Drawn to His Flame

Kabanata 32

Never

“Kuya, bangon na!” Mas hinigpitan ko ang pagkakatakip ng unan ko sa aking mukha nang marinig ko ang boses ni Katie. She didn’t stop being loud and continued to bug me by pulling my bed sheets so I got irritated now. “Wake up na kasi! Aalis na tayo maya-maya.”

“Katie, I swear to god na ikaw na ang ididisplay ko sa mesa imbes na ang alarm clock ko kapag ipagpapatuloy mo pa ‘to,” I threatened her, still half-asleep.

“Oh, I’m scared,” asar niya ulit sa akin. I groaned before turning to lie flat on my stomach. “Pero sigurado akong mas magugustuhan mo ang makikita mo sa itaas ng mesa mo ngayon,” she said before I heard her walking away, her footsteps getting fainter each passing second.

Hindi na ako dinalaw ng antok pa dahil sa pang-iistorbo ng kapatid ko sa ‘kin. Napasabunot ako sa sarili nang makita kong mag-aalas kwatro pa lang sa umaga. Excited naman yata siya masyado sa pupuntahan namin.

I then let out a very deep sigh when I saw what Katie had placed on my bedside table. She really preserved the tulips and even found a glass vase for it. Tumayo na ako at kukunin na sana iyon para itapon nang nang maalala ko na naman ang sinabi sa akin ni Katie noong nakaraan lang kaya napahinto ako.

“I’m sorry. I love you,” I repeated my sister’s words while my eyes lingered on the flowers. The white tulips symbolize forgiveness while the red represents passionate affection. The first was understandable but the second one was quite out of context.

I looked up at the ceiling as I drowned in my thoughts. Ano ba talaga ang gusto niyang iparating no’ng ibinigay niya ‘to sa akin?

Pagak akong napatawa pagkatapos. Bakit ko na naman sineseryoso ang mga ganitong bagay? Baka hindi nga alam ng lalaking ‘yon ang kahulugan ng mga bulaklak na ‘to. Maybe he just bought this costly gift to somehow compensate for what he did. Kagaya pa rin talaga siya noon. Dinadaan pa rin niya ang halos lahat ng bagay sa pera. He’s the worst kind of sugar daddy.

“Kuya, kakain na!” Katie shouted, bringing me back to the present. Hinayaan ko na lang ang plorera roon at lumabas na sa aking kuwarto para pumunta sa kusina.

“Good morning ‘nak.” I shyly scratched the back of my head when I saw that my parents and Katie were already seated and just obviously waiting for me before they can start eating. Binati ko na lang din sila at nanalangin na kami pagkatapos para makakain na.

Habang hinihigop ko ang sabaw ng noodles ko ay nakikinig rin ako sa mga paalala ni Mama. We’re going to Isla Carles, an island known for its pristine waters and white-sand beaches. Our last trip there was years ago that’s why Mama had to orient us to be safe because that place is always teeming with people. Isa kasi talaga ‘yon sa mga pinakasikat na tourist attraction hindi lang sa probinsiya namin kundi pati na rin sa buong bansa.

“Ma, ‘di ko po matandaan lahat. Wala ba kayong printed copy diyan ng mga reminders niyo?” my sister asked.

I smiled at her from across the table. “I get you covered,” I said before showing her the recording I had.

“Don’t treat my reminders as a joke. Lalo ka na, Katie,” sabi bigla ni Mama. My sister pouted because of that. Dati kasi ay muntikan na siyang mawala noong pumunta kami sa islang 'yon. She wasn’t traumatized but we were. Dahil doon ay limang taon kaming hindi nakabisita sa isla pero babalik kami ngayon dahil iyon ang hiling ng kapatid ko. She finished seventh grade as the top student of their batch so Mama gave her what she wanted.

“Dalaga na ang anak natin, hon. ‘Di na yan susunod sa isang sirena na mascot kapag makakita man siya.”

“Pa!” Katie exclaimed and I saw her face turning beet red which made me laugh. Katie and her fondness of mermaids is really cute.