Maybe I'm Lying [COMPLETED]

KABANATA 27 - Lunch in a Quiet Place

Honestly, I expected na kakamuhian nila ako once na malaman nila na I'm the reason why nawala ang mahal nila sa buhay, pero hindi iyon ang nangyari. Instead, Wren's Mom welcomed me with open arms, and Wren, though he already knew it from the start, he doesn't mind it. It is just now that I felt the impact of little things I did for other people, Laraline saves me because of that.

Naglagay ako ng manipis na red lipstick para hindi ako magmukhang multo at inayusan ko narin maging ang kilay ko. Today, I am in the mood for makeup. Although it is not the same compared to what Eddie usually did to me before, I like how I look now. A day has passed since I came here, and I found out Wren's Mom did my laundry. Pinaraan ko ang palad ko sa uniform ko, mainit-init pa ito dahil bagong plantsa lang. Pinanood ko pang plantsahin ito ng Mom ni Wren sa loob ng kuwarto ko. When I asked her why she was doing it instead of the maids, she answered, "Because I love taking care of my children...."

Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko at pinagmasdan ang repleksyon ko sa salamin. Napangiti ako sa hitsura ko. I looked exactly like what my Mom would hate. I sighed and smiled at my reflection.

Kinuha ko na ang bag ko na ibinigay ng Mom ni Wren at lumabas na ng kuwarto. Sa palagay ko ay naghihintay na si Wren sa akin sa labas. Katatapos lang namin ng breakfast kaya paalis na rin kami. Kinailangan ko lang talagang mag-ayos ulit.

I run towards the hallway and down to the first floor. There I saw Wren's Mom waiting just right outside the door. Her head turned as she heard my footsteps. She smiled at me.

"Take this." Inabot niya sa akin ang isang cute na pink lunchbag.

"Thanks po, Tita Ava," sagot ko. Iyon ang sabi niyang itawag ko sa kanya kanina sa breakfast. Dumapo ang malambot niyang palad sa pisngi ko at hinimas iyon. Pinasadahan niya ako nang tingin bago siya bumaling kay Wren na tulala na ngayon sa akin.

"I'll be gone for a nature trip with my friends! Careful when driving," utos ni Tita at pinagtulakan na ako papasok ng kotse. Siya pa ang nagbukas ng pinto ng sasakyan. Sumakay ako at isinuot na ang seatbelt. Pagkaraa'y pinagmasdan ko siya mula sa windshield ng kotse ni Wren, malayo-layo na kami ngunit tanaw ko parin ang pagkaway niya.

"Kaunti na lang talaga and I'll be convinced that you were her biological child and not me...," pabirong sabi ni Wren habang ang tingin ay naka-pokus sa kalsada.

"Sorry," I said, half laughing. I saw him smirked before I lowered my gaze on my lunchbag. Humigpit ang hawak ko rito. "I-i think... I already love T-tita Ava," naibulalas ko. Pinunasan ko ang isang butil ng luhang tumulo sa pisngi ko na sinundan muli ng isa pa, hanggang sa hindi ko na mapigilang maiyak.

She's all I could ever ask for in a mother. She took care of me and looked at me with tender eyes, unlike my real Mom, whose eyes only looked at my flaws.

"And she loves you too." Inangat ko ang tingin kay Wren. Sinulyapan niya ako at nginitian pagkatapos ay ibinalik ang tingin sa daan.

I pursed my lips to stop me from crying. "You think so?" tanong ko.

Lumabas ang kumpleto at pantay niyang ngipin sa isang malaking pagngiti. He turned his head, but this time his eyes landed on my lunch bag before turning to look at the driveway. "Why do you think she'll give you lunch but not me?" he chuckled.

"How do you do that?" Wren asked again after he took a glance at me. His forehead knotted, wondering about something. My eyebrows met as a response to him, confused by his question.

"Do what?" tanong ko pagkaraa'y suminghot.

"Stay pretty while you cry?" seryosong tanong nito.