High Ranks (Completed)

Chapter IX

Chapter IX

“Good morning, Lois. How are you feeling today?”

I looked at the bright face of a cute child, holding a yellow balloon. He looked heathier than the last time I saw him in the a tiny room with only white curtains to cover from the outside world.

Lois gave out a shy smile and with his mouse-like voice he said the words ‘I'm alright. Thank you.’

Behind us was his brother. Tall with a tiny bits of muscles was hanging tightly on his arms. His jet black hair is swaying with the wind and his green eyes are piercing a hole in my back. I don't know why but he felt intense today. He wasn't wearing the long dark jeans and the loose polo shirt that he usually wears. Of course, this must be an important day for the both of them so they have to wear something formal.

Lois has a cute little bow on his chest and he was holding a yellow balloon on his right hand. Bill was wearing a brown jeans and a white dress shirt. And I am wearing a turquoise dress that Rayne sewn for me. It reached my ankle and knees and I am wearing my brown boots, which Kirsten gave me.

I held Lois’ left hand while we were walking, noong una ay nahihiya pa siya ngunit kalaunan ay naging masayahin na ang pakikitungo niya sa akin. He would point out every sites he knew. Kung minsan ay babatiin niya rin ang mga magsasakang nakakasalubong namin sa daan. Bill seemed to be silent behind us but I know that he's happy.

When we reached the meadow, Bill and I set the picnic blanket. Pagkatapos ay naupo kaming tatlo at nagpahinga saglit. Then after a while, Lois said that he was hungry so we prepared the food for our lunch.

Unlike Audrey's picnic basket full of sweet delicacies, the food Bill brought was just enough to feed the three of us. There's a vegetable salad, sandwiches, candied fruits and few other kinds of foods I didn't know. Nagulat ako nang makitang may tatlong pulang cupcake ang naroon. It has a cute candle in the middle.

“It's.. kind of my birthday today," nahihiyang ani ni Bill at napakamot sa likod ng kanyang ulo.

My eyes widened. I didn't know! It's not that we're close for me to know every details of him but I could've done something for him on his birthday.

"Oh happy birthday, Bill! I didn't know, you should've told me!"

"No sweat, Daphne. I just wanted to have this day with my brother and he wanted you too. Thank you for coming," he smiled, a genuine one.

Tahimik kaming dalawa sa gitna ng picnic blanket. Lois was still eating and I am helping him with his utensils, dahil medyo nahihirapan siya. Nang matapos siya ay nagyaya si Bill na maglaro kaming tatlo.

"Can we fly our kites, Kuya?" mahinang tanong ni Lois.

Bill nodded. Pumunta ito sa isang puno at umakyat, nabigla ako nang mayroon na siyang hawak na saranggola nang makababa siya. My mind wondered where did he get that.

"Lois and I used to play here in the meadow. We have many favorite spots in Kershaw at kapag mayroon akong oras ay namamasyal kaming dalawa," he spoke between us.

Nakatayo kami sa lilim ng puno at pinapanood si Lois na sinusubukang paliparin ang puting saranggola.

"Mukhang nahihirapan siya, you should help him. Hindi siya pwedeng mapagod, hindi ba?" hindi ko pa rin inaalis ang mga mata ko kay Lois.

Kaagad na dinaluhan ni Bill ang kanyang kapatid, nang tumaas na ang lipad ng saranggola ay bumalik si Bill sa aking tabi. We sat back to the picnic blanket at nagpatuloy sa panonood kay Lois. Sometimes Bill would tell him that he shouldn't tire himself or he'll faint again, mukhang alam din naman ni Lois ang kanyang limitasyon dahil ilang minuto lang siyang nagbabad sa gitna ng araw.