untouchable

24

Nineteen months later...

Jill groans in frustration for the nth time today. "Ugh, Ate. Can you please stop pouting? It's distracting po."

"Hmp, bahala ka diyan." Tricia grumbles with a pout and continues to sabotage Jill's work of packing her stuff.

"You're not helping, Patring." Jill complains and gets her disarrayed clothes from her sister. She sighs as she has to fold them up again.

Tricia stomps her foot once. "Bakit kasi hindi mo na lang hintayin na maka-graduate ako para sabay na tayong uuwi! Isang sem na lang ako."

Jill shuts her eyes to keep her composure. Her older sister has been acting like a child today, throwing tantrums at her big age. "Do we really have to go over this again? I thought settled na?" Jill tries to keep her growing smile. "Ate, nakapag-sign na ako ng contract. Kailangan ko na talagang umuwi. Gusto mo ba akong makulong for breaching the contract?"

"Oo. Chos." The physician tries to hold her tears back, but her cheeks are starting to flush. "Mag-isa na lang ulit ako rito. Ang lamig-lamig, ang lungkot-lungkot," she said, voice a little cracked.

Jill purses her lips but couldn't help but to laugh at her sister's statement. It's sad and sentimental but the way she delivered it was funny.

"Wow, I'm being vulnerable here tapos tinatawanan mo lang ako? Grabe, the disrespect!" Tricia retorts but giggles along.

"Andrama kasi!" Jill says in between chuckles. "Seriously, Ate. Like you said, isang sem na lang naman. It will be over before you know it. Then you'll be back home na rin. Baka nga ma-sepanx ka pa sa Boston."

Tricia looks away. "Kahit na," she mumbled. "But you guys will visit me naman, right? You'll attend my graduation, right?"

"Kung ga-graduate."

"Hoy! Evil eye! Jinx! In the name of Jesus, I expel thee!" Tricia exclaims, doing religious gestures.

Jill chuckles at Tricia's antics, she was just pulling her leg. "S'yempre ga-graduate! Ikaw pa ba?"

Tricia slaps the younger's arm over and over again with little to no force as to not hurt her. She's putting in the hard work so she knows she will get her degree, but still. Tricia can't hurt her chances.

"Ate, joke lang. S'yempre we'll be there kapag graduation mo na. Baka cheer squad mo kami? OBF!" Jill reassured. "Nakikita ko na nga 'yung onslaught of bashing ulit."

Tricia laughs at that. It's been years since they "shied away" from the limelight, and yet the trolls keep targetting them. As always, they ignore them all with practiced finesse.

The doctor stopped her sabotaging and decided to help her sister instead so she could finish quicker. Tricia would truly miss their weekend reunions whenever Jill isn't away for work. It made her grad studies more bearable and she's grateful for her sister's constant moral support. No matter, just a little more push and Tricia would be back home again. She loves Boston and has made a home out of it, but there still is no place like home. This might be her last attempt on staying away from her family and comfort zone for long periods of time. She can't fathom how Jill could do it. Well, the youngest has always been the most independent.

Speaking of the youngest and her fierce need of independence, Jill enjoys the life she made but for some reason, she still feels unhappy at times; it's like something is missing. She's thankful and content for the overflowing blessings, has learned so much from her trips all over the world, developed and matured well, went on fun adventures, truly changed and keeps changing to be a better version of herself, lives the life she's always dreamt of having, and made long lasting memories and long lasting friendships; but the fledgeling figures it's time to return to the nest.