Let Me See (Let Me Series)

Chapter 11

I've actually hoped that my parents would listen to me this time around. Sure, Gian sounded like a good person kahit na 'Hi, Aisleen' lang ang sinabi niya the last time he came here pero I still can't bring myself to accept him. Parang ang laking insulto lang kasi na kailangan pang umabot kami sa ganitong point just to make me feel "normal".

For the past three days, there have been no traces of Gian inside our house. I didn't hear his voice nor did I smell his perfume. Not that I was looking for him kasi hello? I'm actually thankful pa nga na hindi na siya bumalik. It seems like he knows how to get the point naman pala.

And so, I went back to my "normal" routine. I study and roam around the house through the help of Manang Edith. Sometimes, I still cook pero hindi na kasing-dalas like before. It's kind of difficult din kasi to tell if tama pa ba yung naluluto ko o hindi. Fortunately, okay naman yung mga niluto ko nitong nakaraan.

"Manang, pakiabot naman po nung sibuyas," utos ko kay Manang Edith. I wanted to cook aglio e olio today just because I'm craving for it. Nang maiabot sa akin ni manang 'yong sibuyas, I started peeling it agad. Everything was going well but the moment I sliced it, doon na nagkagulo ang lahat.

"Aw!" napasigaw ako nang hindi ko sinasadyang mahiwa ang daliri ko. Damn it. Okay naman ako sa paggamit ng kutsilyo nitong mga nakaraan ah?

"Ano ka bang bata ka!" sigaw naman ni Manang Edith pagkakita niya sa nangyari sa akin. She was about to leave me to get the first aid kit nung biglang may sumingit sa usapan naming dalawa.

"Manang, ako na po ang kukuha. Saan po ba nakalagay?" Gian asked. Before I could answer sarcastically, itinuro na ni manang yung location ng first aid kit namin. I was silent the whole time but manang, on the other hand, kept on spouting nonsense things. Kesyo lagot daw ako kina mommy kasi ganito ang nangyari. Lagot din daw siya kasi hinayaan niya pa akong magluto. But what's worse is the fact na sinabi niyang ang gwapo at ang bait daw talaga ni Gian. Napailing agad ako because of that.

I mean, sure, he can really be handsome for all I know and care. Hindi ko naman kasi siya makita kaya di ko talaga kayang magbigay ng judgment on that aspect. Pero yung mabait? They've got to be kidding me. Kung mabait talaga si Gian like what they are all saying, he should have respected my decision. Hindi porket yung mga magulang ko ang magpapasahod sa kanya, sa kanila na lang siya makikinig. Ako naman yung pinaka-involved sa fucked up situation na 'to, ah?

"Ikaw naman kasing bata ka, dapat ako na lang ang pinaghihiwa mo. Napa'no ka pa tuloy," pagpapangaral sa akin ni manang. Napanguso naman ako dahil doon tapos narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa niya.

"Manang naman e. Wag niyo na po akong pagalitan at pagtawanan. Alam niyo namang ito na lang ang napagkakaabalahan ko," sagot ko naman sa kanya. Saglit pa kaming nag-usap ni manang at natigil lang kami when Gian cleared his throat.

Bakit ba ang epal nito? tanong ko sa sarili ko. I swear I would have rolled my eyes already kung hindi lang awkward dahil di ko rin naman alam kung anong itsura ko if I did that.

"Maiwan ko muna kayo. Iho, ikaw na ang bahala rito sa alaga ko ha?" pagpapaalam ni manang. I was about to protest but no words came out from my mouth. And before I knew it, Gian was already holding my hand and he was guiding me to God knows where.

"Umupo ka muna," Gian instructed and I reluctantly followed him. Pagkaupo ko, doon ko lang na-realize na nasa may living room na pala kami. He then held my hand again and I almost swatted it away from him kung hindi lang talaga kailangang linisin 'tong bwisit na sugat ko.

"Bakit ba kasi naghihiwa ka pa?" tanong ni Gian sa akin. Wow. The audacity of this guy. As far as I can remember, hindi naman kami close para tanungin niya ako ng ganito. Ang kapal din naman niya, ano?