Amaryllis | Completed

CHAPTER 15

I stiffened when the man hugged me. It's like he didn't see me for years. Matagal ang yakap n'ya at hinahaplos pa ang ulo ko.

He smells so good pero wala doon ang atensyon. Nanatili akong nakatayo at hindi gumagalaw. I didn't even hug him back!

Sa kalagitnaan ng pagyakap n'ya ay may binulong s'ya.

"How are you?" He whispered huskily.

Bumitaw s'ya sa pagkakayakap saka ako hinarap. This time he's smiling a bit.

At bakit n'ya ako tinatanong? I don't even know him.

Nahagip ng tingin ko si Jess na nakikipag-usap kay Dad. Wala akong mahihingian ng tulong.

Binalingan ko ulit ang lalaking nakashades at pinagmasdang mabuti ang mukha.

Hindi ko talaga matandaan kung nakilala ko ba s'ya.

"I'm fine?" Patanong kong sagot.

He chuckled a bit.

"You don't remember me,huh?" He said, amusement is visible in his voice.

Pinagmasdan ko pa s'yang mabuti. Inaalala kung saan s'ya nakatagpo. From what is he? UK?

"I'm sorry, I don't remember you." I smiled akwardly.

"It's okay, I understand." He smiled at me.

Kalaunan ay tinanggal n'ya ang shades n'ya.

My jaw dropped when I see his familliar green eyes.

"Kierleigh?" Lumayo ako ng bahagya at tiningnan s'ya mula ulo hanggang paa.

Tumango s'ya sa akin. He smiled more at me. Humakbang s'ya ng isang beses upang ibalik ulit ang dati naming lapit.

He's my cousin! The one I used to play with nung nasa UK pa ako!

I jumped and hugged him tight. Tumawa s'ya at agad akong sinalo. He hugged me back. Tighter than earlier.

"I missed you so much! It's been decades since our last interaction!" I said

It's been years! Ibang-iba na s'ya! Dati ay mapayat pa s'ya noon at may glasses. Palagi pa nga kaming nag-aaway noon dahil hindi kami pareho ng hilig.

He likes football while I like to play barbies. Umiiyak pa nga ako noon dahil ayaw n'yang magpa make up sa akin!

Kami rin ang nagkaka- intindihan noon na magpinsan dahil nakakapagsalita s'ya ng tagalog kahit hindi pa s'ya nakakapunta ng Pilipinas.

And I remembered the time that we were leaving. Natawa nga ako non kasi umiyak s'ya at hahabulin sana ako.

"I missed you too, brat girl." He smiled at me.

I glared at him.

"I'm not a brat girl anymore, nerd." I mocked him.

He laughed. His voice is so manly. Hindi gaya noon na maliit lang.

"So a boy with glasses is a nerd for you, huh?" He said laughing.

Natawa din ako.

"But you changed a lot! I didn't even recognize you!" I said shocked.

He chuckled.

"Do I looked more handsome now? Pagbibinata siguro." He said in a weird accent.

Mas lalo akong natawa.

"Oh! Your accent did not change. Pangit ka pa rin magtagalog." I smirked at him.

Pinitik n'ya ang noo ko saka tumawa.