VI
704 Words
“Here.”
Grandma’s handing a piece of paper to Aunt Alicia.
“What is this, Mom?”
We’re currently in the living room. Aunt and I are playing Hot Wheels Unleashed. We are both sitting on the floor while Mom is on the sofa lying down while reading a book.
“A username and a password.”
“For what?”
“I made you a Snapchat account.”
Is that what I think it is? The thing that she and Mom were so engrossed in last night?
“Huh?”
Grandma impatiently pulled her daughter’s hand and put the paper in it.
“I know you don’t know how to create a Snapchat account, Mom. You didn’t even know what Snapchat was before. I know someone helped you.”
Then she glared at my Mom. Mom just smiled at her sweetly.
“What can I do, Alicia? Your sister is a helpful person.”
Aunt covered my ears with her hands.
“Go to hell, Amara!”
“You’ll go there first, Alicia!”
As if I won’t really hear their voices. I removed her hands on my ears.
“I can still hear you and Mom, you know.”
“Sorry, son.”
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m not that young anymore. I already know how to segregate what’s okay to hear and what’s not.”
“Tobias is more mature than both of you. Aren’t you ashamed?”
“Why would I? You’re the one who taught me to always be myself. And never apologize for what I am.”
Aunt Alicia smirked at Grandma. The scene is like finding who’s more wicked among the women I’m currently with. I shake my head. Poor me.
“You always have a say about things, don’t you?”
“Are you proud, Mom?”
“Whatever, Mary Alicia!”
“What? Your first name is Mary?”
I gave her an incredulous expression. Mary? How is she the opposite of her own name?
“What, Tobias? You have a problem with my name?”
“My son is trying to say that you’re a devil in a holy name.”
My Mom then laughed out loud. I giggled as well.
“Continue ganging up against me. I promise you, I’ll have the last laugh.”
“We won’t gang up with you if you just accepted the paper without saying a word.”
Grandma said, hands akimbo and an eyebrow was raised.
“You can gang up with me all you want, but I still won't do what you ask me to. I have already dated your friends’ son. That’s enough, Mom. And stop helping her, Amara.”
“Make me!”
Mom stuck her tongue out to her sister. So childish. I feel like, at this very moment, I’m not the youngest in this house.
“Where’s your phone, Alicia?”
Aunt looked at Grandma seriously, then pointed at her phone near Mom’s feet.
“Be my guest, you won’t be able to open it anyway.”
“Really?”
Mom got up. Took the phone from Grandma. She pulled Aunt’s hair downward. It made Aunt look up, then she placed the phone in front of Aunt’s face. The phone unlocked just like that.
“Pew! So easy!”
She gave it back to Grandma. She even swung her hands, but her palms were touching. I looked back at my Aunt’s face. Her eyes widened. Maybe she did not expect that her sister would do such a thing.
“You! That was painful!”
She stood up, pointed a finger at Mom’s face.
“I.don’t.care! Remember, I was born first. I already learned the word crazy when you’re still in your diaper.”
Mom tapped Aunt’s shoulder like she was comforting her. The latter messed up her hair in frustration.
“Here’s your phone.”
Grandma gave her phone back. She slumped back beside me. She scrolled on her phone and I stole a glance. I saw the yellow icon on the screen. She sighs defeatedly.
“What do you want me to do, Mom?”
She said she sounded like she was giving up resisting.
“Just enjoy chatting!”
- Writer
