Aurora Borealis

Chapter 27 - Falling on Deaf Ears

>> • TOHRU • <<

They say that you'll regret wasting the moments when your parents want you to get a nap during noon. I've been regretting it ever since I went to high school.

One of the things that I've never regretted is to be born as a guy.

"Ajujuju~ Sinong pinakacute na pamangkin sa buong mundo?"

Monty giggled more energetically, wagging his feet at my face. I tucked the helm of his sleepwear and used it to wipe the drool that spills like dam in his mouth.

It's twelve in the morning, forced to get off on my bed for two reasons. An inspiration suddenly came up in the middle of my sleep and I can't afford to procrastinate on writing it down or else it will be erased on my memories by daybreak.

Second, I heard Monty crying from the other room. When I came to check, naabutan ko si Ate Missy na babangon pa lang para kuhanin si Monty sa crib.
On the other hand, my brother seems to be sleeping soundly maybe because he's been exhausted with the things that he did at work yesterday.

"Nagising ka ba ni Monty? Pasensya na, ah?" saad niya nang makita akong nakatayo sa may pintuan.

"I was up twenty minutes ago. Ako na muna d'yan. Mukhang kailangan niyo pa ng pahinga." saad ko at lumapit sa crib. Hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pag-iyak ang pamangkin ko.

"Ay naku, hindi na. Kaya ko na 'to. Kung ano man ang ginagawa mo sa kabila, pwede mo nang balikan." pagtanggi niya.

I twirled her hair, causing her to be bewildered with my actions.

"Ang lagkit." komento ko. "Mukhang napapabayaan mo na 'yung sarili mo, Ate. Kailangang pareho mong inaalagaan ang baby at ang sarili mo. Ako na d'yan."

Ikinalong ko si Monty sa mga braso ko at bahagya itong tinapik-tapik. Hindi naman nagtagal ay unti-unti rin itong tumahan.

"Salamat, Tohru." nakangiting wika niya. "Pero baka nakakaabala kami sa 'yo."

"Anong abala-abala? Ang pogi pogi ng pamangkin ko tapos abala lang yung magiging trato ko sa kaniya? Walang gano'n." tugon ko at inilipat si Monty sa isa kong braso. "Ako na munang bahala sa kaniya. Buong araw ka nang nagbabantay kay Monty. Puwede pa kayong magpahinga ni Kuya."

Babysitting is quite difficult and at the same time, awesome. I'm sometimes amused how Ate Missy can figure out what Monty needs whenever he cries even if he can't utter a single word yet way back when he's one year old.

"Salamat talaga, Tohru." aniya pa nang bumaba ako sa hagdan upang libangin ang pamangkin ko.

"I love your yellow pajamas, dude." bati ko sa kaniya at marahang inalog-alog ang tiyan nito hanggang sa makaupo kami sa sofa.

Monty kept on giggling as he lively marched on my lap as if a little soldier. He eventually showed me two of his baby teeth hanging out in front.

I leaned over to kiss him on his forehead but he pulled out my hair while trembling and gritting his teeth.

"Si Tito Ninong talaga ang favorite mong panggigilan, ano? I knew it, you love Tito Ninong, right?" I shook his shoulders, making him shriek in bliss.

"You're Tito Ninong's favorite nephew too. Well, it's not like I have other nephews that I knew closely." wika ko sa kaniya. He only smiled at me, gasping for his breath.

I almost jolt out on my seat when my phone rang. It's probably another phone calls on my work.

"Hello—"

"Tohru..."

It is Jamila.

"Oh, Jammy! How's your vacation—"