03 ♰ august

1 1 0
                                        

The dinner is awfully dreadful. No one said a thing, just our utensils clashing together. I barely glance on mom on my right and focus my attention to Ate Claire, sitting across me. Parang wala lang sa kaniya ang nangyari kanina. She wore a foundation which is very rare for her because first of all, she hates make up.

"I'm done." Napatingin kami ng sabay kay mom. She crosses her utensils and got up from her chair. "Rest well, ladies." Lumapit siya sa akin para halikan ako sa noo. "Talk to you later at 10." She whispers before walking away.

May lumitaw na katulong at kinuha ang pinggan ni mom. "Ate Claire." I called when we're all alone in the dining room.

"Hmm..." Itinuon niya ang buong atensyon sa akin. "Payag ka na?"

"Did mom hurt you?" I ask without hesitation. Nagulat siya saglit bago mahinang ngumiti. Her skin stretches and I saw a crack near her lips. "I'm so sorry." I murmured.

Natawa siya saglit. "Baliw. Hindi ikaw ang sumampal sa akin." She chewed on her food before speaking again. "Since sinabi kong ayaw ko ng mga instrument niya ay doon na nag-umpisa ang pagsakit niya sa akin. Usually, stick at ruler ang ginagamit niya, but when I turn 17 doon na siya nag-umpisa sa pagsampal. She broke my ukulele that Papa gave me for my 15th birthday."

I remember the ukulele. Ate Claire really loved that instrument but mom hated it because the sound was really inappropriate in her ears. I liked the ukulele, I tried practicing twice until mom caught me and threatened me to destroy Ate Claire's instrument if I play other instruments other than piano and violin. Dad tried to give me an ukulele but mom doesn't like it, so he gave me a pink violin instead.

"Mas lalo siya nagalit sa akin nang malaman niyang ayokong maging law student at gusto kong maging singer."

I thought I'm the only one in this household getting hit whenever I displeased mom in my practice. The thought of mom hitting Ate Claire with other than her parental stick makes me want to call dad and let Ate Claire move with him instead.

There's a verbal agreement that Ate Claire can stay whenever she wanted in this house because, after all, she is her daughter too. Dad and mom divorced four years ago because dad can't take up with her attitude anymore. Gusto sanang kunin ni dad si Ate Claire dahil parang hindi na maganda ang trato sa kaniya ni mom, ngunit naka-saad sa papeles na kay mom siya titira hanggang sa maging legal na siya.

Ever since Ate Claire step at the legal age of her life, where she can gain freedom, she still decided to stay in this dreadful house, where the ghosts whisper every night, the shadow of unfair treatment lurking in every corner. Where the moon reigns and the sun kneel. Where the devils feist on our hungry soul.

"Ate Claire..."

She shrugs. "Hayaan mo na," She lean forward. "Payag ka na? Sabihin mo lang at aalis tayo mamaya. Huwag kang mag-aalala, malakas guardian angel ko sa likod." She winks.

I chuckle before nodding. "Okay." Ito narin siguro ang paraan para mas lalo kaming maging close na dalawa.

"Really?" She claps like a little child, she blinks numerous times as if her eyes stings, later on nakita ko na ang pagtubig ng mga mata niya. "Don't mind me." She sniffs her non-existent catarrh. "I'm just happy."

Hindi na ako nag-comment pa at inubos na ang pagkain. Ate Claire stay in my room after our dinner. "Pastels." She slightly frowns at the color of my clothes. "Walang jeans?" Humarap siya sa akin at hawak sa magkabilang kamay ang dalawang carpenter overall.

I hug my bedpost. "I don't have any."

She groaned. "Seryoso ka?"

I nodded. "Mom, won't let me. Besides, I like slacks because it's breathable in my thigh."

She hummed before rummaging my closet again. "Okay. This carpenter over-all paired with this purple cardigan and converse." Inilatag niya sa kama ko ang gagamitin mamaya. "Oh, by the way, huwag mong kalimutang dalhin ang noise cancellation ear buds mo baka hindi mo makaya ang ingay sa loob."

"Maingay ba talaga?" Tanong ko.

She nodded before grabbing the clothes again and hide them under the pillows. "Everyone in LIPSTICK is loud, especially when THE UNDERGROUND is performing."

"Anong meron sa THE UNDERGROUND?" I ask again before making myself comfortable below the comforter.

"Sikat sila. Marami ang nagmamahal sa kanila, they produce top tier quality songs na umabot hanggang Grammy's. Last year ay nasa-world tour sila. Hay..." Humiga si Ate Claire sa tabi ko. "Nakakamiss ang sumigaw hanggang sa mawalan ka ng boses."

May kung anong kumalikot sa tiyan ko. "Are they worth it?"

"They do."

Before 10 drops, Ate Claire leave my room with a grin. Then, minutes later, mom enters. with her brush. She found me laying on my bed with book in both hands. Itinigil ko ang pagbabasa at tumingin sa kaniya. "Aren't you tired, mom?"

"For you, my love. I won't." She scootch over me and started brushing my hair. "Hindi naman siguro kayo nag-aaway ng kapatid mo?" Tanong niya.

I turn to my right so mom can freely brush my hair. My eyes already dropping. "Hindi naman po. Nagkaroon lang talaga ng maliit na hindi pag-iintindihan pero inayos naman naming."

"Hmm..." Mom hummed. "If your sister bully you just tell me, okay?"

Ate Claire won't bully me. Sure, we have sibling moments where we wanted to strangle each other's throat and set each other's hair on fire, but never in a million years we will going to actually bully each other. So to make everything short, I just nodded and murmur a good night. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata at hinayaan na suklayin niya ang buhok ko.

Hindi ko na mapigilan ang antok at natulog na. "Good night, August." I heard her whisper before kissing my forehead.

I woke up at 11:25 with Ate Claire pinching my sides. I almost yell but she covers my mouth and ushered me to change. This is a risky moment of my life, but the butterflies in my stomach grumble because it was like we were going to a treasure hunt around the house as if I will discover thousands of secret doors.

𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon