Gusto Kita, Legit

Legit, Eighteen

narration. April 28, 2021 | 10:27 AM

Avianna

"In a few days it's Olivia's 18th birthday already. How do you actually feel about it?" Nyx asked while he was seated beside me. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang rehearsals namin kaya free pa kaming magkwentuhan dito.

"Hmm..." I looked at Olivia who was with Aisha, Alaric, and Colton sa isang sulok ng bahay namin. They were all having fun. My sister was having fun, and it made me happy just by looking at her right now.

"Olivia is maldita but a really nice girl, Nyx. Ngayong malapit na siyang maging eighteen years old, parang gusto ko siya makitang maggrow into something that she wants. Explore things, have fun. Stuff like that."

I heaved a deep breath. "Kaya lang parang nakakatakot minsan na nagdadalaga na rin pala siya. Baka mas lumayo na ang loob niya sa akin. You know what I mean?" Liningon ko siya mula sa pagkakatitig ko kina Olivia kanina.

"I actually understand you. May kapatid akong babae and slowly, nagdadalaga na rin siya," he shrugged.

"But that's life, Avia. It's going forward. Hindi natin mapipigil na umabot sila sa point na 'yon. Lumayo man ang loob nila sa atin, what's important is that hindi natin ipaparamdam sa kanila that we hate them or anything."

"Maging sandalan pa rin nila tayo no matter what happens. Kasi alam mo naman ang mundo di'ba? Those people that they trust so much right now can ruin their peace someday. Kung pati ikaw aalis sa tabi niya, sino na lang magiging kakampi niya?"

I smiled at him. "Hmm-mm. That was such a good point, Nyx. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied and gave me a warm smile. That actually gave me peace. In enlightened me that I have to let go of the once little Olivia and let her do things on her own, meet a lot of new people, but never turn my back against her even if she does.

That's nice.

"But...why Avia? Wala pang tumawag nang ganiyan sa akin dati eh. Either Via or Avi, or Avianna mismo," tanong ko noong maalala kung ano ang itinawag niya sa akin kanina.

"That's why I called you Avia. Kasi alam kong no one calls your name in that way. Ako lang dapat tatawag sa'yo no'n."

"Lol, arte Ruiz."

He laughed. "Why? What's so wrong with giving you a nickname?"

"Nyx 'The Flash' Ruiz," turan ko na lang ulit saka umiling-iling habang natatawa pa rin naman siya.

"We're friends. It's okay."

"Sure," I said and he just laughed again.

"Cute."

"Ewan ko sa'yo."

"Okay! Rehearsals na! Nile start na di'ba?" Alaric suddenly stood up and said that as loud as he can. Ano na namang problema ng isang 'to?

"Yes, start na. Go to your places now please. Girls, wear your heels," tugon naman ni Nile habang inaayos ang speaker.

Kumilos na rin naman agad ang lahat ng babae at isinuot na ang mga heels. Including me, of course.

"Kaya mo na bang isuot 'yan nang ikaw lang, Avia?" Nyx asked me.

"Yeah. No worries. Punta ka na lang sa pwesto mo," tugon ko.

"Okay." Ngumiti siya at pumunta na rin naman sa pwesto niya while I still had to calm myself down. He just smiled at me. I'm wearing heels. This isn't good. Tsk.

"Calm down, Avianna. Calm down." Iyon lang at pumwesto na rin ako since naisuot ko naman na iyong heels. Time for rehearsals! Calm down, little heart inside me or you might trip and embarrass yourself and you don't want that. Okay? Okay.