HINDSIGHT

012

"Uhm, El? Could you help me with those please?" Malambing na tanong sa akin ni August. I stood from the stool chair in the kitchen island. "Sure." I gathered the dishes that August was pertaining to. It's new year's day, and we celebrated it here at August's house. It was lucky that my brother is not here because of work. "Oh, lemme help you guys." We heard Samara jovially volunteered. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni August.

We love Samara and appreciate every effort she exerted, but not when it comes to house chores. Just not house chores. "Uhm, Sam, that is so sweet, and we totally appreciate it, but I think we're good. Why don't you help Chali over there with the snacks, hmm?" Augustine sweetly coaxed her and I nodded reassuringly. She squinted her eyes.

"I can't believe you guys. Dumping me on Chali? Really? You couldn't think of any other excuses?" She complained in a low tone while apprehensively glancing at Chalila who is not so adjacent to us, flourishing the charcuterie. "I don't wanna be around her. She's so fickle." Tumigil sandali si Chalila sa ginagawa. "You know that I could clearly hear you, right?" Mataray na sambit niya at pumamewang.

Samara whimpered. "Fine! I'll just sit this through. Argh!" She exclaimed and stormed off to the living room. Nagkibit balikat na lang kaming dalawa ni August at bumalik sa ginagawa. Napansin kong naglalakad si Sol palapit kay Chalila. "Oh, what's that, Cha?" Rinig kong tanong niya rito. Even though I can't see them, I know Chalia rolled her eyes. "Cold cuts, apparently." Mataray niyang sagot dito. "Sungit. Diyan ka na nga."

"Please, don't be like that, August, when you get pregnant." Solace whispered pero narinig pa rin ni buntis. "I could hear you!" Solace made a grim face and walked off. "But yeah, please don't be like that." Mahina ko ring bulong kay August and Chalila groaned. "Really?" She asked with disappointment painted across her face. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at linagay ang dishes sa lababo. I grabbed a towel to dry off the plates.

"How are you?" I glanced at August. "Unbelievably good." I answered. After Christmas, which I spent with Theo, apparently, we kinda grew closer. It wasn't what I expected. I thought it was only a one time thing, but being with Theo is so cathartic. Sa mga oras na magkasama kami, nakakalimutan ko nang pagtangkaan ang buhay ko. He is the spirit of things. "How about you, hmm?" Tanong ko pabalik sa kanya. She gave me a sad smile. "Just getting by." Her voice quivered. I rubbed her back to soothe her. "It's okay. I know that feeling." I gave her a sympathetic smile.

...

"I have a joke, too!" Napasapo ako sa noo nang itaas ni Samara ang kamay na paramg nagvovolunteer mag joke. Gosh, they are drunk, I mean hindi lahat sila, si Aira, Samara, and Solace. I don't know with Anika, but she seems fine to me. "What did the brow say to the other brow?" Good gracious, make it stop. I have heard this a million times. Paulit ulit lang naman ang jokes nilang lahat. "What?" Mapupungay ang mata na tanong ni Aira.

"Hey, brow!" She answered playfully at nagtawanan naman silang tatlo. I knew it. We shouldn't have let them drink too much. "Alright, that's it! I've had enough!" Chalila stood up and gestured her hands into a cross, enunciating each word. Napa-iling na lang din ng ulo si Anika at August. "Al'right! Come on, get up! Aira, get up!" I bolted from my seat, and so were Anika and August when Chalila tried to lift up Aira. "Uhm, Cha? Just let them be." Sabi ni August sa kanya.

Disbelief painted her face. "What?" She flared at August. "Don't patronize me, Augustine. What? Just because I'm pregnant, I can't do such things?" she asked August in an accusatory tone. August shook her head in her defense. "No... I am not patronizing you, Cha. I am just saying that you can leave them be." Siningkitan ng mata ni Chalila si August. "Yeah, Cha. She's right." Sabat naman ni Anika. Chalila gasped. "Really? Even you?" She pointed a finger at Anika. "You're just like Dane! You patronize me! Agh! I am so sick of this!" She exclaimed and walked out.