Tumalikod si Mama at pumasok sa loob. Kairos squeezed my hand softly before going inside the house. Everyone was present and was sitting in the living room. My father, as well as Ate Jane and Gregory who had a worried look in his face.
"Good evening, Mrs. Vera—"
"Have a seat."
Dahan-dahan akong umupo habang hindi ko naman nahimigan ang kaba kahit sa kaniyang mga kamay man lang.
"Mrs. Vera, I am very sorry for returning your daughter this late—"
Pero imbes pakinggan ni Mama ang sinabi ni Kairos ay bumaling siya sa akin at tinanong ako na siyang ikinaputol ng pagsasalita ni Kairos. "Where have you been, Lilianna?" she asked with calmly but with firmness.
I was almost running as I head back to the classroom, with my head on the floor. Kulang nalang, magpapalibing ako rito, e! I was so embarrassed because of what happened! Furthermore, I cannot even get mad at Kairos for doing that because no matter how I deny it, I liked it!When the Head Minister shoutedat our direction, all heads turned to us. Shock creeped through their confused faces, some even had amused expressions na tila bang nakita nila iyong ginawa ni Kairos kanina which was more embarrassing!"To my office, now!"Hindi pa nga nakaupo sa upuan n'on sa harapan ng mesa ng Head Minister nang nagsimula na siyang mang-sermon and was very displeased of what she has witnessed! She went on and on for almost an hour dahilan upang ma-late kaming dalawa sa mga klase namin.
"Lilianna, may notes ka ba sa d-in-iscuss ni Sir sa GE 3? Ugh! Ayoko talaga sa teaching style niya! I really hate History pa naman," pagrereklamo ni Sawyer. Nginisihan ko nalang siya at pinahiram sa kaniya ang notes ko sa subject na iyon para ma-copy niya. "Thank you. Mwaps!" she said and tried to kiss my face but I avoided it, fortunately.She frowned. "Kiss lang, e! Damot-damot, akala mo hindi nagpapa-kiss sa pinsan ko."Kahit bigla akong nahiya sa sinabi niya ay hindi ko siya binigyang-pansin at inabala na lang ang sarili sa pag-drawing ng human muscular system na siyang isa sa mga activities namin sa PE 1. Okay lang sana kung drawing lang, kaso dapat pa namin lagyan ng label sa bawat part! Tapos may skeletal system pa akong kailangang gawin pagkatapos nito! I'm suddenly thankful I did not became interested in taking any medical cour
"You should stay away from that guy, Lili."Napatingin ako sa nagda-drive na si Kairos. Maagang natapos ang klase ko at hanggamg 7PM pa sina Ate Jade at 5:30PM naman si Gregory kaya nagpaalam nalang si Kairos na siya na ang maghahatid sa akin pauwi sa bahay."Huh? Bakit naman? Paano ko naman gagawin 'yan, brute?" tanong ko pabalik. "Unang-una, classmate ko siya sa lahat ng subjects ko ngayon. Pangalawa, partners kami sa isang subject.""Why are you partners with him anyway?" The brute asked, his brows furrowed.I laughed, not because it was funny, but because it was a ridiculous question."It was fixed by the instructor, Kai-"He si
"Wow! All in one!" wika ni Gregory nang matapos niyang in-explore ang buong building. "Ang yaman niyo talaga, Miss!"Napailing ako. "Sila lang ni Mama at Papa. Hindi ako mayaman."Nakaupo kami ngayon sa sahig dito sa may parte ng dance studio. Lumabas naman si Kairos at nagpaalam na kunin ang mga gamit na nasa loob ng sasakyan niya."Tumahimik ka nga, Gregory! Para kang bata kung umasta. You should act your age!" sita naman ni Ate Jade.Umirap naman si Greg. "Pake mo ba? Buhay ko 'to. My age, my rules!" parang batang sagot niya at ininis pa lalo si Ate Jade sa pamamagitan ng pagtakbo-takbo sa paligid. Napatampal tuloy sa noo si Ate Jade at hinayaan nalang si Gregory sa trip niya. Natawa naman ako sa bangayan nilang dalawa.
It was uncomfortable sitting in the car. Ate Jade and James were busy snuggling and flirting with each other while I was beside them. Hindi ko inasahang may ganitong side si Ate Jade. Siguro ganoon talaga kapag in love, 'no? Nalalabas ang hindi mo inakalang meron ka pala. Masaya naman ako para kay Ate Jade kahit kulang na lang ay mapisa ako dahil kinain na ng mga pwet nila ang upuan dito sa likod. Sometimes, James' arm would rub against mine, whether be intentionally or not. Every time our arms would rub against each other, he would look at me and smile. I would only smile and look outside to mind my own business. "I miss you," Kairos said on the phone. "Sorry, hindi kita nasabayan sa pag-uwi kanina. It's just that..." Umiling ako at ngumiti kahit hindi niya naman kita 'yon. "Don't
Kinabukasan, napabangon ako sa kama nang biglang pumunta sa kwarto ko si Gregory at sinabing nasa baba si Kairos. Muntikan pa akong madulas sa tiles ng bathroom, buti nalang at naging mabilis ang reflexes ko. Pagkatapos kong maligo ay nagbihis ako ng desenteng damit na pambahay, a loose t-shirt and a black shorts. I dried my hair first before I went out of my room to meet Kairos who was in the living area. Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ko nang nakita ko si Kairos na nakaupo sa single couch, kausap niya ang mga magulang ko na nakaupo naman sa long couch. Nahinto ako sa paglapit dahil nagtanong si Papa. "So, you'll be taking my daughter out today?" Papa asked. Tumango naman si Kairos. "Yes, Sir."
"Yes, Lilianna. We know each other...a lot." Hindi maalis sa isipan ko ang mga katagang iyon hanggang sa bumalik ako sa room ko. I was curious as to how and why did they know each other. Were they enemies? Were they best of friends? I want to know. Should I ask Mama? But then again, the last interaction I had with my mother was... not good. Bumuntong-hininga ako at binagsak ang sarili sa malambot na kama ng hotel room. Napanguso ako nang nakaramdam ako ng gutom. Hindi ako nakakain nang maayos doon dahil hindi ako kumportable sa pinag-uusapan nila buong oras. All they talked about was... Kairos being tied to Isla. Sa tuwing napapatingin ako kay Ate Jade ay puno ng pag-aalala ang mga mata niya. Ngingitian ko siya para ipaalam sa kaniya na okay lang ako. Come to think of it... Hindi naman talaga ako dapat mangamba o kahit anong masamang pakiramdam dahil ako naman ang mahal ni Kairos... and I believe when he said he only wants to m
"Someone will fetch you there, Lilianna," I remembered what Mama said as we arrived at Mactan-Cebu International Airport's parking lot. "Someone important to you.""Who?" I remembered asking her and looked at my father who was smiling.Mama smiled in a timid manner. "You'll find out once you get there."And she was indeed right. Someone was waiting for me to arrive in Arkansas... and it was my childhood friend, Ruairi. Ruru, in other names. I was the one who made that nickname for him. It was cute.Sa galak ko ay mabilis kong tinakbo ang distansiya naming at agad siyang niyakap nang mahigpit. My tears actually fell because of the happiness I've felt that day. God, I remembered how I said that I've missed hi
What It Takes To Be A FamilyI never thought that being a parent couldn't get much more tiresome but fulfilling at the same time. Sometimes, I would wake up seeing Lilianna swaying one of the twins in her arms as she hummed a song, her eyes closed because of sleep deprivation.I would automatically get up and say, "Lili, give me Leone. You should rest."Lilianna would open her eyes halfway and smile. "It's okay, brute. You should rest, may trabaho ka pa mamayang umaga.""No, give me Leone, Lilianna. Ako na ang magpapatulog ng bata. Where is her milk?"Bumuntong-hininga si Lilianna at dahan-dahang binigay sa akin si Leone Kennedy, ang babae naming anak.
Misterand Missus"How could you wed my daughter in a civil wedding, Kairos?!" nagagalit na tanong ni Papa."Papa..." pagpigil ko sa kaniya sabay hawak sa braso niya. Nagulat naman ako nang hinablot jiya mula sa hawa ko ang braso niya. Wow! He was really mad. I thought he was just acting!Nakita naman iyon ni Kairos. Lalapit na sana siya sa akin pero inilingan ko siya para pigilan siya.Napatingin kaming lahat kay Papa nang tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo rito sa sofa. "Mara, where did you put my shotgun?"Napasinghap si Tita Esmeralda.
Epilogo: Eternal LoveI was enjoying the breeze of Toronto when my cousin, Isaiah, called me and disturbed me from relaxing my ass off."What?" I asked, annoyed.I heard a chuckle coming from him. "Come on, bro! Get your ass back here. You're not fit for Canada!""I'm having my vacation, Isaiah. I'm not staying here for good. 'Wag kang mag-alala, uuwi rin ako next month.""School is coming back next month too, you should be here by the last week of May or the first week of June. Third year is a crucial year for college students, Kai. We should not take it lightly."Napailing ako. Isaiah and his obsession w
Epilogo: First Love "My god, Kairos! Ang bagal-bagal mo talaga! Male-late na ako sa appointment ko at male-late ka na rin sa dance school mo na iyan!" Napailing ako sa pagsigaw ni Kieru sa kabilang parte ng pintuan. Nasa labas siya ngayon ng kwarto ko at naghihintay na lumabas ako. I woke up late this morning, and I immediately played video games on my personal computer. That's also the reason why I'm now almost late to dance class. Kinurot ni Kieru ang tainga ko nang nakalabas ako sa kwarto ko. Humiyaw naman ako sa sakit. "Aray ko, Kieru!" She gasped. "You have no respect to your older sister, Kairos!" "Calling you ‘ate’ gives me chills," I said with a disgusted look. Tinanggal ko ang pagkahawak niya sa tainga ko at nauna nang lumabas sa bahay at pumasok sa family car. The whole ride, Kieru insisted that I should—no, “must” call her ‘ate’ or else she'll wreck my desktop computer in my bedroom. I just sighed and decided
Chapter 40Pero hindi ko kaya.Hindi ko na kayang mawalay pa sa kaniyang ng kahit isa pang araw.Kaya ginawa ko ang gusto kong gawin.Embarrassing as it sounds, but I turned around and shouted Kairos' name with my longing heart. Agad naman siyang lumingon sa akin, naguguluhan.At first, I was walking slowly as I stared at his mysteriously dark eyes. But when I got impatient, I jogged my way towards him... until it turned to a run. I left my luggage alone and spread my arms as I hugged him.He carried me by the butt and I immediately wrapped my legs around his waist.
Mariin akong pumikit nang naramdaman kong gumalaw ang kama. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa kumot nang naramdaman ko ang braso ni Kairos na tumanday sa baywang ko sa ilalim ng kumot.Kalaunan ay narinig ko ang tawa niya. "I know you're awake, Lilianna. Your body is tensed."Doon pa ako kumawala nang malalim na hininga bago minulat ang mata at hinarap siya. Agad naman akong nagsisi nang nakitang halos magdikit na ang mga ilong namin. Sobrang lapit niya!I hissed when my sister down there ached because of the pain I got from last night's... physical activity. Pumikit na naman ako nang nakaramdam ako ng hiya. Gusto ko na lang lamunin ng lupa nang inalala ko ang ginawa namin kagabi.I couldn't believe that really happened. It
The celebration eventually ended. Nagsiuwian na ang ibang guests samantala ang iba naman ay napagdesisyonang dito na lang sa hotel matulog. The Ferrolinos booked a couple of hotel rooms for the guests to stay in for the night."I booked a room for you, Lian," sabi ni Sawyer nang pumasok kami sa elevator. Sinabay niya ako sa kotse nilang dalawa ng asawa niya. Nahiya tuloy ako dahil baka naistorbo ko sila. "You should stay for the night. Neco couldn't drive you home because he's dead drunk."Tumawa ako at tumango. "Okay. I will stay."Niyakap niya ako patagilid. "Thank you for coming to the best day of my life, best friend. Nawala na ang six years kong tampo sa'yo."We laughed together as we talked about random things
Dumating na nga ang araw ng kasal ni Sawyer. Narito kami ngayon sa isang five star hotel ng ciudad. May nakalaang mga suite ang entourage—magkahiwalay ang mga babae sa mga lalaki. Ang groom naman at ang bride ay may tig-iisa ring room na nakalaan para sa kanila.May mga professional makeup artists at hairdressers din na binayaran ng pamilya Ferrolino para sa amin kaya naging mabilis ang paghahanda para sa kasal. We only got to sit in front of a vanity mirror, and watched our faces get beautified by their artsy hands. The makeup artists decided to match our eyeshadows with the wedding motif.Akala ko ay magmumukha kaming clown sa lavender eyeshadows pero kabaliktaran ang nakita ko nang natapos akong ayusan ng isa sa mga makeup artists. I commend them for making it perfect. It was simple and minimal but it complenemented
Chapter 36It would take an hour or two before we arrive at Minglanilla so I decided to rest my eyes. Pero agad ko rin iyong pinagsisihan dahil tuluyan na akong nakatulog! Nagising lamang ako sa marahang pagyugyog sa akin ni Kairos.Paglingon ko sa bandang kanan ko ay nasa harapan na kami ng main gate ng Midori Plains. Nang naalala ko si Isla ay agad ko namang binaling ang backseat. She was nowhere to be found.Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Kairos. "I dropped her at the city."Tumango na lang ako.I unbuckled my seat belt and went out of the car. Sumunod naman siya at binuksan ang likuran ng sasakyan. Sumalubong sa akin ang tumitiriki na araw kaya napasuot ulit a