****
“It’s Issa’s day! Are you ready to go Aqua Planet?”
“She was not able to come with us, was she, Mama?”
“Mommy Lizzy?”
“Opo.”
“I got the results. You kids are fine but Mommy Lizzy was prone to respiratory infection because of her fever. She’s positive. She may need to rest for a little while.”
“So you will take care of Mommy Liz, Mom?” Tanong ni Kiko na noon ay nakahanda na sa pag-alis.
“We talked around four in the morning. Liz told me she would be happy if I come with you guys,” binitbit ni Risa ang isang duffel bag tsaka binigay ito sa katulong. “Pakilagay sa sasakyan, Manang. Salamat.”
“Who will take care of her then? Sabi niyo po ayaw niya uminom ng gamot tapos po sabi ni Mommy Liz tsaka lang daw po siya iinom kapag pinilit niyo,” inosenteng wika ni Issa habang nakausli ang mga bibig at tumungo sa kanang bahagi.
“She’s big already. She can take care of herself,” kaswal na sabi ni Risa at nagbuhat muli ng kanilang gamit at naglakad ito palabas ng bahay.
“Otherwise T-Dog will stay,” mahinang bungad ni Jaira kay Risa na noon ay natigilan sa paglalakad at tinitigan siya.
“Sabi ni Alice mag-sick leave rin kami,” nagkibit ang mga balikat ni Jaira.
“Are you okay?”
“Opo, pero wala po kaming sakit.”
Natawa si Risa. Sa dinami-rami ng pwedeng gawin ay magsinungaling pa tungkol sa kanilang kalusugan.
“Are you staying with Alice po o si T-Dog ang mananatili?”
“Why are you giving me choices?”
“Because T-Dog likes Alice. Kahit naman po alam kong hindi papatol si Alice sa kahit kanino kahit kailan, sayo lang, ha!” Kumpyansang pahayag ni Jaira sa babae. “Pero hindi ko rin naman po masasabi kung paano ang magiging takbo ng tadhana. Tingnan niyo nga po, akala natin patay yang hayop na kaibigan ko, eh buhay pa pala ang hangal!”
“Or is it Alice who forced you to blackmail me?” Nakataas ang mga kilay na tanong ni Risa kay Jaira.
“Nadali niyo, Asir!” Hinablot ni Jaira ang hawak ni Risa na bag at kiming lumabas na ng bahay. “Ayokong mag-alaga kay Alice! She’s so clingy! Ginusto niyo si Alice, Sen! Ikaw bahala riyan!”
“Iiwan na po si Mommy, ate Jai?” Pasigaw na tanong ni Kiko sa babae.
“Yes, bebi!”
“Yay! Tell Mommy Liz Mom will stay!”
“Kids!” Biglang tawag ni Risa sa mga ito nang may unting lakas ng boses. “What is that?”
“She wants you to stay, Mama,” sumuko na si Sinta. “She changed her mind. She wants you here. We will be fine with ate Jaira and kuya Aspen and kuya T-Dog.”
BINABASA MO ANG
ALIBI
FanfictionHow are you supposed to believe in someone who made you as her alibi? A Senator has undertaken herself into a romantic affair with a person of interest and a national threat to her own country.
