Handle
Nagising ako kinaumagahan dahil sa pagtunog ng alarm ko naka set pala sa five a.m. dahil kay Riri. I slightly opened my eyes and saw Riri, who had just gotten up, panicked out of bed, and ran out of the room with her messy hair like a little penguin in a hurry.
Right. She woke up around five. I was still too lazy to pull myself out, but then my curiosity just knocked me out, pushing me out of bed.
I yawned and pulled the blanket to cover Jester's body as I stood up and scratched my stomach.
Why is she so early? Bumaba na ako hanggang sa naririnig ko ang kaluskos sa kusina. Noong tuluyang makababa at dumeritso doon, nakita ko agad si Mommy na bihis na bihis at inaakay si Riri na yakap yakap na siya at humihikab habang nakasandal ang ulo sa kanyang balikat.
"Strawberry cake?" my mother asked, talking to her.
My shoulder loosened when I realized something. Gumigising siya nang maaga para...maabutan pa si Mommy?
Mom noticed me. She smiled while she was already dressed in a coat, and her hair was in a high ponytail. Mukhang kakain nalang at aalis na rin maya-maya.
"Oh? Nabanggit ni Lala na uuwi ka raw. Buti at nakauwi ka. Hindi ba't midterms niyo na?" she asked.
Tumango ako at lumapit sa may table. She was having her coffee, and there was an egg and bacon on her plate.
"Wala kang masyadong ginagawa?" she asked more.
Umiling ako nang maalalang ang mga gagawin ko dapat ay may sumalo.
"Mom, it's Sunday. You have work?" tanong ko.
"Oo meron. May aasikasuhin ako sa site. Noong narinig ko kay Lala na uuwi ka, medyo gumaan ang loob ko dahil alam kong matutuwa ang mga kapatid mo."
She's an architect. It was also the reason why I pursued my course because of my parents.
Inabot niya ang pitaka sa nakabukas na bag at binuksan iyon. She took a thousand bills and handed them to me.
"Ibili mo rin ng strawberry cake si Riri. 'Tsaka baka gusto niyong gumala tatlo," aniya sabay abot ng ilang libong hindi ko halos mabilang.
I took it from her hand. She looked at me carefully.
"May allowance ka pa ba?" tanong niya at binuksan muli ang pitaka niya, kumukuha ng ilang libo ulit doon. "Here, Maverick. You might want to buy some things? New shoes for your basketball? You're a varsity," sabay abot niya ng ilang libo.
I took it from her hand again, nodding. She smiled and looked at Riri's head resting on her shoulder who's still yawning.
"Kunin mo kay kuya ang money mo, ha? Your five hundred is there too. But please, Riri. Don't eat too much sweets. Babalik pa kayo ni Lala sa clinic mo to check your teeth. Your doctor might scold you..."
Riri was hardly responding while she was still half awake. Tiningnan ni Mommy ang kanyang pulso at napansin ang oras saka siya tumayo at kinuha ang mug niya, sumimsim lamang ng kaonti saka niya ibinaba at tiningnan ako, sinisenyasang kunin na si Riri.
I stood and went to her, taking my sister out of her arms. Sinubukan pang abutin ni Riri si Mommy ngunit lumalayo na, umiiling kay Riri at kinukuha ang kanyang bag.
"I'm gonna be late for work, Riri. Kuya is here. You will play with Kuya, okay?"
Riri nodded a little. "You are not busy, mommy?" she asked in her little voice.
"No...I'm not. I will just work." Mommy smiled and caressed her cheek, kissing the side of her head.
Riri smiled beamingly. "Okay. Take care, mommy."
