Xeah Rondall

Chapter 13

Xeah

Nang makabalik kami ni Taegan sa resort, para kaming mga timang na dumiretso sa kitchen sa restau. Taegan said it was fine na doon kami kakain. Nag race pa talaga kami kung sino ang mauuna makarating doon, ay siya ang bahala sa drinks. Thanks to me being athletic, ako ang una nakarating. 

"Oh, nagkakatuwaan yata kayo mga iha?" It was Tita Agnes, she just came inside the kitchen. Mukhang nag momonitor. She was smiling looking at us.

"She promised me mango floats." Sabi ni Taegan na naghahabol ng hininga. Tita Agnes laughed at her niece's state. Nakangiti lang ako. "Yeah, but the drinks on you." She just waved her hand at me. 

"Yeah, yeah. Hindi na talaga ako makikipagtakbuhan sa'yo. Damn, nakalimutan kong athlete ka pala." She said, inabutan naman siya ni Tita ng tubig. She gladly accept it.

"Maayos naman ba ang pagtuturo niya ng motor sa'yo?" Tanong ni Tita sa'kin.

"Okay naman po. Mas naging maingat na din po ako ngayon." Sagot ko. Tumatango tango naman si Tita sa sagot ko.

"She's getting there naman Tita." Sabi ni Taegan which made me smile. I guess baka kaya ko ng mag drive sa malayo. Rides kami ng future jowa ko charaught.

"Tita may mango float pa po ba?" Tanong ko. Baka kasi wala na eh, baka magtampo ang bata. Taegan looked hopeful when I asked her Tita. Mukhang gustong gusto niya talaga ang mango float.

"Oo, meron pa." Napa yes naman si Taegan, I just watched her amusingly.

"Xeah, iha." Lumingon ako kay Tita.

"H'wag mong masyadong i-spoil si Taegan sa mango float. She'll be hyper." Natawa ako ng mahina at tumango. After that nag paalam na si Tita na babalik na siya sa labas, while me and Taegan are just munching the third  container of the mango float. Well, siya na ang umubos. 

"Isa pa?" She asked.

Umiling na ako. 

"No, that's enough. We should drink na." Sabi ko, she just pouted but agreed din naman. 

We went out back to the restaurant and I just ordered a sparkling water and for Taegan I just ordered her a glass of water. 

"Ako magbabayd diba? Bakit tubig lang sa akin?"

"You got too much sugar already. That's enough for now." I smiled sweetly at her. She just sighed in resignation. Tahimik lang kami habang umiinom dito sa counter. It was almost dusk already. 

The place had a calming ambiance, since the songs that are playing are just mellow. 

"Pamilyar yata ang boses ah?" Tanong ko nang mapagtanto na boses ni Taegan ang kumakanta ngayon. Natawa siya at tumango.

"Oo nga no? Kilala mo ba 'yan?" Lakas talaga amats nito, lakas makasakay ng biro.

"Oo, balita ko sumisikat na sila eh."

"Ows?" Natawa nalang kami.

"Can I ask you something?" Tanong ko sabay tingin sa kanya.

"You just did." She laughed.

"Seryoso nga kasi." Hinampas ko siya ng mahina. Iba din humor nito eh. Bet ko char. 

"How did you realized na gusto mo palang mag banda?" 

Taegan thought for a while. She stared at the glass for a second, then looked at me while smiling.

"Nawala 'yung Papa ko, bata palang ako. But he thought me how to play the guitar and somehow I loved it kasi father and daughter bonding 'yun. I was young but I still remember what he kept telling me. That he wanted to become a famous artist pero hindi niya nagawa."