Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 27

Ember

"Uhm, Cray?" Mabilis na isinarado ko yung cupboard. "Gusto mong maligo muna habang nagpreprepare ako ng dinner?"

"Why?" She gave me a blank stare. "Wala din bang laman yung cupboard?" Ibinukas pa nito ng husto yung ref para ipakita sakin na maging iyon ay walang laman. Bukod sa iilang pirasong itlog at dalawang box ng fresh milk.

Shit.

What's going on? There was never an instance in my whole life that Mom had failed to keep our stocks full. Lalo pa at malayo kami sa kabihasnan. And if it's the case right now, Mom really gone this far to pull everything out for our inconvenience.

"Our parents are not trying to kill us both, right?"

Nanlulumong napasandal naman ako sa countertop.

This is no longer fun. First, they left us here with nothing and no one to serve us. Second, we've got no food. What's next? Baka wala ding tubig at kuryente?

Sa isiping iyon ay nagmamadaling naglakad ako papunta sa labas. I need to check if there's enough supply to run the generator as we are still stuck here. Para kung sakali ay makapagtipid kami o makaisip ng ibang paraan kung sakaling pati iyon ay limitado lang ang supply.

Ramdam ko yung pagsunod sakin ni Cray.

And just as I expected, Mom really got us in a tight spot. There's really no stocks to run the generator kung sakaling maubos na yung gamit namin ngayon.

Napalingon ako kay Cray ng mapabuntong-hininga ito. "I guess wala na din tayong aircon mamaya?"

I shyly bit my lip. Naaawa ako dito. Alam ko na hindi sanay sa hirap si Cray. Her parents might have given her enough luxury. Samantalang ako ay nasanay naman kahit papaano. Naranasan ko kung paano matulog sa gubat. Malipasan ng gutom noong mga panahong nagtatago kami ni Eris sa kakahuyan para hindi maparusahan. There was also a time na nawalan kami noon ng kuryente matapos maubusan ng gas dahil sa ilang linggo na hindi nakauwi noon si Mommy dahil may inaasikaso daw ito. But that was just for two to three hours.

Damn. How could we ever survive? Paano ko sasabihin kay Cray that even the house locks and security are being run with electricity? That's how modern our security facility is.

"I'll check other alternatives, Cray. Don't worry."

Hindi ito sumagot. Nagkibit-balikat lang ito. "Let's conserve energy until you can find any alternatives to make us survive here."

Nauna na itong naglakad pabalik sa bahay. Gaya kanina, inisa isa nito yung mga cabinet at drawer doon sa kitchen. Hoping to find anything to make our lives less miserable as we stay here.

But as expected, there's nothing. Just a note that says, You think I'll make it easier for you?

Kung kanino man iyon sinasabi ni Mommy, sigurado ako na seryoso ito habang sinusulat iyon. Really, it's a tough situation for us.

"I'll cook eggs. I've found a couple of loaf bread in the upper drawer." Itinuro ni Cray yung cabinet na pag-aari ni Essex. Gusto ko man tumututol na pakialaman namin iyon ay hindi ko magawa. Siguro naman maiintindihan ni Essex kung pakikialaman namin yung gamit nya. Ngayon lang naman. Papalitan ko na lang.

"Check the rooms upstairs, Ember. Kabisado mo naman itong bahay nyo. Baka may mga nakatagong stocks or anything we could use."

"Uhm." I felt myself uncomfortable at the idea that I'll be leaving her here alone. Kahit pa sandali lang iyon ay ayaw ko talaga. Paano na lang kung bigla itong matakot habang nasa taas ako? O kung biglang maubusan ng gasolina yung generator at mawalan ng ilaw?