Admiring Its Glorious Miracle (Typographic Editing)

47

chapter 47

"Wala ka bang planong galawin ang bahay na ito, Ate?" Naabutan ko si Ella na nasa kusina, tinitinggan ang bawat gamit sa loob. "It looks old already but still it looks matibay naman."

"Hindi akin ang bahay na ito, Ella." Wala lang talaga akong planong galawin ang bahay ni Papa. I’ll let Tito Roel take care of everything.

"By the way, I saw some paintings maybe it’s from your room?" Pinakita ni Ella sa akin ang iilang papel. "And for all I know, hindi ka marunong mag pinta or mag drawing man lang."

I look at her flatly, she pointed the man beside me, "And he’s good in art department, that means it's from him?"

Tumango ako sa kapatid ko.

"You live together?!" Histerikal na tanong nito.

Napanganga ako sa sinabi n’ya, "What in the world, Ella?! Hindi ba pwedeng binigay lang ni Joshua sa akin yun!? Ang bata pa namin para magsama!"

Napalabi ang kapatid ko, "How about now? Is twenty six years old enough for a couple to live together?"

Huminga ako ng malalim at hinilot ang sentido ko, inosente lang itong nakatingin sa akin. Naghihintay sa isasagot ko sa kan’ya.

But instead, it’s Joshua who speak for me. "Twenty five above is already okay for couple who wanted to live together or to settle at your sister’s case, her age is ready but her mind is not."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Naguguluhag tanong ng kapatid ko sa kan’ya, her head tilted in confusion as she look at my boyfriend.

my boyfriend. Pwede ko namang isipin yun diba? I mean he asked me to date him and I said yes—actually tango lang—but that’s already yes for me.

"In short, you Ate Elle is not ready." Mabilis namang sagot ni Joshua.

"But she’s twenty six already." She pointed out, even pointing her finger to me.

"Really Ella? Pinapamukha to talaga sa akin na sobrang tanda ko na." I looked at her flatly. Seriously? Kapatid ko ba talaga ang babaeng to?

"Come on Ate! I want nephew or niece already! I want someone calling me Tita!" Humagikhik s’ya sa iniisip n’ya,"And don’t deny it, matanda kana ilang taon na lang lalampas kana sa kalendaryo!"

"Thank you so much for that, Ella." I said in sarcastic tone. Sana hindi ko na lang sinama ang babaeng to dito.

"Your putting pressure to your Ate Elle, Ella." Mahinang saad ni Joshua sa tabi ko and then he held my waist with his gentleness.

"Oh..." Her face fell and looked at me with apologeticaly. "Sorry Ate, I just want someone to take care of you like how Daddy take care of mommy and also I want a niece or nephew but much better if it’s a niece."

Tumahimik na lang ako, iniwan naman kami ni Elle para maglibot-libot sa bahay. Napabuntong hininga ako at umupo sa may upuan kung saan ang hapag kainan namin. Napatitig ako sa kawalan, Joshu was there standing, I can feel his gaze towards me but I am lost to looked at him.

Napaisip ako sa sinabi ni Ella sa akin but I can’t help but to asked myself. Am I ready to settle down? Totoo naman kasi na hindi ako bumabata, I know my parents also waiting for me to settle down as per Daddy said they wanted a grandchild from me! Napabuga ako ng marahas na hangin.

Why do I feel pressured all a sudden?

Tumingala ako upang tingnan si Joshua na nakatingin sa kawalan. "Do you want to settle down?"

Napabaling s’ya sa akin, malalim ang gatla ng kan’yang noo. "Why are you asking?"

"Sabi mo kanina, kaya mong ibagay ang hinihingi ng kapatid ko." Umiwas ako ng tingin, mukha lang akong walang paki-alam but I ak listening to their damn conversation!