Right after we ate, Wren and I left to go to my audition because my professor wouldn't be able to attend the class. But before we headed to the venue, we passed by my sisters' school first to pick them up.
"Hi, girls," I greeted them when my window completely rolled down.
"Ate!" Lori happily exclaimed.
Nasa waiting shed sila sa harap ng school nila para hintayin ang sundo nila at sila nalang ang naroon dahil kanina pa ang dismissal nila.
Hindi ko alam na narito pa sila but my instinct told me to check on them and I was glad that I did dahil kung hindi ay baka gabihin na sila rito.
Lumabas si Wren mula sa sasakyan para pagbuksan sila ng pinto, habang ako naman ay tinanong kung nasaan 'yong family driver naming naghahatid-sundo sa kanila.
Lani shrugged. "He said he was already on the way pero 30 minutes ago na 'yon."
I sighed. Meron naman kaming tatay na pwedeng mag hatid-sundo sa kanila pero hindi niya magawa and it wasn't because he can't, it was because he just doesn't want to.
Sa private school pumapasok ang mga kapatid ko pero hindi 'yon kasing mahal at prestigious kagaya ng Beladimma, kaya gusto ko silang itransfer doon kapag may sapat na akong pera.
"Ate, are we going to the mall?" Lori asked—bending over the shotgun seat where I was.
I pressed my lips together, and then I shook my head in apology. "Next time nalang, Lori. May pupuntahan pang audition si Ate, e."
I observed her tiny face and she didn't seem disappointed kaya napahinga ako nang maluwag until she followed up,
"Kailan po?"
My teeth came to bite my lower lip to think.
"Kailan mo ba gusto?" I asked.
She smiled—showing off her white baby teeth. "Kapag hindi na po ikaw busy."
Napangiti ako sa sagot niya because at a young age, she has a better understanding than most of the adults—I mean our parents.
I nodded my head. "Okay."
After our little conversation, hindi na ulit ako nagsalita so Wren took over.
He entertained my sisters by asking them how their day went and by telling them stories, mostly about how he was when he was their age.
I wasn't talking but I was paying attention kaya minsan-minsan din akong natatawa kahit na narinig ko na 'yong mga kwento na sinasabi niya.
He was a very hard-headed kid kaya palagi siyang grounded dati. Pero dahil sobrang malapit siya sa mga house helpers nila, palagi rin siyang nakakatakas dahil magaling siyang mang-uto.
Nasasagot niya lahat ang tanong ng mga kapatid ko kahit na sobrang random ng mga 'yon, kaya hindi sila tumigil sa kakadaldal hanggang sa makarating na kami sa bahay.
"Thank you, Ate, Kuya," they both said in unison as they got out of the car.
"Ba-bye, sisters." Wren smiled and lifted his right hand from the steering wheel to wave at them.
The smile on my sisters' lips grew wider and they waved back.
"Goodluck, Ate," Lani told me.
I simply nodded at her even though I appreciated it so much and was so touched.
Hindi nagdrive paalis si Wren hanggang sa masigurado naming nasa loob na sila ng bahay at locked na 'yong gate.
Throughout our way to the venue of my audition, ako naman ang dinaldal ni Wren.
