The Present Is You (You Series #1)

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5 - "I WANT TO KNOW HIS NAME."

"Are you allergic to cats?"

"Huh? Uh, hindi naman pero ayaw kasi ni mama ng pusa sa bahay. May aso kasi kami."

I carefully picked up the stray cat and cuddled it. It's so cute but a bit dirty. It doesn't matter since it has no smell.

"Okay, I'll keep it then." Tumayo na ako at nagpagpag ng suot na palda.

Kanina pa ang uwian namin at kanina pa sana ako nakauwi ngunit pinaghintay ako ni Camille. Hinintay ko siya sa labas ng school at nakita itong kawawang pusa na natutulog sa tabi ng kalsada. Ayoko sanang kunin kasi baka hindi pumayag si Mom kaso hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko.

Cuteness is my weakness. I like anything cute. Really, I just couldn't help myself especially when they truly deserve the love and care I can give to them.

"Halika na, Brooke. Baka hinahanap ka na ng Mommy mo. Uwi na tayo." Paalala niya at nagsimula na kaming maglakad.

Their house isn't far away from here. She said that some of our classmates are her neighbours. Nasa iisang lugar lamang kung saan sila nakatira. It's like a compound, but I don't see any home around here other than our house and the house of our neighbours.

"Baka pagalitan ka ng Mommy mo, ha? Gusto ko sana talagang kunin kaso baka ako naman ang pagalitan ni Mama." Kinuha niya ang pusa at saka iyon kinarga.

Mukhang hindi siya sanay humawak ng pusa at muntikan na sanang mahulog kung hindi ko agad nasalo.

"Hala! Oh my gosh! Sorry! Isa rin yang dahilan kung bakit bawal sa amin ang pusa." She said while scratching her head.

I smiled and patted the cat's head. "It's okay, really. I'll take care of it." I said to assure her.

I saw her nodded while sincerely looking at us. "Ang cute niya 'no? Ano ang ipapangalan mo sa kaniya?" She then asked.

I tilted my head a bit to the side and think of a nice name suited for a cute cat. Whoa, I didn't think of that. This kitten's name should be cute because it's cute.

"Momo? I don't know? Momo means peach in Japan." That word just popped out of my mind.

"Momo? Oo, bagay iyon sa kaniya. Babae kasi eh." Kinuha niya ulit ang pusa at pinakita sa akin ang nagpapatunay na babae nga ito.

Bigla siyang kinalmot dahil siguro sa higpit nang pagkakahawak niya kaya napadaing siya. Natawa ako at agad iyong kinuha pabalik.

I brushed her fur and she finally calmed down. I think she doesn't like Camille. Nakita ko siyang nakabusangot at hinihimas ang kamay niyang nakalmot. She should probably get that check.

"Grabe ka naman, Momo. Maganda rin naman ako, ha? Mas maganda nga lang ang amo mo pero maganda rin naman ako." Umakto siyang parang naiiyak na kaya napailing na lang ako.

She's really weird and funny. That's what I like about her.

"Let's go, Camille." Yaya ko sa kaniya at nagpatuloy na ulit kami sa paglalakad.

Habang nasa daan ay nagkwentuhan kami ng kung anu-ano. I didn't have the energy to talk too much, but she seems to enjoy talking. I mostly listen to her tell stories about her life which gave me the idea to ask her about her family. She told me that she was an only child just like I was. Her mother's a vendor at the cafeteria and her father's a carpenter.

Wala silang sariling bahay at nangungupahan lamang. Minsan daw ay tumutulong siyang magtinda ng mga kakanin kapag walang pasok. Sumasama siya sa Mom niya dahil ayaw niya raw itong mag-isang naglilibot sa kung saan-saan.