Apricity

Chapter 6

Mainit

Kinabukasan ay tanghali na nang magising ako. Sinadya kong hindi gumising nang maaga dahil wala namang practice ang team ngayon.

Out of habit, I reached for my phone first before getting up on bed. Pasado alas-onse na ng tanghali.

I saw few new messages on my inbox. Binuksan ko lamang ang mula sa mga rehistradong numero.

Elcid:

Nakauwi na ko, Einj. Got caught up in traffic. Sorry ngayon lang. Are you still up?

Rae:

Ate Einj, super thank you for the takeouts!! :((

Mayroon ding ngayong umaga lamang pumasok.

Adea:

Tita said you're still asleep. Can't hug you goodbye then. Goodluck with the coming practices. Text me if anything happens.

Cal:

Einj pabreakfast senyo la ko kasabay samen

Nagtipa ko ng reply para sa bawat isa sa kanila. Nang mapadalhan silang lahat ng mensahe ay babangon na sana ako nang may maalala.

I squeezed my thumb before deciding to click the f*******: icon. I carefully scrolled on my notifications to check something.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi nang hindi makita ang hinahanap. Binisita kong muli ang profile ni Alister.

Friend request sent.

Ganun pa rin ang nakalagay. It wasn't deleted nor accepted. Ipinagkibit-balikat ko iyon at tumayo na para magtungo sa bathroom.

Lunch na nang makababa ako kaya't sinabayan ko na sina Mommy sa pagkain.

"Aki," nginuso ko ang pitcher. "Pass me the juice."

Flexible ang schedule ng parents ko sa work kaya't madalas ay nakakasalo namin sila sa hapag.

"Calcifer was here earlier," Dad said. "He ate breakfast with us,"

I nodded. "He actually texted me. Wala raw syang kasama sa bahay nila kanina,"

Lumingon si Mommy kay Daddy. "Is Arthur still hard-pressed with the collaboration?" she asked, referring to Cal's father.

Tungkol sa negosyo na ang sunod nilang pinag-usapan kaya't hindi na ko nakasunod. Ang alam ko lang ay parehong abala palagi ang parents ni Cal. He's often left alone at home since he's a single child. He has a lot of cousins though. Siya ang bunso sa kanilang magpipinsan from both side of his parents.

Matapos kumain ay sa may pool area muna ako tumambay habang umiinom ng yakult. I have a weird habit of drinking it right after breakfast or brunch. I was sitting on the patio chair when I heard Mom's voice.

"Einj,"

Humarap ako sa kanya at naabutan syang may hawak na pastry box. I can smell the homemade treats from the inside.

"Give this to our new neighbor. Hindi pa natin sila nawewelcome nang maayos," wika nya.

Tumayo ako at kinuha iyon.

"Tell them also to come over for dinner tomorrow. Magluluto ako.." aniya.

Tumango ako nang may tipid na ngiti. "Alright, mom."

Pagkalabas ko pa lang ng gate ay napansin ko na ang isang pulang sasakyang nakaparada sa harap ng bahay na patutunguhan ko.

I saw a familiar feminine figure hesitantly standing at the front gate of that house.

Sumingkit ang mata ko.

"Millicent?" tawag ko.

Umangat ang tingin nya sakin. Her face lit up.

"Ate Einj,"

Saka ko lang napansin ang kasama nyang driver na tuwid na nakatayo sa kabilang gilid ng kotse. Milli is 2 years younger than me. We met each other in high school as we were both part of the theater club.

"Hey.." bineso ko sya saka kyuryosong tinignan. "What are you doing here?"

She weakly fixed her hair— suddenly looking embarrassed for something.

"Just.. gonna... visit a family f-friend," she muttered in a small voice.

Natigilan ako.

"You know Alister?"

She nodded. "My mom is friends with his mom." she subtly caresed her arm. "I've been told that they moved here so.."

Marahan akong tumango.

"The two of you must be pretty close then,"

She bit her lip.

"Actually.. no. Sa ate niya lang ako malapit.." aniya. "With Ali... I never really had the chance to come within reach,"

Bumagsak ang tingin niya. She flushed and my lips parted a bit at the sight. It's my first time seeing her fluster. She's always very confident in our shows and plays. But now, she looks so ruffled. Her cuteness made me chuckle.

"Bakit naman?" I asked. "Hindi naman sya... mukhang unapproachable.." nagdadalawang isip na kumento ko. Talaga ba, Einj? Halos manginig nga ang tuhod mo sa malamig na tingin nya nung walang hiyang niyakap mo sya!

"Yeah, he isn't— sadyang wala lang akong lakas ng loob makipagkaibigan sa kanya." she said in panic. "It's not that he's aloof or distant." she bit her lip for a moment, looking unsure. "Although.. yes, he's not very friendly either. But he's actually pretty civil.. He treats people casually,"

The piece of information from her surprised me a bit. Eventually, I found my self nodding slowly.

"Well then.. I guess, that's good to hear.. at least." banayad na wika ko. "Why are you waiting here outside, though? Mabuti pa ay i-ring na natin ang doorbell para–"

"Wait, Ate Einj!" pinigilan nya ang kamay ko.

"Bakit?" napahalakhak ako.

Her cheeks turned pink. "Actually, I still don't know what to tell him. He might find it weird that I'm visiting him,"

"Hmm? Tell him you're here to see his mom then," suhestyon ko.

Umiling sya. "They aren't living with their parents. Hiwalay ang mga magulang nila. His Dad is living with his new family in States. While his mom.." she looked at me. "She's also getting remarried soon,"

Nagparte ang labi ko sa narinig. I was quite taken aback by what I just discovered. I've always been fragile when talking about family and loved ones. Lumaki akong busog sa pagmamahal kaya't hindi ko lubos maisip kung gaano kahirap ang mga ganitong klaseng sitwasyon.

I could never imagine the same thing happening to me. I couldn't even imagine how hard it will be.

Tumikhim ako.

"Then tell him you're here to visit her sister.." sabi ko na lang.

Sa huli ay sumang-ayon siya sa suhestyon ko. Pansin kong alanganin pa rin sya nang pindutin ko ang doorbell ngunit hindi nya na rin naman ako pinigilan pa.

Natigilan ako nang bumukas ang gate. I was pretty surprised to see Alister opening it for us. Hindi ko iyon inaasahan. Ang akala ko'y kasambahay o guard ang gagawa noon para samin.

He was wearing casual clothes but it doesn't look so casual when he's the one wearing it. Pinigilan kong suriin pa sya nang lubusan.

Umangat ang kilay niya sa amin. Damn. I see he's really not very friendly huh.

Lumingon ako kay Milli at hinintay syang magsalita ngunit tila natutop nya ang labi.

I cleared my throat.

"Hey.. uh.. pinapabigay ng Mom ko," wika ko saka inangat ang container na dala.

He eyed the stuff on my hand.

He then nodded and accepted it.

"Thanks,"

Sa simpleng pagbuka ng bibig nya ay tumayo ang ilang hibla ng balahibo ko sa braso.

Lumipat ang tingin niya kay Millicent at tila nag-aabang na magsalita ito.

I saw tension flash on Milli's eyes.

"Hi! U-uhm nandyan ba si A-ate Lefain?"

Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Alister.

Umiling ito. "She went out to see her friends,"

Hinintay kong dugtungan niya ang sinabi. Probably to invite Milli inside or something. Ngunit wala na siyang dinagdag pa.

My mouth gradually went agape.

Milli looks cornered. Tila hindi na alam kung anong dapat gawin.

Sa huli ay lumunok sya. "A-ah, sige! Babalik na lang ako sa susunod. J-just tell her I passed by,"

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

Tumango lamang si Alister.

"Alright." malamig na bitaw nya.

Tuluyan nang nalaglag ang panga ko.

Milli turned to me briefly. "U-una na ko, Ate Einj. See y-you!"

Pipigilan ko pa sana sya nang agad na itong tumalikod at dali-daling pumasok sa sasakyan. Napakurap-kurap ako sa nangyari.

Hindi pa man tuluyang nakakaalis ang sasakyan ay narinig kong nagsalita si Alister.

"I'll just get this transferred," he said, totally unaware of what he just made Milli feel.

Iyon lamang ang sinabi nya bago pumihit papasok sa kanila. I was still in awestruck by what just happened. Hindi na ko nag-isip pa at lakas-loob na pumasok sa iniwan nyang bukas na gate upang sundan sya.

"Hindi mo man lang ba ko iimbitahan sa loob?" the sarcasm slipped from my tongue— which is very not me.

His brow shot up when he turned to see me beside him. May munting pagkabiglang dumaan sa mata nya ngunit agad ding napalitan ng kung ano. Tamad niyang binalik ang tingin sa harap.

"Guess you just did," pabalang na sagot nya.

Napasinghap ako.

"Hindi mo dapat ginawa yun kay Milli."

Kumunot ang noo nya.

"Ang alin?" he asked with his baritone voice.

Seriously?

Hindi ko sinagot ang tanong nya.

"You could have been a little nicer to her."

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "Bakit inano ko ba sya?"

Imbes na sagutin ay sinumbatan ko lang sya. "Ni hindi mo man lang pinatuloy yung tao. She was just waiting for you to let her in!"

"Wala naman syang sinabing gusto nyang pumasok,"

"Yeah but does she really have to say it pa?"

"Oo, kasi pano ko malalaman kung hindi nya sasabihin?" he coldly said. "Isa pa, wala naman dito ang pakay nya kaya't anong gagawin nya?"

Huminga ako nang malalim upang kalmahin ang sarili. I can't remember being like this towards anyone before.

"But what if hindi naman talaga ang Ate mo ang pinunta nya?"

Dumilim ang ekspresyon niya.

"Then why would she say otherwise. Sana ay sinabi nya na lang ang totoo,"

I rolled my eyes. I rarely does this but now, I really did.

"Kahit hindi nya sinabi ay nakaramdam ka man lang sana." I spat.

Suminghap siya.

"How would I? Hindi ako manghuhula. There's no other way for me to know unless she tells it directly,"

God, I can't believe I'm having an argument with someone I barely know! Ni hindi nga ako madalas makipagtalo sa mga kakilala o malapit sakin. Tapos ngayon ay nakikipagsagutan ako sa bagong-lipat lamang na kapitbahay namin. What's wrong with me? I'm usually polite towards other people.

Katahimikan ang sunod na bumalot samin habang naglalakad nang walang muling magsalita.

Suddenly, I felt awkward. Hindi ko maala kung kailan ako huling nakaramdam ng pagka-ilang. I'm always very comfortable around anyone.

Kung iisipin, may point naman sya. I don't know what got into me. I usually always consider both sides of every scenario first before jumping into conclusions. Masyado lang siguro akong nadala kanina.

Habang pumapasok sa loob ay napansin kong under renovation ang ibang bahagi ng bahay. It feels.. different to see this familiar house getting altered.

Tumikhim ako nang makarating kami sa living room. One thing I noticed, mainit. 

Napansin ko ang pagtiim-bagang niya.

"The AC is yet to be installed so it's hot in here." malamig na sabi nya. "That's why I can't really invite people inside. It's uncomfortable." may diin at munting sarkasmo ang pagkakasabi nya.

Nanigas ako nang bumaling siya sakin.

"Stay here, I'll be quick." mababang wika niya bago pumihit patalikod upang magtungo sa kusina.

Matapos siyang mawala sa paningin ko ay doon ko lamang naramdaman ang namuong pawis sa noo.