Busy being Yours

39. Lilith's Ploy

I can't believe that I'm actually doing this!

Hindi pa naman siguro huli ang lahat kung magde-desisyon akong umatras ngayon 'di ba? I know that I couldn't stop Lilith from driving but maybe the injuries that I'll gain if I jump out of the car wouldn't be much worse than where we're heading to.

I should've seen this coming. Lilith is the master of deceiving other people! Dapat talaga ay 'di ako nagpadala sa excuses niya na nami-miss ako ng anak niya, hence, the invitation for a sleepover at their place. I mean who in the right mind would use their own child as a bait? Well, definitely Lilith! Tactic na niya 'yun noon pa man, kahit nung si Cosmo (may he rest in peace) palang 'yung anak nito.

Although I can't blame it all on her din. The moment na dumating ako sa pamamahay ng mga Da Rosa-Valderrama matapos ang 24-hour duty ko sa UVMMC at sinalubong ako ni Ollie in her little unicorn onesie, I knew that she got me under her (and her mother's) spell. And I just can't say no.

Spending my free time with them is different from when I'm spending it with my family. Kapag nasa bahay ako ay madalas na nagkukulong lang ako sa dati kong kwarto (na ngayon ay kwarto na ni Trixie) at naghahabol sa pending kong mga papanooring palabas. Madalas din ay spino-spoil ako nina Mama at Papa kapag nagde-demand ako ng kine-crave kong pagkain. Basically, it's just me trying to relive my younger years when I was still the baby of the family. Lately ay 'di narin ako nakakabisita kay Ai during my day offs kasi pag hindi ito busy kay Johann ay nasa review center naman ito na sobrang extensive na given na sa susunod na buwan na ang PLE; of course, obvious din naman na 'di kami madalas na nagkikita nina Abby at Sixto bilang sobrang workaholic ng dalawang 'yun— I doubt that they'll move in a new house together, tingin ko ay 'yung SLRH na ang permanent address ng dalawang 'yun. And then, there's PJ... ever since his return ay 'di mo na talaga 'yun nakikita sa labas ng SOUL (except when he's at home, sleeping), and let's be real, he'd rather watch his friends get drunk than to do anything else kaya't madalas na nagkikita lang kami 'nun after work, whenever I needed a drink or two.

But with Lilith, hindi mo pwede gawing excuse ang pagod ka even if you were really busy the whole week saving other people's lives (her words, not mine). If she wants you to come over, you comply... There's no other way around it, or else gagamitin niya 'yung anak niya para makonsensya ka ng husto. Not that I'm complaining at all. She's one of the constant people in my life for almost a decade already. I'd really lost it kapag pati si Lilith ay naging isa sa mga taong nawalan ako ng koneksyon.

It's already killing me that I can't just turn up to Clem and Luke's place that easily... then there's the falling out with Jason years ago. It feels like Lils is my one call away person right now, kaya't hindi ko talaga ito matiis. It's not that I'm complaining because it's always a good time kapag nasa kanila ako.

"Auntie, not like that!" Reklamo na naman ni Ollie 'nung tinutulungan ko siyang mag-kulay sa bagong coloring book niya na dala-dala ni Ely bilang pasalubong sakanya after work.

Napanganga nalang ako nang hinampas pa ng bata ang kamay ko bago niya ako inabutan ng color blue na crayon. I heard Lilith snorting behind me, sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. She rolled her eyes at me before sliding down the sofa and on the floor.

"Ollie, baby, that's not nice." Malambing nitong saad sa anak niya na nakabusangot parin habang kinukulayan ang blonde na buhok ni Princess Aurora. "Kung gusto mo na color blue instead of pink 'yung gown, you can ask Auntie June nicely."

"Uncle Jason wouldn't mind." The kid answer with a small pout.

Hindi na napigilan ni Lils ang mapahalakhak habang ako ay mas lalo lang na napanganga.

Of course, Jason Andres. Alipin ng kahit sino ever since.

"But that was Uncle Jason, she's Auntie June. And even though he doesn't mind, mali parin 'yun, okay? You should know how to respect other people, especially when they did nothing wrong."