"Feeling better?"
She nods.
I hand him a glass full of water. She's been crying kanina pa. I was about to drop her off sa house nila but she asked me not to. Ayaw pa raw niyang umuwi kasi Tita Karla will get mad kapag nakita siyang ganito.
I left Vice and Direk sa bar. Kakatawag ko lang sa kanya kanina and he's not happy about it. Akala daw niya kung saan na ko nagpunta.
"Sarah— I mean— Ate— Did you tell Kuya about this?"
Naupo ako sa tabi niya to hand her the tissue box.
"Not yet, but we should tell him, Magui. Kilala ko ang Kuya mo, lalo siyang magagalit."
Tumango siya saka yumakap sakin. Hinayaan ko lang siya. I extend my arm sa likod niya to give her support. Lalo siyang umiyak.
I let her cry until sobs na lang ang naririnig ko.
"I thought we have something. Umuwi ako kasi Kath told me na someone close to her saw him with someone else. Hindi ako naniwala at first. Until they sent me a photo. Umuwi ako. Ayokong malaman ni Kuya na umuwi ako dahil sa kanya. And then—", she's crying again.
"I saw them kanina. Being sweet, so I went up to them and confront them. Ang sakit! Hindi ko alam kung kelan pa nagsimula— Mahal na mahal ko siya, Ate! He's my first love but he cheated on me."
This time I hugged her. Hindi ko alam kung nananadya ba ang pagkakataon. Is this their way of telling me kung gaano kasakit ang ginagawa namin sa kanila?
Hindi ko maiwasang makita sa kanya si Kath. What if malaman niya . She will be this broken.
"Ang sakit nung sinagot niya ang mga tanong ko. I asked him why. It only backfired me. He said, he waited— for me! To tell my family about us! To finally tell Kuya that I love him. Pero hindi ko ginawa. Hindi na niya ako nahintay. Nagsawa na siya. Napagod. And it's all my fault!"
"Hey, don't say that. Don't be so hard on yourself, Magui."
"Its true, though. I remember Kuya, telling me, not on his circle daw, kasi kilala daw niya lahat. And I was young pa raw. I'm a girl and all that stuff— I still want to be a fashion designer,, blah-blah-blah, marami pa raw ako makikilala, but for me— andito na e—", pointing her heart. "Ang hirap namang deadmahin."
"And now— I'm broken. Ayokong isisi lahat kay Dom kasi may kasalanan rin ako. Alam ko yun. So much for my first love, huh?"
I smiled when I saw her na medyo relaxed na.
"Ano ba yan, nakakahiya. I was giving you a not so nice attitude the other day, pero here you are, sinasamahan ako sa first heartbreak ko."
Nangiti kami pareho. He drank her water bago ulit nagsalita.
"I want to apologize for last time, Ate. I didn't mean to offend you— my initial reaction was to be a friend to Kath. Hindi ko naisip ang nararamdaman niyo ni Kuya."
"Gaya nang sabi ko sa Kuya mo, okay lang. Its not a secret how close you are to Kath. So. I understand. And I'm contented sa kung ano mang pwede pa."
"Sorry for judging you. Nakakahiya talaga and yet you are so kind to me. You saved me kanina at pinatuloy mo pa ako dito. Thank you talaga."
"Don't mention it. Siguro it's my instinct that kicks in. Kaya I tried to protect you kanina."
"And hindi ako magsasawang magpasalamat sa'yo— Ate Sarah—"
We hugged at sabay natawa.
"How about this—"
She extend her hand to me.
"I'm Magui, sister ng boyfriend mo."
I smiled saka tinanggap ang kamay niya.
"I'm Sarah—"
"Girlfriend ni Kuya."
We talked more and then I noticed na mukhang inaantok na siya. I offered my room para makapagpahinga siya and she gladly accepts it.
I also told her that I will call Tita Karla para sabihin na bukas na siya uuwi at para hindi na magalalala.
I went to the balcony while dialing Daniel's number.
Hindi niya sinagot. Iniisip ko kung tatawagan ko siya ulit but suddenly I saw his name flashed on my screen.
"Love— sorry. Lumabas muna ako. Maingay sa loob. Are you home?"
"Yeah. Kanina pa. I left early."
"Oh, bakit? Hindi ka nagEnjoy?"
"Not that, may nangyari kasi—"
I don't know how to tell him na alam kong hindi siya magagalit.
"Love, ano yun? Something's wrong?"
"Si Magui kasi."
"What about my sister?"
"She's here. Can you come over. Dito na natin pagusapan."
He didn't say anything. Narinig ko na lang na parang umingay ang background siguro bumalik siya sa loob. I heard him saying goodbye to his friends despite of the loud music.
"Ikaw na muna bahala sa kanya. Whatever it is. Papunta na ko. See you later, Love. I love you."
"Drive safe. I love you."
Not that long, dumating na si Daniel. He hugged and kissed me saka naglalad papasok ng kwarto ko.
I watched him carefully as she caress his sister's face. Inayos niya ang comforter then plant a soft kiss to her forehead saka humarap sakin.
"She's been crying. Hindi niya sasabihin sa akin lahat. Can you please tell me?"
I extend my hand to him and he gladly accepts it. I led him to my balcony.
I told him what I saw. All of it. Except the reason why she came home. I will let Magui do it.
As expected, galit na galit siya.
"Tangina niya! Sinabi ko na not my sister! Hinding hindi ko siya mapapatawad!"
Lumapit ako sa kanya saka yumakap. I know somehow. I can calm him down.
"D, ayaw ni Magui sa iniisip mo. Don't waste your energy sa mga taong wala namang worth."
"Kahit sino naman, Love— kahit sino sa kapatid ko. Even to the other members of the family. Lalo na sa'yo— Ipagtatanggol ko kayo! Its just that, I felt betrayed. Kaibigan ko si Dom but he hurt my sister!"
"I understand. What I'm saying is, ayaw ni Magui na pumatol ka pa."
"Basta hindi magkrus landas namin, He knows kung gaano ko gustong upakan pagmumukha niya."
I pulled him down for a kiss. I smiled when he kissed me back. He held my nape to kiss me more. When his hands reached my behind he squeezed it. We both smiles.
"Hangang kisses na lang muna tayo, Love. May nakacheck-in sa kwarto ko e."
He smiled as he kissed my ears and neck.
"There's one more room."
Naiiling ako na natatawa.
"Fully-booked."
"What? Bakit?"
"Si Vice. May LQ sila ni Ion."
Tumingala si Daniel saka iiling-iling.
"I guess we can only do kissing or I can only touch this—"
I hold his hand this time hindi ko na napigilan ang tawa ko.
"Red tide, Love. Better luck next time."
"Sarah namaaaaann!"
