I'm Here Again

Chapter 6

I couldn't sleep last night. My mind was filled with questions, trying to understand why the novel had changed.

What caused it to changed.

Was it because of me? Was this what Hiraya was talking about when we last met in that weird white, floating place?

"Good morning ate Aice! Aga pa ah? Ba't gising ka na?" Mielle yawned as she walked to the kitchen, coming from the bedroom. "Nagluluto ka na agad? May pizza pa tay -- ay wala na pala."

I smiled at her. "Good morning as well, Mielle! Hindi kasi ako makatulog, kaya nagluto na lang ako. Something I learned from you."

She giggled. "Nakakamiss maging high school ano? Sa nakaraan ko ngayon, medyo na-spoiled ako dahil sa mga Salguero, pero syempre dahil kay Lola AT sa memories ko with you, hindi naging brat."

"Mabuti naman! My experience being you changed me altogether too, you know? Biruin mo ah, natuto akong magluto dahil sa'yo? Pati pagta-Tagalog!"

"Maski naman ako eh! Natuto akong mag-Spanish ng wala sa oras!" Mielle went next to me and offered help but I declined and just told her to get the table ready. "So anong plano mo pala ngayon, ateng?"

"Papasama sana ako sa'yo? Kung wala kang gagawin, papatulong sana ako na malaman ang mga lugar-lugar? I mean, may alam naman na ako, kaso dahil laging naka-kotse --"

"Bantay-sarado ka kasi!"

I widened my eyes at her as a warning. "Dahil nga naka-kotse lagi, hindi ako maalam sa pag-commute at kung saang lugar ang sakayan at babaan."

She waved her hand. "Ayun lang ba? Maliit na bagay! Let's go, go, go! May pamalit ka ba ng damit o pahiramin kita? Payatot ka pa rin naman kaya kakasya mga damit ko sa'yo, tapos pantay din naman ang taas natin."

"Opo, meron po. At nagpapataba na ako, ano?"

"Sure ka? I mean," she smirked teasingly. "Isang tawag mo lang naman dun sa isa, tiyak ko, agad na tatakbo 'yun para i-deliver 'yung pamalit mo. Nanginginig pa."

"Lukrita! Kumain na nga tayo!" I rolled my eyes. "Ano bang meron at panay ang tukso mo dun kay Abriel?"

"Parang ikaw hindi?"

I went still and tried to fight off a smile. "Touché. Ang dali kasing mamula ng bruha!" That reminded me. "Kasama ba sa pagbabago eh 'yung character ni Abriel?"

She looked at me weirdly, a mixture of confusion and shock. "Hindi mo pa ba alam ateng?"

"Ang alin?"

Her mouth fell open. "Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"What?"

"You'll know when you'll know. I can't spoil things, where's the fun in that?" She clicked her tongue again that made me arched my eyebrow. She put up a peace sign. "Hehe, akala ko alam mo kasi nakatira kayo sa iisang bahay."

"Eh hindi naman kami gaano nagkikita noon dahil sa trabaho. Ngayon na lang simula ng ma-hire ako ni Jace."

"Oooh, I see." Mielle did a double take on me. "Ano? May bumabagabag pa ba sa'yo?"

"Well..." I bit my lower lip. "You pretty much mentioned almost everything that changed and whatnot.." She urged me to go on. "But you haven't mentioned what happened to Rhyn."

Mielle's mouth gaped open a bit. "Oh. Well, doctor pa rin siya."

I squinted my eyes. "Why am I getting this feeling that there's more into him than just still being a doctor?"

We both sat down almost the same time. "Pa'no ko ba i-eexplain 'to? Hindi ba dati, ang kulay ng buhok niya dark green?"

"Yes."