The Senses

Chapter 35

Xavier

The morning was sunny but my emotions were not. I forgot... It was the 24th of December and I still haven't bought the necessary prizes for later. Damn! As I lay on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, scheduling my day. I couldn't say that I forgot or else everyone would never let me hear the end of it.

I stood up and took a bath in the shower room that was connected to my room. Yes, their house was that big.

Naglalakad na ako sa loob ng mansyon nang may bumangga sa akin. Napatingin naman ako sa bata na nakaupo ngayon sa sahig. Kailan lang nagkabata rito?

Bigla kong naaalala na si Lily pala ito, ang anak ni Mr. Villanueva. Ginto pa rin ang mga mata niya. Yumuko at inilahad ang kamay ko sa kanya.

"Good morning," bati ko. "Ayos ka lang ba?"

Inabot niya ang kamay ko at tumango sa akin. "Sino po kayo, Kuya?"

Hindi pa nga pala kami magkakilala. "Ako si Kuya Xavier. Nasaan na si papa mo?"

"Sabi po ni papa na pumunta muna ako sa hapagkainan para kumain ng almusal. Susnuod na lang daw po siya. Pero bago lang po ako nakalabas sa room ko kaya hindi ko po alam ang daan papunta doon."

"Gusto mo samahan ka ni Kuya Xavier?"

She smiled with all the innocence that a 12 years old have. "Talaga po?"

"Of course." I smiled back.

I guided her to the dining room. Whenever I look at her, I could feel an ache in my heart. She reminds me so much of them. Lily reminds me of the children in the orphanage. I hope that they are resting in peace now. I hope that Atlas is still with them.

Nakarating na kami sa dining room. Pinaupo ko muna si Lily sa upuan at pumasok sa kusina na katabi lang ng hapagkainan. Nadatnan ko si Zero at Seine na nagluluto. Parang hindi pa nga ako makapaniwala na nagluluto si Seine.

"What disaster brought you into the kitchen?" I asked Seine.

Napatawa ng kaunti si Zero. "Nagpapaturo lang siya sa akin paano magluto."

Napatingin ako kay Seine na suot ang fluffy pink apron ni Zero. Nakatali rin ang buhok niya pero natatakpan ng bangs ang noo niya.

"For your information, si Lily ang kakain ng pagkain. Baka naman sumakit ang tiyan niya sa luto mo?"

"I've been practicing!" she argued.

"Cut her some slack, Xav. Ibigay nalang natin kay Lily ang niluto ko. Tayo ang kakain ng niluto ni Seine," sabi ni Zero na nakangiti.

Inilabas ko ang fried rice, bacon at eggs na nasa kitchen table. Inilapag ko ito sa harapan ni Lily na halata ang saya. Kumuha ako ng mga pinggan at hindi nagtagal ay masaya na siyang kumakain.

"Kuya, hindi ka po ba kakain?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Susunod na lang ako," sagot ko.

I entered the kitchen again, only to find that the wok that Seine was using was now on fire. How she managed that, I can only imagine. She panicked while Zero was at her side, calmfully giving instructions.

When the fire died down, all that was left was the rice which turned black in color.

"Maybe you're just not cut out for cooking," I suggested.

"I just need to practice!" Seine argued.

"Why do you even need to learn it? You can cook basic food, though burned. That should be enough."

"I just want to." Seine rolled her eyes.

Zero came to us after putting it in the sink. "Oh? Better luck next time, Seine."