When Heaven Smiled

36

Chapter 36
Boundaries

"Sana all kapag badtrip Batanes agad ang punta." ani Mikee. She helped me unpack my things. Binigyan ko siya ng sweet potato chips at ilang souvenirs.

I stared at the miniature Ivatan house Mikee was holding. It reminded me of what Maxon told me. He wanted to find his will to live.

His words still linger in my head. Somehow, it made me worried. He's going through something that I am not allowed to know. Gusto ko man sana siya tanungin para matulungan siya, pero hindi pwede. Kasama 'yon sa napagkasunduan, walang pakialamanan ng personal na buhay.

Hindi naman niya siguro gusto mawala 'no? He just lacks motivation? I'm starting to get paranoid, baka cry for help 'yon.

"Ano next n'yong pupuntahan?" Mikee was still busy raiding my luggage. I just let her be, wala kasi siyang magawa.

"Cebu? I'm not sure yet. Nakakapagod din kaya, puro lakad... but it's all worth it." I removed my phone from charging. I wanted to show Mikee the beauty of Batanes.

"Cebu? Saan do'n saka kailan? Lapit na kasal ni Zed, Cebu rin gaganapin 'yon 'di ba? Beach wedding." kinuha niya mula sa 'kin ang phone ko.

Oh no, that almost slipped from my mind. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ang alis namin... Hindi pa niya nababanggit. I guess I'll have to get our whole schedule for the next months.

"Tatanungin ko pa siya," I opened my phone for her. I swiped the notification of Maxon's text right away. Kita ko kasi sa mula sa gilid ang mga mata ni Mikee.

Binuksan ko na agad ang camera roll. Bumungad pa ang litrato namin no'ng nasa Rolling Hills kami. Ang lawak ng ngiti niya roon samantalang ako, tipid lang. Medyo magulo ang buhok namin dahil nililipad ng hangin.

"Ate," bahagyang bumukas ang pinto. Umusog si Mikee sa pinakadulo ng kama ko para ata bigyan ng space si Kristoff. She acted busy on my phone.

"Pasalubong." inabot ko sa kanya ang mga itinabi kong chips and keychain nang lumapit siya sa akin. Tinalikuran ko rin siya agad para kunin ang mga damit ko na lalabhan.

I admit that I missed him but I won't say that to his face. Masama pa rin ang loob ko sa kanya.

"I'm sorry," aniya na nagpatigil sa akin sa ginagawa.

"Labas muna ako..." paalam ni Mikee, ibinalik niya sa pagkaka-charge ang phone ko. Nang maisara niya ang pinto ay nagpakawala ng buntong hininga si Kristoff.

"I'm sorry about Ate Ari, Stella, and being so insensitive. But I want you to know that I asked Ate Ariana for help because I thought it was the best thing to do." he sighed again. "Ate, I don't know what's the deal between you and Kuya Maxon, but I don't want you to get hurt again..."

"I forgive you, Kristoff. Pero kung ano man meron sa amin ng Kuya Maxon, wala ka na ro'n." I crossed my arms over my chest. "I am doing my best to be your responsible sister, your second mother actually. Lahat 'to ginagawa ko para sa 'yo, para sa atin. Okay?"

"Okay," he whispered and gave me a hug. He's sometimes a big baby. Ang tangkad-tangkad pero kung umasta, hay.

I tapped his back to assure him that it's fine and I already forgave him.

"I'll go to Cebu in a few weeks. Be good okay?" I reached the top of his head. Ginulo ko ang buhok niya.

"Parang ten years old naman ang kausap mo."

"Just making sure okay? 'Wag kang magpasaway kay Manang."

Nagpahinga lamang ako buong araw. Umuwi na rin si Mikee dahil pupunta raw si Patrick sa bahay nila. I decided to scroll on Twitter. Wala lang, makikibalita lang sa buhay-buhay. Nagpalit din ako ng icon dahil isang taon na ata 'yong picture ka na kinuhanan pa noong Teacher's Day. I picked the one Maxon took in Marlboro Country. I tweeted it because I just want to. Emoji na lang ang ginawa kong caption kasi wala na akong maisip.