MARCH 9, 2023・THURSDAY・7:34
Maya zips her bag and slings it over her shoulder. As she makes her way to her bedroom door, she catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror and smiles. "Te Kakay, mulakaw na ko te!" she exclaims as she walks out of her room.
"ATE KAKAY, I'M HEADING OUT TO SCHOOL!"
Before leaving the house, she pauses and remembers something. She turns around and looks at her sister's closed bedroom door.
Maya hesitates for a moment before walking towards it.
Her hands hover in the air for a moment as she contemplates.
She knocks on the door.
"Nag-prepare na ko te Kakay. Wait lang!" May-may says from inside.
"I'M ALMOST DONE PREPARING, TE KAKAY. 10 SECONDS!"
Maya leans in and hears some movement inside. "Si Ate Maya ni 'by."
"IT'S ATE MAYA."
The movement stops.
"Pwede ko musulod?"
"CAN I COME IN?"
It's quiet for a bit.
Maya purses her lips as she waits for something to happen.
"Okay te."
With a smile, Maya opens the door.
"Hi," she says, as she walks inside.
May-may is arranging her art materials inside a plastic box.
"Mag-art mo karon 'by?" Maya asks.
"ARE YOU DOING ARTS TODAY, 'BY?"
"Opo te."
"YES TE."
She puts her large sketch book inside her bag and zips it.
"Erm...'by?" Maya says as she sits on her bed.
May-may turns around to face her.
Taking a deep breath, Maya apologizes, "Sorry ha kay nasuko ko sa imo."
"I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M SORRY THAT I GOT MAD AT YOU."
May-may responds with a smile and walks towards her sister, "Te, kabalo na gud ko mag-braid. Gusto ka i-braid tika?"
"ATE, I JUST LEARNED HOW TO BRAID. DO YOU WANT ME TO BRAID YOUR HAIR?"
Maya nods and smiles, "Okay."
May-may hops onto the bed and starts braiding her sister's hair.
"Asa man ka nakatuon ug braid 'by?"
"WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO BRAID?"
"Sa ako bago nga friends sila Clarice ug Steph."
"FROM MY FRIENDS, CLARICE AND STEPH."
"Naa na diay ka'y bago nga friends?"
"YOU HAVE NEW FRIENDS?"
"Opo te. Ay te..." She pauses. "Birthday diay ni Steph karong March 14 tapos gusto siya nga mag-overnight daw mi sa ilahang balay. Pwede ko muapil te?"
"YES ATE. ERM, BY THE WAY..."
"IT'S STEPH'S BIRTHDAY ON MARCH 14 AND SHE WANT US TO SLEEP OVER AT THEIR HOUSE. CAN I GO?"
"Kanus-a manang March 14 'by?"
"WHEN'S MARCH 14, 'BY?"
"Tuesday te. Akoang gitan-aw sa calendar gahapon," she says as she resumes braiding.
"IT'S TUESDAY ATE. I LOOKED IT UP ON THE CALENDAR YESTERDAY."
"Okay lang man sa ako 'by. Pero ila mama ug ante Kakay ka dapat mananghid."
"WELL, YOU KNOW I'M ALWAYS FINE WITH IT. BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR MAMA AND ANTE KAKAY'S PERMISSION, OF COURSE."
A huge smile appears on May-may's face. "Salamat te! Opo te mananghid lang ko kang mama." She hugs her and kisses her cheek. "I love you te."
"THANK YOU ATE! YES ATE, I'LL ASK THEM."
"I love you too, 'by," Maya says as she hugs her sister back.