Grape Juice (By the Border, #1) ✓

4

Ang daldal ng pamilyang ito.

Sakto lang daw ang pagdating namin, ayon kay Ma'am. Later on their mother told me to call her Nadine instead of my awkward salutation. Katatapos lang daw niyang maghain ng mga plato at utensil sa lamesa noong nag-ring ng doorbell si Novah. Tinanggap ko na rin ang imbitasyon nilang dito na maghapunan kahit medyo maaga pa para kumain. Kadalasan kasi ay wala nang araw kapag kumakain ako sa bahay.

Now, here I was, sitting on the chair where Kenzie should've been, halfway done with my meal. Alfredo pasta ang niluto ni Nadine dahil ni-request ng bunso niya, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin iyong paramdam. Tahimik ko silang pinanood na mag-usap sa hapagkainan. They passed pots and large dishes of white sauce and pasta noodles across the table, chattering as they did so.

Habang abala sila ay nalipat ang atensyon ko sa kanilang sala. Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang kahon ng board games at CDs ang nasa ibaba ng kanilang TV sa sobrang dami nito. May iilang libro ring nakatambak malapit sa sofa, at nang inangat ko ang tingin ay nakita ko ang landscape paintings na nakapaskil sa mga pader. I went back to eating after I noticed Novah stealing glances.

"How was it, Wesley?" biglaang tanong sa akin ni Nadine habang inaabot ko ang baso ng tubig sa harapan ko. I gulped everything down while thinking of what to answer.

The pasta was perfect. Walang kulang na sahog, at hindi rin nasobrahan sa luto ang pasta. Ito na yata ang pinakamasarap na hapunan na nakain ko matapos ng ilang taon. Truth be told, I could barely make decent meals at home. "Ayos lang naman po."

She seemed satisfied with the feedback. "Let me know when you come over next time so I can cook for you. Lagi kang welcome dito."

Kahit na tinanguan ko si Nadine, alam ko sa sarili kong wala sa plano kong bumalik ulit dito. I had other stuff to do, other places to be. I still needed to take care of paperworks for my funeral, and these people wouldn't understand if I tried explaining to them. Ito ang una't huling pagkakataon kong pumunta sa apartment nila. I would be dead in two months.

But right now, the easiest thing to do was play along. "Okay." Satisfy them, said the voice. "That'd be wonderful."

Your life is far from wonderful, Wesley. Miserable ka, at mananatili kang miserable hanggang sa huli.

Muli akong nginitian ni Nadine, at gumaya ang asawa niya, si Klein. Kumpara sa kanilang lahat, hindi gaanong umiimik si Klein, liban nalang kung magtatanong siya sa amin. Hind niya iyon dinadagdagan matapos niyang itikom ang kaniyang bibig. Even so, I could see he found enjoyment in watching his family, from their playful banters to serious discussions about school and work.

I wondered if they knew about Novah's frequent absences. How would they react if they didn't? I only saw him at school twice a week on average. Minsan nga'y buong linggo siyang hindi pumapasok. Nadadaanan ang classroom nila bago makarating sa amin, at sa loob ko lang siya naaabutang nakatambay kung hindi siya pumupunta sa cafeteria, kaya alam ko kung pumapasok siya o hindi kahit hindi ko naman intensyong alamin.

That wasn't any of my business, anyway.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Klein got up and left the table. 'Di nagtagal ay narinig ko ang boses ni Kenzie; napakalakas ng tawa niya at naririnig namin siya mula rito. Sabay nakarating ang mag-ama rito, at mukhang bumenta ang biro ni Klein kay Kenzie dahil ang lawak ng ngiti niya. Kenzie's arms looped around her dad's, and the other was carrying her bag. She went straight towards me, and I didn't have time to drop my fork when she hugged me tight.

"Huy, Wesley! Sorry sa nangyari kanina!" Kenzie said, her face still on my neck, so her words came out muffled. "Jean wouldn't let me leave! Babawi ako sayo, promise. Ililibre kita bukas."