Stolen Glances

Chapter 10

[Navy's POV]

Haystttt! Monday na ulit ang bilis nga naman nga araw. Dalawa lang yung subjects namin ngayon kaya makakapunta ako sa birthday ni tita Sarai, Auri's mom.

Naka upo ako sa chair ko ngayon iniisip kung anong gift ang ibibigay ko kay tita Sarai, at siguro ang lungkot ng birthday ni tita dahil wala si Auri at tito Luis sa birthday nya.

Hindi ako mapakali.

Nakatitig lang ako sa notebook ko habang nagsusulat si Ma’am sa board, pero wala akong naiintindihan. My mind keeps drifting somewhere else—kay Tita Sarai.

Napabuntong-hininga ako ng dahan-dahan habang nakasandal ang pisngi ko sa kamay ko. I remember last year… sobrang saya namin. Complete sila, nandoon si Auri, si Tito Luis, even Amarrisse was laughing non-stop, Auri's younger sister.

But this time… it’s different.

“Auri’s in Australia…” bulong ko sa sarili ko and Tito Luis too.

Ang lungkot siguro ng bahay nila ngayon, napakagat ako sa labi ko. I tried to imagine Tita Sarai smiling, like parang may kulang. Yung tipong ngiti na pilit lang just to make everything feel normal.

“What should I give her…?” mahina kong tanong sa sarili ko.

Not just a gift… I want something meaningful.

Something that can make her feel… less alone.

Bigla kong naalala kung gaano kaalaga si Tita Sarai sa’kin at gaano niya ako kamahal. She's like my second mom, she always checks on me, always smiles, always makes sure I’m okay.

So maybe…I should give her something that reminds her that she’s not alone.

"Napangiti ako ng kaunti." Maybe something handmade?

Or something connected to her family…Napaisip ako lalo.

“A photo…?” bulong ko.

But not just a normal photo,umm maybe… a scrapbook. A small one. With pictures of her, Auri, Tito Luis, and Amarrisse. Tapos lalagyan ko ng little notes. Memories, messages, something she can hold when she misses them.

Napatuwid ako ng upo. Yeah! That’s it.

After ng klase namin umuwi na ako at nagbihis and I also bought a diamond necklace for tita Sarai.

I went to Tita Sarai’s house bitbit ko yung gift ko, nakabalot nang maayos, may simpleng ribbon. My heart was beating fast habang papalapit ako sa gate nila.

I knocked softly. “Coming!” narinig kong boses ni Amarrisse.

Pagbukas ng pinto, agad siyang napangiti.

“Ate Navy!” sigaw niya, sabay yakap sa’kin.

Napatawa ako. “Hi, Amarrisse. Musta kana ang laki mo na ah.”

“She’s inside!” she said excitedly, hinila pa ako papasok.

Pagpasok ko, napansin ko agad yung simpleng setup sa sala. May maliit na cake sa mesa, konting decorations—halatang si Amarrisse ang gumawa.

And then I saw her. “Tita…”

She turned to me, and her eyes softened. “Navy,” she smiled, pero ramdam ko… may lungkot pa rin.

Lumapit ako at niyakap siya.

“Happy birthday po tita,” mahina kong sabi.

“Thank you, anak,” sagot niya, hugging me back a little tighter. Yeah, anak ang tawag nya sa'kin.

For a moment, I felt it yung bigat, yung pagka-miss niya sa family niya.

We sat together, si Amarrisse busy sa pag-aayos ng plates habang si manang Yuna naman at inaayos yung mga pagkain.

“Ate Navy, tulungan mo ako!” she said and laughed.

“Yeah, of course,” natawa ako.

“Wow, baby Amarrisse, ikaw gumawa nito?” tinuro ko yung decorations.

She nodded proudly. “Yes! Para hindi sad si mommy." Napatingin ako kay Tita Sarai.

She smiled… this time, mas totoo.

“Time to blow the cake!” masiglang sabi ni Amarrisse. Then, we sang.

“Happy birthday to you…”

Nakangiti kami habang kumakanta ng happy birthday kay tita together with manang Yuna and manong Andey, after naming kumanta. Make a wish na po mom," Amarrisse said."

Napapikit si Tita Sarai saglit bago hipan yung kandila, nag wish na siya and probably… to be with her family again.

After that, nagpalakpakan kami.“Yay!” sigaw ni Amarrisse.

Then, it was my turn.“Tita…” inabot ko yung gift. “This is for you.”

She looked surprised. “Navy, you didn’t have to…”

“It’s okay po,” ngumiti ako. “I wanted to.”

Thank you, anak!" She said softly at tumutulo ang luha, dahan-dahan niyang binuksan. First binuksan nya ang isang gift ko na necklace," wow ang ganda bagay na bagay sa'kin, salamat Navy!" Napaluha nanaman siya.

And then tahimik kaming lahat habang binubuksan niya naman yung scrapbook. Page by page…May pictures nila family photos, moments, smiles. And small handwritten notes.

“You are loved, even from afar.”

“Distance doesn’t change family.”

“They miss you as much as you miss them.”

Napahinto siya sa pag-flip, her eyes… started to tear up and yeah mas umiyak siya ngayon. “Navy…” mahina niyang sabi.

Kinakabahan ako. “Tita, okay lang po ba—” Before I could finish, she hugged me, tightly.

“Thank you…” she whispered. Napayakap din ako.

“I just thought… maybe it would help you po tita,” sabi ko.

“It does,” she said softly.

“Ate Navy, ang ganda!” sabi ni Amarrisse, sumilip sa scrapbook. “Look, Mom! That’s my favorite picture!” natawa kami

.

And for the first time that day… the house didn’t feel that empty. The laughter, the warmth at ang saya saya.

Habang kumakain kami, napansin ko si Tita Sarai, she was still smiling and this time… It wasn’t forced.

And somehow, kahit wala si Auri at Tito Luis…It felt like they were still here, in memories, in love and in that small scrapbook I gave to tita Sarai.

Tahimik akong napangiti, maybe… that was enough.

Many hours later, after we ate, I offered to help clean up dahil Marami din kasing lilinisin kawawa naman si manang Yuna.

“Hay nako, Navy, bisita ka,” sabi ni Tita Sarai habang kinukuha yung mga plato sa mesa." Umupo nalang tayo doon at mag usap.

Umiling ako. “Tita, sanay na po ako. Tsaka… mas masaya pag sama-sama.”

She looked at me for a moment, then smiled softly. “Sige, ikaw na nga.”

Sa kusina, marahang tumutulo ang tubig mula sa gripo habang naghuhugas ako ng pinggan. Katabi ko si Amarrisse, nagpupunas ng mga baso kahit minsan mas nadudulas pa kaysa natutuyo.

“Ate Navy…” she suddenly said.

“Hm?” sagot ko, hindi tumitingin.

“Miss mo ba si Kuya Auri?” napahinto ako sandali.

“…Oo,” sagot ko, mahina.

“Si mom kasi… lagi siyang tahimik pag gabi,” dagdag niya, parang nagkukwento lang.

Napalingon ako sa kanya, she wasn’t smiling. “Pero ngayon,” she continued, “masaya siya.” napangiti ako. “Because of you,” she added.

“Hindi ah,” natawa ako ng kaunti. “Ikaw kaya gumawa ng decorations.”

She giggled. “Team tayo.”

“Team,” ulit ko, sabay ngiti.

After cleaning, lumabas kami sa sala.

Tita Sarai was sitting quietly, hawak pa rin yung scrapbook ko. She was staring at one page.

Lumapit ako.

“Which one po?” tanong ko.

She showed me a photo—Auri and Luis, laughing habang hawak si Amarrisse na bata pa.

“This was taken before they left,” she said softly. Tahimik ako, “I didn’t know you kept copies of these,” she added.

“I asked Auri po… before,” sagot ko.

She nodded slowly.

“Ang thoughtful mo, Navy.”

Napakamot ako sa batok. “Gusto ko lang po… maging okay kayo.”

She looked at me again, mas malalim.

“You remind me of him,” she said.

Napakunot noo ko. “Sino po?”

“Auri.” napatawa ako. “Hindi po ah, masungit yun minsan.”

She laughed this time at mas malakas.“Exactly.”

Medyo dumilim na, and the sky turned into a soft shade of violet.

“ Ate Navy, stay ka muna,” aya ni Amarrisse habang hinihila ako papunta sa terrace nila.

“Oum sige baby, pero sandali lang ha,” sabi ko, pero sumunod ako.

We sat on the small bench outside, tahimik lan, may hangin, malamig, at peaceful.

“Gusto mo ba mag-video call kay Kuya Auri?” bigla niyang tanong.

Napalingon ako agad. “Hala, pwede?” hindi ko ma explain ang nararamdaman ko, after year na hindi ko siya nakakausap, hindi nag re-reply sa message ko at hindi sinasagut ang tawag ko.

She grinned. “Mama! Call natin sila!” pumunta kami sa sala at nag-set up ng phone sa mesa.

Tita Sarai looked a bit nervous. “Okay ba ‘to?”

“Yes po,” sabi ko.

The phone rang.

Once, Twice and then—

“Dadd, kuyaaaa!” sigaw ni Amarrisse.

The screen lit up, and there they were,

Auri and Tito Luis.

“Hi baby, Amarrisse!” Auri laughed. “Happy birthday, Mom!”

Tita Sarai covered her mouth, tears forming again but this time, she was smiling widely.

“Anak…” nagkagulo sa sala, kwento dito, kwento doon, at tawanan.

“Wait—N-Navy?” biglang sabi ni Auri, napansin ako sa gilid.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. “Hi.”

“Kamusta ka diyan?” tanong ko.

“Okay lang naman,” sagot ni Auri. “Tahimik lang dito.”

Ikaw naman musta kana Nav, miss na kita!" Sabi niya pero umiwas lang ako ng tingin.

“Ba’t andyan ka?” he teased me and laughed.

“Dahil birthday ng mom mo,” sagot ko, casual lang kahit medyo mabilis t***k ng puso ko.

" Buti naman Nav pumunta ka diyan para naman ma happy si mama sa birthday niya,” he said softly then softer

“Thanks for being there.”aniya niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero parang uminit yung pisngi ko.

“Wala yun, syempre birthday ni tita eh,” sagot ko.

Hello, Navy!" Tito Luis said.

Hello po tito," aniya ko" mag ingat po kayo diyan tito.

Umm, tita, baby I think I need to home na po," sabi ko habang nag uusap pa sila ni Auri at tito Luis sa video call.

Uuwi kana, anak??" Mamaya kana umiwi ipapahatid na kita kaya manong Andey." Tita said

Oo nga Navy, at tsaka gabie na at delikado na mag commute ka," nag aalalang sabi ko Auri.

I just smiled. Okay lang, kaya ko namang umuwi eh, para siyang naiilang at umiwas ng tingin sa akin sa video call.

Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ayaw kung umuwi at gusto ko nalang kausapin ko Auri pero may part sa'kin na ayaw ko din kausap si Auri, ewan ko ba. Miss na miss kuna siya pero para din akong nagtatampo dahil 1 year na ang nakalipas hindi man lang siya lumawag sa akin or sinagot man lang ang tawag ko even messages.

“Ate Navy, sleepover ka na!” sabi ni Amarrisse.

Napatawa ako. “Hindi pwede baby eh, may pasok pa bukas.”

“Aww…”

“Next time pag may free time ako,” pangako ko.

Oum sige anak mag ingat ka ha" aniya ni tita Sarai. Bago ako umalis, hinatid ako ni Tita Sarai sa pinto.

“Thank you, Navy anak,” she said again.

“Anytime po tita,” ngumiti ako.

She held my hand gently. “You made this day… less lonely.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“Hindi na po ulit magiging lonely yan,” sabi ko. “Because you have Amarrisse… and me.”She smiled and hugged me.

Paglabas ko ng gate, I looked back once, the lights inside were warm, may naririnig pa akong tawa ni Amarrisse and Tita Sarai’s voice lighter now.

Habang nakasakay ako sa taxi pauwi, napangiti ako sa sarili ko.

Maybe I couldn’t bring Auri back our fix everything.

But tonight…I gave them something.

A little joy, a little comfort and somehow…

That was enough.