Under the Shades of Sky

Chapter 18

I miss those days... those good old days. Hindi na kasi kami masyado nagkikita ngayon kasi busy, graduating kasi ng Grade 12. Same school kami pero bihira na lang magkita ngayong linggo dahil sa tambak na gawain. Alexa and I were taking a STEM strand but different sections, Ysabelle was taking HUMSS and Gab was taking ABM.  I guess everything changed, worst is that we didn't expect this changes to happen. Masyadong biglaan para sa akin at hindi ako sanay na hindi kami madalas magkasama-sama. We making a path towards our dream and this is one of the most important stage. Maybe this is a preperation for college too. I know the four of us will part ways for each one to explore the world of uncertainties. Part ways physically lang dahil napakaingay nila sa chat.

Bumabawi na din si Daddy sa amin ni Aria, we got closer and closer to each other. Dads alway made sure that he allotted some time for us to bond. While Mama Claire became our mother figure. Kami naman ni Aria, 

Gabi na at naghahanda ako ng damit namin para bukas. Aalis daw kasi kami para sa early birthday treat ni Dad.

"Aria, ito ba damit mo para bukas?" tanong ko habang hawak ang dress na galing sa hanger na nakasabit sa pinto.

"Yeah." sagot niya habang nakahiga sa kwarto ko.

Tango na lang ang naging saad ko at abalang pina-plantsa ang damit naming dalawa.

"Ate Deia,"

"Hmm?"

"Bukas ko na ibibigay regalo ko sayo ha." she said while looking at the ceiling filled with glow in the dark stars that we put when we moved here.

I chuckled and looked at her. "Kahit naman wala na, Aria."

She pouted but she didn't bother to look at me. "Ayaw ko, g-gusto ko may gift ako sayo." she said, voice on verge of crying.

Tumigil ako sa pagpaplantsa at umupo sa may paanan niya. "Bakit parang naiiyak ang Arianna na yan?" I asked, teasing her even more.

Tumalikod siya sa akin at palihim na pinunasan ang luha kahit kita ko naman. "Gusto ko may remembrance ka sakin."

Arianna isn't really a softie kaya malaking palaisipan kung bakit biglaan ang pag-iyak niya ngayon. She was always the tough one, always the comforter.

After preparing our clothes, bumangon siya at niyakap ako ng napakahigpit na parang hindi na kami magkikita bukas.

"May problema ba Aria?" I asked while hugging her. Nitong mga nagdadaang buwan din kasi ay kapansin-pansin ang madalas na pananahimik niya. "Ang tahimik mo simula noong celebration ng reunion ng mga Inavarez."

She shook her head yet I felt her shoulders moving. "Don't mention them. Hindi ko sila pamilya, kayo kaya pamilya ko pati si Ate Ysabelle. Hindi ko lang tanggap na 18 years old ka na tapos college ka na next year." panghihinayang niya. "Promise me hindi mo ako kakalimutan ha." sabi niya kaya kumunot ang noo ko.

"Bakit naman kita kakalimutan? Ikaw na nga lang kapatid ko, kakalimutan pa kita? Araw-araw naman ako tatawag sa inyo kapag college na si Ate." paliwanag ko at pilit siyang pinapakalma.

Ayaw ko siyang kalimutan. Kaming dalawa na nga lang ang magkapatid, magkakalimutan pa. Me, being the oldest, I have the responsibilities that I shouldered and one of that was keeping her close and protected. Even some of the responsibilities were exhausting, I will always do my best to keep my duties with her.

"Basta, I love you, Ate. Good night." sabi niya at kumalas sa yakap ko.

Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-labas niya sa kwarto ko. I tried knocking on her door but no one was answering. Ang bilis naman yata niyang makatulog.