From The Bottom of My Hypothalamus

Chapter 05

Napaayos naman ng upo si Ate Zeph, "Ano? Hinahamon mo ba ako?" She asked as a response to her.

"Ano? Ano?" Panghahamon ni Ate Chel.

Parang mga baliw talaga.

Two hours easily passed by.

Akala ko pa no'ng una ay nagbibiruan lang sila, pero hindi na rin ako nagulat nang biglang maglabas si Ate Zeph ng alak at inilapag ito sa mesa.

"Sali ka, Cara?" Tanong ni Ate Pia habang inaayos ang mesa.

Umiling ako at tumango naman sila.

It's a good thing that they really never force me to drink alcohol when I don't want to. Minsan naman ay pumapayag ako but today is one of those days na I really just don't feel like it.

I love being with my cousins. Despite the fact that I am the youngest among the five of us, and despite the age differences, I really do not feel any pressure whenever I am with them. It feels like my entire system is at its calmest.

Sa loob ng halos tatlong oras, pakiramdam ko ay mapupunit na anytime ang bunganga ko ngayon dahil sa katatawa at kangingiti ko. The way they bicker and converse are giving me an insane amount of serotonin.

Dagdag mo pa 'yung maya't-maya rin nila ako kinukulit at sinasali sa usapan kaya mas lalo akong napapatawa.

"Weh? Favorite mo Understanding The Self? Dahil sa subject na 'yan, feeling ko, mas lalo kong hindi maintindihan sarili ko." Ate Cha said, and her speech is starting to get slurry now.

I laughed at what she said. It's true that a lot of people find that subject difficult, but I really find it interesting, lalo na't some topics that were discussed in UTS were also discussed in our major subjects, kaya siguro interesado ako at hindi na ako masyadong nahirapan pa.

Ramdam kong magsasalita na sana si Ate Zeph pero natigilan siya.

At pati kami ay natigilan sa mga ginagawa namin.

"Ampon lang naman si Zephyrah, 'di ba?"

Pinanood kong umalis nang tuluyan ang dalawang bisita ni Tita.

Kahit matanda pa sila ay ang bastos naman nila. Nasa pamamahay pa sila nila Tita pero nakuha pa rin nilang magtsismisan na parang wala rito 'yung pinag-uusapan nila.

Kung kanina ay maingay kami, ngayon ay natahimik na kaming lima.

I reached for Ate Zeph's hands, and she smiled at me timidly.

She caressed my hand and nodded, "It's okay." She says, almost whispering.

She let go of my hand, and clasped hers together.

"Okay! Last shot na, oh! Akin na 'to!"

Ate Zeph grabbed the bottle of alcohol, as if she didn't hear anything. She then proceeded to chug it, emptying the bottle.

"Okay na. Sundutin ko lang lalamunan ko, baka ma-hangover pa bukas. Diyan lang kayo, ha?"

Kinabahan ako nang tumayo siya at naglakad palayo sa amin. Pinanood ko siyang pumasok sa banyo nila, tatayo na sana ako para pigilan siya, pero nakita kong hindi niya sinarado ang pinto.

I was slightly relieved by that.

Few minutes later, I saw her get out of the restroom, and lifelessly sat down on their couch.

I stood up.

"Wait lang, mga Ate."

And without hesitations, I went to Ate Zeph and sat down next to her. Nakasandal lang ulit siya at nakatitig sa kisame. Napatingin naman siya sa akin nang maramdaman niyang umupo ako sa tabi niya.