Serenity

Epilogue

Security blanket

"Sabihan tayo ng crush," ngisi ni Cal nang magsawa kaka-gameboy.

Sembreak ngayon kaya't halos araw-araw kaming nakatambay kina Davion. We're at his room while the girls are at the guest room next door.

Sinusulit lang namin ang bakasyon dahil kaunti na lang ay magiging abala na ang mga grade six sa practice ng graduation. Kabilang doon sina Ate Adea, Kuya Elcid, at Davion. Cal and my Ate are just in fifth grade. Habang si Kuya Aysen naman ay high school na.

"Wag niyo nang idamay si Aki," Kuya Aysen said. "Eight years old pa lang 'yang bunso natin."

"Sus! Ako nga kinder pa lang, may tatlong crush na!" Cal dismissed. "Game! I'll start!"

He gave off a smug smirk. "Mine's Camille,"

I know Ate Camille. She's from Art school. All of us here used to go to the same workshop so I've seen her before too. She's really cute.

"Elcid, makisali ka naman!" reklamo ni Cal kay Kuya Elcid na kanina pa pari't parito sa silid. Wala ang atensyon sa usapin. I bet he's been checking up on Ate from the other room.

"Wag niyo nang tanungin ang isang 'yan," ani Davion. "Alam naman na nating lahat kung sino."

Matapos iyon ay sunod-sunod na ang naging pagsagot nina Kuya Aysen at Davion. They didn't even have to think a lot about it as if they knew exactly what to say.

"Hya,"

"Adea pa rin syempre,"

Each of them seem so proud of their answers. Wala man lang pag-aalinlangan at tila siguradong-sigurado. They weren't usually this bold when we're with the girls. I noticed they're only this open and direct when it's just us boys. Wala rin naman kasing kahit anong nakakalabas sa mga pinag-uusapan namin. It doesn't even have to be said. Just like an unspoken rule.

"Ikaw, Aki?"

I still don't know what to say. Hindi ko alam kung paano sila namimili ng crush. This isn't the first time this have been brought up and I still can't come up with a name. Samantalang si Cal ay nakakarami na habang sina Kuya Aysen at Davion naman ay laging consistent ang sagot.

"Sino ang sayo?"

There's one thing I noticed though. May pagkakapare-pareho ang mga sagot nila. They've mentioned girls their age. All of which are pretty. I shrugged and picked the first person that came to mind.

"Rae," sagot ko.

They all teased me in unison. Halos wrestlingin pa 'ko ni Calcifer. Kung hindi pa ko nagpaalam na kukuha ng tubig dahil nauuhaw ay hindi siguro makakawala sa kanila.

I halted on my way out when I saw Ate Adea. Her back was leaning against the bedroom wall outside. Nakahalukipkip siya na tila kanina pa naroon. I was just about to ask her if she heard a thing but she just ruffled my hair and go.

Hindi iyon ang huling beses na naging topic ang mga natitipuhang babae. I've always kept my answer the same for I can not think of anyone else, anyway. Until a weekend of my first year in high school came.

"Ang laki ng TV nyo!"

Napaatras ako mula sa paglabas sana sa kusina nang matanaw ang pagpasok ng dalawang pigura sa living room.