Between Your Lips and Mine (Cervantes Series)

17

a/n: hello,, actually ((checks notes)) kalahati na tong story ashashahsa ((pero parang walang nanyayare?!?!)) [true, true . . .] {judy ann meme walang nangyayari} hwahhahaha

thank you for waiting :D

070923 #BYLAMwp Chapter 17

Malapit na akong makauwi when my phone starts ringing. I glance at it once and upon seeing Auntie Mel's name on the screen, iginilid ko muna ang sasakyan makalagpas sa guardhouse. Bihira tumawag si Auntie puwera na lang kung may kailangang-kailangan.

"Hello po?"

"Nasaan ka, Juli?"

"Pauwi na po." I don't hear a sense of urgency on her voice. Mukhang wala namang emergency, thankfully. "Bakit ho?"

"May ipabibili sana ako sa grocery."

I scratch the side of my forehead. Nalagpasan ko na yung pinakamalapit na grocery, and I am honestly too tired para umikot pa at bumalik. I decide to go home straight today dahil may test ako sa Spanish tomorrow, and then I have another one for my major the next Monday morning.

I even told Chio not to follow me sa parking dahil mate-tempt akong isama na naman siya kung saan, and as a consequence hindi ako makakauwi agad. Iniwan ko siya with Jass and with Sab teasing him na magti-third wheel siya kina Jass and Gracey.

"Madami po ba?" tanong ko.

"Ay, hindi naman . . ."

"Kailangan na po ngayon?"

"Hindi rin naman," sagot ni Auntie Mel kaya napatango ako. Good. Gusto ko na talagang umuwi para makapagpahinga muna ako bago mag-review.

"Io-order ko na lang po, or bukas na lang, Auntie," sabi ko. "Patayin ko na po 'tong tawag, nasa daan ho ako."

I hear her mutter something pero I didn't quite catch it, so I politely ask her to repeat it pero ang sabi lang niya, "Uuwi ka na ba? Malapit ka na?"

"Yes po," kunot-noo kong sagot. Tapos na ang birthday ko, and she and Mommy both know I'm not a big fan of surprises, kaya hindi ko alam bakit parang inoorasan niya ang pag-uwi ko. What's going on?

"Ibababa ko na, Auntie. Text niyo na lang po 'ko ano'ng kailangan dahil baka may madaanan. Ba-bye po," paalam ko bago ibaba ang tawag. My body's already itching to get out of my blouse and jeans and get into something comfortable. I can squeeze in a nap before dinner para hindi ako antukin habang nag-aaral mamaya.

My eyebrows furrow when pagdating ko sa bahay, nasa labas na si Auntie Mel. I hit the brakes nang pumunta siya sa harap ng sasakyan ko kahit na around two cars away from our house pa ako. Bumaba ako ng sasakyan instead of rolling the windows down because I'm starting to worry.

Bakit siya nasa labas at bakit siya nagmamadaling salubungin ako? I doubt that it's because of groceries na kulang sa bahay.

"Ano po 'yun?" I ask pagbaba ko, still holding onto the car door. Auntie Mel just eyes me silently for a whole minute before heaving a sigh. Ilang beses niyang ipinunas sa apron na suot ang mga palad bago ako hawakan sa braso. I thought she's finally going to say something pero napabuntonghininga lang ulit siya.

Napalitan ng kaba ang confusion ko when I realize something. Did something happen to Mommy?

Before my brewing worry can send me running to our house, may umatras na sasakyan from our open garage. The sight of the familiar black SUV glues me on my spot. I stay unmoving even if it drives papunta sa direction namin on its way out. Dalawang beses na bumusina ang driver, and from the side of my eye I see Auntie Mel nodding, acknowledging yung pagpapaalam nito.