Habang hinihintay si Kian ay biglang nagring yung phone ko. Buti nalang at water proof ang bag ko kaya hindi nabasa yung mga gamit ko.
Nakita ko agad yung pangalan ni Dia kaya nag dalawang isip ako kung sasagutin ko ba, considering my appearance siguradong mag aalala sya. It's a video call of all things.
But my promise to her.
"Hell-what the hell happen to you?!" Agad nyang tanong ng makita ako.
"Nabasa lang sa ulan." Napansin kong biglang nagbago yung mukha nya.
"Alam kong hindi lang yon yung nangyari- no never mind, sasabihin mo naman sa akin, sa amin, pag ready ka na diba?" Tumango naman ako, she smile at me, alam kong iibahin nya na yung topic para kahit papaano ay mawala yung isip ko sa kung ano man ang nangyari kahit saglit lang. She has the most empathy out of all my friends.
"Anyways as you can see nasa coffee shop ako and guess what!" Nilibot nya yung camera sa paligid and after a while nag focus yon sa iisang place.
Nakita ko na yung gusto nyang ipakita, her so called 'crush' is there working. I heard her squeal as low as she could. Hindi ko alam kung hulog na hulog na talaga sya o baliw nalang talaga.
Bumalik naman sakanya yung focus ng camera.
"Is it fate?" Napangiwi naman ako dahil sa tanong nya. I also forgot, she's delusional to the point that even the smallest things binibigyan nya ng meaning.
"Baka naman sinusundan mo talaga." Napasandal ako sa upuan habang nakikipagusap sakanya.
"What?! Sino sya para sundan ko?"
"Your so called 'crush' na alam naman namin na hindi lang talaga hanggang don yung tingin mo sakanya." I saw how she pout her lips while I utter those words. Too childish.
"Ang manhid nya Blair!" New progress hindi nya na dineny.
"Ilang beses na kong nagpakita ng motibo pero ayon sabi nya di nya daw ako maintindihan." She sigh. "He said I look like an unpredicted fool!"
Unpredictable fool?
I can't help but let out a low laugh. It's not far from the truth. "Let's be real, it's not like he lied about it." Sinamaan nya naman ako nang tingin.
Agad akong napatingin sa harap ko nang maramdamang may kasama akong tao. It was Kian, mukhang kababalik lang nya sa kung saan man sya pumunta. Kian close his umbrella before looking at me. He was holding a plastic bag that contains foods and hot packs.
"Sinong tinitignan mo? May kasama ka ba?" Nabaling naman ulit ang atensyon ko kay Dia.
"Who is it?"
"Wala." Agad kong sabi.
"Sinong niloloko mo Athena Blair Sandoval! Patingin! Baka mamaya lalaki yan ha! Ipakilala mo muna sa akin para makilatis ko." Ang ingay nya. "Kung tama man ang nasa isip ko."
"Wala nga, the thoughts running on your mind. They're just speculations. So it's better na itigil mo yan."
"I know naman na hindi ka sumasama sa kahit na sinong lalaki, but if ever man tumangi ka ha!"
Narinig kong tumawa si Kian kaya napatingin ako sakanya, agad nalukot ang mukha ko dahil sa ginawa nya.
I can't take this embarrassment!!!
"Omg! boses lalaki yon Athena Blair Sandoval. Kung pumayag ka please use protecti–Dia!" I cut her off kasi alam ko kung saan papunta yung mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig nya.
She means we'll but at times like this, I wish she could just shut her mouth.
"Sa tingin mo ba papayag ako sa ganon?" Pinandilatan ko sya ng mata para hindi na nya ituloy yung sasabihin nya, alam ko namang nagbibiro sya pero kasi naririnig ni Kian yung usapan namin, nakakahiya! Baka paniwalaan ni Kian mga sinasabi nya.
"I know that. Your a traditional girl Blair, alam kong hindi ka pagagalaw–" Agad ko na syang binabaan nang tawag kasi baka ano pang masabi nya at marinig yon ni Kian, sobrang nakakahiya na. Nakita nya na nga akong umiyak pati ba naman toh?
Tumingin ako sa lalaking kanina pa tumatawa. Sinamaan ko sya ng tingin sabay na napairap.
Nag makabawi sya ay tumingin sya sa akin at inabot yung binili nya habang abot langit ang ngiti.
"May mainit na canned drink dyan, drink it para naman uminit yung sikmura mo." Inis kong kinuha yon sakanya.
"Thank you." It's was genuine thank you.
Agad kong kinuha yung hot packs, binuksan ko yon at nilagay sa bulsa ng jacket na suot ko ngayon. Sigurado akong nabili nya toh sa convenience store na malapit sa hospital kasama ng tinapay, tubig at yung canned coffee na medyo mainit.
Kinuha ko yung tinapay at binuksan yon. I ate it without a second thought. Nakita ko namang pinapanood ako ni Kian na kumain, gusto nya ba? I suddenly feel conscious for being look at while eating.
"Gusto mo?" I offered pero umiling sya, nagkibit balikat nalang ako, his loss.
"Hinihintay pala natin si Mang Lito kasi ihahatid nya tayo sa bahay ko." Nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nya napansin nya siguro yon kaya nagsalita sya ulit. "Nasa bahay si Khiana, natutulog."
Sa dami ng nang nangyari muntik ko nang makalimutan si Khiana.
"Okay na ba sya?" I ask at ininom yung kape, alam ko namang hindi sya ok emotionally.
"Physically? yes. Emotionally? I don't know." Sambit nya habang nakatanaw sa malayo. "When she first step into my house, she was being overly cautious. Na parang takot syang gumawa ng kahit na anong gulo."
"She was being careful?" Was it an action that keep her safe? An instinct, perhaps? Tumango lang si Kian at hindi na nagsalita. Hindi nagtagal ay dumating din si Mang Lito. Pinasakay nya na kami kaya sumakay na ako. The ride was peaceful. Ibang iba sa mga bagay na tumatakbo sa isip ko. Isinandal ko yung ulo ko malapit sa bintana ng kotse at natulog.
I woke up when someone tap my shoulders gently. I open my eyes slowly at pagkamulat na pagkamulat ko ay mukha agad ni Kian ang sumalubong sa akin.
"We're here." Sambit nya bago lumayo sa akin. Binuksan nya muna yung pinto at tsaka nya binuksan yung payong bago lumabas.
That's bad for my heart! His face is too close! Get it out of my head!!! My heart is thumping so fast. He could've just thug me! It was unnecessary to get that close!
Biglang bumukas yung pinto sa gilid ko at pinapababa ako ni Kian. Nang makarating kami sa harap ng bahay nila, ay maliit lang ito pero malinis. Halos kasing laki lang sya ng kwarto ko sa manila.
Nang makapasok kami ay agad syang pumunta sa isang kwarto at pumasok don. Pagkalabas nya ay may dala na syang twalya at damit. Lumapit sya sa akin at inabot yon.
"Change, nandon yung cr." Sambit nya sabay turo sa pintuan na nasa left side.
Tumango naman ako at pumasok don. Pinunasan ko yung sarili ko bago nagpalit. I don't know where he get a woman's clothing, maybe his girlfriend or something? Sa itsura nya, imposibleng wala syang girlfriend. I mean look at him, he's handsome but not my type of guy of course.
He's too playful. Too different for me.
Nang matapos ako ay lumabas nako. Nakita ko syang nasa kusina, nagluluto. Maliit lang talaga yung bahay pero I think it's enough para sa isa hanggang sa tatlong tao.
Kung ganito kaya yung bahay namin nina dad magiging close kaya kami? Kasi maliit so magkikita at magkikita kami kasi konti lang yung space kumpara sa bahay namin sa manila. Nang mapagtanto ko yung iniisip ko, I shake my head to shake my thoughts.
Stop thinking negative thought's Blair, alam nating hindi mangyayari yan.
Lumapit ako sakanya.
"Where's Khiana?" Agad kong tanong sakanya.
"In my room, natutulog." Simpleng sagot nya.
"Saan?" Tinuro nya naman kaya pumunta nalang ako.
I enter his room, my eyes move around to take a look at his room. It was simple, pero maganda. I think the black and cream color of the room doesn't suit his personality. I expect his room to be a little brighter. Since he was playfull and outgoing when we first met. But I can tell he's a minimalist and a neat person.
Napatingin ako sa kama nya. Khiana was there, sleeping peacefully. I smile looking at her face, if she grow up well, she'll be beautiful without a doubt. Umupo ako sa tabi nya, at pinagmasdan ang maamo nyang mukha.
Habang pinagmasdan si Khiana I can't seems to shake off the feeling that I know her, what was her last name again? Azrael? Even her last name sounds familiar.
Wait now I remembered.
This girl Khiana is the little sister of my ex-boyfriend Kyle Zale Azrael. She was 4 years old when we met, did she recognize me earlier? We became close when my ex and I visit his family here in Baguio one year ago.
I know that Khiana's parents can be hard sometimes but I didn't think they're capable of abandoning their child. Kung ganito lang rin ang gagawin nila, edi sana hindi nalang sila nag anak. She can't control the circumstances that occurred before she was born.
Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali ay lumabas nako at nakita ko paring nagluluto si Kian, ano bang niluluto nya? Anyways, I don't want to pry. I walked towards the couch and sat.
Napansin kong tumigil na din yung ulan. Kinuha ko yung cellphone ko para tignan yung oras, it's more than 10pm. Then my phone suddenly beep and Dia's name pop up kaya binuksan ko yon.
Yapper:
Tell me the tea later! (☆▽☆)
Napairap naman ako dahil sa message nya.
Yapper:
Gwapo ba?
He is but annoying.
Yapper:
Sineen mo na! Bakit hindi ka sumasagot!
Hindi ko alam kung i-chachat ko ba sya o bukas nalang.
Yapper:
Seener!
"Bakit hindi mo sagutin?" Muntik ko nang mahulog yung cellphone ko dahil sa gulat nang magsasalita si Kian sa likod ko, inis ko syang binalingan.
"Alam mo ba yung salitang privacy?" Inis kong sambit, he was standing behind the couch while leaning a little, looking at me. Hindi naman sya sumagot, instead he just smirk at me.
Like????? What the f*cking hell is up with this guy??!!
Binalingan ko ulit yung phone ko at nagtipa.
Vice:
Pangit sya.
Nakita ko naman sa peripheral vision ko na nawala yung ngiti nya at napalitan ng pagkunot ng noo, napangisi naman ako ng dahil don.
Yapper:
Nah ang gwapo ng tawa
Yapper:
Sigurado ka ba?
Vice:
Yes, just because he has a nice voice doesn't mean he's handsome
Magsasalita sana si Kian pero may narinig kaming nag "ting!" sa kusina kaya agad syang pumunta don. Nice one Blair nakaganti ka rin. He looks upset, kaya lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko.
Yapper:
Nah hindi ako naniniwala yung mga ganon yung boses gwapo
Yapper:
ganon din yung kay Crain at gwapo sya ( ꈍᴗꈍ)
Yapper:
Baka sinasabi mo lang yan kasi hanggang ngayon magkasama parin kayo
Bullseye. But not gonna tell her that.
Yapper:
I still don't know what's the tea ರ╭╮ರ
Vice:
There's nothing going on between us
Vice:
And if ever, it's not gonna be him
Yapper:
Let's see (~‾▿‾)~
Those emoticons are kind of annoying and her remarks seems like she knows what will happen next. If she wants to play the detective then she won't unravel something that hasn't even occured in the first place. She will only waste her time.
Mag rereply sana ako when I heard Khiana's cry in Kian's room, saglit kaming nagkatinginan ni Kian na nasa kusina at mukhang tapos ng magluto kasi inilalagay nya na yon sa pinggan, may ginagawa pa sya kaya ako na ang tumayo.
I enter his room and found Khiana crying in her sleep. She's having a nightmare. I sit beside her and I held her hand, rubbing it in slow circles. After a while tumigil din sya.
"Anong nangyari?" Tanong nya nang makapasok sya s kwarto.
"She must've had a nightmare."
Bago pa sya makapagsalita ay nagising na si Khiana at kinusot kusot nya yung mga mata nya, how can she be so cute?
"I'm hungry." Saad nya habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa.
"Katatapos ko lang magluto, let's eat?" His voice is so soft while saying those words while looking at Khiana's eyes.
Tumingin pa sa akin si Kian kaya tumango nalang ako. Bubuhatin ko na sana si Khiana pero tinaas nya ang kamay nya na para bang pinapahinto ako.
"I'm a big girl! I can walk by myself." She confidently say and stand up, medyo nahirapan syang bumaba since maliit palang sya. Halos hanggang balikat nya yung taas ng kama ni Kian.
Nang makababa na sya ng kama ay proud syang tumingin sa amin at naglakad papunta sa pinto ang kaso hindi nya abot yung door knob.
Kian and I can't help but smile I mean who wouldn't? She's so cute.
"I need help." She look at us.
"I thought your a big girl now?" Kian ask teasingly.
"I think i'm a big girl with a small features?" She answered shyly, so we open the door for her and she hurried herself in the kitchen.
Bago pa kami nakalabas ay nahagip ng mata ko ang isang picture frame. In that picture may kasama syang babae at batang lalaki. Is that his girlfriend? or wife? And the child... is that their child? They both look so young to have one. Mukhang medyo matanda pa yung girl.
Napansin yata ni Kian kung saan ako nakatingin kaya nagsalita sya.
"That's my younger brother and my mother." Matagal ba akong nakatingin don?
Wait mother? Anong ba yang nasa isip mo Blair! Girlfriend??? Pano ba naman kasi mukhang ka edad lang ni Kian.
"Huh? But she looks so young." Hindi makapaniwalang saad ko, nakita ko syang ngumiti.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" Tanong nya bago tumingin sa akin. From what I can see, he love his mother so much. Mukhang maayos ang relasyon nya sa nanay nya.
I wish to have that kind of relationship too.
Umiwas ako ng tingin because of the thought that just passed my mind. "Yeah, it seems like she didn't age at all." Sagot ko bago sinundan si Khiana sa kusina.
"She did have me when she was young, parehas na mature si mama at yung kapatid ko but they can be childish sometimes." Sinundan nya naman ako.
Your childish too!
Pinuntahan ko si Khiana dahil hindi nya abot yung upuan at binuhat sya para makaupo.
"Do you live separately from them?" Tanong ko, umiling naman sya.
"We live in manila, nandito lang ako sa baguio para magtrabaho ngayong bakasyon since madami nakong kakilala dito mas madaling magtrabaho. Medyo malaki yung sahod kaya nandito ako." Sagot naman nya, tumango nalang ako.
Linapag naman ni Kian yung mga niluto nya kasama yung food na pinatake out ko kanina sa lamesa.
"Wow! So many foods!" The said and clapped her hands. It was an adorable sight.
"Yup so you should eat a lot" saad ni Kian.
"Nasa labas pa ba si Mang Lito?" Tanong ko tumango naman sya.
"Hihintayin ka nalang daw nyang lumabas."
"Tatawagin ko lang sya para sumabay na saatin, if okay lang sayo?" Tanong ko.
"Ako na." Sabi nya sabay tayo. "Mauna na kayo."
Nagugutom na din ako kaya hindi ako tatanggi sa pagkain ngayon. Nag pray muna kami ni Khiana bago kumain. Pumasok naman si Mang Lito kasama ni Kian at sabay na kaming kumain.
One bite and I can tell he's a good cook.
Nang matapos ay nag volunteer na ako na ang maghuhugas ng pinggan. Sinamahan ako ni Kian kasi daw baka may mabasag daw ako which is annoying. Kahit anak mayaman ako may alam parin ako sa gawaing bahay! Don't judge the book by its cover!
"Anong plano mo kay Khiana?" Nabaling ang tingin ko sakanya at hindi alam ang isasagot sa simpleng tanong na inilapag nya sa akin.
It was a question I was expecting. But it still caught me off guard.
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