Playing With Fire

Chapter 4

Lunod

I'm making a cup of coffee for my cousin. She's drinking coffee everyday, she said. Ang gusto niya raw ay katamtaman lang na tamis. Ayaw niya 'yong mapait na kape. I have nothing to do, so I decided to make her one. Wala man akong gagawing importante ngayong araw na 'to, pero magiging masaya pa rin ako. I have my family and they are the source of my happiness.

"Tapos ka na, Ate?"

"Ginawa ba namang katulong si Ate." Umismid si Tala. Kakarating lang niya ngayon at may hawak siyang isang pinggan na may laman na pansit. It looks like she cook it herself.

Hindi nagsalita si Pixie pero mukhang naiinis ito sa sinabi ni Tala. Nakangiting ibinigay ko sa kanya ang kape na ginawa ko para naman maibsan ang pagkainis niya. She smiled at me when she received the coffee. She smelled it first and put her index finger inside the coffee to try to taste it. Nagulat ako sa kan'yang ginawa. Hindi naman siya ganito kahapon, eh.

"You really make everything taste wonderful, Ate. It really taste like.. coffee!"

Pumantig ang pandinig ko nang marinig ang pagpapakawala ng tawa ni Tala. Umarte pa ito na naiiyak dahil pinunasan niya ang kan'yang mata gamit ang daliri.

"Huwag ka na lang magsalita, Pixie. Maganda ka, so huwag ka na lang magsalita. Nakakasira ka ng araw."

Tala is always like that. Pinagsasabihan ko rin naman pero matigas ang ulo at hindi nakikinig. I tapped her shoulder to let her know that she's going too far. Baka kasi ay mainis pa ng sobra si Pixie at magsumbong kay Mommy at Daddy.

Totoong malakas si Pixie sa mga magulang ko. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit pero pakiramdam ko ay ng dahil sa course na pinili ni Pixie. Gustong-gusto ni Mommy na maging flight attendant kaming lahat because according to her, flight attendant means becoming friendly and beautiful at the same time.

"Good morning, Isla Montecarlos!" Bati ng kakarating na si Aga. Bagong gising ito dahil magulo ang kan'yang buhok at nakasuot pa rin ito ng kan'yang pantulog.

Tala crossed her shoulder, "Hindi maganda ang morning kapag ikaw ang nakikita ko. Mas nakakasira ka ng araw, 'lam mo 'yon?"

Aga mockingly stared at her, "Pareho lang pala kayo ng morning mo, eh. Hindi maganda, so kumalma ka."

"Ang kapal naman ng pagmumukha mo. Hindi ka naman pogi, ew."

Tumikhim ako para naman hindi na sila magsalita dalawa. Umagang-umaga at nag-aaway agad sila. Hindi maganda tingnan 'yong ganoon.

"Nasaan na si Hati?" Tanong ka sa kanila. Sila lang kasi dalawa ang bumaba ngayon.

Aga shrugged his shoulders while Tala pointed at the back. Mukhang pumunta naman ngayon si Hati sa falls. She really likes going there. Kung comfort food ko ang ice cream, 'yon naman ang comfort place niya. She doesn't have friends, well except for us. Hindi naman talaga siya madaldal kapag hindi niya gusto ang tao o kapag hindi niya masyadong kilala.

"Nakakain na ba 'yon?"

"Mukhang hindi pa, Ate. Maaga kasi siyang pumunta doon. Hindi nga nagpaalam saamin, eh. I just saw her outside and it looks like she's sneaking." Sabi ni Aga.

"If that's the case, then dadalhan na lang natin siya ng pagkain doon. She will probably be hungry there, given that she hasn't brought any food."

"Pupunta naman talaga tayo doon, Ate. Gusto kong sulit-sulitin ang bakasyon ko dito. Kasama rin natin si Vaughn," Pixie said.

So her boyfriend's name is Vaughn? Simula kasi noong una ko siyang makita, hindi ko alam ang name niya. Hindi rin naman nila binabanggit at wala rin naman akong pakialam kung anong pangalan. I prefer to address him as Pixie's boyfriend. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"I am not going." Sabi naman ni Tala. Mukhang hindi niya gusto ang boyfriend ni Pixie o baka ang hindi niya gusto ay si Pixie. I can't understand her, Pixie is a nice kid. Sometimes brutally honest.

"I have important things to do. Important things." Sabi ulit niya. She turned her back to us and what amazes me the most, she flipped her hair.

"Don't worry, Pixie. Gan'yan talaga 'yang si Tala. Don't feel bad about it, okay?" Napangiti ako nang sinabi 'yon ni Aga. "Gotta go. I also have something to do. I hope you have a fun time."

Tumalikod din siya at pumanhik sa itaas. He will obviously take a bath and do his morning regimen. Kinuha na namin ang mga pinggan na may laman ng pagkain at inilagay na 'yon sa lamesa. Mommy and Daddy aren't here, may pinuntahan atang importante. Sanay na rin naman kami dahil palagi naman silang busy.

Nag-pray muna kami bago kumain. Habang kumakain ay biglang lumapit ang isa sa mga kasambahay namin, si Helena. Nasa labas na raw ang kasintahan ni Pixie at dahil excited si Pixie, lumabas ito kahit hindi pa tapos sa pagkain.

I shrugged it off and continued to eat. Hindi ko sasayangin ang mga niluto ng cook namin. His hard work will not pay off and of course, I don't want to waste it.

"Ate, tapos ka na? Pumunta na tayo kaagad doon." Nakangiting sabi ni Pixie na kasama ang boyfriend niyang si Vaughn. He was holding Pixie's hand while staring at me.

I felt uneasy kaya tumikihim ako at nagsalita, "You should finish your food, Pixie and you should also join us for breakfast." Sabay tingin kay Vaughn.

"Okay, Ate." Umupo na si Pixie at kumuha ng pinggan na hindi pa nagagamit at pinwesto niya ito sa harapan ni Vaughn.

Nilagyan din niya ito ng kanin at itlog. Vaughn stared at her adoringly because of what she did. Nagsimula na silang kumain at nang natapos na ako ay hinintay ko sila para sabay na kaming tumayo.

"Where's your bag, Ate?"

"Wala, Pixie. Hindi rin naman ako maliligo. I'll just watch you have fun."

Kumunot ang kanyang noo, "Where's the fun in that, Ate? Don't worry, I have swimsuits that you can use. Bagong bili naman 'yon kaya you don't also have to worry."

Tumango na lang ako para hindi na siya magsalita. Lumabas na kami at napansin ko na may malaking bag na hawak ngayon si Vaughn. Paniguradong kay Pixie 'yon. Hindi kami sumakay ng kahit ano, naglakad lang kami papunta sa falls at dahil may shortcut naman doon, mapapabilis din ang pagpunta namin.

"Property niyo rin ba ang falls, Ate?" Tanong ni Pixie habang naglalakad kami. Mabilis akong umiling at pinagpatuloy ang paglalakad.

When we arrived at the falls, I immediately saw Hati. She was dipping her foot inside the water. She was wearing a white oversized shirt and her hair was wet, mukhang kakasulong lang nito.

"I didn't know that there's a place like this in Isla Montecarlos." Rinig kong sabi ni Vaughn. Humarap ako sa kanya and when I saw his expression, I can't help but to smile.

"Marami pang magagandang lugar sa Isla Montecarlos na hindi mo alam. You can go there together with Pixie and have a date." Nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya. He stared at me and amazed expression is still there.

"No offense, Ate. Maganda ang Isla Montecarlos but I don't want to have a date here. Hindi 'yon ang style ko. I prefer the city kung date ang pinag-uusapan." Nakataas na noo na sabi ni Pixie. She even smirked at me. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita at lumapit kay Hati. Mahina ko siyang itinulak kaya bigla siyang napasigaw.

"Gosh! I thought you're a murderer."

I chuckled when I saw her scared expression. I scanned her body and when I saw that she's just wearing panty on her bottom, my brows furrowed.

"Paano kapag may ibang tao na pumunta dito, Hati. Baka gawan ka ng masama. Humans are wicked, so you should always be careful."

"Ate, ayan ka na naman po. I am always careful naman, eh."

"Kahit na. You don't what's going around their mind. Let this be a reminder to you to be careful and don't trust too much." She nodded her head and that made me tap her back.

"Ilang oras ka ng naliligo. Baka magkasakit ka na n'yan." Inayos ko ang suot niyang shirt. "Have you eaten yet? Kung hindi pa, kumain ka muna dahil may dala kaming pagkain.

Magsasalita pa sana ako nang biglang umalon ang tubig dahil kay Pixie. Umahon siya at ginulo ang kan'yang buhok. She was wearing her black two-piece swimsuit. Nginitian niya ang boyfriend niya at nilapitan ito para maitulak sa tubig. They were laughing and having fun with each other.

"Tingnan mo nga po ang suot ni Ate Pixie. Mas revealing pa po kaysa saakin." Nakanguso na sabi ni Hati. I disheveled her hair and kissed her cheek because I find her cute while pouting.

"Ate, you should also join us and have fun."

Pixie went near me and immediately pulled me, the reason why I sank to the water. I kept wiggling because I don't know how to swim. Fear started to consume my entire body and I felt myself going deeper. I can't even hear a single thing because I am scared. Natatakot akong mamatay, natatakot ako na hindi ko na makita ang mga magulang ko at ang mga kapatid ko.

I kept wiggling and raising my hands up. In just a span of time, I felt tired and my body went weak all of a sudden. I was about to give up when I was embraced by someone and pulled to somewhere. My vision is blur so I can't see anything clear as of the moment.

"It's all your fault, Ate Pixie. If you didn't pull Ate Venice. This will not happen." Hati was crying. My poor baby. She was crying.

Someone pumped my chest several times and I felt a soft thing on my lips. Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari at kahit ganoon ang nangyari, nagpapasalamat pa rin ako dahil buhay ako. I rubbed my eyes and cried when I saw Hati crying. I embraced her so tight, not wanting to let her go.

"I-I am so worried, Ate.."

Hati stood up and faced Pixie. I was about to stop her from doing thing but she is so fast. She pinched Pixie's hands aggressively. Umirap din ito at bumalik saakin para yakapin ulit ako.

"Bakit parang kasalanan ko? If only she told me that she cannot swim, I won't pull her here. It's not my fault.. I am not at fault here. I don't want to drown Ate! I love her and don't act like brat here, Hati. You don't get to hurt me like that and blame me." She was in the verge of tears when she said that.

Vaughn tapped Pixie's back. He was staring at me seriously. If staring could kill, I am probably dead. My eyes scanned his face, his lips were red. Don't tell me.. did he just use mouth to mouth resuscitation..

"I am not blaming anyone here, Pixie. Don't cry. It's my fault. U-Umuwi ka na at magpalit na rin. Baka lamigin ka pa d'yan sa suot mo." Sabi ko sa kan'ya. She slowly nodded her head and went to her bag.

I was shaking.. I am so cold. But it doesn't matter. I rubbed my palms together and stared at Hati. "Umuwi ka na rin at baka magkasakit ka pa."

Hinila niya ako para patayuin. Ngumiti ako sa kan'ya at itinulak siya daanan papunta sa bahay. I was still shaking because of fear and coldness. Kahit laking Isla ako, hindi naman masyado akong lumalabas. Hindi masyado ako naliligo sa dagat at pati na rin dito sa lugar na 'to. Only my siblings know that I can't swim pero mukhang ngayon, hindi lang sila ang nakakaalam.

I am the eldest pero talo pa ako ni Hati at Tala sa kagalingan nilang lumangoy. Naalala ko pa nga dati'y lumalangoy pa 'yan sila para mag-race. Habang ako nama'y nakatingin lang sa kanila. 'Yon ang panahon na kung saan binibisita pa nila ako sa bahay nila Mamita na dito rin sa Isla Montecarlos.

Napaigtad ako nang maramdaman ang isang varsity jacket na pumatong sa aking nilalamig na katawan. I raised my head and saw that the jacket was from Vaughn. Para akong sinakluban ng apoy nang titigan niya ako sa aking mga mata. He nodded and didn't say a thing. He turned his back to me and I noticed that he's just wearing his white sando. Hindi ba siya nilalamig?

Thank you, Vaughn...

#PWFLunod