V
I'M washing my clothes here in our backyard because Manang Felia took her day off. It's enjoying to watch your clothes rotating with the water.
Why did we even get a house helper if I know how to do the household chores myself?
Hindi kasi ako marunong noon, si Manang Fe lang din 'yong nagturo sa'kin lahat ng alam ko ngayon. Hindi namin siya tinatanggal kasi simula pagkabata, kagaya ni Kuya Lito, kasama ko na siya. May apo rin si Manang—
"What the hell?!" I blurted out when someone covered my eyes.
"I miss you, too!" Nanggigigil na sabi niya at pinitik 'yong labi ko.
"Aw!" I stood up and was ready to fight whoever the person, but my eyes widened when I saw who the suspect was. "Suparman!" I immediately hugged him and he hugged me back while laughing.
"Na-miss mo 'ko?"
I nodded, and nodded, and nodded. "Sobra!" I broke away from our hug and pouted. "Buti naman at naisipan mong bumalik? Masyado mo yatang minahal ang Canada." I sarcastically said while my arms are crossed.
"Ayaw mo? Siya, babalik na lang ako ro'n." Naglakad siya paalis hanggang sa makaabot sa sala bago lumingon sa'kin na nakakunot 'yong noo. "Seriously? You're not going to stop me from leaving?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.
Naiiling akong naglakad papunta sa kusina at naglabas ng ice cream. "Nagkita na ba kayo ni Manang Fe?" Tanong ko at naglakad papalapit sakaniya sa dining table. Binigyan ko siya ng kutsara at umupo ako sa tapat niya.
Tumango naman siya at binuksan 'yong ice cream. "Masyado na-miss nila Mom at Dad ang isa't isa kaya hindi muna 'ko nakisali. That's why I went straight here." He offered a spoonful of ice cream. I glared at him, but still accepted it.
I swallowed that sweet blessing and offered him the same amount. "Wala naman sigurong balak si Tita na kuhanin sa'kin si Manang?" He accepted it and closed his eyes, maybe because it was too cold. "Serves you right."
Huli na kasi nang malaman nila Tita na nagtatrabaho si Manang. At no'ng oras din 'yon namin nalaman na siya pala si Lola Felia ni Suparman. Sinubukan namin siyang kausapin no'n para tanggalin pero ayaw niya. Tapos napalapit na rin ako sakaniya as the years passed kaya hindi na rin ako papayag if ever na kuhanin siya sa'kin. Pwera na lang kung siya ang may gustong umalis na.
He laughed and shook his head for the last time caused by the brain freeze. "Kahit naman bawalan siya ni Mommy, ayaw ni Lola." He glared at me and I arched my brow at him. "Grandma-stealer."
"It's not my fault that people love me more than you." I made a face at him and ate a spoonful again. "What's your plan, by the way? Have you chosen a school?"
He offered me another spoonful of ice cream and I happily accepted. Who says no for ice cream? "Sa St. Paul Academy."
I almost choked but luckily I did not. "W-What?! You're kidding!" He looked at me innocently but I know that's his way to piss me off. "Why my school?! You're too ugly! Bawal ka ro'n!"
"Oh? School mo 'yon?" He asked, still using the innocent facáde.
I stood across the table so I could hit him with a spoon but he managed to stand up right away. "Bwisit ka, Harold!"
He faked a gasp. "Harold? Akala ko ba Suparman mo 'ko?" Natatawa niyang sabi at kaagad na tumayo no'ng subukan kong batuhin siya ng kutsara.
Suparman's not his name, obviously. Sadyang nasanay lang ako. Superman kasi turing ko sakaniya no'ng bata ako because of some reasons. Because of my accent caused of me living in Canada for a few years, it was changed to Suparman. Lumipat kami rito sa Philippines when I was already in grade school. And that's when Sydney became my homeschool teacher.
