Memories By Home (Hernandez #3)

01

"Hala ka! Angelina, pinaiyak mo si Lee!" I was looking at those kids under the Narra tree, they are playing hide and seek, but that guy caught my attention.

His thin lips, clean but messy hair, a not so skinny body, a well pointed nose, and...his smile.

"H-hindi naman e! Ikaw! Ikaw ang nagpaiyak kay Lee Jann!" That Angelina girl started to cry.

A little smile suddenly appeared on my lips. I want to join them! Angelina didn't stop crying, that Lee Jann guy comforted her by stroking her back.

"Oh, hi Ly!" Marcelito excitedly said while waving his hands at me. I am at my room, sitting here near on my window.

Nahihiya pa akong ngumiti at kumaway rin. "Hello!"

Angelina suddenly turned her gaze to me, a smiled appear on her face. Inaya ako ni Marcelito na sumali sakanila, kaya ganon nalang ako dali-daling lumabas ng kwarto ko.

Nadatnan ko pa sa living room si ate Lavigne na nanonood na naman ng favorite niyang Kpop group, it's EXO.

"Where are you going my baby?" She suddenly asked, pausing the video she's watching.

Hinabol ko ang hininga ko sabay tingin sakanya. "Marcelito let me play with his friends! Can you please let me play ate? Please! Please! Please!" Pangungumbinsi ko sakanya sabay ngiti.

"Okay, just go home at 5!" Ate exclaimed when I stepped my feet at the door. I just shouted yes.

Then there I saw them smiling while looking at me.

"Hello! I am Angelina!" She's so pretty! An angelic face, a long wavy hair, a morena kid, maybe we're at the same age.

"I am Ly Yssabelle! I lived at that house!" I giggled, pointing our house.

"Wow...your house is so big! I want to live there too!" Angelina said, my forehead creased for what she says. Isn't she living in a house like mine? I thought she's...

"I am Marc Linton!" Tumawa si Marcelito sabay yakap sa'kin ng mahigpit. Marcelito isn't straight, my ate Lavigne told me!

I am just 11 years old, yet ate Lavigne and ate Lianna telling me some stories about adolescence.

"Hello..." I shyly said while twisting my foot at the sand.

He smiled while showing his teeth. "I am Lee Jann Evangelista!" My eyes twinkle, I grinned when she tap my bare shoulder saying Taya ka!

Hinabol ko sila hanggang sa maabutan ko sila. Puro tawanan ang naging paglalaro namin, ni hindi na nga namin namalayan ang oras e, kung hindi lang tinawag si Marcelito at Angelina ay hindi kami titigil sa kakalaro.

Magpinsan pala silang dalawa, ilang bahay lang ang layo namin sa bahay nila. Kaming dalawa nalang ni Lee ang naiwan dito sa ilalim ng puno.

Katahimikan ang bumalot sa aming dalawa, tanging hampas ng mga naghuhulugang dahon ang nagpapaingay sa hapon na ito.

The sunset is so stunning, it feels like, heaven.

"You're new here?" Lee suddenly asked while looking at the sunset in front of us.

I looked away. "No, we lived here for almost 13 years." This home taught us to be contented and.... miserable.

We live in a province a decade ago, my parents are not wealthy, my mom is just a personal assistant of my grandparents, while my daddy is a personal driver. Kung hindi lang sa sikap na ginagawa ni mommy at daddy para sa'min, ay hindi kami hahantong sa ganito. They just want the best for us, and I understand that.

Ate Lavigne told me everything, since I can't ask my parents about that. I just don't have the feeling to talk to them in that way, especially when they are busy. Ate Lavigne and ate Lianna told me everything since I was a kiddo, my dad and mom won't let me ask about those childhood memories I had. That's why I hate them...for being a not so supportive and lovable parents for us.

Simula palang noong napansin kong ganoon na, hindi ko na sila kinakausap, ate Lavigne knew all of that. I really hate my parents, especially my mom, my mom won't let me play with another kids outside our house. She even said that those kids can't afford everything we have. That's why I really hate her, we are all human being, and I don't see any difference about us having a stuff that they don't have. I treat them how I treat my family, well, except for my mom and dad. Those people, we should treat them fairly.

Pero simula nang dumating kami sa punto na ito, biglang naglaho ang noong isang masayang pamilya. Palaging busy na sila mommy at daddy dahil sa kumpanyang pinapalago nila. We already had our own company, and I am happy because they already achieve they dream..for us.

"Ngayon palang kita nakita." He laughed.

Nagulat ako dahil nagtagalog siya! "You knew how to speak tagalog?!"

"Hmm, yeah. My parents are both Filipino, pero lumaki lang ako sa States. But suddenly...we need to go back here in the Philippines, my mom need to do some important things here." He shrugged, and smile once again.

"How about your dad?"

"He's also with us, but he's busy too, due to our business." Sabi niya na nakapagpa ngiti ng malungkot sa'kin.

I sighed. "My parents too..." Yumuko ako sabay tingin sa aking mga paa.

"Ysabbelle! We're going home!" Narinig kong sigaw ni ate Silva sa malayo. Natanaw kona siya sabay ngiti at kaway ko.

"You can go now, I am going home too. See you again next time Ly! It's nice meeting you!" He waved his hands while smiling widely.

"See you next time, too, Lee!"

Pagkauwi ko sa bahay ay nakita ko kaagad na nag c-cellphone si ate Lianna, I saw her texting someone...

Hindi ba magagalit parents mo kapag nalaman nilang may relasyon tayong dalawa?  That Anthony named asked.

What?! Anong relasyon ang sinasabi mo? Duh, walang tayo Anthon! So stop saying that we had a thing, especially you're a playboy! I won't like a playboy like you! I'll block you, you damn manwhore!  I silently chuckled while seeing ate Lianna's message to Anthony, she's so harsh when it comes to guy. Tss. She should be thankful to me, dahil hindi pa siya nahuhuli at hindi ko siya sinusumbong.

"Where's ate Lavigne?!" Sinadya ko siyang gulatin upang matigil ang pagtetext niya sa lalaki na 'yon.

"Are you going to kill me, Ysabbelle?!" She said, shouting at me.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata sabay upo sa tabi niyang upuan. Then there I saw ate Lavigne walking downstairs, with a messy hair bun with a glasses.

Saglit siyang napatingin sa'min sabay ngiti.

"Oh? You're done playing with them, baby?" Ate asked.

I giggled and nodded. "Yes ate! I meet a new friend! Lee Jann Evangelista!" A face of him appeared on my mind. I smile while remembering every details of him.

Her forehead creased, raising me her left eyebrow. "Evangelista? 'yung anak ni Tita Marissa?" My eyes widen.

"Really?! You knew him?" I excitedly asked, twinkling my eyes.

"Huh? You don't know him? Or Marcelito introduce him?" She asked, bringing Marcelito again. Gosh, hindi ko parin makakalimutan ang sinabi niyang bakla si Marcelito!

"Uh, y-yeah! We're friends now! Can I play with them again tomorrow ate?" Tanong ko ulit sakanya. Baka sakaling payagan ulit ako.

Tumalikod siya sabay hikab at stretch ng kamay. "Sure, basta huwag papagabi, atyaka, magpaalam ka kay ate Silva." Mas lalong nagningning ang mata ko nang payagan niya ako.

"Yey! Thank you so much ate Lavigne! Love you!" Masayang aniya ko sabay takbo at yakap sakanya.

She smiled, kissing my head. "No worries, anything for my Ly."