Koi No Yokan

Chapter 18

Cariette

I am working on our monthly expenses while having coffee when I heard few knocks at the door of the library, I am currently in.

I know it's just Harrice that's why I didn't even bother to stand up and to open the door for her. She'll just barge her way in, with or without my confirmation. I know.

Because if that's Rainey, she'll surely call my name after knocking at the door.

Ilang segundo nga lang ay bumukas na yung pinto at sumungaw na yung bulto nito. May bitbit pa itong tray ng coffee at yung garapon ng stocks ng cookies na ginawa ni Rainey.

Harrice is surely fond of Rainey too. Halatang halata dahil lagi ako nitong pinapaalalahanan na bigyan ng baon si Rain o kaya naman ay isabay pagpasok pag late na din ako nagising. Madalas kasi nauuna ako kaya itong dalawa yung naiiwan. They'll just took a cab off to school dahil ako lang naman ang may sasakyan sa aming tatlo.

Kapag naman may pasalubong ito ay si Rainey agad ang una nitong hinahanap at una nitong aalukin niyon. Kapag nalelate ng uwi yung isa, titirhan talaga nito iyon ng pagkain at sasabihan ako na wag ko iyong papakialaman kung ayaw kong maputulan ng kamay. In return, Rainey is also pampering her. Pag may gusto syang ipaluto ay lulutuan agad ito noon.

"Bakit mo kinakain yan? Pinayagan ka ba ni Rainey na pakialaman yan?" Itinuro ko pa yung cookies na dala dala nito.

Ito naman ay proud lang na tumango. "She gave me this jar of cookies no. Bayad nya daw dahil tinulungan ko sya na kumita ng pera. Hah! I'm more helpful daw kesa sayo." yabang pa nito.

Pero imbes na makaramdam ng inggit ay napangiti na lang ako lalo. Lalo na at bukal din sa loob ni Harrice na tulungan si Rainey kahit pa isa din ito sa mga nasaktan ni Rainey noon.

Mula pagkabata pa naman namin talaga ay laging sinasabi ni Mama na maging mabait kami sa mga anak ni Tita Railey. Lagi kami nitong sinasama pag pupunta doon kahit pa lantaran naman na nagkukulong lang sa kwarto ni Rainey ito noon. Si Priam lang yung nakikipaglaro samin ni Harrice.

Truth is, if I hadn't known how fierce Mama's love for mommy, I'd probably think she loves Tita Railey romantically. There's something in between them that neither Mom, nor us, their kids, can put exactly into words. Yung bond kasi ni Mama kay Tita Railey parang invisible string. Ganoon katindi.

Until that night that they had to draw the limitation into their friendship and family.

We all know how devastated she was when she cut her ties to Tita Railey just because of me. Actually, hindi lang kay Tita Railey. Sa lahat ng kaibigan nito. Kung hindi nga lang siguro kapatid ni Mommy si Tita Grant, malamang pati dito ay hindi na kami palalapitin pa ni Mama. Ganoon ito kaprotective samin. Sakin.

Not until recently. When I came back as if I hadn't been shattered when I left. As if I haven't destroyed someone's life.

"What brings you here?" kaswal na tanong ko kay Harrice nang ilapag nito yung tray sa mesa kung saan nakakalat lahat ng bills namin na binabayaran ko na online. Hindi kasi naka-ADA yung mga bills namin sa bank accounts ko dahil mas madali sakin imonitor kung may changes ba sa monthly expenses namin o wala pag ganito.

"I just want to talk to you. Are you still busy?" sinilip nito yung ginagawa ko sa laptop ko.

"What about?" I hit the confirm button first before averting my gaze back to her.

Nakita ko kung paano ito mag-alangan kung sasabihin ba nito yung ipunta nito o hindi.

Kung ako kasi ay literal na sasabihin agad kung ano yung problema para masolusyunan agad, Harrice is the exact opposite. Ito kasi yung tipong aabutin ng araw o linggo, contemplating, bago magkaroon ng lakas ng loob para sabihin yung problema. Lalo na pag hindi na nito alam yung gagawin.