KEEPING UP WITH HER CHEERFULNESS

CHAPTER 9:"BALCONY"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~F. O. R. W. A. R. D~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Kyaaaa!.... woohoo!....

kuya!...

saan Kwarto ko?..

HAHAHAHA!... ditu ba?.." - Clara

"Clara!..

Can you please stop shouting?.." - Clayden

"I can't help it!.. I'm so happy, kuya!... Woohoo!!.."

Sigaw nito at tumalon talon sa kama niya..

"Ang saya Niya.."

Bulong ko, pero narinig yata ni Clayden kaya napatingin ito sakin..

"She's always like that..

I'll be the one to apologize for her.. 'cause she's really being way too loud.."

Clayden said

"No.. okay lang!.. Hindi Naman Ako naninibagu kasi medyu nasanay narin kasi Ako.. "

PARA SIYANG SI BIANCA..

"Kuya?.. you and ate Zhy?..

saan kayu matutulog?.."

Tanong ni Clara na ikina tingin namin ni Clayden SA isat Isa..

"There's just one room left now.. You two gonna share it?" - Clara

"huh?.. hahahaha syempre!.."

"of course not!.." -Clayden

Napatingin Silang dalawa sakin..

"SA..Sabi ko syempre Hindi no!.."

HINDI MAN LANG NILA AKO PINATAPOS SA PAGSASALITA KANINA..

TAPOS NGAYUN MAG REREACT SILA AGAD?..

"ta..tatabi Ako Kay Clara.."

Saad ko Kay Clayden..

"k.kung okay lang sayu?.. Clara?.."

"kyaaaa!!...

tatabi ka sakin?... wahh!...

Ang saya non!..

yeyyy!.."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ F. O. R. W. A. R. D

[IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT]

STILL ZHYCARICH POV

Napa buntung hininga Ako..

"Anong oras na ba?.."

Napatingin Ako SA Oras ng cellphone ko..

12:42 AM na pala..

Pero bakit Hindi parin Ako dinadalaw ng antok?..

Napa tingin Ako sa balcony ng Bigla akong makarinig ng boses..

At dahil sa Curiosity ko..

gusto kong tingnan..

"It sounds like someone's talking.."

I first checked on Clara while she was sleeping..

Sinakop talaga Niya Ang buong kama..

pati Yung kumot..

Heh.. napaka cute Niya...

"Manang mana SA kuya.."

WAIT?.. ANONG SINABI KO?...

hayyyyts..

Pupunta na Ako sa balcony.. binuksan ko muna Ang pinto nito at agad lumabas..

"So.. you're still awake too?.."

"Nako PO kalabaw!..."

I shouted in surprise

Napalingon Ako sa pinagmulan ng boses nito..

"Ginulat mo Ako!..

Pasalamat ka talaga dahil Hindi kita maabot..

Hindi kita masapak.."

Inis kong Sabi na ikina tawa Niya ng mahina..

Medyu malapit lapit lang Yung balcony Niya sakin..

kaya para lang kaming nag uusap sa malapitan..

"Why you're still awake too?.."

Tanong nito habang nakatingin sa kalangitan..

"I still haven't felt sleepy yet.."

"You can't sleep properly?.. 'Cause my sister moves around so much?.. Am I right?.."

"heh.. Hindi Naman..

Ang cute Niya nga ehh.."

"cute huh?.."

Tinanguan ko lang ito at tumingala sa kalangitan..

"Ang Ganda..."

sambit ko habang naka tanaw sa kalawakan..

"Indeed...."

Napatingin Ako Ritu, at nagulat ng makitang naka tingin pala to sakin..

"What does your mom look like?.."

Biglaan nitong Tanong..

"Why did you ask that?..

But if you're really curious.. Alright.. I'll tell you..."

Saad ko Ritu at tumingala ulit sa kalangitan..

"She's beautiful.. She has long hair.. Her nose is pointed.. Her skin is smooth.. She has red lips.. She's fair-skinned.. And then...."

Napahinto Ako sa pagsasalita at nilingon Siya..

"That's it!.. She's beautiful.. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever met..."

I said, and immediately looked back up at the sky..

"I already imagined what she looks like.."

Saad nito..

So I immediately turned to him when he said those words.. That's why our eyes met..

It was as if it was the first time we looked into each other's eyes..

° ° ° ° °

"How can you say that?"

Tanong ko Ritu at agad nag iwas ng tingin..

MY HEART IS BEATING SO FAST..

WAIT?.. WHY AM I FEELING LIKE THIS?..

"I'm sure you look just like your mom.."

"Heh.. Is that so?.."

HINDI KONA SIYA KAYANG TIGNAN SA MGA MATA ULIT..

MAS KINAKABAHAN AKO..

[LUMIPAS ANG SANDALING KATAHIMIKAN]

"Btw... Do you still remember what I told you?.."

Biglang Sabi nito na ikinalingon ko ulit sa kanya..

But this time.. Siya Naman Yung naka tanaw sa kalangitan.. kaya Hindi Ako masyadong kinabahan ng liningon ko Siya..

"Alin dun?..

naaalala ko lahat ng mga sinabi mo.. pero

alin dun Yung tinutukoy mo?

Ang dami monang sinabi sakin.."

"That day, When we were in the car.. When you asked me why I was helping you.. The day I told you that I couldn't even say why I was doing this?.." - Clayden

SA MGA sinabi nito..

Biglang nag flash back lahat sakin..

"Awhh.. so Yun ba?..

bakit?.."

YUN YUNG ARAW, NUNG HINATID NIYA AKO SA CONDO..

SINABI NIYA SAKIN NA..

MISMO SIYA.. HINDI DAW NIYA MASASAGUT ANG SARILI NIYA KONG BAKIT DAW NIYA AKO TINUTULUNGAN..

KUNG BAKIT DAW NIYA GINAGAWA TO..

PERO SA ORAS NA MALAMAN DAW NIYA ANG DAHILAN..

SASABIHIN NIYA DAW SAKIN..

"I know why now.."

Saad nito at nilingon Ako..

"h..huh?.."

"But I'm not quite sure yet.." - Clayden

"A..ano bang sinasabi mo?.. "

Tanong ko Ritu at mahinang tumawa ng.. kinakabahan..

BAKIT BA AKO KINAKABAHAN?..

FEELING KO MAY DEEP MEANING YUNG SINABI NIYA..

PERO.. DIKO TALAGA GETS..

GETS NIYU?..

"I think.. I need to first understand and be sure about this.. before I tell you.."

Anito at tumanaw ulit sa kalangitan..

"Let's sleep..

Good night Zhy Reil.."

Huling sinabi nito at pumasok na..

"Zhy?...Zhy Reil?..."

Pag uulit ko sa tinawag Niya sakin..

TSK!.. I'M A BIT DISAPPOINTED..

NAKALIMUTAN NIYA AGAD PANGALAN KO?..

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ F. O. R. W. A. R. D. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MORNING

CLARA'S POV

I woke up because of the sunlight coming through the balcony.. That's why I decided to get up..

"Wait?.. where is ate Zhy?.."

I frantically grabbed the blanket from the bed

I thought nasa ilalim Siya ng kumot..

but she's not...

"where is she?.."

I looked around the whole room.

And then I saw her...

She is sleeping on the sofa?..

Wait?.. how could I?...

I let her sleep there!..

kung tutuusin!.. mas lumaki siyang mayaman kaysa sakin!..

You're so bad Clara!...

tsk!..

"Ate Zhy?.. ate Zhy?.."

I tapped her lightly on the shoulder to wake her up.

"hmm..oumm?..."

Gosh! Did I wake her up? I mean, I did wake her up already..

CLARA, YOU'RE NOT THINKING!..

"Sleep well, Ate Zhy."

I said..

I only woke her up to tell her to sleep well?.. TSK! Stupid Clara!..

"Ohww?.. Clara..

Gising kana pala.."

She sat down slowly and smiled at me.

To be honest? ......

Ate Zhycarich is really, really beautiful.. My future sister-in-law is so gorgeous!

Hehehe!..

"Ate Zhy..

d..ditu ka natulog?.."

I ask..

She just smiled at me..

and nod..

"It's fine..

maganda Naman rin tulog ko..

Ikaw?.. how's your sleep?..."

She ask..

She's so kind and gentle!.. She's like a goddess!.

"Ate Zhy?..

You slept here because I move around so much when I sleep in bed.. sorry."

"Hindi no!..

ayus lang!.. "

"You're so kind..

I wish I had a sister like you!.."

• • • • •

ZHYCARICH POV

"You're so kind..

I wish I had a sister like you!.." - Clara

I WISH TOO..

PAREHO KAMI NG PANGARAP..

WHAT IF..

HINDI SI BIANCA GANUN?..

MAGIGING KAKAMPI KO PARIN SANA SIYA HANGGANG NGAYUN?..

NAPAMAHAL NA AKO SA BABAENG YUN NOON!. BUT THIS TIME?..

HINDI NA MAHAL ANG NARARAMDAMAN KO..

KUNDI PUOT AT PAGKAMUHI!..

SANA HINDI KONALANG SIYA NAGING KAPATID.. DAPAT PALA HINDI KO SIYA TINANGGAP!..

HINDI SANA AKO MASASAKTAN NGAYUN..

PATI SI PAPA!..

SANA HINDI NALANG SIYA ANG NAGING AMA KO!..

I HATE THEM!..

If only I'd never known them at all! If only they weren't my blood! Because all they're capable of is causing me pain and misery!

"Ate Zhy?.. are you alright?.." - Clara

"Yess!.. of course!..

gusto mo nang bumaba?..

Tara.. sabay na tayu.."

She smiled right away at what I said... and held my hand happily.

She really moves just like Bianca..

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Kuya?.. I'm hungry.." - Clara

Saad nito at pumunta sa kusina..

So that means..

He's in the kitchen.

Agad Naman rin akong sumunod Ritu..

"Good morning Clara!..

how's your sleep?.. huh?.." - Clayden

"It's supper fine!.. and relaxing!.." - Clara

Hindi yata Niya Ako napansin..

Busy kasi Siya sa pag luluto..

I wish I had a brother like that..

BUT IT'S TOO IMPOSSIBLE..

"Where's your ate Zhycarich?.."

Tanong nito habang naka tuon sa niluluto Niya..

TEKA?.. TAMA AKO NANG NARINIG?..

HINAHANAP NIYA NGA AKO?..

"Ouyyy!.. kuya!..

You miss her already?.." - Clara

"What?.. Clara I'm just asking!?.. " - Clayden

"You miss her nga!.. bakit ba tinatagu mopa!.."

Pang iisnis nito SA kuya Niya..

HINDI KO MAPIGILING NGUMITI..

WAIT?.. BAKIT AKO NGUMINGITI?....

NO!.. STOP IT SELF!..

"Yeeeii!.. kuya you're blushing!.. hahaha!..

look at him ate Zhy!.. he's blushing.."

Agad akong nabalik sa ulirat..

"h..huh?.."

Tanong ko Ritu at nag tatakang tiningnan sila..

"Ate Zhy!.Kuya misses you already"

Clara said..

Napatingin Naman agad Ako Kay Clayden..

"Zhycarich and I are just friends, Clara."

Clayden said..

Agad Namang napahinto sa pag ngiti si Clara..

at seryuso kaming tinignan ni Clayden..

"A..I thought you two were in a relationship?.. B..bakit Hindi?... " - Clara

Dismayado nitong Sabi..

"ahmm.. tutuo Yun Clara..

magkaibigan lang talaga kami ng kuya mo.."

Saad ko Ritu na ikina tingin Niya sakin..

"Kuya!.. I want Ate Zhy for you!.. Court her, Kuya!.." - Clara