"Every night I try my best to dream
tomorrow makes it better."
EIGHTEEN
Tumayo ng maayos si Uno and nods at Ice to follow him. Instead of doing what he ordered, kunot noo ang sagot niya dito.
"Ligpitin mo gamit mo at sumama ka sa akin."
"I'm perfectly fine here, Uno."
Mariin siyang tinignan nito. "No you're not."
Ice sighed. She's not in the mood to fight and Uno is clearly up for it. She'd rather go home now than be with him. Kasi sa totoo lang, wala na siyang energy gumawa ng kung ano pa.
"Uwi nalang ako."
"Ako ang maghahatid sa'yo pauwi basta sumama ka sakin."
"I can manage. Thank you nalang." Ice finally cuts off his gaze at inayos ang gamit niya. She doesn't want to go home yet but mukhang hindi aalis dito si Uno hangga't di din aalis si Ice.
Lumapit muli si Uno sa table niya but this time he sat on the empty space beside her kaya napa urong na naman siya ng wala sa oras. Hindi talaga uso ang personal space sa Romero boys ano?
"Come on, Ice. Don't doubt me."
Ice's eyes hardened. "I'm not doubting your intentions or anything. Wala lang ako sa mood. Gusto mo pa ng gasgas na linya? It's not you, it's me."
Uno's lips rose despite of Ice's serious tone.
She calmed a bit after seeing his reaction. She understands his intentions and she's not doubting him one bit, nag aalangan lang si Ice sa sarili niya mismo. She's also worried for herself. Masyadong mabigat ang araw na ito sa kanya.
"You won't regret it" Uno whispered, searching for Ice's eyes. "Come with me."
"Where are we going?" Ice asked, finally caving.
"You'll see."
Niligpit na ni Ice ang kanyang gamit while Uno heads to the counter to order Four's corn muffins. Ilang beses siya nitong nilingon, probably making sure if she'll still here or tumakas na siya.
Uno offered to take Ice's backpack nang matapos sila pareho. Mukhang determined pa din itong makipag away over sa simpleng bagay kaya binigay nalang niya.
"Papasok ka sa center bukas?" Tanong nito lumabas sila.
Ice was momentarily shocked at how casual his question sounded and she's having a hard time sunking in the fact that Uno knows stuff about her.
"H-hindi." Hanggang bukas ang paalam niyang leave kay Ma'am Claud dahil alam niyang kailangan niya ng oras mag recover sa kung ano man ang napagdaanan niya ngayon.
"Good."
Ice doesn't feel good about that kind of answer. Ano naman kaya ang balak nito sa kanya?
Binuksan ni Uno ang passenger side para kay Ice at pag upo palang niya halos malaglag na siya sa kinauupuan nang marinig ang isang kahol galing sa back seat.
What the heck was that?!
Pag lingon niya sa back seat, nakita niya ang isang K9 na naka upo doon at naka tingin sa kanya. The dog barked again and it was too loud for Ice dahil sa maiksing distansya nila kaya siya napatalon ulit.
She glared at Uno when she heard him chuckling. Hindi pa ito nakakapasok ng sasakyan. Ice having a mini heart attack probably amused the hell out of him.
Hindi niya napansin na may aso sa back seat dahil sa tanong ni Uno sa kanya. Hindi niya alam if he intentionally distracted her or ano for the dog's presence to get unnoticed.
"Ice meet Nuggets," naka ngiting pakilala nito sa aso nang pumasok sa driver's side. Inilahad pa nito ang isang paa ng aso para hawakan ni Ice. "Nuggets meet Ice."
A breathless laugh came out of Ice's lips of how absurd this moment is pero ginawa naman niya ang gustong mangyari ni Uno. "Hello Nuggets, nice to meet you."
Ice then turns to Uno. "Four named him, didn't he?"
"Obvious ba?"
With another dog named Donut, obviously the six year old name this big guy too. Contradicting lang yung name since Nuggets is a K9 but he's pretty cute.
"I take him with me when I jog at night. He's a great exercise buddy." Uno said nang mag drive na ito palabas ng district.
"It's also safe to have a companion," Ice added, glancing at him. She saw how gushes of wind ruffled his hair dahil sa bukas na bintana ng sasakyan.
"Wala kayong gym at home?" Seeing their house from outside, hula niyang meron dahil sa laki nito.
"Meron but sometimes I'd rather go out. It clears my mind."
Ice closed her eyes, feeling the wind on her skin. She, too, wanted to clear her mind. Sana lang magawa niya iyon wherever Uno is taking her.
Hinayaan siya nitong manahimik at damahin nalang ang sariwang hangin. He understood that she's not up for a longer conversation.
The moment Ice opened her eyes again, nakita niyang paliko na sila sa street where the Romeros live. Napa ayos tuloy siya ng upo. He's taking her to his house at this hour?
Ice blinked a few times when she saw the outline of two figures sa harap mismo ng bahay nila Uno. Baka namamalikmata lang siya at hindi sila Dos ang nakikita niyang naglalaro sa kalsada.
"Tres go long!" Rinig niyang sigaw ni Dos sa kapatid bago ihagis ang hawak nitong football na tinakbo at sinalo naman ni Tres.
Si Tres ang unang naka pansin sa paparating na sasakyan ni Uno dahil ito ang pinaka malapit sa kanila. Uno stopped the engine at nauna itong lumabas. Hindi naka sunod agad si Ice dahil nag tanggal pa siya ng seatbelt and uncertainties are bothering her. Is it a good idea to be here at this hour?
Nilabas ni Uno si Nuggets at hinayaan itong tumakbo papasok ng bahay at sunod nitong pinag buksan ng pinto si Ice.
She hopped out of the car and gave Tres and Dos a small smile.
"Why I must say brother, what you brought home is better than corn muffins." Dos chuckled teasingly as he approached. Kahit na naka suot ito ng hoodie halata ang pawis nito sa noo ganon din ang pangatlong kapatid na naka tingin lang sa kanila.
"Where did he pick you up?" Naka ngiting tanong ni Dos.
Nilingon ni Ice si Uno before turning back to Dos. "Your brother picks up stray girls at coffee shops."
"He promised you won't regret it?"
Ice smiled. "He promised to take me home too."
Uno rolled his eyes pero hindi ito umangal. Sanay na siguro na asarin ng kapatid.
Niyakap ni Dos si Ice and for a moment she forgot about how much of a hugger he is. And despite of all the sweat, mabango pa din ito.
All throughout finals halos hindi sila nag usap, ganon din kay Uno. Only goodlucks and congrats here and there. Kaya nang makita niya si Uno kanina, parang hindi lang sila two days ago nag kita. It was longer than that. It felt longer than that.
"Nice to see you again, buddy." Humigpit pa lalo ang yakap nito sa kanya.
Ice didn't get the chance to answer at hindi rin naman niya kaya. She hated to admit that she kind of missed their comfort kahit na they annoy the hell out of her sometimes.
"Kuya Uno muffins ko po!" Sigaw ni Four kung saan. Kaya nag taka si Ice kung nasaan ito.
Ang tanging nasa kalsada nalang naman ay sila at ang dalawang sasakyan na naka park. Ang isa ay iyon sasakyan ni Dos at sa likod nito nag park si Uno.
"He doesn't know you're here kasi hindi ka pa niya nakikita," naka ngising bulong ni Tres.
"Chaba may surprise kami sa'yo!" Sigaw ni Dos sa kung nasaan man si Four.
"Ano yon?" Balik na sigaw ng bata. "Kuya saan kayo?"
Dos motioned for Ice to stay silent while Uno got a hold of her wrist and lead her to Dos' parked car kung nasaan si Four. Naka upo ito sa hood ng sasakyan at may hawak na phone, naglalaro siguro ng video games. Distracted siguro ito kaya ang narinig lang ay ang pag dating ng sasakyan ni Uno. Naka talikod ito sa kanila. He probably can't move much dahil madulas ang inuupuan nito.
Pinatago muna ng tatlo si Ice sa gilid ng sasakyan, where she's out of Four's periphery bago harapin ng tatlo ang bata.
"Muffins ko po?" Tanong agad nito ng makita si Uno.
"Mamaya ka na kumain," sagot naman ni Tres. "Kakain ka na naman eh."
Ice thought the third Romero is like the first one- Serious and indecisive. But as she observed him, she realized that he's the mix of both Uno and Dos.
"May surprise kami sa'yo," Dos said. "Pero bago mo makita ang suprise mo, kailangan mo muna bumaba dyan."
Umangal naman agad si Four. "Hindi ako marunong bumaba!"
"Hindi ibibigay ni Kuya Uno sayo yung muffins mo pag di ka naka baba dyan sige ka." Panakot pa ni Dos.
"Hindi mo din makikita yung surprise na dala ni Kuya Uno," dagdag pa ni Tres.
Si Uno naka ngisi lang sa kapatid. Parang sanay na sanay na ang tatlo na gawin ito sa nakababatang kapatid.
"Eh!" Angal muli ni Four. He now held out his arms para mag pa buhat. "Baba na ko!"
Ice rolled her eyes. Obviously the older romeros love teasing their baby brother.
"Ang bully niyong tatlo," Ice said nang lumabas na siya. Tawa lang ang sagot sa kanya ng tatlo. Alam ng mga ito na hindi talaga makakababa si Four unless na may mag buhat dito.
Lumiwanag naman ang mukha ni Four ng makita siya. "Teacher Ice! Teacher Ice!"
Niyakap niya agad ito. She missed Four too kahit na mas nakakausap pa niya ito kaysa sa mga kapatid nito.
Siya na din ang magbababa sana kay Four kaya lang kumapit ito sa leeg niya kaya binuhat nalang niya ito kahit na mabigat.
"Absent ka po kanina Teacher Ice." Sabi ni Four sa kanya.
"Ay ano ba naman 'yan Teacher Ice, bakit ka nag a-absent? Bawal kaya 'yon."
Sinamaan ni Ice ng tingin si Dos dahil sa hirit nito before turning back to Four. "May ginawa ako kanina eh."
"Nag gawa kami ng shapes sa clay kanina, Teacher Ice. Nag gawa ako ng cube shape. Ice po 'yon diba? Tapos sabi ni Mharvin hindi daw ice 'yon kasi hindi nag me-melt." Naka ngusong kwento nito.
"Natural hindi mag me-melt 'yon kasi gawa sa clay."
Sinamaan muli ng tingin ni Ice si Dos. For what Ice learned while teaching kids, isa sa golden rule niya ang hayaan lang ang mga batang mag imagine. Let them be free with their imagination.
"Sabihin mo 'yon sa classmate mo pag pasok niyo. Mag dala ka na din ng yelo na nag me-melt para di ka na awayin. Pag inaway ka ilagay mo yung yelo sa bag niya."
"What? I'm teaching him how to defend himself!" Depensa ni Dos nang panlakihan ito ng mata ni Ice.
"Four, I'm sure what you did today was great. Next time we'll do other shapes okay?" Kinurot niya ang pisngi nito.
"Alright, Four baba na. Nabibigatan na sayo si Teacher Ice." Uno said, cutting Ice's struggle.
Naka simagot itong binaba ni Ice, clearly against his Kuya's order.
Imbis na magpa buhat ulit kay Ice, kay Uno nalang ito nag lahad ng kamay. "Kuya buhat po. Pagod ako."
"Nakakapagod daw umupo. Butt numb ata." Tawa naman ni Tres at sinabayan din ni Dos.
Uno only sighed, binigay nito kay Four ang paper bag ng muffins before carrying the little guy in his arms.
Inakbayan naman ni Dos si Ice at nagsimula nang maglakad ang magkakapatid papunta sa gate, papasok ng bahay.
"Where are we going?" Ice knew her question sounded stupid, but inexpect niyang after suprising Four uuwi na siya. Hindi niya alam if that was Uno's intention for taking her. Kahit na hindi, her heart swelled a little after seeing Four.
"Sa bahay syempre."
"What are we doing?"
Dos shrugged. "I don't know. Uno, what are we going to do?"
Imbis na sagutin ni Uno ang tanong ng kapatid, he looks down at the kid in his arms. "What are we going to do tonight, Four?"
Four jumped in his brother's arms, exclaiming his enthusiasm. "I wanna bake cookies!"
Umangal agad si Tres. "But you have muffins already tapos cookies pa? Kaya ka tumataba."
"Mommy said I'm the boss." Four stuck his tongue at his brother's annoyance.
"Bake cookies at this hour?" Ice asked, a bit shock.
"It's wee night Teacher Ice!" Four proudly informed.
Ice turnes to the older ones, asking for explanation.
"Wee night is when we get to stay up late and do what we want. It only happens once a month." Si Tres ang sumagot.
"Oh..." Ang tanging nasabi ni Ice. She can't help but wonder what she's gotten herself ito. Is she up to be around all these four boys' energy?
Four leaned to Uno to whisper his question. "Is Teacher Ice going to stay up with us?"
At dahil hindi nga nakakaintindi ng concept ng pag bulong si Four, rinig nilang lahat ang tanong nito.
Uno glanced at Ice, the corner of his lips lifting. She then realized that this is his plan. "If she wants to."
"You'll stay up with us right, buddy?" Dos squeezed Ice's shoulder, grinning.
"You should stay. We make killer cookies." Tres grinned too.
Looks like she doesn't have a choice. There is no way na papakawalan siya ng mga ito.
"Fine. I'll stay as long as I get to bring some home."
Ice didn't have time to admire the Romero household because the boys made a beeline to the kitchen. Mukhang nagpapahinga na ang mga tao sa bahay at ang mga ito nalang ang gising. She never dared to ask where their parents are. Ang tanging sumalubong lang sa kanila ay ang dalawang aso. Si Nuggets at isang mini goldendoodle na hula ni Ice ay si Donut.
"What do you usually do at wee nights?" Pabulong na tanong ni Ice kay Dos as the two boys prepared their ingridients habang si Four ay inupo na ni Uno sa high stool sa kitchen island.
"It depends on what Four wants but usually we watch movies, play video games, and cook whatever dish we know."
"You let him stay up late?" Nilingon ni Ice si Four na ngayon ay kinukulit na ang Kuya Uno niyang iakyat si Donut sa lamesa.
"Knock out na yan after twelve."
"Still, you shouldn't teach him to stay up late."
"Come on, Buddy. Don't be a buzz kill. Once a month lang." Dos gave her one of his boyish grin. "And besides, we get to bond this way. Catch up na din sa isa't isa because of our busy scheds."
"Congrats nga pala ulit."
Ice wanted to smack herself because of how Dos' expression visibly changed. Kumunot ang noo nito sa sinabi niya. "We lost."
"I know. You still did your best. I saw you play, Dos."
Mabilis ding nag iba ang expression nito once she mentioned that she saw him play. Unti-unti itong ngumisi. "Speaking of that -"
"Hey you two," tawag ni Uno sa kabilang side ng kitchen. "Quit whispering over there and help us."
Dos rolled his eyes before muttering the words "kill joy", then he leans in to whisper "Hindi pa tayo tapos. May atraso ka sa'kin."
Hindi naman siya kinabahan sa kung ano man ang tinutukoy na atraso niya dito, may idea na rin siya kung ano iyon, kaya napa iling nalang siya kay Dos.
From then on, tumulong na siya sa pag be-bake. Nalaman niyang si Uno ang marunong out of the four dahil nag take daw ito ng baking class dati as his brothers cheekily informed.
It took effort for Ice to move around the kitchen dahil tuwing malapit siya kay Four tinatawag siya nito ng "Teacher Ice! Teacher Ice!" at inaabot pa siya nito so naturally she ends up being hugged by the kid. Four even wants her to sit next to him kaya lang umaangal ang iba nitong kapatid na pakawalan siya.
"Four don't eat too much okay? Baka magka sugar rush ka pa." Paalala niya dito when he got a hold of her.
Four only nods, looking a little down dahil hindi siya pwedeng kumain ng marami.
Kumakain na kasi ito ng dalang corn muffins ni Uno and she bet the boys won't stop him from his food intake so she took the liberty na pagsabihan ito.
"Can I eat the rest in the morning?"
"Only after breakfast and lunch. You have to ask your brothers to give you some."
"Are you going to sleep here, Teacher Ice?"
As if on cue, sabay sabay na napatingin ang tatlong Romero kay Ice at Four dahil sa tanong ng bata. Mukhang nag aabang ang tatlo sa sagot niya.
"Uh... no. I need to go home."
"But there are bad people outside na at night sabi ni Daddy."
"I'll be with Kuya Uno naman so I'm safe," she smiled at Four because of his genuine worry.
"Nuggets can protect you too!" Parang hindi pa ito nakontento sa sinabi niya kaya tinuro nito ang naka higang si Nuggets sa tabi ng upuan.
"Sure," Ice chuckled. "We'll take Nuggets with us."
Medyo magulo na ang kitchen island because Dos sucks at whatever task Uno gives him kaya sa huli, si Ice na ang gumagawa ng gawain nito.
She doesn't know much about baking but she knows the basics. May mga kaya din naman siyang gawin, hindi lang niya napa practice dahil hindi siya fan ng masyado ng pastries at wala din siyang oras na gawin ito sa bahay.
They spent a good amount of time making the dough dahil hindi lang pala para sa kanila ang gagawing cookies tonight but for all of the people in the house. At balak pa atang punuin ng boys ang cookie jar nila.
"Teacher Ice," tawag ni Four while Ice was scooping cookie dough na ilalagay na sa pan. "May nag c-call po sa inyo."
Iniwan ni Ice ang kanyang phone kay Four dahil wala siyang bulsa para mapaglagyan nito. Now the kid is tilting his head, trying to make out who the caller is. Alam niyang hindi iyon si Lex dahil nasa kalawakan pa ang Kuya niya sa mga oras na ito. It's probably Stellar again.
"C-Cas..." Ngumuso si Four, struggling to pronounce the name. "Cast yell po yung nag c-call Teacher Ice!"
Nag agad punas si Ice ng kamay at kinuha na ang kanyang phone. Why is Cast calling her this late?
She can feel the three boys' eyes on her as she answered the call kaya lumabas nalang siya ng kitchen to get some privacy.
"Hey," she greeted Cast, a bit breathless.
"Hey, I'm sorry if I called this late. Full pack yung schedule namin."
"Okay lang. I understand naman." After the win, syempre sa Team nito naka focus ang lahat at isa sa star players ngayong season si Cast kaya kailangan may appearance talaga ito sa mga social gatherings.
"Why did you call? Dapat nagpapahinga ka na."
"Stellar called me, sabi niya hindi mo daw sinasagot ang phone mo. And I heard about what happened today..."
Ice let out a dry laugh instead of answering Cast.
She managed to forget about her worries for hours, naalala niya tuloy ulit.
"Are you okay, Lilo?" Cast asked in a low voice, halata sa boses nito ang pagod.
Ice appreciated his call and his worry for her. But this is the reason why she doesn't want people to worry about her, dagdag isipin pa kasi siya. Kaya hindi niya din binanggit dito kung kailan aalis si Lex because Cast will insist to be with her today.
She wanted him to be pero hindi naman niya magagawa iyon sa kaibigan niya. He's too busy and Ice reached too low today, she'd rather not have anyone see her this way.
She turned her eyes back to the kitchen kung saan nagkukulitan na naman ang apat. Inaasar na naman ng tatlo si Four.
This. This is the kind of way she wanted to forget time...
"I'm okay..." she breathed. Her gripped to her sanity tightened as she realized that today didn't end up as crappy as she expected. Minsan talaga kailangan mo lang mag hintay at kusa nang aayon sayo ang mundo.
"I'm okay now, Cast. Don't worry."