Tris
I watch her as she walks out of the doors, I waved crazily para makita niya agad ako
Napatawa nalang siya at tumakbo palapit sa'kin. My little cousin.
She's turning 20 next year pero bata pa rin ang turing ko sa kanya. Ano magagawa ko? Parang kapatid ko na siya and I have to take extra care of her after what happened. Mas matanda lang ako sa kanya ng limang taon.
"How are you little cousin?" tanong ko sabay halik sa kanya sa pisngi
"Ate Tris, I'm not little anymore. And I'm doing good, pagod dahil sa flight but good" sabi niya at umikot sa harapan ko, "Never better" at nag peace sign
"Oh siya, umuwi na tayo para makapag hinga ka. Mami cooked her special pasta just for you!"
Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko, "Weh? Si mami? Talaga lang ah? Hindi niya pinaluto sa personal chef niya?" tumango ako
"Of course! Ano ka ba, this is technically like your first time here sa Pinas since your accident" napansin ko bigla lumungkot ang mga mata niya
I touched her face, "Little one, don't be sad. Nandito naman kami lahat para supportahan at alagaan ka. In time babalik rin yang mga alaala mo" I hope not.
We all hope her memories don't come back.
"I know. I'm thankful na nandyan kayo nila mama at mami--and Belle" sagot niya
"Oo nga! Belle has been waiting at home for you! Kanina pa yun umaga! Siya mismo nag ayos ng kwarto mo kasi alam niya daw style mo, oh god that girl" natawa nalang kami pareho
Her POV
Buti naman at nakauwi na kami. I just want to roll in bed and close my eyes.
I can't deal with this jetlag!
Namangha ako sa itsura ng bahay namin. I've seen pictures pero I haven't seen this in person, well not that I can remember.
This is a mansion. Well what can I expect.
It's mami's mansion to be exact kaya medyo may pagka antique looking siya. If you know what I mean?
It's not the modernized mansion or homes you see nowadays, ito yung tipong pwede gawing museum sa laki at sa mukhang may rich history to.
Rich. Yep, definitely screams 'rich' alright.
I don't know why I feel uncomfortable.
Pumasok kami galing sa garage.
"My daughter! My precious precious daughter is finally home!" masayang bati ni mama. Nag yakapan kami.
One week kami hindi nagkita kasi nauna siya dito para samahan si mami.
"My precious apo. My one and only apo, come to lola and give me that warm hug of yours!" masigla niyang inutos. Sinunod ko naman.
One month naman kami hindi nagkita ni mami.
I missed them.
Ang lonely sa condo ko sa Quebec hindi dahil mag isa lang ako sa condo itself kung hindi dahil mag isa lang talaga ako sa buong bansa!
"I miss you mami!" hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi, "Wow I know that smell!" excited ko sinabi.
Her tuscan lasagna! Tumakbo ako papunta sa dining area kung saan naka set up na ang hapunan
"Alright alright! Everyone sit and--"
"Bff!!!" napalingon kaming lahat sa sumigaw. Of course sino pa ba tatawag sa'kin ng bff?
"Belle!!" tumakbo siya palapit sa'kin
"I missed you so so so so soooo much!!" maiyak iyak niyang sinabi
"I'm here now!!" I exclaimed
"We're all here!" natatawang sinabi ng pinsan ko, "And we are all hungry kaya tara na please kumain na tayo!" sabi niya at nag kanya kanya kaming umupo around the table
"I missed your cooking mami" sabi ko sa lola ko na hindi mukhang 70
"Babawi ako apo. Since nandito ka na, I can cook easily for you. Dadamihan ko para naman you gain more strength" sabi niya
"Mami hindi ba ako mukhang healthy?" tanong ko at nag pout
"Anak, that's not what she meant. You look really healthy and masaya kami na mabuti ang kalagayan mo but you never know anak. Ang daming virus these days..." sabi naman ni mama
"Nako tita, narinig mo ba yung virus sa... asan ba yun...? sa Portugal? Dun ba? I forgot" dagdag naman ni Belle
That's how my evening went. Full of catch ups and of course breaking news of what's going on around the world.
Hindi ko na kailangan manuod pa ng news kasi pwede ko nalang tanungin sila kung ano nangyayari.
Dahil sa jetlag, knocked out agad ako pag katapos ko kumain kagabi.
It's currently 4 am and I can't go back to sleep!
Gumulong gulong ako sa higaan. What should I do now?
"One sheep"
"Two sheeps"
"Three sheeps"
"Four...." umupo ako sa pag kahiga. I should go for a morning jog.
Well who am I trying to fool? Hate na hate ko tumakbo! I hate sweating!
Nag ayos ako ng sarili at lumabas ng mansion. I shivered when a cold breeze hit my skin under my hoodie sweater
Madilim pa sa labas. Humikab ako at nag stretch. I then started walking away while stretching my arms.
Sana hindi ako mawala sa subdivision na to, wala pa naman ako dalang phone--
"Ow!" literal napaupo ako sa concrete dahil may bumangga sa'kin!
Galit ko tiningnan ang bumangga sa'kin----and would you look at that!!!!
Naka bike pa ang idiot!!
"Are you serious!?" singhal ko sa kanya ng makita ko tinago niya ang phone niya. He looked at me with a shocked expression. Bumaba siya sa bike at tinulungan ako tumayo
"Dont touch me!" sabi ko at agad naman siya huminto sa pag hawak sana sa'kin
Ang sakit ng pwet ko my goodness! "I am so sorry miss! Hindi kita nakita! Seriously pasensya ka na, may sugat ka ba? May masakit ba sayo?" nag aalala niyang tinanong
"Obviously hindi mo ko nakita kasi you were biking and texting at the same time!" galit kong sinabi sa idiot na to
Napakamot siya sa batok, "Hindi naman ah! I was not texting and riding my bike! You were just in my way which I thank God for because now we are here--by the way, I'm Carlo. Carlo John Vas. You can call me Carlo, John or anytime you're free" sabay bigay ng kamay niya at nag pacute
Inirapan ko siya and crossed my arms across my chest, "I know what I saw and I accuse you of riding and texting at the same time! Ewan ko sayo! I'm not interested!" at padabog akong lumayo sa kanya
Ang hapdi hapdi ng mga tuhod ko! Saglit ko silang tiningnan at tama nga hinala ko! Dumudugo!
Ang tanga tanga ko talaga---teka, I'm not the tanga here! Siya!! That idiot!! Siya may kasalanan!
"Tinanong kita kanina miss kung may masakit ba sayo kasi handa ako maging superman mo at protectahan ka para hindi ka na masakt--"
"Just please shut up! Pwede ba? Ikaw kaya ang may kasalanan kaya nagka sugat ako! Anong protect pinagsasabi mo dyan!" reklamo ko at binigyan siya ng masamang tingin
All he did was smile really wide. He kneeled down in front of me....
"What the heck are you doing?!" I'm starting to panic. What if may masama siyang balak!?
He put his hands behind his back, "OMG! Stop right there! Kung may masama kang balak, I'm going to tell you right now na ipapa-hanap ka ng lola ko and she will kill you herself! Pag ako pinatay mo, you're only asking for death--!" bigla siyang tumawa ng malakas
Super lakas gumulong gulong pa siya sa kalsada. What the heck is seriously wrong with this idiot?!
"HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!" napahawak siya sa tyan niya
Mga ilang minuto ko siguro siya pinapanuod habang tumatawa mag isa. Wait, why am I watching him when I can run away from this crazy idiot?!
Tatakbo na sana ako palayo ng bigla siyang tumigil, "W-wait! HAHAHAH!! Wait lang, saglit!" lumuhod ulit siya
Tumingala siya sa'kin habang nakangiti, "You're cute, you know that? What's your name my lady?"
I gave him a disgusted face, "There's something seriously wrong with your head!"
"I'm not going to do anything bad to you, sweet cheeks. Here" he put his hands behind his back again but this time he held his hand up to show me a band aid
To be exact, it's a superman band aid.
I shook my head, "How old are you?" Ang tanda na niya, gumagamit pa rin ng pang bata na band aid!
"Old enough to be yours" inirapan ko siya ng todo
"Can you be serious for once! Look, you're no good to talk to--" hinawakan niya ako sa braso to stop me from turning around
"Wait" he peeled the band aids off at nilagay sa mga tuhod ko na dumudugo, "Para hindi mainfected" tumayo siya at tiningnan ako sa mga mata
Ginulo niya ang buhok ko, "You haven't told me your name yet"
"Psh! You don't need to know" at tinalikuran siya, "By the way thanks for your kiddy band aids!" sigaw ko habang naglalakad palayo at nakatalikod pa rin. Pinipigilan ko tumawa dahil sa kanya.
Seriously, why would he have these kiddy band aids?!
"Balik mo sa'kin pagkatapos ah!" napalingon ako sa sinabi niya. Ew! Is he serious?! That's disgusting!
"What?! Seryoso ka ba?!" tumawa siya at nawala ang mga mata niya. Nakikita pa ba niya ako?
He's cute I have to admit.
"At least lumingon ka! At oo seryoso ako makilala ka!" I let out an annoyed sigh and turned around again
"Have a good day!" paalam ko at tinaas ang kamay ko para mag wave
"I'll see you around for sure, neighbour na cutie!" sigaw niya pabalik
I couldn't help but smile to that.
He's such an idiot but what the hell, he doesn't seem like a bad guy after all.