didn’t have time to find the others.”

Hindi ko makita ang expression ni Dale dahil nakatalikod siya sa akin ngayon. Tita diverted her eyes towards me and I flinched due to anxiousness but she smiled at me. Lumapit siya sa akin at agad niya akong niyakap.

I don’t know why but I felt tears building up. Maybe I was hoping na yakapin din ako ni mama ng ganito. She hasn’t hugged me for a long time.

“Lyra dear, I don’t know what happened para agad agad na pumunta si Dale sa inyo. We are not blaming you for anything. Both of you should celebrate your birthday kaya, magkakaroon tayo ng mini party tonight.” Tinanggal niya ang yakap niya sa akin.

“Tita sorry po. I shouldn’t have told Dale about it. At dapat po sana pinigilan ko siya. Promise po hindi na po mauulit.”

Umiling siya while smiling. “It’s not your fault. It’s our fault.” Sabi niya at lumungkot ang mukha niya. Tumingin ako kay Dale to ask for explanation pero nakayuko lang siya. Maybe he still regrets not telling his parents. “If you need someone to talk or if you need any help, just ask.” Ngumiti siya sa akin at hinawakan ang mga kamay ko.

“Oh yeah, about that mum, Lyra doesn’t have a place to stay. Can she stay over dad’s apartment until the university dorm opens?” Dale requested.

Lumungkot ang itsura ni tita. Ibig sabihin ba nito hindi pwede? Maybe she was actually mad of what happened last night.

“I’m sorry dear, pero pinarentahan na namin yung apartment. In case na mag away na naman ang kambal and one of them goes over there. Hindi ko sila papayagang umasa na may tutuluyan sila everytime na mag away sila.” She looked at me sadly. “Pero, you can stay here and share a room with Lee.”

-.-.-.-.-.-

Nasa loob ako ng kwarto ni Lee. Naglagay si tita ng matress sa floor katabi ng bed ni Lee. Parang prinsesa ang kwarto ni Lee. Being the only daughter, spoiled talaga siya ng parents niya. I remember nung bata pa ako and my parents would spoil me. But not anymore. Everything changed because of that.

Lumabas si Lee galing sa toilet niya. “Ate Lyra! It feels like we are having a sleepover.” Excited na sabi niya habang sinusuklayan niya ang buhok niya. Pagdating namin kanina, tulog sila dalawa ni Tate. Napagod siguro sila sa byahe.

“Lee, is it okay if I put all my stuff here?” Tanong ko sa kanya kung pwede kong ilagay ang mga damit ko sa cabinet niya. Malaki ang wardrobe niya at puno ito ng mga halos mga damit na may frill, lace at ribbons. I didn’t notice it before, but Lee mostly wears dresses.

“Yeah, go ahead.” Umupo siya sa kama habang tinitingnan niya akong inaayos ang mga damit ko. “Ate, are you okay?” Her question stopped me from what I’m doing. Tiningnan ko siya at nginitian to reassure her na okay lang ako.

“If you spend time with the Dukes, you will forget all your problems.” Ngumiti siya sa akin. She has such a sweet smile na parang candy sa sobrang tamis. Her eyes form into an eye smile as well. Pag nagdalaga ito, she will surely be popular like her brothers.

“Thanks.” I answered and turned back to continue what I was doing earlier.

May kumatok ng pintuan sa kwarto ni Lee. “Yeah?” Sigaw ni Lee.

“It’s Dale, open up.”

“It’s open!” Lee shouted.

Bumukas naman ang pinto at pumasok si Dale. Parang may iba sa itsura niya. Maybe kinausap siya ng parents niya about what happened.

“Ly, do you want to make the cake we failed to do yesterday?” Nakatayo lang si Dale sa gitna ng bukas na pintuan. Nakalagay ang mga kamay niya sa bulsa ng pantalon niya.

“What cake are you baking?” Singit ni Lee kaya tiningnan ko siya.

“Red velvet.” Sagot ko.

“A cake girls eat during their period.” Dale said and I immediately shoot him a glare. Naka smirk pa siya. Bakit niya ba sinasabi yan like it’s just normal? Pareho kaming babae ng kapatid niya. Baliw talaga.

“Gosh Dale, girls can eat any cake they want during those times!” I said.

He probably found what I said amusing because his smirk grew wider. “You mean during girl’s period?”

Tatapunan ko na sana siya ng isa sa mga sweater ko pero tinapunan na siya ni Lee ng unan at tumama naman ito sa mukha ni Dale. Pero parang wala lang ito sa kanya dahil agad naman niyang pinulot ang unan at tinapon pabalik kay Lee.

“I bet girls prefer red velvet during their period though?”

“Ewww Dale! Don’t say that so casually! Get out!” Tumayo si Lee at naglakad papunta sa kuya niya at tinulak ito palabas. Tumatawa naman si Dale habang  tinutulak siya ni Lee. She closed the door and locked it.

“Ly, hurry up! We are making the cake girls eat during those times!” Dale shouted from outside at sigurado akong kahit na hindi ko siya nakikita ay may pabiro iyong mukha.

“Boys are so childish! That’s why I don’t want to fall in love!” She said habang nakasandal ang likod niya sa pintuan.

“Don’t say that Lee. A lot of people say they don’t want to fall in love. When time comes, you won’t be able to stop your feelings.” I said.