Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 1

Cray

"Ate, Where are you!?"

Mabilis na nailayo ko sa tenga ko yung hawak kong phone nang marinig ang matinis na boses ni Elle-my younger sister. By heart. Not by blood.

"I'm on my way."

"Swear, if you'll not be here within fifteen minutes, I'll gonna hate you forever!"

"Hey!" Angal ko habang sige pa din sa pagdadampot ng mga gamit ko sa backseat ng kotse habang nakaupo pa din sa driver's seat. "Stop being a brat, okay. I'll be there soon."

"Soon?! You've been telling me that since an hour ago pero until now wala pa din dito kahit anino mo! What time is soon in your own vocabs?!"

Mabilis akong bumaba ng sasakyan at lumigid papunta sa likod para kuhin yung cake na binili ko para dito.

I just had my training this morning. Nanggaling pa ko sa baguio dahil andoon yung training camp namin ngayon habang andito pa sa Pilipinas. Pero heto, dahil tinatakot ako ng linsyak na Elle na yan, wala akong magawa kung hindi ang bumaba para lang puntahan yung kung anumang Party na sinasabi nito na kailangan daw yung presensya ako. Inutusan pa nga ako na magdala ng paborito nitong strawberry cake at isang kaing ng fresh strawberries.

"Chill, okay? Alam mo naman kung saan ako nanggaling. It's not easy to drag myself to wherever the place you were in right now given the current pandemic situation. You've got no idea what I've done just to get in."

Nang masiguro na nakuha ko na lahat ng kailangan ko ay nilock ko yung sasakyan at halos lakad-takbo para lang umabot sa fifteen minutes na palugit nito.

Elle is the one and only daughter of my foster parents. Actually, they could have twin babies after Elle kaso nakunan noon si Mommy Alli. It sent her into deep depression kaya hindi na nagtry ulit ang mga ito. Kaya ayun, I am stuck living almost half of my life with Elle. Not that I am complaining but she sticks to me like gum. For her, I am the perfect example that she look up high to. A good example of an older sister. Kaya naman I always lived up to her definition. Good thing that she doesn't despise me kahit hindi naman kami tunay na magkadugo.

She's really like Ate L and Ate Alli. Caring and Loving.

No, Cray. They're your legal parents now. You're their daughter too. Elle is your sister. No matter what.

"My night wouldn't be complete if you're not here. You know why." Pinalungkot pa ni Elle yung boses nito. She's really good at this, I know. Mga bata pa lang kami ay napakagaling na nitong umarte. Maybe that's also the reason on why she's getting away with all the mess she's creating growing up.

"Mom and Mama wouldn't be here. I miss them too, y'know. No one's thinking of me now. I'd be too lonely if you'll abandon me too."

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. What else could I do? I will be forever indebted to this family. Ang tanging magagawa ko lang ay suklian yung kabutihan ng mga ito sa akin.

Our parents are out of town dahil may mga inaayos itong mga papel ni Elle sa Australia. That's why I am in-charge of babysitting my seventeen year old sister while they're gone. Temporarily.

That's the only thing I can do for them.

Actually, hindi naman talaga alagain si Elle. Hindi din naman ito yung tipo ng mga pasaway na teenager. Yung gaya nga nito yung parang walang plano man lang magkaboyfriend. Kaya hindi din nababahala sila Mommy kahit iwan itong mag-isa. Because they know that Elle can take care of herself. Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit umalis ito ng bahay para lang pumunta sa condo unit ni Rainey. Rainey could have stayed in their house just beside ours para hindi na umalis pa ng bahay si Elle kung gusto lang ng mga ito mag-usap.