Make Me Understand

Chapter 9

Winter sat up with a groan. She can feel her head pounding and she feels sick. Like there's a hammering in her head and something's moving on her stomach.

“Nagluto ako ng lugaw. Kumain ka na.”

Upon hearing the voice, Winter snap her eyes open and turned her head to her sister who's ironing her clothes.

“Ate ko,” agad tumayo si Winter at lumapit kay Chaewon. She didn't touch her, she just stood there, in front of her sister.

Narealize n'ya na nasa condo s'ya ni Chaewon, and the reason? She don't know. And it's not important.

She stayed still while her sister is busy ironing, ni hindi s'ya tinignan nito kaya mas determined s'yang magstay sa kinatatayuan n'ya.

“Sabi ko kumain ka na.” Chaewon told her without looking at her.

Walang imik naman na agad pumunta si Winter sa kusina para ipaghain ang sarili n'ya bago bumalik sa kama at umupo, kumakain habang nakatingin parin sa kapatid.

Nang matapos si Chaewon at mailigpit ang mga sariling damit, nakapamewang s'yang tumayo sa harap ni Winter na nakatingala lang sakan'ya at patuloy ang pagsubo ng lugaw.

“Nagpupumilit ka daw pumunta dito kagabi sabi ni Karina, ikaw na bata ka palasing-lasing ka nalang ha.” pinitik ni Chaewon ang noo ng kapatid.

Winter brought her right hand to hold her forehead where she was hit.

“Kung mags-sorry ka, save it. I would never stay still about the issue, Winter. Hindi mawawala yung inis ko ng sorry mo.”

“Opo.”

“Hindi ako naiinis sa'yo. I'm more on upset about how you think and how you're letting his words through that pretty little head of yours.”

“Opo.”

“But if he's doing it again, God, Winter, if he's doing it again. Not ate Taeyeon nor the law could stop me from doing what I should've done before when you stopped me. Okay?”

“Opo.”

“Good.” Chaewon pat her sister's head. “Now tell me what happened last night. Masaya ba? How was it being around new people, hm?”

• • •

It's almost lunch time when Winter decided to leave Chaewon's place. Kailangan na din kasing pumasok sa trabaho ni Chaewon.

Napadaan si Winter sa isang wet market at naakit sa spanish bread sa gilid kaya bumili s'ya.

Habang naglalakad at kinakain ang spanish bread, parang may nagsisigawan at nagkakagulo hindi kalayuan sa nilalakaran n'ya pero hindi n'ya 'to pinansin.

Not until nabangga s'ya ng nagtatakbuhan at natapon ang kinakain n'ya.

Inis na hinabol n'ya naman yung nakabangga sakan'ya, not knowing na may mga tumatakbo pa sa likod n'ya.

When she caught up with the guy na bumangga sakan'ya, hinila n'ya 'to by his collar. “Yung spanish bread ko.” she said, gripping tightly on the guy's collar, “Bayaran mo.”

“Ito.” binigay sakan'ya nito yung hawak na wallet, “Ikaw na kumuha kung magkano, nanginginig kasi ako.”

Binitawan s'ya ni Winter para kumuha ng twenty pesos sa wallet.

“S'ya! Hawakan n'yo!”

Nagulat nalang si Winter nang may mga pulis na humawak sakan'ya.

“Is that Winter Kim?”