The Brainy Rebel

TBR 48

Maxine's POV

I opened my arms for Rafael. Liksing liksi pa rin ito tulad kaninang umaga. "Hi, Raf."

"Tita Doc, you came!"

"Of course I did. Diba, I told you I will?"

Tumango ito ng mabilis at bumitaw sa yakap namin para hawakan ang isa kong kamay. I love how clingy he is. "Lolo and Lola are in the garden, Mommy is upstairs watching the television, and Daddy and Papa are in the kitchen."

"Apo, sinong kausap mo?"

Raf laughed carelessly. "That's Lolo, Tita Doc. Always grumpy."

"Ha? Hindi naman grumpy si Tito Francis ah?"

"He is! Come, let's- "

"Xine." Napatingin ako sa lalaking pumutol kay Rafael. He stood in front of us, maybe three meters away. Lumakad ito palapit at agad na kinurot ang pisngi ko.

"Oh my God! Ouch! Kuya Ivan, masakit!" Nang bumitaw ito ay ramdam na ramdam ko pa rin ang kamay niya sa pisngi ko. This monster! "Miss na miss mo 'ko ha."

"Oo naman. Huli nating pagkikita eh oath-taking ni Aine." He went nearer and placed his arms around my shouders. For a moment I felt my own brother's arms around me until he spoke. "Proud na proud si Marcus sayo."

I smiled. I hope he is. "Proud din 'yun sayo. Your son is extra-kind!"

Bumitaw kami sa isa't isa at tumawa siya. "I thrived. Gusto kong lumaki siyang kagawi ni Marcus at hindi tulad ko na sira ulo."

"Hindi naman kayo nagkakalayo."  I was about to talk more about Kuya Marcus when I heard a familiar voice.

"Maxine! Dios mio!" Mabilis na yumakap sakin si Tita Anne. "What brought you here? Hindi ka naman nagsasabi!"

Niyakap ko siya pabalik. Tita Anne stayed as Mommy's friend kaya nakikita ko siya minsan sa bahay when they hang out. Pero sympre the last time I visited them here was when I got drunk and all history. "Actually, Nate knows po."

"Francis! Francis, come here!"

"Ano ba 'yan- " May lalaki mula sa likod ng bahay ang sumulpot. He looked so mad, anf just as Raf said, grumpy. Pero nang makita niya ako ay biglang nagliwanag ang mukha niya. "Maxine."

Lumapit ako at magmamano sana pero niyakap niya ako. "Anak ko. Look how much you've changed!"

"Tito talaga. Nga po pala, sabi ni Rafael grumpy ka daw always."

Kinuha nito ang apo mula sakin at hinalikan sa noo. "Marami lang iniisip si Lolo, apo ko. Pero ngayon at least nabawasan na ng isa ang mga isipin ko. Bumalik na si Maxine."

"You've always known her, Lolo?"

May sumunod pang boses ang nagmula sa loob na nakapagpatigil kay Tita Anne sa pagsasalita.

"Baby girl!" In a matter of seconds, there's a new pair of arms around me.

I smiled as I returned the hug. "Ate Nat, how are you?"