Chained Memories

Chapter 14

Guilty

"Hi Mom!" I greeted enthusiastically as soon as her face occupied the whole screen.

Maaliwalas ang kanyang mukha. Her eyes are sparkling. Wala akong makitang maitim at malaking bag sa ilalim ng kanyang mata. Walang mababakas na pagod mula sa trabaho.

She smiled widely, "You look so happy, sweetie..."

A delicate laugh came out from my mouth. Well... life's too short so we should be happy.

"Guess I woke up from the right side of the bed, Mommy..." I said naughtily and wiggled my eyebrows playfully. Mommy laughed because of that. Bihira lang ako maging ganito kaya siguro ganito na lang siya ka-curious.

Ayaw ko man isipin na kaya ganito na lang kaganda ang mood ko dahil sa magkikita ulit kami mamaya ni Third but I can't deny the fact that it was the only reason why I'm like this.

For the past weeks, I don't know why I found myself looking forward to our meet ups. Our rendezvous. Although wala naman kaming ginagawang masama bukod sa pag uusap.

Ewan ko ba. It's feels odd, actually. I just... find myself comfortable with his presence. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoon na lang ka-gaan ang loob ko sa kaniya. It's like there's something about him that pokes my interest.

And yes, his name is Third. That was what he told me when I've got the chance to finally asked his name.

"Anyway, kumusta na po kayo ni Dad riyan?" I asked, shifting the topic. Mom answered at nagpatuloy ang pag-uusap namin. Umikot ang topic sa kung ano na ang nangyayari sa kanila sa US hanggang sa napunta sa amin ni Dave.

She's in the middle of ranting about Dave's nasty actions lately when Daddy entered their room. He kissed Mom's cheek and smiled at me wearily before he lay down to bed and went to a deep slumber.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Oh, don't mind your father sweetie. He had a 24 hours operation at kakatapos lang ng duty niya." Mommy fed me with information.

Ah, that answered his bad disposition. He looks very tired.

Nagpatuloy si Mommy sa pagreklamo sa mga ginagawa ni Dave. Aniya ay kahit nasa US sila at malayo ang panganay na anak ay pinapasakit pa rin nito ang ulo nila.

Mom said, Dave has been constantly ignoring their calls. Even Abuela was asking them na rin because Dave has been missing in action for the whole month (based on Abuela) which was very unusual.

In the end, I told her not to worry anymore dahil ako na ang bahala sa kapatid ko. Lagi namang umuuwi 'yon weekly, kaya siguro hindi ko napansin na may nangyayari na pala sa kaniya.

Mommy easily shifted the topic.

"I heard you've made new friends?" She asked, bakas sa kaniyang boses ang tuwa.

Oh, maybe Dave told her I've finally made interaction with another human being. Nang tumango ako ay maluha-luha si Mommy. Napatawa ako dahil doon.

"Really?!" Di makapaniwalang anas niya. "Tell me about them!"

"They were Rence' friends and he was the one who introduced them to me. They are nice people Mom, especially Xamiera." Kuwento ko.

Napansin ko ang pagtitig sa akin ni Mommy habang nagkukwento ako. Even with the distance, nakita ko ang pagkinang ng luha na gustong kumawala sa mga mata niya.

"I can't wait to meet them..."

Ganoon ba siya ka-overwhelmed na malaman na mayroon na akong ibang kaibigan bukod kay Rence na kababata ko?