Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

"Akisha, 'di ba may assignment ka pang kailangang ipasa sa lunes? Asikasuhin mo na 'yon, tutulungan naman kita dahil mahirap, 'di ba?"

Iniba ko ang usapan namin ni Akisha dahil sunod-sunod siyang nagtanong tungkol sa amin ni Caleb.

Sabado na ngayon at sa lunes na ang pasukan, hindi niya pa natatapos ang assignments niya. The All Saints Day and All Souls Day were already done last November 1 and 2. We visited the grave of my grandfather in the cemetery of the other Barangay where my grandmother lives. They are the parents of my father.

Nakatira si Lola ngayon sa bahay ng kapatid ni Papa na babae na isang madre. Papa once said to me that when he and my mother got married, dito sila nakapaggawa ng bahay dahil dito raw gusto ni Mama na manatili kung saan siya nakatira.

Pumanaw na ang mga magulang ni Mama dahil sa sakit noong sampung taong gulang pa lamang ako.

"Ay, hala oo nga po pala!" She promptly stood up from her chair, and strode towards her study table in the sala. She was already done eating her breakfast.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain hanggang sa matapos ako. I immediately washed the dishes when I was done.

"Akisha, buksan mo ang pinto," I commanded when I heard a knock on the door. I was still washing the dishes. Hindi ako nakarinig ng sagot mula sa kaniya, pero narinig ko ang dahan-dahang pagbukas ng pinto.

"Kuya Caleb!"

I halted from doing my current chore when I heard his name being called. A smile plastered on my lips quickly. Kapag wala si Mama sa bahay ay nandirito siya.

I forgot to say that my mother also firmly stated that Caleb shouldn't be here when she's around in this house. He gladly agreed with that. Mama's not around here. She's at school.

Araw-araw akong tinatawagan ni Caleb at kinakantahan. There was one night when I bid goodbye already because I was sleepy but I forgot to end the call, before I could close my eyes... I heard his prayer... and it includes me.

"Good morning, Akisha! Nasaan ang Ate mo?"

"Nasa may lababo po, naghuhugas ng pinggan. Kuya Caleb, pwede po patulong sa assignment sa Math?"

"Oo naman. Saan ka ba nahirapan? Tutulungan kita."

Lumingon ako sa kanila't sumandal muna sa sink nang matapos sa paghuhugas. I crossed my arms while fixing my eyes on them. May dala rin pala siyang gitara gaya ng ilang araw niyang pagpunta rito kapag wala si Mama.

He sat beside Akisha. Seryoso itong nakatingin sa pinapaturo ni Akisha, but the gladness on his face was evident. He was wearing a black t-shirt that defined his fair skin.

I slowly stride towards them.

"Good morning," I greeted. That's when his head tilted towards my direction. Napatitig siya sa 'kin nang ilang sandali.

His sublime yes made my heart rapidly hammer against my chest like the usual since I realized that I like him. Nagkatitiginan kami... at siya ang unang nag-iwas ng tingin.

Tumikhim ito bago nagsalita, "Good morning, Julienne. Kumain ka na?" He wasn't looking at me now, as if he was feeling the embarrassment from our staring contest earlier.

"Oo. Ikaw ba?"

"Tapos na rin."

"Okay na po 'to, Kuya Caleb. Thank you po! Iwan ko na kayo rito ni Ate, hehe!" Umakyat na si Akisha sa taas na may pang-aasar na tingin kaya naiwan kaming dalawa ni Caleb dito.

He sat beside me on the sofa. Nakangiti niya akong nilingon. I didn't notice earlier that he was holding a flower.

He was handing it to me... a white rose again. I accepted it with my trembling hands because my heart was hammering again against my chest for I already know the meaning or the sign he said few days ago regarding this one.