When Gramma and Pops went home, Tito Harvey told us to serve snacks in the backyard.
"We should've just ordered pizza." tinatamad na sabi ni Athena habang nagtitimpla ng juice.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Kuya Cyen at sabay natawa.
Kung sa Pilipinas mayroon kaming mga kasambahay para maghanda ng mga kailangan namin, kabaliktaran naman iyon dito sa bahay namin sa LA.
Kuya Cyen and I prepared sandwiches and fries na ngayo'y nilalagay ko na sa tray.
"Tara." I called to them.
Sabay-sabay kaming tatlo nagbuhat ng pagkain at inilabas iyon sa backyard. The sun's out yet it's only 27 degrees.
"Finally! I thought the three of you were eaten up by the kitchen." biro ni Tito Harvey.
Inilapag ko ang tray ng pagkain sa gitna ng picnic table kung saan nakapwesto na si Mommy, Daddy, Tita Jasmine, at Tito Harvey.
I sat down beside Athena.
My mother slowly leaned from her seat and reached for her glass.
Napatitig ako sa kamay niyang nanginginig.
"Let me." sni Daddy na kukuhanin na sana ang baso para sa kaniya.
"No." singhal ni Mommy kaya't hinayaan siya.
When her fingertip grazed the glass, hindi niya agad nakuha ang baso kaya nabasag sa sahig.
Mommy sighed.
Agad tumayo si Daddy at kumuha ng gamit para alisin ang mga bubog.
Kuya Cyen stood up and took his glass. Sinalinan niya iyon ng juice at inabot kay Mommy.
She looked at him annoyingly yet she took it anyway.
"Mommy, are you sure you're okay? You look sick." nag-aalalang tanong ni Athena.
Napalingon ako sa tiya't tiyo namin. It looked like they wanted to say something but kept their lips shut.
I pursed my lips.
"Ma, it's time." sagot ni Kuya Cyen.
"It's time for what?" agap ni Athena.
Daddy took our mother's hand and firmly held it. He whispered something that made her sigh.
"Harvey, Jasmine, please." lingon ni Mommy sa dalawa.
Tita Jasmine immediately nodded.
"Call us when you need anything, please, Lil." mataman na sabi ni Tita Jas.
Tito Harvey said he'd be back tomorrow to visit.
Agad akong kinabahan nang umalis sila at naiwan kaming pamilya. Is the news that bad?
Hinatid ni Kuya Cyen ang dalawa palabas ng bahay. Nang makabalik siya, pinaalala niya ulit kay Mommy ang usapan.
It's only because my father successfully managed to change the subject. Colleges of choice para kay Athena na ang pinaguusapan.
"May sakit ako sa puso."
"What?!" Athena exclaimed.
Habang ako, natulala na lamang sa tabi niya. My mother looked thinner and weaker unlike the last time I saw her.
"K-kelan pa?" nauutal kong tanong.
I still can't wrap my head around the sudden news.
"What happened? How? Wha—"
BINABASA MO ANG
Swiped Memory (Sanoma University 1)
RomanceSwipe dito, swipe doon. That's what Feliyah Marren ever does when she's not occupied being a model at Walter Models Incorporated. As she tries her best to wipe away a mistake, Marren finds her match.
