Ophelia (Overseas Series 1)

Kabanata 7

#OpheliaKab7

Justifying the out-of-context coldness that I felt when I saw them hug, I think it was because I never portrayed this man, Mauro, as a person who hugs. I mean he looks like someone that will always be uncomfortable sharing an inch of his space with others. But I was wrong.

With how the two of them are chatting right now, I am pretty sure they share a history together or maybe the present? I don't really know. But I am happy that apart from me, there's another genuine person in the lives of the Anderson siblings.

Ate Lilac might have finally noticed me na parang tangang nakatayo at nakatunghay sa kanila. "Oh, Lia! That was so rude of me!" she exclaimed pertaining to the fact na halos ilang minuto niya rin akong hindi tinapunan ng tingin dahil na kay Mauro lang yung atensiyon niya. Okay lang naman ako.

"Hindi, okay lang, Ate. Ano ka ba!" sabi ko na may kasama pang pagkumpas ng kamay sa kanya.

"So," she eyed Mauro and I. "I assumed that you already know each other? Since you're here together."

"Yeah," Mauro lazily answered. "Lukas introduced us days ago, but I guess it's safe to say that she just remembered my name just now," his tone laced with tease but his face remains stoic.

Hilaw akong ngumiti sa dalawa. Ayokong aminin kahit totoo naman.

Ate Lilac laughed. It was a beautiful one that it made me smile. I missed that laugh. She's undeniably happy seeing him. I think I should go home to the apartment tonight.

For the past two days that I was here, they let me stayed in the guest room. Hinatdan lang ako ni Monet ng mga gamit when she visited. However, this time, I feel like I need to be somewhere but here. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts because right at this moment, I think I am not okay.

"Ate, gabi na at may report pa po akong kailangan gawin na nasa apartment ang files. I'll be back first thing tomorrow po," pagpapaalam ko with a tad of lie. I don't have to, but I feel like I need to. Maybe to validate my excuse?

Ate Lilac looked at her watch. "OMG! It's almost 8 PM! I overslept!" she said with full horror on her face. Napatawa kaming dalawa ni Mauro. That's the Lilac we both know before this tragedy.

Parang nabalik sa wisyo si Ate Lilac sa dahang tawa namin ni Mauro. "I'm sorry, Lia. My thoughts are just...everywhere," she uttered with voice laced with sadness. A minute passed and the sad-but-I-am-okay smile which she fully mastered in the span of two days of grieving showed once again.

I wanted to give her a hug for the nth time, but my eyes darted to how Mauro silently patted Ate Lilac's back. He knows she needs that.

I watched them as they both gave each other a small smile. Para na naman akong tangang nakatanga sa kanila. One fool invading their moment.

Tumikhim ako. I want to go home already.

Ate Lilac gave her forehead a small slap. "Oh, yes, Lia! Yes, yes, I totally understand. I'll tell Dad and Lukas, don't worry. And Lia..." she stalled.

I looked at her with a smile  on my face, waiting for her to continue.

"Thank you so much," she genuinely said as she reached and hold my hands.

I responded with a gentle squeeze on her hands and the most genuine smile I could do.

"I will take her home."

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Ate Lilac kay Mauro.

"That's a good idea! I was supposed to volunteer my cousin, but you're the perfect person since Lia already knows you!" Then she went closer to Mauro just to whisper the words she still want me to hear. "So that she won't freak out." Then Ate Lilac giggled.