as the stars would have it

100

CHAPTER 100

EVIE RAN A HAND through her now short hair a couple of times now. A habit she did whenever she was nervous or giddy. Today, she was both. Ilang beses din siyang nagpalit ng damit bago mapagdesisyunan na mag dress na lang.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit kinakabahan siya sa magiging reaksyon ni Jachin. But she was giddy that she's about to see him again after a week. And of course, to see her little baby bear too. Na-miss niyang yakapin ito at bigyan ng treats!

Jachin offered to pick her up at her house but she refused. She wanted to have that travelling time by herself to ease her nerves so that by the time she arrived at Jachin's house, mas excited na siya.

His house was of normal size, pero malinis ang puti nitong mga pader sa labas at naririnig niya ang mahinang pagdaloy ng tubig sa mini fountain nila sa loob ng garden. It was obvious that his parents maintained it well.

Evie gripped the strap of her bag tightly before pressing the doorbell. Agad niyang narinig ang maliliit na tahol sa loob ng bahay bago pa man lumabas si Jedidiah. And then she was running towards her, with her eyes alight with happiness. Ito ang kamukha ni Jachin sa magkapatid.

"Ate Evie!" she excitedly flicked the lock open and unbolted their gate, and immediately threw herself in for a hug. They were both only a few years younger than she is so she appreciates having someone near her age to talk to.

Evie let out an oof, but grabbed her small frame tightly so she wouldn't fall sideways. "Hello, Jedidiah!"

As soon as Jedidiah saw her face, her mouth immediately formed an 'o' and Evie had to put her finger to her lips because she didn't want Jachin to know just yet.

Tumango naman ito at agad na inilingkis ang mga kamay sa braso niya para akayin siya papasok ng bahay nila.

"You look pretty, Ate Evie! Bagay sa 'yo. I think magugulat si Kuya!"

Evie nibbled on her bottom lip before nodding. "I'm kind of nervous. Will he like it?"

"Doesn't matter! Ang ganda ganda mo, Ate. Matutulala lang 'yon si Kuya, trust me."

She waved both of her hands before Jedidiah gets the wrong idea. "Oh, no! We're not-"

Naputol ang sasabihin niya nang buksan nito ang screen papasok sa bahay nila. The younger led her inside their house and as soon as she was in, sinalubong agad siya ni Lulu na kanina pa gustong lumabas. Nagtatalon ito sa legs niya kaya agad niya itong binuhat. Sugar was also there so she gave her a pat also.

"My baby bear!" Evie cooed.

Lulu immediately tried licking her face, and squirmed on her arms like a worm. Mas lalo na ito lumaki at naging mas maliksi kumpara nung nasa clinic nila ito. She was glad that they were taking care of her.

"Na-miss ka ni Lulu, Ate. Alam mo ba 'pag naririnig niya pangalan mo na binabanggit ni Kuya, lumalapit siya kay Kuya."

"I missed her too! So much! Yes, you want belly rubs?" Evie tickled Lulu's belly while still holding her. She wanted to squeeze her so badly if she wasn't afraid to suffocate her.

Evie was still swinging her body from side to side while Lulu was in her arms when she heard voices and footsteps from upstairs.

And then, Jachin came running down from the second floor. "Jedi, nandyan na ba s-" He stopped when his eyes landed on her.

For a moment, Jachin could only stare at Evie. Like time was suspended and everything else was a fading noise between them, not Jedidiah's giddy expressions, nor Lulu's excited barks were able to pull them out of their own small world.