Solace In The Midst Of Chaos (Province Series No.1)

Chapter 2

"Ate ko!" Akmang yayakap sa akin ang bunso kong kapatid nang makauwi ako sa bahay kinahapunan.

Mabilis akong umiwas sakaniya na naging dahilan ng paghaba ng kaniyang nguso. Cute!

"Madumi at makati pa si Ate." Pagpapaliwanag ko dahil mukha na siyang iiyak. Nakakaintindi siyang tumango at pinanood na lamang akong magtanggal ng medyas at jacket na ginamit ko sa bukid.

"Ate ko," tawag niya sa akin sa mahinang boses.

"Hmm?" I looked at her and saw how her eyes sparks while she's looking at me.

"Pretty mo po!...hihi" Masigla at nakangiting aniya at mabilis na tumakbo papunta sa harap ng tv pagkasabi niya non. Naiwan akong nakangiti sa pintuan.

Ely is my youngest sister. At the age of seven, she's already good at everything. Malambing at napakabait ding bata.

Whenever I am feeling down, she's always there for me, making my mood lit up without her knowing it.

Kaya kahit na pagod na pagod na ako sa buhay ay hindi ko magawang sumuko dahil alam kong mayroon naman sila para sa akin. Naghihintay sa pintuan sa pagdating ko, palaging nakaabang sa yakap ko, at araw-araw pinapasaya ang buhay ko.

Safe place is not the 4 cornered room that can give you shelter whenever there's a typhoon. Whenever the day is rainy or shiny. It's the people you can always lean on whenever you're sad, happy, anxious, and scared. They're the one who can make you laugh without you realizing it. They're the one you can easily choose in many options.

"Ate!" Rain and Summer called me in chorus as I walked towards the kitchen. Napatingin ako sakanila at nagulat sa pagtakbo nila palapit sa akin. They're both holding a pink envelope. Halatang ginawa nila iyon dahil magka-iba ang design ng mga hawak nila.

Rain's envelope design is filled with cutted flowers that was glued at the pink envelope while Summer's envelope has butterflies all around, it also has blue glitters on it.

"For you, Ate." Nakangiting ani ni Rain sabay abot sa akin ng envelope niya.

"Para sa'yo din po, Ate Mendel!" Inabot din ni Summer ang kaniya.

"What's this?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sakanilang dalawa. This is the first time they gave me such a beautiful thing.

"Letter.." Si Summer.

"Pinapagawa po kasi kami ng teacher namin ng letter Ate." Aniya. "Sabi niya ay ibigay daw po namin 'yon sa pinakamahalagang tao sa buhay namin." She trailed off. "Kayo po ni Ate Kandel ang pinakamahalaga sa amin."

I was just looking and listening at them while they're talking. I don't know what to feel, hindi ko alam na napaka special ko pala sakanila. I was just doing my job as their older sister, I was just doing my responsibility as the eldest one in this family.

I smiled, not able to think of the words I am going to say. "Thank you Summer and Rain." I hugged them both. "Special din kayo para kay Ate."

Napangiti ako ng hinigpitan nila ang yakap sa akin. "Ate, kung mahirap na.." Summer sniffed, probably crying. "Pwede ka pong magpahinga."

I smiled more because of what she said. I nodded several times before pulling my hug from them. "Oo naman, kayo ang pahinga ko." I kissed the top of their head.

"Ako din po Ate ko!" Ely ran towards me and hugged me with her little arms, mahina akong napatawa sa ginawa niya. I hugged her gently and kissed her head too. Nang humiwalay siya sa yakap sa akin ay pinakatitigan niya ako. "Ate ko..."

"Hmm...?"

"I love you po, kayo nila ate Kandel, Summer at Rain." She said full of sincerity.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtulo ng luha ko dahil sa sinabi niya. My heart is filled with so much joy because of what they did and said. Paano ako susuko kung ganito nila ako kasarap mahalin? Paano ako susuko kung sila mismo ay pinapayagan naman akong magpahinga muna bago lumaban muli?