Eighteen

Chapter 17

When I made Kuya my revised sinigang, he was so proud. Since that day, he hadn't been so strict when it came to Anais. I would tell him a story or two about my interactions with him, and he had grown accustomed to it. Sa bawat libreng araw ni Anais, doon ako nakatambay sa condo niya, natututo ng mga bagong lulutuin.

"Hide, marunong ka nang mag-surf?" tanong ni Catherine kay Hide. She looked so chic.

We were at Jollibee right now. Hide was standing out among the crowd. I had spotted heads turning in her direction. Not only was she tall and petite, but she also looked so sultry sporting her tanned skin and now wavy hair. Her fitted halter dress suited her so well. Hindi mo masasabing sira ulo siya sa unang tingin.

"Medyo. Hindi pa nga worth it dahil kamuntukan pa akong namatay!" she answered with stress in her voice.

"Buti hindi ka natuluyan," wika ko.

"May purpose pa raw ako sa mundo, ang kuya mo. Sagutin daw muna niya ako bago ako masawi." Her face made a foolishly in-love kind of face.

"Nililigawan mo?" tanong ko.

"Soon, Camille. Stay tuned," aniya saka kumuha ng fries at sinundot iyon sa sundae. "Nga pala, kumusta kayo ni Anais?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil sa naging tanong.

"I don't know about him; ask him directly. Ako, ayos lang naman," sagot ko at sumimsim sa pinya kong inumin.

"Ay, wala pa ring shipment development?" dismayadong tanong niya.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "We are not parcels, Hide."

"Why not i-visit natin si Kuya?" Tumingin si Cath kay Hide pagkatapos ay sa akin. "The last time na you went there was when you cut your hair, 'di ba?" She was not informed about my almost-daily visits to her brother's house. I wasn't dumb to tell her, either. Tumango ako.

"Magandang ideya, Catherine. Pwede naman tayong pumunta ngayon, e. G?"

"Sure," sagot ni Catherine habang ako ay tahimik lang sa kinauupuan ko.

Inubos namin ang pagkain namin at pinagtulungang ipunin sa lamesa. I was ready to go. Catherine was fixing the claw clip I had bought for her, in her head; she loved it. I had also given the bracelet Kuya had bought for Hide, and, since then, I hadn't seen her go without it.

Nagtaksi kami papunta sa condo ni Anais. Unang araw na tumapak ulit dito ni Hide matapos ang anim na araw simula noong nakauwi siya. Kahapon narito lang din ako at gumagawa ng lasagna kasama ang may-ari ng pintong nasa harap na namin ngayon.

Catherine knocked before opening the door. Naabutan namin si Anais na lumabas mula sa kusina, iniinat ang mga braso niya. I tried not to stare at his biceps again. When he saw us, his eyes dilated, maybe at the sight of Hide who looked enormously different than before. I mean, he wasn't looking at me or Catherine.

"Good day, Mr. Light!" Maligayang bati ni Hide saka lumapit dito at yumakap. When had they been this close with each other? I mean, Hide had been staying at their place frequently when I'd been in London.

"You didn't call." Anais chuckled, his hand supporting Hide by her cinch waist.

"Kasi ano . . . surprise!" Tinaas ni Hide ang mga kamay niya na parang surpresa nga. Anais laughed and let go of her.

"Hey, Cath, Camille," bati niya sa amin. Ngiti at tango lang ang isinagot ko.

Hide whispered something to him that made them both laugh. Honestly, they looked good together. I felt like Anais could freely act with his funny side when he was with Hide. That was just the type of person Hide was; she could always bring out the truest sides of her friends.