That One Lie

15th Lie

"Oh Anya, gising ka na pala. May niluto ako dyan. Kumain ka na muna."

Napabuntong hininga muna ko bago tuluyang bumaba ng hagdan ng makita ko si Nana na saktong papunta sa laundry area. It's already been two weeks since the funeral. A lot of people came actually. Likeable naman kasi si mommy. Exact opposite of me. But none of them asked how I am. Ah, except for this old lady and a boy with thick eyebrows--which I both found annoying.

"Hindi ba kayo hinahanap ni Alice? Lagi na lang kayong nandito sa bahay ko."

My tone sounds flat yet she still gave me a warm smile. Her wrinkled hands are holding my laundry basket. Nana is Alice's grandmother. Nakatira sila sa katapat na bahay. Isang beses ko pa lang nakita si Alice ng halos masira ang doorbell ko dahil hinahanap nya si Nana na nagkataong nagsasampay ng damit ko. That was before my mom even died and already staying in the hospital.

I received an earful from someone younger than me that day. Ang alam ko kasi freshman pa lang yung batang yun. She was so mad because she thought I force Nana to do stuffs for me which I never did. Lagi ko nga syang pinauuwi sa kanila pero laging ngiti lang ang sinasagot nya sakin tapos babalik ulit.

"Masyado kasing malaki ang bahay mo kaya gusto ko dito. Mas nalilibang ako."

I admit that this 2-storey Victorian house is big for just one person to live in pero mas malaki kaya yung bahay nila compare sa bahay ko. I will remain hostile to her so she won't come back. I head towards the dining area and saw the warm homemade food she made. Naagaw ang atensyon ko ng milk pudding na nasa tabi.

"Dala mo ba tong pudding, Nana?"

"Oo. May nadaanan akong bagong bukas na shop kaya bumili ako. Nasa ref yung iba. Bumili din ako ng sariwang strawberries nasa ref na din."

Today is one of the very seldom day that we talk or even see each other because I'm always inside my room. Pero pag dumadating naman sya, nararamdaman ko dahil sa mga tunog ng mga gamit sa baba.

"Papalitan ko na nga pala ang passcode ng bahay." I said without looking at her as she was about to leave. Tapos na syang maglaba at nagbabasa lang ako ng libro pagkatapos kong kumain. Acually mukhang breakfast yung naabutan ko pero dahil tanghali na ko nagising naging lunch na sya.

Ngumiti lang ulit sya sakin. "Alam kong hindi mo magagawa yun."

My lips pressed firmly. She's right. I can't change it. Not soon though. Si mommy kasi ang nag set nun. The same reason how Nana knows my passcode. Madalas kasi syang bisita ni mommy.

"Ah sya nga pala, baka gusto mong magbabad sa bathtub. Hinanda ko na din bago ako umalis. Mukha kasing mas kailangan mo yun ngayon." She smiled like a tease then close the front door and the whole house becomes utterly quiet again. Tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo sa couch para tingnan ang sarili sa salamin. My hair is tied in a messy bun. My bangs are clipped up which exposed my forehead. Ugh, my hair is way too greasy.

"Fudge. I really do need it." Nilagpasan ko ang full length mirror. "But who cares?" I then head upstairs to continue reading my books.

After I dropped out of school more than a month and a half ago, my typical day starts and ends with me being unproductive. I felt so lazy after visiting the hospital. Pagkatapos kasi ng visiting hours, uuwi ako sa bahay ng wala namang importanteng dapat gawin.

I was so lazy to do anything else except for studying. I study inside my room during the night and lost track of time. Ayoko kasing umulit ng second year so even if I quit the regular school, I applied for a home study program wherein I can take exam at the end of this school year to know whether I passed the year or not. That way, I will still be senior high school next year.