White Lies

Attempt

"Ge, next time dalasan mo naman pag-uwi dito sa bahay. Nami-miss ko rin na sabay-sabay tayong kumakain ng ganito." Mommy Ligaya said as she serve eggs and bacons to his son.

"Yeah, scold him Ma. Baka magulat na lang tayo, may sariling pamilya na pala yang inuuwian." Lea added up as she chuckled.

"At nagsalita ang laging madaling araw umuwi. Ikaw na ba taga-sara ng ABS ngayon ate?" Gerard retorted back.

Lea snickered and rolled her eyes as she drinks her coffee. Her phone beeped and blinked, signaling an incoming call. She took a peek on who is the caller and pursed her lips together to suppress a smile.

"Good morning, Early." Lea murmured.

Gerard mid stop chewing as he glanced at her sister.

"Hi. Maganda ka pa sa umaga."

"Heh." Lea chuckled.

Gerard peeked at their mom and saw that she too is watching Lea.

"Ano, sama ka ba later sa amin nila Dawn?" Lea asked as she plays with the spoon on her plate.

"Pass muna ko, ang sama ng pakiramdam ko eh."

"Oh. May sakit ka?" Lea gasped, her voice now audible for her mom and brother to hear.

"Ewan ko ba, laging masakit katawan ko paggising sa umaga nitong mga nakaraang araw."

"Did you checked na your temp? Baka that's flu."

"Wala ko lagnat eh. Basta masakit mga muscles ko kada gising."

Lea squinted her eyes as if Aga is just in front of her, oblivious of the people around her.

"What do you do ba before you go to bed?" Lea teased.

"Ano kasi.. Okay naman yung pakiramdam bago ko matulog."

"What do you do nga eh before you go to bed."

"Kasalanan mo to."

"Oh bakit ako?" Lea giggled.

Gerard cleared his throat that's when Lea realised she still has company.

"You know what, I'll call you back okay."

"Okay. I love you."

"Mmm. Same. Bye."

Lea dropped her phone on the table and looked at her mom.

"Umm. That was Aga." Lea said.

Her mom stopped eating.

"And...?" Mommy Ligaya asked encouraging Lea to continue.

Lea sighed and scratched her temple.

"Kami na." Lea blurted out.

Gerard cleared his throat again as he fixated his eyes to their mom waiting for her reaction.

"Kaya ka ba inumaga ng uwi noong isang araw?" Mommy Ligaya inquired as she took her coffee to drink.

"Maaa, it is not what you think it is." Lea replied.

"So ano, nag-usap lang kayong dalawa buong magdamag?"

"Yes Ma. Walang nangyari okay, if that's what you are curious about."

"Kahit attempt wala? Ano ba, bakla ba yang si Aga?"

Gerard choked on his food and was now coughing at her mom's remark.

"Ma naman pwede ba? Jesus. I can't believe we are talking about this with Gerard here." Lea rolled her eyes.

"Why? What's wrong? That is a general adult question and as far as I know, we're all adults here. So, did he or he did not?"

"He did. And that's the end of this conversation. My God naman Ma." Lea replied.

"Pinapaalalahanan lang kita. Ikaw din Gerard. Pwede kasal muna bago sarap. Kung maaari? Lalo ka na Lea, babae ka, mahirap na baka yun lang pala habol sayo, huwag mo muna isusuko yan."

Too late. Lea thought to herself. She stood up and went closer to her mom.

"Don't worry Ma, ang bait-bait ko kaya. I'll go muna. Ge." Lea chuckled as she kissed her mom goodbye.

"Oh aalis ka na? Akala ko after lunch pa punta mo kay Dawn?" Mommy Ligaya asked.

"I'll check on Aga first." Lea replied as he nods on his brother.

"Lea sinasabi ko sayo ha."

"Ma pwede ba, may sakit yung tao." Lea rolled her eyes as she leaves the veranda.

"Paalala lang, baka makalimot ka kasi. Ipagbalot mo si Aga ng chicken noodle soup." Mommy Ligaya shouted back to Lea's retreating form.

"Samahan ko na lang kaya ate mo, sa tingin mo Ge?"

"Ma ano ka ba, hayaan mo na nga si ate, matanda na yan." Gerard chuckled.

"Oh eh bakit? Dadalawin ko lang yung mamanugangin ko, hindi ba pwede yon? Tsaka baka kailangan ni Aga ng konting coaching."

Gerard chuckled as he shakes his head at her mother's crazy ideas.

--

"Same? Same talaga sagot Lea?" Aga ranted while Lea pushes him to seat at the stool.

"Ssshh.. Kumain ka muna."

"Lea naman.. Sabi ko I love you-"

"I love you too." Lea cuts in.

Aga shut his mouth and sighed.

"Okay na? Sorry na nga kasi kasama ko sila Mama at Gerard kanina. But don't worry, they know na, I already told them after the call. Don't make tampo na, I will hug you na lang since I can't real kiss you."

Lea hugged him as Aga held on her waist and pulled her closer to him.

"Kahit smack di pwede?" He nuzzled her neck and breathed her scent.

Lea giggled as she whispers in his ear.

"Sorry sweetheart. But its a no for me."

"Jesus, Lea, what are you doing to me."

"I am not doing anything- yet." Lea said as she plays innocent. She can see Aga's ears are turning crimson so she better stop now before hell breaks.

Lea pulled away ang giggled.

"You'll gonna be the death of me." Aga retorted back.

"Lagi kang wrong timing kasi eh." Lea winked at him. "Which reminds me, I left my airpods sa car mo kagabi."

"Oh yeah. Tinabi ko nga glove compartment kagabi." Aga stood up and took his keys.

"Ako na kukuha. Kumain ka na para makainom ka na ng gamot mo."

--

Lea opened the glove of compartment and as Aga said he indeed put it there. She took it and checked to see of both pieces are in place. She was about to close the glove compartment when a yellow fabric caught her eyes. She took it and saw it was a handkerchief.

She was eyeing it and mentally cursed.

Lea stop. Don't be so paranoid.

"Oh fuck it, I must be crazy but whatever-" She muttered to herself as she dared to take a whiff.

And it hit her. It hit her like a solid wall. Its the same scent.

Lea's hand shook and dropped the hanky on her lap.

Calm down Lea. Calm down.

She looked down at the handkerchief and there she saw, embroided in cursive letters.

"Emily."

---

Thoughts?

#WhiteLies