Malia POV:
"Is that a blood in your collar?"
I immediately noticed a bloodstain on the collar of my dress. Perhaps it's as a result of my earlier nose bleed.
Kaagad naman akong kinabahan sa sinabi ni mommy and thought for a few more seconds what to say.
"U-uhm, i-it's a ketchup lang po ma. Kanina kasi natapunan ako ng isang bata sa party" I said.
"I thought your nose was bleeding again. Cge na honey, mukhang pagod kana. Goodnight I love you"
"Cge po, I love you too mommy" I answered at tumungo na sa itaas.
When I entered the room I immediately took a shower and rested, dahilan ng medyo pagkahilo-hilo ko dahil ang sakit ng ulo ko kanina.
Nang nakahiga na ako ay, kaagad may nag notif sa phone ko. It said a request message to my messenger.
I immediately checked it and was surprised for it was Oliver. But how'd he know my account?
From;
Oliver De Guzman
Hi! You're the one who's at the party earlier right?
Kaya kaagad ko naman itong sinagot.
Hello! Yes it's me. My account was kind of hard to find. How'd you find it?
He respond to me immediately.
Yes hahaha, I also have a hard time finding it. How are you?
Nireplyan ko naman ito.
I should be the one who'll ask you that. I'm good, wby?"
I wait a a few minutes to expect that he'll reply. Pero mukhang nakatulog na ito kaya pinatay ko na lang ang phone ko at natulog na rin.
*Kinabukasan*
I wake up early nanaman at pagkababa ko ay sabi ni manang ay wala na raw sila mommy rito at ang aga pa daw nakaalis together with daddy.
I just took my breakfast at naisipang magbasa-basa ng pocket book kadahilanan ng wala namang magandang gawin sa ngayon. I can't leave because they might be worried again especially mommy.
Then I received a notification on my phone.
It's from Oliver.
From;
Oliver de Guzman
Sorry for the late reply, I'm doing good also. Nakatulog ako kagabi.
I respond to him naman.
It's fine, well sounds good that you're doing okay.
I waited for his reply pero mukhang may ginagawa ito, for he didn't respond. Kaya I continued reading na lang.
Until someone opened the main door.
"Where's may inaanak" nagulat ako na si mama Imee yun.
"Nasa garden po, nagbabasa" sagot naman ni manang.
Kaagad naman itong nagtungo sa akin.
"Oh! hi my dear Lia, goodmorning" sabay yakap at halik sa akin.
"Hi mama, napadalaw ka?"
"Nako, wala akong masyadong gagawin sa ngayon. Besides, I also visit a friend here in your subdivison just three blocks away"she said so I immediately wondered what we would do again.
"So? You'll stay here po?"
"Ikaw talagang bata ka, you are truly identical to your mother. May pagka slow" hindi naman ako nakasagot.
"Ano kaba, tara gala tayo" tsaka ako nito hinampas.
"U-uhm, sure mama. But magpapaalam lang muna ako kay mommy"
"Nako ako na ang magpapaalam sayo, Just get dressed" sabi nito.
"Sigurado ka po, Perhaps she'll later believe I'm using you to have fun mama. I'm afraid because of what I did previously, which I caused them enormous worry."
"Yes anak, mama will take care of it. Hindi ka non papagalitan noh, ako na to, wala ka bang bilib saken?" I immediately laughed and went upstairs to get dressed na.
When I was finished, I immediately went downstairs and noticed that the person on the phone with Mama appeared to be serious.
Pagkababa niya ng telepono ay I immediately asked her if she's okay.
"Yes anak, it's your mom lang naman. Akala niya ay kung saan na naman kita dadalhin. But don't worry pumayag naman siya"
"Oh, it's okay lang po if ayaw ni mommy. We can bond naman here" I said.
"Ako kaba, kilala mo naman yan si mommy mo. She thinks she's the ate eh ako naman. Tsaka simula bata kami ganyan na yan nohh napaka protective sa isang bagay. I will not put you in danger, let's go"
"Sige na nga po, ihahatid niyo pa naman akong buhay dito mamaya diba?" I asked.
"Bakit ayaw mo ba?" pagbibiro namn nito at kami ay nagpatuloy na.
While we're on our way, I asked maam Imee kung saan niya ako dadalhin.
"We're going to Dapitan" sabay kindat nito.
"Shalah may pakindat ka mama ha. Ano pong gagawin natin dun?"
"Nagpasama lang ako sayo para mamili ng materials sa bahay. Also your kuya's susunod na lang sa atin doon" banggit nito.
"Oh, sige po" sagot ko naman.
"Nga pala how are you. Is your nose still bleeding, and are you experiencing any pain throughout your body?"
"I'm okay naman po mama, thanks for helping me that night pala" giit ko.
"Of course you're my priority din nohh. Your kuya Sandro saw you that night, na may kasama ka daw sa garden. Is he you're-" nang bigla ko itong pintutol.
"No!" hindi ko sinasadyang sumigaw.
"Ito naman, nagtatanong lang po ako. Ma'am Malia"
"S-sorry mama, ako din eh binigla mo naman ako. He's not my boyfriend, in fact he's the one who saw my necklace and returned it to me sa garden" daig ko.
"Ganon naman pala, pero did you feel somethi-"
"Of course wala, mama naman eh" kaagad kong daig.
"Naks, sige na nga. Mukhang denial ka Lia ha" pangaasar nito ulit sa akin at sakto naman na nakarating na kami sa Dapitan.
"We're going to Arcade, I'm just going to buy some ceramics, baskets at kung ano pang magagandang i replace sa mga ibang gamit sa bahay" mama said.
"Sure mama" kaagad naman ako nitong hinawakan ng mahigpit.
"Hopefully no one will recognize us here" dagdag nito and nobody appears to be looking at us because everyone else is preoccupied with their purchases.
Hanggang sa nakapunta na kaming arcade ni mama at namimili na ng mga bibilhin niya. I was just following her while looking around.
Hanggang sa pagharap ko ay may naka bunggo sa akin.
"Sorry!" sabay naming banggit sa isa't-isa and the voice seemed familiar.
Then when I looked up, I saw Oliver.
"Hi it's you again Lia" he said.
"Hey! So sorry if I bumped you"
"It's fine, whom are you with?" tanong nito. When Mama Imee suddenly spoke behind me na ikinagulat ko naman.
"With my mama Imee. U-uhm mama, this is Oliver nga pala. The one na nakausap ko sa garden noong birthday ni kuya Matt at nagsauli ng kwintas ko" kaagad kong pagpapakilala sa kanya.
"Hello hijo, you look handsome ha. Are you okay? Who are you hanging out with? You are the one who returned Lia's necklace right? You are well aware that she cannot shake you from her head. However, what is on your nose?" mama asked Oliver.
Nagulat naman ako na parang maka tanong to si mama ay reporter.
"Mama!" pagsusuway ko.
"It's okay lang po, I'm with my mom po. Then this is a tube po, for I have cystic fibrosis" sagot naman ni Oliver at may biglang tumawag sa kanya, perhaps it's his mom na kaagad naman pumunta sa amin.
"Hi madam Imee" giit ng mama ni Oliver kay mama at hinalikan ito sa pisngi.
"Nice to see you again Cathy, thank you to your son who returned Malia's necklace" mama said.
"Of course, he also said that to me, nice to meet you Lia. Oliver's true, you really are so ethereal"
"T-thank you po tita" I said at tinanong nito si mama kung bakit kami napapasyal rito sa Dapitan.
"Just want to buy some materials, para palitan ang iba sa bahay" mama replied kaagad nag ring ang phone ng mama ni Oliver and after that she told us na mauuna na daw sila kasi they're going to see a doctor pa.
"Sure Cathy take care, same as you Oliver. Uy Malia magpaalam kana sa knight and shining armor mo" giit ni mama at nahihiya na ako dahil sa pinagsasabi nito kanina.
"Good bye po tita. Bye Oliver"
"Bye Malia, if you need someone to talk I'm always available just chat me" he replied at tumungo na sila ni tita.
Pagkaalis nila ay inasar nanaman ako ni mama.
"Ehem! Your cheeks are turning red" she said at kaagad namang nakadating sila kuya Borgy, Michael and Matt.
"Hi mom" they said and kissed mama.
"Hi Lia, may manliligaw kaba? Ang pula ng pisngi mo oh" sabi ni kuya Matt.
"Wala kuya nohh"
"Anong wala, kagagaling lang rito ng tao that made your cousin blush" sabat naman ni mama.
"Nako ha, dapat ay makadaan muna siya sa amin bago sayo" dagdag pa ni kuya Borgy.
"Ano ba kayo, wala nga mga kuya. He just returned my necklace that night" sagot ko naman at patuloy pa rin nila akong inaasar hanggang sa napatahimik na ang mga bunganga nila at tinulungan si mama sa mga pinamili niya ilagay sa sasakyan.
"Ang dami naman nito mommy, will you replace everything in the house?" sambit ni kuya Michael habang bigat na bigat sa mga dala nito.
"Nako, yung iba kasi inaanay na at hindi na magamit kaya dinamihan ko na ng bili para hindi ako pabalik-balik rito" mama respond.
When they were done I immediately asked mama if we were already going home.
"Nako ano ka ba anak, we're going lunch muna before makauwi. It's already 1pm na noh, anoto iiuwi kitang gutom? Tsaka suminghot lang ng hangin dito ang mga kuya mo?" kaagad naman akong napatawa sa sinabi ni mama.
"Nga pala mom, where are we going to lunch?" kuya Borgy asked.
"What if BGC na lang kaya mom?" kuya Matt suggest.
"Libre mo?" sabay kindat ni mama.
"Fine" seryosong sagot nito at kami ay sumakay na sa kanya-kanyang mga sasakyan.
Hindi naman gaano ka layo ang binyahe namin at kaagad naman kaming nakarating dito sa Taguig.
As of now, we already ordered the foods that we want at nag-uusap usap lang ang iba sa amin.
"Nga pala, your birthday is next week na Lia ah. Anong plano mo?" mama asked.
"Wala pa naman po, pero ang gusto ko sana ay tayo-tayo lang na magpapamilya"
"Maganda rin yan. Invite mo si Oliver" pang-aasar nanaman ni mama.
"Mama!"
"Ito naman di mabiro, bakit kapag siya ang topic natin ay na guguilty ka?" dagdag nito.
"I'm not po ah"
"Sus, kitang-kita sa mga mata mo inday" daig ni kuya Michael at salamat naman kaagad nakarating ang order namin at nagsikain na.
Habang kumakain kami ay hindi talaga nauubusan ng kwento si mama, hanggang sa nagsitinginan na lang kaming apat na magpipinsan at pinipigilang tumawa.
"Are you listening to me Borgy, Matt and Michael?" pabiglang seryosong sabi ni mama nang tumahimik ang lahat.
"Y-yes mom" sabat naman nilang tatlo.
After we finished eating, we took a stroll around the mall, where mama had purchased additional hand-painted pottery dishes.
Hindi rin nagtagal ay nauna na si kuya Michael umalis because they are already looking for him in his office. As a result, he promptly said goodbye, leaving only four of us.
Pagkatapos bumili ni mama ay sila kuya Matt at Borgy na ang nagdala ng mga pinamili nito sa sasakyan at nagpaalam na rin silang dalawa.
"Bye mom, thanks for contacting us to have lunch with you" kuya Matt and Borgy said and kissed mama same to me at umalis na rin sila.
Mama asked me when we got into the car whether I wanted to go somewhere else.
"W-wala na nama po mama. You can bring me home na" sagot ko.
"O siya sige, you're sure ha. Bibili lang ako ng turon sa mga kasambahay. Pang meryende lang nila"
I simply nodded and checked my phone to see if mommy had texted me, but there was nothing. Even if there is no call, nakakapanibago.
"You okay Lia anak?" kaagad na tanong ni mama.
"O-opo, akala ko kasi nag text o call si mommy. But it's look like they're busy, pati na rin si daddy"
"Baka anak, hindi naman non nila pagagalitan" she replied at nakarating na kaming bayan ata to. Mama said na masarap kasi ang turon nila rito.
Iniwan na lang ako nito sa sasakyan at siya na lang ang bumaba.
Then I saw a familiar face. Parang si Jessan, timing naman ay mukhang dadaan ito sa sasakyan namin pero who's with her.
I instantly lowered the window and called her.
"Jessan!"
"Ay palaka! Huy! Malia, kasama mo?" nagulat at kaagad na tanong nito.
"Si mama Imee lang, bumili lang nang turon. How about you? Saan kayo pupunta ng kasama mo?"
It looks like it took her a while to answer at ang kasama niya na lang ang nagsalita.
"Hello po, ako nga pala si Keirt manliligaw ni Jessan" pagpapakilala niya na kagad naman akong napabigla at natauhan.
"H-hi! I'm Lia, Jessan's friend. Huwag mo akong i po. It's look like that both of you ni Jessan ay magkaedad lang. She's one year older than me"
"Sige Lia, naikwekwento ka rin pla ni Jessan sa akin. Talagang napakabait at ganda mo" kaagad namang hinampas ito ni Jessan.
"Ako yung nililigawan mo diba?" kaagad na tinanong ni Jessan sa manliligaw nito.
"Pero mas maganda ka" then I saw Jessan's blushing.
"Teh pag pasensyahan mona tong kasama ko ha, parang buntot. Sunod ng sunod saken iniiwasan ko na nga pero hindi makapagpigil, dito kasi kami naka pwesto nila nanay sa loob ng tindahan" Jessan spoke to me in hushed tones, as if fearful of being overheard by her friend.
"Ano kaba it's okay lang noh, it's nice to meet both of you" kaagad namang naka pasok na nang loob ng sasakyan si mama and I've just introduced her to Jessan.
"Mama si Jessan nga po pala, the one I introduced noong graduation. She's also a scholar of pops. She's the one rin po who brought me home at sa kanila ako natulog noong hindi ako nakauwi. Tsaka yung kasama niya" I supposedly want to continue what I'm speaking nang bigla akong pinalakihan ng mata ni Jessan.
"Ah okay, nice to meet you again Jessan. Thanks for helping Lia when she didn't come home. " mama said.
"Nako walang anuman po, nagagalak ko rin po ulit kayong makita. Pero ikinalulungkot ko po at magpapatuloy na kami kasi pupunta pa po kami kay tita" Jessan said at nagpaalam na rin kami sa isa't-isa pati ang manliligaw nito.
"See mama, I have no boyfriend" I said while we're on our way home.
"Nako, wala pa"
Hindi na lang ako umimik at tumingin na lang sa bintana ng sasakyan until we get home.
Mama would have followed me inside of the house until she received a call from someone informing her of an urgent meeting.
"Lia so sorry anak, hindi na kita maihahatid sa loob" mama suddenly apologized.
"It's fine mama, my day well spent din naman to saken. Mag-ingat ka po ha goodbye. I love you" sabay halik ko sa pisngi nito.
"Me too anak, sa susunod ulit ha, I love you too, goodbye" she said at ako'y bumaba na.
When I entered the house and was about to go up to my room when I saw mommy na nakatalikod sa akin. She's home early now pala.
Kaya kaagad ko itong pinuntahan para batiin.
"Hi mom how are you-" I said and supposedly to kiss her on cheeks but she avoided me.
"Did you enjoy your bond with ate, huh Malia?" she said seriously.
Is she jealous of mama Imee?
A/N: Suyuin mona nanay mo tehh..