"Ah... Fuck."
Tinanggal ko ang helmet ko pagkababa ko ng motor. I was out with Hiro and Haze for a race. Sobrang init kaya dumeretso kaagad ako sa may lilim at kumuha ng tubig. I zipped down on my suit and left it hanging on my waist, which left me with my black shirt. It was not a good idea to do this today. It was so hot.
"You won this time," competitive na sabi ni Haze pagkababa ng motor. He walked toward me while drinking water.
Hiro, on the other hand, poured the water from the bottle on his head until it dripped down on his body because it was too hot and he was getting soaked in his own sweat. "Play polo with me and I swear I'll beat you."
"Easy, boys." I shrugged, nagyayabang dahil nanalo ako ngayon.
I took off my shirt and used it to wipe my sweat while waiting for the Juarez brothers to change. Nang makapagpalit na sila ay kinuha ko na rin ang shirt ko para makapunta na kami sa susunod naming gagawin. They really wanted to play polo so I just went along with them. Wala naman akong gagawin ngayong araw.
We arrived at a polo field where they play. Hiro and Haze already had their own horses so I just chose a random one. We also had to change our clothes while waiting for the employee there to find some teammates for us. Palaging narito ang magkapatid kaya naman kilala rin nila mga naglalaro rito.
I already knew how to play so they didn't have to teach me again. Pagkatapos makakuha ng mga kakampi ay nagsimula na kaming maglaro. Magkalaban si Hiro at Haze. I was teamed up with Hiro.
Muntik pa akong mahulog sa kabayo habang naglalaro kaya tumigil muna ako para maayos ang sakay ko. The two brothers were going wild. Competitive pa silang dalawa sa isa't isa.
Our team won. Haze claimed it was because his teammates sucked. Ayaw talagang magpatalo. "My body will probably hurt tomorrow," sabi ko pagkabalik sa bleachers. "I hope it doesn't hurt on Sunday."
"Why? Are you going somewhere?" tanong ni Hiro sa akin.
"I'm going to play baseball."
"Let's play baseball on Sunday, then," sabi naman ni Haze.
"No way," I said so quickly that both of them stared at me for being too defensive. "Uh... I'm with someone else."
"A date," sabay nilang sabi at tumango pa.
"It's not!" tanggi ko pero parang wala silang naririnig.
I listed down the sports I played so we could discover them together. Kierra said she didn't play any sports except volleyball for P.E so we tried to discover where she was good at instead. Arts. We bought a canvas for each of us and found a good place to paint.
We sat in a garden near the lake with a picnic mat to sit on. I also brought food, just in case we would feel hungry. She looked so angelic, wearing a cute light blue checkered dress and her long hair was in a half ponytail with a pastel blue ribbon at the back, leaving her bangs sitting pretty on her forehead. It suited her well.
"I really like arts," sabi niya sa akin habang nagda-drawing sa canvas niya. "It calms me down when I paint nature."
I didn't know what to paint. I was just staring at her back and unconsciously sketching it on the small canvas I was holding. I wasn't good at painting but also not bad at it. My mother liked painting, too.
She was in front of me because she wanted to take a closer look at the lake, so my view of her back was clear. I picked some colors that would suit my painting. Mostly blue, green, white, and brown. I made her hair golden brown. Hinahangin pa iyon pagilid.
I smiled to myself while listening to her stories. She was talking about how her cousin. Bonding daw nila 'yong pagpe-paint noong mga bata sila. I didn't even know that her dad was a famous painter before. Ngayon, nagtatrabaho na raw siya sa Valeria Group when it comes to concepts and designing, but he was also a part-time professor in a famous art school in Manila.
"That's why I like arts. I have such a good relationship with my dad. We spend a lot of time together, making art. Naka-frame pa nga sa bahay 'yong pinakauna kong drawing noong bata ako." Tumawa siya at tumingin sa 'kin. "Ipapakita ko sa 'yo kapag napadpad ka sa bahay."
"I could tell that your dad is such a great person." I knew she looked up to him. I felt happy that she was being treated well by her family. "I should see his works."
"Oh, we also have them in the house! May art room si Daddy roon. Doon siya nagwo-work. Messy nga lang kasi... alam mo na, paint everywhere, tapos siyempre, magulo kasi ang dami niyang idea, pero it's a beautiful mess. Punta ka sa amin para makita mo!"
"I would love to," sabi ko habang abala rin sa pine-paint ko.
Mas nauna akong natapos sa kaniya. I was very satisfied with my work. Naghugas ako ng kamay at humiga sa picnic mat habang hinihintay siya at kumakain ng mansanas. She was in her own world while painting. Ayaw pa niyang ipakita sa akin dahil hindi pa raw tapos.
"Okay, done na. Let's exchange." Kinuha ko ang sa akin pagkasabi niya noon. Nagbilang pa siya bago kami mabilis na nagpalit ng canvas. My lips parted when I saw her work. She did all of this in such a short time?
"Wow..." I exclaimed. "It's so beautiful. You're a good artist, wow..." I complimented. "It's so nice to look at."
"Thank you." Ngumiti siya sa akin at nahiya pa bago tinuro ang gawa ko. "Is this me?" Natutuwang sabi niya at tumango naman ako. "Wow, no one has ever painted me before, except for my dad. I like this! Can I keep it?"
I didn't know if she was lying because it was not even that good compared to hers, but she looked so happy with it. We decided to keep each other's paintings. She kept on looking at mine and smiling. She was even touching the colors a bit.
"Ang ganda," sabi niya sa akin. "I love it..."
"It's really not that great..." Kung ikukumpara sa gawa niya, parang gawa lang siguro ng bata 'yong akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nakikita niya.
"It's me..." She giggled and pointed at herself in the painting. Tuwang-tuwa siya roon kaya napangiti ako. The subject was pretty. "Wala lang. Natutuwa lang ako. Is this how I look like in your perspective?"
"More beautiful than that," I said.
She stared at me for a moment before smiling and looking away. Pagkauwi, nilagay ko kaagad sa side table ko ang painting niya so I could always see it. It was calming to look at.
Kinabukasan, we played baseball. She was not that good at it because it was her first time, but the joy she felt when she successfully hit the ball made me feel so happy too.
"Masiyahin ako noong bata ako kasi palaging si Luna ang kasama ko. Taga-Bataan si Daddy kaya palagi kaming nagbabakasyon doon, lalo na sa tabing-dagat. I liked making friends. Kapag nasa probinsya ako, parang ibang tao rin ako, lalo na't ibang pangalan ang tawag nila sa akin doon."
"What name?"
"Ayi."
When I heard the name, I suddenly remembered a vivid memory from childhood. The little girl at the resort who always wanted to play with me. Sunod-sunod ko nang naalala 'yong mga pangyayari noon.
"Yes... In Bataan. At the beach..." I stared at her, remembering more memories.
The kid that was scared of bugs. The kid at the beach. The one who wanted to play with the sand. The one who wanted friends. Ayi... I remembered the name.
My childhood was not that great, so I could only remember pieces of them, but it was one of those great memories with my mom and stepdad in Bataan. That was why I could remember them.
"Ta-da! Welcome to Valeria High!"
Fuck, something flashed back. The girl... The morena one that was awfully familiar to me when Hiro and I went here for their Foundation Day. I quickly remembered now why I was staring so much.
The face! They were pretty similar. "Ah, yes... How could I forget... We really have already met before." She was familiar because she was that kid! We already met so many times before. How could I ever forget?
I felt like the universe was playing games with me. How could this happen? After all those years... Why now? Why her?
It almost felt like we were... soulmates.
***
"Paano kami magiging soulmates, Mommy? Hindi ako naniniwala sa mga ganoon!"
Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit inaasar kami ni Mommy habang naglalagay kami ng gamit sa likod ng sasakyan dahil nga pauwi kami ng Bataan para mag-celebrate ng Christmas. Kasama namin si Shan kaya siya narito.
"Honey, you've known each other ever since you were kids. Hinahabol-habol mo pa nga siya noong bata ka kasi ayaw niya sa 'yo at makulit ka," pagkekwento ni Mommy.
"Hindi ako naniniwala! Hindi ko ginawa 'yan, Mommy!" pagtatanggi ko pa at pinagkrus ang braso sa dibdib. Hindi ko na maalala 'yon! Parang ang weird isipin na nagkita na kami ni Shan noon! Weird!
"I was friends with his late mother... That kid has been through a lot. I'm glad you met him again and brought him with us." Tinapik-tapik ni Mommy ang balikat ko.
"I'm glad to meet you, Sir," rinig kong sabi ni Shan sa may gilid ng sasakyan kaya sumilip ako. Nakita kong nag-meet na pala sila ni Daddy. "I heard you were a painter... I looked up your works. They were so great. I loved them."
"Wow, thank you, Shan." Tumawa si Daddy. "Do you want to see some of them in person? I have them in the art room. May time pa naman bago bumyahe."
"Sure, Sir. I would love to." Shan was so respectful. Too much, actually. Gusto ni Daddy ay casual lang.
"Just call me Tito. Medyo weird pakinggan ang Sir. Parang estudyante kita," pagbibiro ni Daddy bago sila pumunta sa art room ni Shan. Sumunod naman ako para makisali sa kanila at masiguradong hindi uncomfortable si Shan sa bahay namin.
Pagkapasok ko ay pinapakita na ni Daddy 'yong paintings ko noong bata ako! "Daddy!" Tumakbo kaagad ako at hinarangan iyong tinuturo niya. Iyong mga nakakahiya pa ang pinakita.
"Kierra started young. Bata pa lang siya, sobrang hilig na niya mag-drawing ng kung ano-ano," patuloy na pagkekwento ni Daddy sa talambuhay ko. "May isang beses, nagpe-paint ako ng napakagandang piece, tapos akala niya ay sa kaniya at pwede niyang galawin... Ginawa niyang mga unicorn ang mga tao at nilagyan ng rainbow ang paligid. It was meant to be a dark concept..."
Pinakita pa ni Daddy 'yon kaya tumawa sila ni Shan. Napanguso ako at sinamaan sila ng tingin.
"But I tried to fix it. Instead na magalit ako, in-acknowledge ko na lang na maganda ang ginawa niya because for her... it's still art. I don't want to limit Kierra's imagination. Pinagsama ko ang gawa namin. It turned out to be better."
"You are such a great father, Tito," sabi naman ni Shan. "How admirable. This is why Kierra grew up to be such an amazing person."
Shan knew his way to my parents' hearts! Alam na alam niya kung ano ang gustong marinig nina Daddy. Tuwang-tuwa tuloy sila sa kaniya!
"Daddy, tara na. Late na tayo makakarating niyan," paalala ko sa kaniya.
Sa wakas ay tumigil na sila kakausap tungkol sa akin at sumakay na lang sa sasakyan. Nasa likod kami ni Shan habang si Daddy ang driver at si Mommy sa shotgun seat. Shan was talking with my mother so smoothly na parang siya ang anak nila.
"Are you living alone now?" tanong ni Mommy.
"Yes, Tita... I left my dad's house when I went to college."
"That's good. That's actually so much better than living with your dad," sabi naman ni Mommy. So she knew about it! "If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me, ha... Your mom would be so happy if she could just see you spending time with us on Christmas."
"Kierra offered, and I also didn't want to spend Christmas alone, so I hope it's okay if I can join your vacation..." Shan politely said.
"Of course, Shan. I'm glad you're here with us!" nakangiting sabi ni Mommy. "You've grown so much! It's nice seeing you and Kierra together again, just like when you were kids. Are you guys in a relationship?"
"No!" sabay naming sagot ni Shan, pero mas kalmado ang sa kaniya at may 'po' pa. Mas defensive lang ang sa akin.
"I told you, Mommy, we're just friends. Dad, we are just friends," sabi ko sa kanilang dalawa.
"Okay, dear... I just asked naman." Nagulat pa si Mommy sa akin nang bigla akong sumigaw. "It's okay, Kierra. Both of you, take your time to figure things out."
Sinandal ko na lang ang ulo ko sa may bintana, inaantok na. Napansin iyon ni Shan kaya nilagay niya ang kamay sa gilid ng ulo ko at sinandal ako sa balikat niya. Pumikit na lang ako at nakatulog na.
Pagkagising ay nasa stopover na kami. Bumaba ako para gumamit ng restroom at pagkalabas, inabutan na ako ni Shan ng tubig na binili niya para sa akin sa convenience store. Binilhan niya rin ako ng ice cream na gusto ko. Nakatayo lang kami roon habang hinihintay sina Mommy. Pareho kaming nakasuot ng hoodie. Mas oversized nga lang ang sa akin at hanggang itaas ng tuhod ko.
Inalok ko siya noong ice cream at sinubuan siya gamit 'yong maliit na wooden spoon. Tumango-tango siya at nilagay ang kamay sa tuktok ng ulo ko para inisin ako.
"Gupitin na natin bangs mo," sabi niya sa akin. "Humahaba na."
"Later," sabi ko sa kaniya at sinubuan ulit siya noong ice cream. "Gupitin mo? Marunong ka ba?" Nasa tuktok pa rin ng ulo ko ang kamay niya. Parang nagpapahinga lang 'yon doon.
"Of course. I can do anything," pagyayabang niya sa akin. Tumawa ako at kinurot nang bahagya ang beywang niya kaya umiwas siya sa akin, tumatawa rin.
"Kierra, Shan, let's go!" tawag ni Mommy sa amin kaya bumalik na kami ng sasakyan.
Mga dalawang oras pa nang makarating kami sa resort. Magkasama si Mommy at Daddy sa isang room, at tig-isang room naman kami ni Shan. Nag-ayos muna ako ng gamit at umidlip saglit. Pagkatapos, nag-dinner lang kami sa labas at bumalik na ulit sa resort.
"Kapag maikli 'yan, lagot ka sa 'kin." Nasa may balcony kami ni Shan ng room ko dahil ginugupitan niya ako ng bangs. "Ayusin mo, ha. Kinakabahan ako sa 'yo."
"Shush, I'm concentrating," sabi niya.
Pumikit ako nang ginupitan na niya ako. Inayos niya pa nang kaunti bago sinuklay ulit at ginupit. Pagkatapos ay pinagpagan niya ang damit ko bago ako dumilat at tumingin sa salamin.
"Wow, pantay, ah! Good job!" Binigyan ko siya ng thumbs up. "Pang-ilang beses mo na ba 'tong ginagawa?"
"First time. I'm just too good." Ngumisi siya habang inaayos ang bangs ko gamit ang daliri niya. "There. I could finally see your eyes better. How pretty," sabi niya habang nakatitig sa mukha ko.
Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko at umiwas ng tingin, pinipigilan ang ngiti. "Ikaw? Gupitan din kita, payag ka?"
"Sure." Nagulat ako nang pumayag kaagad siya. Umupo pa siya sa kabilang upuan, handa nang magpagupit. "Come on. Do what you want with me," pagbibiro niya.
"Ayaw ko. Hindi ako marunong! Baka pumangit 'yong gupit mo. Ang ganda pa naman." Ang ganda ng buhok niya. Hindi masyadong maikli at hindi rin mahaba. Sakto lang at bagay sa kaniya.
"Do you want to take pictures tomorrow?" tanong niya sa akin. "I can take pictures of you."
"Hindi naman ako photogenic," sabi ko sa kaniya at tumawa pa. "I look ugly in pictures. I don't like my face."
Ever since that incident happened, I couldn't look at myself the same way. Natatakot akong tingnan ang sarili ko. I said it before and was already making progress, but it was still a little hard to look in the mirror.
"I always love how you look like," sabi niya. "And you look even more exceptionally beautiful in person."
Tumawa ako. "Sige na nga. Kaunting pictures lang."
"Samahan kita," alok niya. That made me feel better so I nodded. Nahihiya ako kapag mag-isa.
Mas marami nga akong pictures na kasama ang mga kaibigan ko. It was just hard if it was only me. Nasa akin kasi ang focus.
The next day, I stared in the mirror and smiled at myself. I looked... okay. I started putting on make-up and even dressed up to make myself feel better. I was wearing navy blue long sleeves and a brown long skirt. Shan said he wanted to match me so it would look better in photos, so he wore a white turtle neck, a navy blue jacket, and a pair of brown pants. It was too early, so the sun wasn't that hot yet. Hindi pa nga masyadong sumisinag ang araw.
"Wow. Gorgeous," he said when he saw me.
"Thank you," nahihiyang sabi ko. He was setting up the camera. "Do you want to take solo pictures first? I like your outfit."
"Uhm... Kung magpapa-picture ka rin," sabi ko naman.
He agreed, so I stood in front of the camera with the beach on my back. I didn't know what to do, so I smiled when he took the photo. Nang tingnan niya 'yon ay napangiti rin siya. "Okay lang ba siya?" tanong ko.
"Yes, you look so lovely. One more," he said.
I felt relieved and more comfortable taking another photo. I faced sideways for a bit and smiled at the camera. I took three more photos before I took his. He just smiled without showing his teeth and then went sideways, and then I took a photo of his back.
"Parang mugshot ha," sabi ko sa kaniya.
Tumawa siya at kinuha ulit ang camera para ilagay sa stand pero sabay kaming nagulat nang makitang gising na si Mommy para mag-jogging. She offered to take pictures of us dahil ang cute daw ng suot namin.
Nahihiya pa kami sa unang photo. "Closer. Para kayong magkaaway," sabi ni Mommy.
Lumapit sa akin si Shan at inakbayan ako saka kami ngumiti sa camera. After that, we faced the beach. Nabunggo ko ang hips ni Shan nang pumulot ako ng shell kaya marahan niya rin akong binunggo pabalik. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin nang humarap ako sa kaniya at tumawa naman siya sabay kurot ng pisngi ko.
Nakalimutan kong nangunguha pala ng litrato si Mommy. Lumayo kaagad ako at naglakad palapit para tingnan ang shot. They looked cute.
Noong gabi, nag-bonfire kami dahil dumating ang mga pinsan ko. Pinakilala ko si Shan sa kanila. Puro mas bata iyon sa akin kaya naman nakasundo niya rin kaagad. Makukulit na mga bata 'yon at gusto lang mag-bonfire para magluto ng marshmallows.
Buhat-buhat ni Shan iyong bata kong pinsan noong bumalik sila dahil kumuha ng hotdog stick. "Let me hold it. You might hurt yourself," marahang sabi niya sa bata at kinuha iyong stick. "Who wants some hotdogs?" malakas na tanong niya sa iba at nagsipuntahan naman kaagad ang mga pinsan ko sa kaniya.
"Me, Kuya Shan! Me, me!" Isa-isa silang binigyan ni Shan habang ako ay nakaupo lang sa may mat, hawak ang camera. I was taking photos of my surroundings. Iyong bonfire, 'yong dagat, tapos ngayon, si Shan at ang mga pinsan ko.
Nang mapagod ay umupo na lang sa tabi ko si Shan, hinihingal na kakalaro sa mga pinsan ko. Sinandal niya ang ulo niya sa balikat ko habang ako ay kumakain ng marshmallows. Sinubuan ko rin siya ng isa dahil baka gutom na siya. Hinihintay lang namin matapos lutuin ang noche buena.
Nang tinawag na kami ay pinatay na namin ang apoy sa bonfire at pumunta na sa mahabang table sa buhanginan para kumain at mag-countdown for Christmas. Shan also made a good impression with my aunts and uncles.
"Are you Ate Ayi's boyfriend?" inosenteng tanong ng bata kong pinsan.
"Oh, no, I'm not..." Tumawa lang si Shan at pinisil ang pisngi noong bata. "Why are you asking?"
"Because I like Kuya Shan! You're nice! Sama ka po palagi sa Bataan!"
"Kuya Shan is busy studying..." Pinatahimik ko kaagad ang pinsan ko. "Christmas break lang kaya siya available."
"Boyfriend mo siya, eh! Ayieee!" pamimilit pa ng iba kong mga pinsan.
Napailing na lang ako at kumuha ng pagkain. Hindi naman titigil ang mga 'yon sa pang-aasar dahil mga bata. "Ano'ng gusto mo? Kukuhanan na kita," alok ko kay Shan dahil nakaupo lang siya roon, pinapauna ang lahat kumuha ng pagkain dahil nahihiya.
"It's fine." Tumayo siya at kinuha ang plato sa kamay ko. "I'm just waiting for them to finish."
Baka maubos kaya kinuhanan ko na lang siya ng pagkain at inumin. Pagkatapos kumain ay nag-countdown na kami para sa Pasko. "3... 2... 1... Merry Christmas!" May mga hawak pa kaming lusis na para bang New Year.
"Merry Christmas!" Humarap ako kay Shan para batiin siya. Hinawakan niya ang baywang ko para alalayan ang likod ko dahil nabunggo ako sa dibdib niya.
"Merry Christmas," bati niya pabalik at ngumiti sa akin. "Thanks for bringing me here."
"Sabi ko sa 'yo, mage-enjoy ka rito, eh!" I smiled and even scrunched my nose while holding onto his waist and looking up at him.
He let out a small laugh before hugging me tightly and caressing my hair. Nagulat ako pero tinanggap ko na lang din, kahit nagtataka kung para saan 'yon.
"I'm glad you're happy," rinig kong bulong niya bago kumalas sa yakap.
"I am, too." I just gave him a cute smile that made him touch his chest, acting like he was hit by something.
"Ah, an arrow hit my heart," pagbibiro niya.
Tumawa ako at mahina siyang hinampas sa dibdib bago ako tumakbo papunta sa mga pinsan ko. Sumunod si Shan na may hawak na ring lusis. Nagkaroon pa kami ng gift-giving bago napagod at bumalik na sa kaniya-kaniyang kwarto.
Nagpalit lang ako ng pajamas at lumabas ng balcony para magpahangin. Mayamaya, lumabas din si Shan at nagulat nang makita ako roon. Magkatabi lang kasi room namin. Pumunta siya sa dulo ng balcony para mas malapit sa akin at sumandal doon.
"I couldn't prepare a gift for you, so I'll give something tomorrow," sabi niya sa akin.
"Ako rin kaya huwag ka nang mag-abala!" Pumunta rin ako sa dulo para mas magkaintindihan kami.
Tumingin siya sa paligid at nakita iyong pots ng flowers sa may gilid ng balcony. Pumitas siya ng isa at inabot sa akin. Tumawa ako at kinuha iyon para ilagay sa may tainga ko. "Thank you!" sabi ko.
"Did you sleep better last night?" tanong niya sa akin.
Ngumiti ako at tumango sa kaniya. "I didn't have a nightmare. Nawawala na siya," sabi ko sa kaniya. "I really hope so because it's Christmas. I want to have a break from everything."
"Hmm, did you see your photos?" pag-iba niya ng topic.
"Yes! They looked great. Thank you..." It actually wasn't that bad. I thought I looked good there. "Cute din ng pictures natin. Sabi ni Mommy, ipapa-frame niya raw 'yong isa."
"Your mom's amazing. What a kind person," puri niya. "It has been a while since someone took care of me."
Kinumusta ko rin siya at ang sabi naman niya, masaya raw siya at hindi naman naiilang sa pamilya ko. He just missed his mom a bit, but he wasn't sad about it. Nagkwentuhan lang kami hanggang sa antukin na ako at nagpaalam na kami sa isa't isa.
The next day was Christmas morning, so I woke up in a good mood. Dad bought matching Christmas sweaters for us and even bought one for Shan this morning. Wala si Shan for breakfast. Ang sabi ay umalis daw nang maaga saglit.
Nakahiga lang ako sa couch ng room ko habang nagpapahinga pagkatapos kumain nang may kumatok. Pagkabukas ko ng pinto, bumungad sa akin ang malaking bouquet of flowers. Ang ganda ng kulay.
"Merry Christmas," sabi ni Shan nang kuhanin ko ang mga bulaklak. "Here's my real gift." Inabot niya sa akin ang isang box ng cinnamon rolls at isang drink. "Christmas special. I made them."
"Wow, thank you! Paano naman ako?! Wala akong mabigay!" na-pressure tuloy ako.
"Dinala mo 'ko rito. That's already your gift for me. You don't need to give me anything."
"Ito na lang! Ta-da!" Binigay ko sa kaniya 'yong Christmas sweater na binili ni Daddy. "Suotin mo raw 'yan dahil magte-take tayo ng family pictures later!"
"I'm not part of your family," naguguluhang sabi niya.
"Well... You're part of my life now," sabi ko. "Right? So go and wear it!"
"Oh, to be a part of your life..." He put his hand on his chest and closed his eyes, letting his head fall against the doorframe. "Alright."
Bumalik ako sa kwarto at kinuha ang phone ko para sagutin ang group video call sa group chat. Bumati lang ng Merry Christmas ang mga kaibigan ko. Tumawag din si Theo para batiin ako.
"Merry Christmas! Saan ka nag-celebrate?" tanong ko sa kaniya.
[Sa Subic kami] sabi niya. [Nasa Bataan ka 'no? Malapit lang pala kami diyan.]
"Oh? Punta ka rito!" Tumawa ako. "Malapit lang pala."
[Papakainin mo ba 'ko diyan pag nagpunta ako?]
"Oo naman! Hinahanap ka nga ni Mommy!" pangungumbinsi ko pa. "Saglit na drive lang 'yan, dali! Isama mo na rin sina Tita."
[Huwag na, nakakahiya. Ako na lang ang pupunta. Sasaglit lang din naman ako.]
"Yay, okay! See you!" Binaba ko ang tawag at lumabas para sabihin kay Mommy na pupunta si Theo. Ang saya naman!
________________________________________________________________________________
:)