Love Next Door

Chapter 14

"Honestly, I'm okay now, Lolo Dan. But some are still...in the process?" sagot niya na halos patanong.

"I understand that but what I don't get is why the others also seem affected to what happened?" naguguluhan pa rin yung itsura ni Lolo.

Say something!

I opened my mouth. No words are coming out. I decided to just close it.

Dammit.

What am I gonna tell Lolo? I actually don't have any rational reason for hating her. I just hate the way she is. I just do!

"'coz Lolo," nagsalita si Gab kaya nalipat sa kanya yung atensyon. " She's whiny, clingy, and just plain annoying. She gets everything her way. And throws tantrums whenever she doesn't get what she wants. And we all know that not how it works here." halos umusok yung ilong ni Gab habang sinasabi yun.

"I'm not clingy, whiny and annoying! And I don't throw tantrums!" squeaked Ingrid . Medyo nanginginig pa yung boses niya.

"Yes you are! Ikaw lang naman yung reason why I kinda 'hate' having family gatherings," she quoted in the air.

"Oohh. Hate is a strong word," komento ni Kuya Dane sabay pigil ng tawa.

Pero hindi nagpaawat si Gab

"That means I have to see you and put up with your shhingmm.." tinakpan ko agad yung bibig ni Gab bago pa niya masabi yung shit sa harap ni Lolo. Mahirap na.

Bigla naman ako tinapunan ng masama ni Gab sa ginawa ko at pinandilatan ko na lang siya. Agad na naman niya naintindihan at umirap na lang.

"Don't act like you're the only one suffering. I hate having to spend time with you too!" sigaw pabalik ni Ingrid.

Ang talim na rin ng mga tingin ni Ingrid kay Gab. Namumula na rin ang ilong at pisngi niya na may luha.

Lumingon ako para tignan yung iba ko pang pinsan.

Nakita ko si Kuya Dane at Kuya Anthony sa isang sulok ng living room na nakangisi at hawak yung mga phone nila. Tss.

Si Harry naman na malapit sa dalawa parang natatawa pa sa nangyayari. Parang isang araw lang reklamo siya ng reklamo about sa 'min ni Ingrid tapos ngayon natatawa pa siya? Anong nakakatawa kaya sa mokong na 'to? Kitang seryoso 'tong usapan. Yung iba ko namang pinsan mga nakayuko lang.

"Okay. Okay. Stop the shouting. You know I don't like that." he warned.

As much as possible para kay Lolo, kung may gusto kang iparating ayaw niya ng pasigaw. He is very kind and humble but you don't want him to get angry. Although he gets angry rarely. Gusto niya sabihin mo kung ano yung gusto mong sabihin ng maayos, may pasensya at tamang paggamit ng salita. Si Ingrid lang ata hindi maka relate dun kasi palagi naman siyang wala dito sa Pilipinas. Mostly, bakasyon lang sila dito. It's just that, over two years ago my tito and tita decided to settle here in Manila because of their business.

Tumayo si Lolo. "Okay. This petty argument has to stop. Sige kayo magtatampo ang Lolo. I'm not getting any younger, you know? And the last thing I want is you arguing with each other."

Marami pang pangaral na sinabi si Lolo Danny. Tama nga sila I could be difficult and stubborn.

I don't think I can forgive her yet. Lalo pa na ganyan yung ugali na pinapakita niya. It could even be impossible. But then again, who knows?

" Come on now. Make peace."

Sumimangot lang si Ingrid. Si Ryan naman tumango tango lang.

"Make peace daw, Gab." sabi ni Harry na parang nangaasar pa.

"Peace." walang kabuhay buhay na sinabi ni Gab.

"Ano ba yan? Labas sa ilong." nangasar na rin si Kuya Anthony. Natawa na rin yung iba.

Tinaasan niya lang sila ng kilay.

For some reason, it made things light.

"What about you, Zoe?" biglang tanong ni Lolo sa 'kin.

"I, uh, yeah." I nodded and faked smile.

Yeah means 'I'll think about it'.

Tinignan naman ako ni Lolo na parang hindi siya kumbinsido pero naka half smile siya.

Huminga ng malalim si Lolo, "Okay, good night, then. Make sure you fix this, okay? I don't want you guys arguing."

Unti unti na kaming nagsilabasan ng living room.

Dumiretso naman ako sa labas para magpa hangin.

I feel like getting wasted.

No. Mag star gazing ka na lang, Zoe.

"So, I heard it was intense?"

Lumingon ako sa nagsalita. Nakapamulsa siya. He's wearing a simple tee and a jogger pants. Also, his hair is messy na mukhang kagagaling lang sa shower because he smells nice and... very manly.

"Not as intense as I expected." sagot ko kay Ace at binalik ang tingin sa madilim na langit.

"Naayos naman ba?" nasa tabi ko na siya ngayon.

Ngumisi ako,"Huh. I don't think maaayos pa."

"Wow, we got a pessimist here." he chuckled.

I scoffed,"If only you knew."

"I don't know the whole story but I pretty much heard enough."

Napalingon ako sa kanya bigla. "Saan mo naman narinig?" I asked.

He just chuckled.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

He chuckled again but didn't say anything.

What's wrong with this guy? Samantalang nung una naming pagkikita he seems moody and shit.

Ace is showing his different sides. Interesting.

Nang napansin niyang nakatingin pa rin ako sa kanya at hinihintay yung sagot niya "Fine. Your cousins have mouths, you know?" he answered smiling.

I sighed. I'll kill those monsters.