Field of Emotions

Chapter 4

Nagising ako dahil kay Ate Ivy at Kuya Liam na buhat si Anastacia. Ate Ivy was shaking me and I could hear her sobs. Bumangon ako na basa ng luha ang mukhang at medyo tuyo ang lalamunan. I wiped my face and reached my rim glasses on my bedside table.

"W-why are you here Kuya?" paos na saad ko at papungay-pungay pa ang mata pero bigla akong niyakap ni Ate Ivy.

"Aellanna naman...thank God gumising ka!" nag-aalalang saad niya.

I looked at Kuya Liam confusingly. "Kuya...what happened ba kasi?" tanong ko sa kanya at medyo garalgal pa ang boses dahil sariwa pa ang mga napanaginipan.

Ate Ivy tightened her hug and buried her face on my shoulder. "We're so worried Aellanna," she murmured. "Umiiyak ka habang tulog tapos...hindi ka magising."

Kumalas siya sa yakap at pinunasan ko ang luha niya. "I'm okay Ate. Don't be nervous, I'm still alive." I joked but they didn't laugh. They are like Sian, they take death jokes seriously.

Anastacia looked at me and smiled thinly. "Okay? Ate?" she asked in her baby voice.

I smiled at her and nodded. Tumayo ako at kinuha si Anastacia mula kay Kuya Liam. "Ate is okay, baby. No worries." I assured.

Ibinaba ko si Anastacia at tumingin kina Kuya Liam at Ate Ivy. I hugged them both, making them shocked. "Good morning Kuya, Ate...Bakit kayo lang nandito? Nasan ang Mama at Papa?"

Ate Ivy looked at Kuya Liam and Kuya Liam looked at her. Their eyes seemed to be talking in their own language but after some seconds, my brother looked at me. "They left, they have some errands to do." sabi niya.

I sneered and looked at my little sister, now flipping through the pages of my book before looking back at my older brother. "Was it the divorce thing?" I asked, voice barely whispering.

He shook his head and patted my head. "It wasn't, Aellanna. Like I said last night, it's their fight. Let them fix it and I will do everything to protect you, Amelia and Anastacia." he said, making me silent.

After some seconds, he picked up Anastacia and put her on his shoulder. Anastacia seemed to like it because she giggled. "So, let's eat breakfast? I cooked your favorite breakfast." he announced but my eyes narrowed at him.

"Ikaw nagluto o may tulong ni Ate Ivy?" tanong ko sa kanya.

He rolled his eyes and grunted. "Fine, Ivy helped me. But I cooked the adobo all by myself." he said, making Ate Ivy laugh.

"Sorry, Sir." Ate said and immediately stopped laughing.

Napangiti ako ng makitang namumula si Kuya kaya kumapit ako kay Ate Ivy. We started going downstairs. Ate Ivy wasn't new to my clingy attitude towards her every morning kaya ayos lang sa kanya na nakakapit ako sa kanya. Nasa harap namin si Kuya at alam kong pinapakiramdaman lang din niya kami. Lima lang kami sa bahay ngayon dahil madalas ang mga kasambahay namin ay hanggang Monday at Friday lang. Si Ate Ivy lang talaga ang nandito tuwing Saturday at Sunday.

Ng makaupo kami, napansin kong wala si Ate Amelia. Tanging si Kuya Liam at Ate Ivy ang nag-aasikaso ng paghahahin ng pagkain sa mesa. Well kahit nandito si Ate Amelia, hindi naman siya tumutulong at si Ate Ivy ang palaging inuutusan. Argh! How I hate seeing her giving so many orders to Ate Ivy!

"Ma'am Aellanna, bawal po magbuntong hininga sa harap ng pagkain." paalala sa akin ni Ate Ivy habang marahang sinusubuan si Anastacia ng kanin.

Inipon ko sa pisngi ang kanin at ngumiti sa kanya. "Sorry, Ate Ivy. Won't do it again." I apologized but she gave me a forced smile.

"Aellanna," Kuya Liam called me and I looked at him. "Eat your food, wag mong ipunin sa pisngi mo." paalala naman niya kaya agad kong nginuya ang mga inipon na kanin sa bibig.