Eighteen

Chapter 09

All I could hear were cutleries hitting the plates in soft clanks; laughter, soft and joyful; chatter on how life had been for each one; and a cry of a baby in a highchair. My eyes lingered on the baby in the highchair. Tita Araneta couldn't eat because of the little monster she had her hands lulling on. When Tita turned her head in my direction, I was caught between smiling and looking away. Ngumiti na lang ako kahit alanganin dahil baka isipin niyang masungit ako. Minsan lang na magawi rito sina Tita dahil, hindi katulad ng ibang anak ni Lola Remedios, nagbukod sila ng bahay ni Tito Damon na tito ko at asawa niya. That made her my aunt-in-law.

"Bukas ang punta niyo sa daddy niyo, 'di ba?" tanong ni Lola Remedios na umagaw sa pansin ko.

I was about to answer when Kuya nodded before I could even open my mouth. I went back to eating since I was not needed, anyway. And that was what I had thought.

"Camille, hija, mabait ba ang bagong asawa ng tatay niyo?" Lola asked, almost as strict as if asking the identity and social status of my nonexistent boyfriend.

I raised my head. My eyes met with her strait-laced gaze. Why did she have to look this way? Natatakot lang tuloy ako. I dabbed a napkin at my lips, just to do something else to lead astray the on-the-way uneasiness that was coming for me. Minsan lang kaming kumain nang sabay katulad nito. Hindi ko alam ang totoong dahilan kung bakit nag-aya si Lola ngayong gabi, pero may hinuha akong baka dahil sa nalaman niya na pagpapakita ulit sa amin ni Daddy.

"She's nice, Lola," sagot ko.

Tumango-tango si Lola, at napunta na sa iba ang usapan. I was surprised with how easily they moved on from the topic. Minsan kasi, si Lola, marami pang itatanong lalo na kapag sensitibo ang pinag-uusapan. She had an affinity for sticking her nose into other people's businesses.

After dinner, we convinced Mamang to stay here at Lola's house. Mama Celestina was gone; it was just the two of them that remained. And here, they had a lot of vacant rooms because Lola was fond of visitors, rowdy places, so it would be a waste if not utilized. Si Mamang kasi ni minsan hindi pa sinabi sa'min na gusto niyang dito muna kahit nawiwili siya sa mga bata rito. Ang kanya kasi ay, kapag wala siya, puro microwave na ulam ang kinakain namin.

"May nilagay akong mga pagkain sa ref. Painitin niyo na lang, mga apo, ha?" bilin niya.

I smiled and nodded before kissing her on the cheek. She sent us off the property. Kuya's car was waiting by the curb. Nauna na ako sa loob dahil pumasok siya ulit para kuhanin ang mga mangga na ipinabaon nina Tito Damon sa amin. The distance from here to our house was far. The ride didn't feel like a drag, though. The windows were rolled down, letting the night air waft in, and a song was also playing on the stereo: Goodnight by Rafi Sudirman, while the engine's soft rev coalesced the whole chilly mood.

"Are you going to sleep right away, Kuya?" tanong ko nang nakababa kami sa kotse. I stretched my limbs, waking them up from their comfortable slumber during the ride.

He looked me over from the other side of the car. He was busy with the keys, locking the car, while his other hand held the eco bag of mangoes dangling at his side.

"Maybe. Why? May gusto ka pang gawin?"

"Wala. I just asked."

I walked around the car and held my hand out to my brother, who had the keys to the locked gate. Binigay niya sa akin ang susi, at naglakad naman ako patungo sa tarangkahan at kinalikot ang kadado. The smell of home seduced me to my room. To my bed. To sleep.

I took a quick shower before jumping into my foam of paradise, flat on my stomach. The soft mattress instantly ate away my consciousness.

I woke up and did the usual morning routine before washing up, then I went down to eat breakfast. Mamang wasn't at home, so as her plantita buddy, I tended to the plants in her stead. I wouldn't want them to wilt during this day that she wouldn't be at home. Hindi naman siguro mamamatay kaagad, mauuhaw gano'n.