Lacuna

13

Mama Leni's Condo

TRICIA'S POV

You woke from the smell of coffee and fried pancake, making your stomach rumbled in response. You sat up gingerly, squinting your eyes against the daylight that passed-by the crack in the curtains.

"Good morning 'nak." Mama Leni greeted as you stumbled into the dining area, quietly rubbing one of your eyes and yawning simultaneously.

"Cute mo dyan ate. Sana ganyan ka na lang lagi hehe." Jill quipped while eating her breakfast. Ate Aika and Ralph just laughed and continue with their breakfast.

"Good morning po ma." You greeted and kissed your mama cheeks, and lightly smack Jill's head before sitting down beside her. Ate Aika snorted but let you two have it a go early in the morning.

"Maaaaaa si ate..." "Maaaaa si Jillian..." You and Jill both whined to your mama and she just sighed in frustration, choosing to ignore the both of you and look at Ralph. "Ralph, what time duty mo today?"

"Dapat po tita 8AM andun na ako for morning rounds. Already confirmed with the admins and head doctors yung leave ni Patricia so no need to worry po." Ralph smiled at your mama and smirked at you when he saw your shock expression because it was easy to adjust your VL.

"Thank you Ralph. Alam mo naman to si Patty, gagawa yan ng mga rason para sabihin sa amin di pumayag hospital ninyo." Mama teased you and your two sisters laughed. You looked down on your plate, trying to hide your face in embarrassment.

"True tita. But she already logged the required hours po kaya madali lang po na-approve. Kanino kaya nagmana to anak mo po?"

"Basta ako naka-leave, si Jill naman school break. Ampon ata yan si doc Patty." Ate Aika joked with a playful smirk aimed at you.

"Ang aga naman ng asaran natin ah. Ako na naman yung main dish ngayon breakfast." You sarcastically said as you start to eat your bread and drink your coffee. Everyone laughed as you grumbled to yourself.

The breakfast went smoothly, Ralph bid his goodbye after breakfast, afraid he might get stuck in the morning traffic going to Makati, you and ate Aika washed up the dishes while Jill cleaned the dining table.

Once you're all done, you all went to the living room where your mama is peacefully reading a book on one hand the other gently scratching Rocco's belly.

"Any plans today ma?" Ate Aika asked as she settled down on the one-seater sofa and turn the tv on.

"Hmm...depende sainyo Aiks but I do have things I needed to finish for the office since napaaga yung leave ko this week. Inuwi ko na lang para kapag tapos ko na, ipapakuha ko na lang kay Anna." Mama replied without taking her eyes off the book.

"Dito na lang tayo ma. No need na lumabas, nakakatamad din. We can just order food and binge-watch k-dramas or rom-com movies." You suggested and ate Aika nodded in agreement.

"What do you mean po ma napaaga leave mo this week? Meron ka leave ngayon ma?" Jill furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"Ah kasi 'nak, uuwi kami ni ate Aiks mo sa Naga for a wedding, wedding ni ate Paula mo, yung pinsan ni ate Y/N." Mama put the book down and softly said. "Kami lang ni ate Aiks mo, then kayo ni ate Patty mo, dito lang sa Manila. Okay lang ba?"

"hehe Okay lang naman ma, samahan ko na lang to si doktora. Di ko naman din ka-close sina ate Paula, and and tagal ko na din sila di nakikita soooo kinda awkward." Jill shrugged, unbothered being left in Manila. "Besides, mga old people for sure ang andun. Andito lang din sa Manila little sister ni ate Y/N so okay lang. Kami na lang mag-hangout nun dito."