Mirage

ten

Joanne was leaning by the kitchen island as Aliyah was cooking their breakfast. They were inside Joanne and Stella's unit. Aliyah, as promised, came by for breakfast and even went an extra mile to cook for them.

"So bakit nga nandon si Mira sa unit mo? Siya dahilan kung bakit hindi ka nakapunta noh?' Joanne playfully asked the older girl.

"Hay nako mamaya na ang kwento pag gising ni Stella at baka lumala pagtatampo non."

"Ay oonga, si ate Mayu pala nandito na ba?" Joanne picked up an apple and started slicing it.

"Mamaya pa, ayaw nga sabihin kung anong oras. Ayaw ata na may magsundo kakaloka yon."

Aliyah turned off the stove and put the fried rice on the dinning table while Joanne put the sliced apple on a bowl and helped setting up the table.

"Oh, baka may gustong isa lang mag sundooo." Joanne raised her eyebrows up and down with a teasing face. "Walang paramdam si Gigi pero malamang kausap ni ate Mayu yon."

The eldest laughed, "Aba kapag nag pasundo siya kay Guia nang hindi ako kasama magtatampo ako." She joked.

Just as they finished putting the food on the table, Stella got out of her bedroom still wearing pajamas on and looking like she just woke up.

"Good morning bunso!' Joanne energetically said.

"Good morning Stell, maghilamos ka muna." Aliyah said while chuckling.

"Breakfast?" Stella mumbled as she rubbed her eyes. "Ikaw nagluto ate Liyah?"

"Yep, kaya go na sa bathroom para makakain ka na."

Stella went straight to the bathroom to do her morning routine and the other two sat on the dining table, waiting for the youngest.

After Stella was finished and all of them are on the dining table, Joanne didn't wait any further and asked about last night again.

"So ano na kwento ate Liyah?"

"Oonga mukhang mas prinioritize mo kagabi ung bago mong friend." Stella said as she scooped some rice.

Joanne elbowed her lightly while Aliya pouted. "Hindi naman sa ganon, may nangyari lang kasi and hindi ko alam kung pwede kong sabihin?"

"Pero tinulungan ko kasi siya, napaso kasi and sobrang sakit tignan kung nakita niyo lang tas pinakain ko rin sa unit ko kaya siya nandon."

"Pano siya napaso? Buti hindi naospital? Malala ba ung paso?" Stella asked.

Joanne looked at Aliyah also curious.

"Ah well. Sabi niya she was trying to cook? Tas napaso, ayon hindi naman need maospital."

The two nodded at the eldest.

"Close na pala kayo ate Liyah hindi ka nagsasabi." Joanne teased.

"Hindi naman kami ganon ka close." Aliyah shyly laughed as she fixed her hair.

"Ay weh bat may paghawi ng buhok?" Joanne said, "Yieee, maganda si Mira ah. Mas matanda ba siya samin?"

"Crush mo yon noh kaya ka super caring." Stella raised her brows and squinted at Aliyah, acting like she was the older one.

Aliyah could only scratch the back of her ear because of the teasing. "No, first of all bawal ba hawiin ung buhok? And second of all hindi ko siya crush okay, I just helped the same way I would help you guys."

"Pero maganda?" Joanne probed.

"Yes, maganda si Mira—"

"Oh, see! Crush nga!" Joanne exclaimed as she and Stella did a high five.