All that Matters (Absinthe Series 3)

Kabanata 18

Kabanata 18

All That Matters

Kasabay ng pagputok ay ang pagsibol ng bagong taon. Some shouted all their hatreds on the highest mountains, some waited for their wishes to come true as  the midnight strikes and some fired the firecrackers to get rid of bad luck.

Napangiti ako habang nakatingala sa langit at nakatitig sa iba't ibang kulay ng fireworks na nasa langit. The vibrant color of red, yellow, pink, blue and purple scattered in the sky like glittering  residue of clouds. Tumingin ako sa paubos ng lusis na hawak ko. I immediately got rid of it when the light was gone.

Binati ako ng aking mga kamag-anak. Ang iba sa kanila nanggaling pa sa probinsiya nina Lolo at ang iba sa ibang bansa. Some were sleeping and couldn't even wait for the midnight. Buti pa yung mga bata at gising pang naglalaro sa sala.

" Happy New Year!" Niyakap ko sina Mommy at Daddy at hinalikan sa pisngi. Ginantihan naman nila ako ng yakap at magkabilaang halik.

" Binati mo na ba ang mga Tita't tito mo?"

" Yes, 'my. Tulog pa naman sina Tito Bong kaya hindi ko na mabati." sabi ko. Kumuha ako ng pagkain sa mesa at tumabi sa mga pamangkin konng makukulit na naglalaro sa sala.

I grabbed my phone. Bumati ako kay Muriel through chat. Hindi siya active pero nakita kong kaka-out lang naman niya. I searches for Nile's name and clicked the message button.

Adina Balmori:

Happy New Year!

Nile Zobel de Ayala:

Hey, Sweet pea. Glad to know you're still awake.

Nile Zobel de Ayala:

Happy New Year, by the way.

Adina Balmori:

I won't be long, de Ayala. Haha. Come home safe! Bye!

Nile and his family celebrated Christmas and New Year in Spain. He sent me some pictures of where he had been kahit hindi ko naman itinatanong but I was glad he did. I had a glimpse of Spain because of him. Mukhang nag-eenjoy siya doon habang nagdurusa ako dito sa mga pinsan kong lalaki na wala ng ginawa kundi ang magkwento tungkol sa mga babae.

Without Nile's presence, I felt incomplete. Bago siya bumiyahe papuntang Spain, dumaan muna siya dito sa bahay at dinala ang Mommy niya. I met his Mom in an unfortunate circumstance. Sobrang aga nilang dumaan na hindi pa ako nakakaligo. I haven't brush my hair or anything.

" It's okay, hija. We're sorry for coming here so early. Magpapaalam kasi itong anak ko kaya sumama na ako para makilala kung sino itong babaeng palagi niyang kasama." his mother smiled at me. Oh hell, his mother looks so gorgeous. No wonder why Nile is downright handsome. Kahit na sabihin kong salinlahi siya, hindi pa rin maipagkakaila na dinadala niya rin ang dugo ng kaniyang ina.

" Uh, okay lang po. I'm Adina Balmori, Ma'am." sinubukan kong ngumiti pero naging tabingi iyon. Nile had a sneaky smile on his face and I can't help but get distracted.

" It's okay. You can call me Tita. It was nice meeting you, Adina. Tell your Mom to say hi for me."

" P-po?"

" Oh don't worry, I know Diana and she knows me. Sabihin mong napadaan ako dito."

Wala sa sariling napatango lamang ako. She left Nile behind and went inside their family car. Gulantang pa rin ako sa nangyari kaya naguguluhan ako.

" I'll be spending my holidays in Spain. I was hoping you'd come with us." paanyaya ni Nile.

Namilog ang aking mata sa kaniyang sinabi. " What the hell?"