Something New

Sixteen

"Okay ka lang Aurora?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Tita May sa akin nang makabalik kami sa may bleachers.

"Hmm? Opo! Hehe. No need to worry." Sabi ko at iwinagayway pa ang kamay sa ere.

The program ended that way, iyon nga lang hindi kami nanalo ng bigas. Instead, I look at Em-em and caress his hair.

"I'm sorry Em-em, di tuloy tayo nanalo ng bigas." Sabi ko but he smiled at me.

"Okay lang po Ate Aurora, may bola naman po ako." Sabi nya bago itinaas pa ang isang net na may tatlong soft ball. Consolation price for third place, kung second siguro kami may isang basket sana kami ng groceries.

Napanguso ako at naupo bago ginulo ang buhok nya.

"Babawi na lang ako next time." I said but he shook his head.

"Kahit di na po Ate Aurora, masaya naman po ako." My heart just melted with that so I just hugged the little kid.

"Aww. I'm glad you're happy Em." I said and he giggled.

"Sigurado ka bang okay lang yang paa mo?" Sabi ni George kaya napatingala ako sa kanya. Nasa harapan lang namin sya ni Em-em at nakahalukipkip.

"Oo, I'm fine." I said and waved my hand in the air as if it was nothing---

"Ouch!" I squealed when he actually grab my foot and slightly move it in a circular way.

"Hindi daw masakit ah." Sabi nya bago naiiling akong tinignan.

I just looked away, pouting my lips.

"Nako, eh ang maigi pa umuwi na tayo para mapahilot yan kay Aling Nora. Kaya mo bang maglakad Aurora?" Tanong ni Tita May sa akin at tumango naman ako.

"Oh sige, teka, George, ikaw na magbitbit nitong bag ni Aurora, wala na naman ng laman yan na pagkain. Buboy, Em-em, tara na at para mapahilot ang ate nyo." Sabi ni Tita.

Hawak nya sa magkabilang kamay sina Em-em at Buboy. Ako naman ay naglalakad mag-isa habang nakasunod sa kanilang apat.

Iika-ika nga lang, geez, sana may tricycle agad na available because I'm starting to feel the pain now.

"Sakay." Sabi ni George na huminto at nakaluhod ang isang tuhod.

"Ha?"

"Sabi ko sakay, sa lagay mong yan, bago tayo makarating sa sakayan ng tricycle, gabi na." Sabi nya at mahihiya pa sana ako kaso I'm not shy most of the times nga pala especially on a time like this that the pain is creeping in, so I actually did.

I put my arms around his neck and both of his hands are on the back of my knee. Inayos nya pa ang pagkakakarga sa akin at kahit pinagtitinginan kami ng ibang papauwi na din na mag-anak, yumuko na lang ako at itinago ang mukha ko sa balikat nya.

Gladly, nakasakay kami agad ng tricycle. Bumukod na sina Tita May at sya na ang nagpasya na isama ang dalawang bata para kapag uwi ay matawag na din nya yung kakilala daw nilang manghihilot. While George and I are in another tricycle. This time, parehas kaming nasa loob at sya ang malapit sa entrance ng tricycle.

We were both just silent the whole ride and he was just looking outside so I took the time to look at his face using the small mirror of the tricycle.

He looked like he was thinking deeply and I immediately looked away before he could even see me looking at him.

Geez, what am I doing?

When we reached home, sya ang nagbayad sa tricycle. Mas maliit na ang eskinita papunta sa bahay nila kaya ganon ulit ang ginawa nya. Nauna syang bumaba and gave me a piggyback ride.