Chapter 01
1311 Words
Naiah's POV
"Iah, Yumi is here." Narinig kong sabi ni mom sa labas ng pinto.
"Alright, Mom. Thank you!" Niligpit ko muna ang mga gamit ko't lumabas na rin.
I just wear high-waisted pants with a black crop top that emphasizes my skin. I don't really like wearing this kind of tops, ito lang talaga ang nadampot ng kamay ko. I'm kinda lazy, as always.
"Iaaaah! Why are you so tagal? I've been naghihintay for almost isang hour na." I rolled my eyes, kakasabi lang ni Mom na kakarating niya lang. This conyo girl is so nakakairi—aish! Pati ako nadadamay sa kaconyo-han niya.
"Whatever, let's go. Naghihintay na si Manong Ted." Sabi ko at iniwan siyang nakanguso ro'n.
Yumi and I will be going to the mall nearby to buy things that we asked to buy. And also some acrylic paint, my babiies! After an hour and half, nakarating na kami.
Bumili muna kami ng groceries, dahil inutusan din siya ni Tita. Pagkatapos, dumiretso na agad kami sa National Book Store. I went to the section where I could find different kinds of art materials, this is heaven! Since I was a kid, pumupunta ako kay grandma para do'n magpractice since my grandma is so good at painting. Maybe that's one of the reason, kaya ako nahilig sa painting.
Dumiretso ako agad kung sa'n matatagpuan ang mga acrylic, kumuha rin ako ng ilang canvas.
Pupunta na sana ako para kumuha ng brush nang marinig ko ang boses ni Yumi. Nakita ko siyang nakikipag-agawan ng libro, what is it this time?
"Can you bitawan my book na?! I'm the one who kita that first no! Helion Ramos! I said make bitaw sabi!" Geez, she's too loud.
"No, Yumi Takahashi. I touched it first so it's mine." Sabi nung Helion yata. So they knew each other and yet walang nagpaparaya? Childish.
"Yumi." Lumingon siya sa 'kin with her puppy eyes kaya't tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Waaah, Iaaah! This panget na creature here kasi, he doesn't want to make bitaw to my precious libro huhu. Heeelp!" I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"Let him have that book." I saw how her chinky eyes became wide.
"B-But, Iah—You can have mine." Putol ko sa kanya 'tsaka inabot ang libro.
"Thank youuu!" She said then hugged me. I chuckled, so clingy.
"Ehem..." Nilingon ko si Helion, "...thank you, Ms. I just really need this book." He said while smiling.
"Tss!" Yumi hissed and walked away. Hmm.
"No prob and sorry about the scene Yumi made earlier." His smile turns into a grin.
"Nope, it's okay. I'm used to it, anyway." I got curious pero hindi na ako nagtanong pa.
"Gotta go." He nodded kaya umalis na rin ako.
Kumuha ako ng mga brushes na kailangan ko at hinanap si Yumi. Ang hyper masyado, kung saan-saan napupunta. Nalibot na niya ata 'yung buong NBS. Tsk. Tinawag ko na siya 'tsaka binayaran ang mga pinamili namin, hindi pa sana siya aalis kung hindi ko hinala.
"Simula na ng klase next week, you're supposed to be in your condo but why are you still here?" She asked while sipping her iced coffee.
"Bakit tuwid na dila mo?" I asked back. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin kaya natawa ako. 'Di naman talaga siya conyo, trip niya lang daw.
"As if you didn't know, dzuh. Bakit nga?" Binaba niya pa 'yung iniinom niya at seryosong tumingin sa 'kin. Para namang ang laking bagay ng pags-stay ko rito.
"Well, I'm stayin'. Nakapagtransfer na 'ko sa school niyo." Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit pinag-stay ako rito nila Mom, eh. Hindi naman siguro dahil nakasapak ako ng lalaki 'no? Maayos naman grades ko before, so bakit? Aish! 'Wag ko na nga lang isipin, gusto ko rin namang mag-aral dito.
Sobrang nakakabagot sa Manila dahil kami lang ni Ate Del ang magkasama at palagi lang kaming nasa condo. I'm busy studying while Ate is always at her room, working. She's my cousin on my father's side.
"What?! Do the girls know? I should tell them!" Bago niya pa mabuksan ang cellphone niya, kinuha ko na agad. I'm planning to surprise them, tsk.
"Don't tell them, okay? Get your drink and let's go home." Sabi ko't tumayo na.
Natulog lang ako saglit dahil sa pagod. Kung saan-saan pa kasi ako pinaghihihila ni Yumi, ang usapan groceries and NBS lang pero lahat yata ng botique pinasok namin tapos nag-arcade pa. Remind me na 'wag nang ayain si Yumi sa mall. 'Di na ako sumama sa paghatid kay Yumi dahil kulang pa tulog ko.
"I'm home!" Pagdating ko sa bahay, I went straight to the kitchen dahil alam kong nando'n si Mom. I saw her mixing something. Probably, another recipe she made.
"Mom, why don't you open your own restaurant?" Lumingon siya sa 'kin at ngumiti, she's so pretty.
"Maybe soon, anak." I smiled. I know na magiging successful 'yon. I hugged her at nagpaaalam na para umakyat sa kuwarto ko. Bukas na lang ako kakain.
"And by the way, anak. Your dad wants to say something to you tomorrow." Kumunot ang ulo ko nang nahimigan ko ang kaseryosohan sa boses niya. Why do I feel nervous all of a sudden?
Hindi na ako nag-isip pa at pumasok sa kwarto. 'Pagbukas pa lang ng pinto ay bubungad na agad ang litrato namin nila Mom, which I painted, na nakasabit sa pader. Lahat ng frames na nakasabit sa pader ng kwarto ko ay ako mismo ang nagpinta. Even the magnificent moon and its shining stars on my ceiling was painted by me. I'm a creative hooman, I can say. Nang matapos sa paliligo ay humiga na rin ako at natulog. Tomorrow's another boring day for sure.
Nagising ako ng may kumakatok sa pinto. "'Nak, bangon na. Naghihintay na ang Mommy't Daddy mo sa baba." Nanay Selly, said.
"Opo, Nay!" Agad akong naligo at nagbihis. Nang makuntento ako sa itsura ko ay bumaba na rin. Dumiretso ako sa kusina at nadatnang nagtatawanan sila. How I love to see them like that.
"Good morning, Mom and Dad." I greeted and kissed them on their cheeks. Bumati sila pabalik at kumain na kami.
"Before I forgot, anak. I have something to tell you." Dad said that made me look at him. Huminga ako ng malalim, nararamdaman ko na naman ang kaba tulad kagabi.
"What is it, Dad?" I'm still looking at him while frowning.
"Pack your things after you eat and you will go to your Tita Isay's small house near your school." Huh?! Did I hear it right?
"Dad! Kakauwi ko lang po rito so why do I need to live there?! Mom?!" I looked at her but she just smiled at me.
"Anak, we know you can live on your own. And may makakasama ka namang titira do'n." Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ko sa sinabi ni Dad. How can he be so calm while I'm being hysterical here?!
"Your Tita's son, Raphael." What? Who the heck is Raphael? Did he agree with this insane idea?
"Who's that Raphael? May anak po ba si Tita na pangalan ay Raphael? And for pete sake, Dad! He's a freaking boy! Kasama ko ba talaga siyang tumira do'n?" I heard Dad chuckled. Seriously?
"Your words, young lady." Napatingin ako kay Mom na pinanlalakihan ako ng mata. I just pout my lips.
"Oh, I see. You don't remember him. Anyway, yes, he's your Tita's son and you'll live together. I trust that boy, anak." But I don't! Magsasalita pa sana ako nang biglang tumayo si Dad and said, "Finish your food and pack your things, ihahatid kita this afternoon." I sighed, ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? Aish!
"Mabuti na rin 'yan, anak. Palagi rin naman kaming wala ng Daddy mo." Hinalikan ako ni Mom sa noo at umalis na. Napayukayok na lang ako sa lamesa.
What now, Naiah?
- Writer
