Chapter 21

I was just silently eating. Katabi ko sa upuan si Art, nasa magkabilang dulo si mama at papa habang kaharap ko si Kuya at Hayden. All I thought is that Taliah is here, but she’s nowhere to be found.

“Kailan ka pa nakauwi, hija? I’m sorry I wasn’t able to entertain you right after you came,” pagbabasag ni mama sa mahabang katahimikan sa hapag.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagsubo. Paminsan-minsan namang sinasalinan ni Art ng pagkain ang pinggan ko na sinusuklian ko lang ng ngiti.

“Uhm, I just arrived this afternoon. Dito po kaagad ako dumiretso.” I catched her giving Daze side glances. “I was so excited to see my childhood friend.”

Napangiwi ako nang banggitin niya ang salitang childhood friend. Gusto kong matawa. I’m a woman, and it’s normal for me to have my instinct right. That she came back to Philippines for my brother.

“Nagtaka nga kami nung sabihin ni Syl na aalis kayo ng bansa. Anyway, you look so beautiful right now,” my mother told her.

Rinig ko naman itong mahinang natawa. “Thank