Auburn High

Chapter 6: Home

JODETTE ANAIS VILLAVERDE

Ever since that day, sabay na kaming pumapasok ni Gaby sa school. We also became more comfortable with each other, just like the old days. She was still cold with other people though, hindi na magbabago yun, pero at least sakin, iba ang turing niya. She helped me with our homeworks, and fortunately, I was able to learn them fast. Sabi nga niya makakahabol naman daw ako.

Things went back to normal, para ngang walang nangyari e. It's so amazing how they move on with such things. But ever since that day, I haven't spoken properly with Ian. Nag-uusap kami pero 'di na kagaya ng pag-uusap namin noon sa kotse niya. He seems always busy, and most of the time he's not inside the room.

Tinabihan ko si Ruby, Ian's sister, with the attempt to bring up Ian in the conversation. I'm kinda worried, and I don't even know why.

"Ruby" I called.

"Yo?" ngumiti siya at binaba niya yung librong binabasa niya. Bati na kami ni Ruby, sabi naman niya hindi naman daw talaga siya nagalit sakin.

"Uhm... asan si Ian?" I didn't even attempt to bring him up. Talagang dineretso ko na lang. I was agitated.

"Uyyyy, ikaw aaaa" she teased, with matching kiliti sa leeg.

"HA! Nagtatanong lang ako! Malisyoso kaaaa" I tried to evade her hands from tickling me. She laughed as if satisfied with my reaction.

"He's just busy" she answered. "He's barely at home, too."

"Ohh, I see. Y'know I just recently discovered na magkapatid pala kayo. Di kasi halata e! Tsaka ang sweet niya sa'yo!"

"Sweet na ba yun? Haha! Well, we get that a lot. We have different mothers, I'm younger by a year though. Redhead yung mommy ko, na-meet ng Dad namin sa ibang bansa. My mom died when I was born, Dad said may sakit daw mom ko, I could've died while I was in her womb, she also could've chosen to abort me to save her life, but she didn't."

I was speechless, it was Ruby talking to me about her personal life. Wala man lang warning! Pero it's such a sad story, I didn't know what to say.

"I always have her picture with me" kinuha niya yung bookmark niya at pinakita sakin. Her bookmark was her mom's picture. "This book is also hers, Dad took all the books from my Mom's home, it was written in her will, pinagbilin niya rin ako kay Dad, I also got a letter" she chuckled.

I was staring at her mom's picture, she was so beautiful. "P-pano yung legal wife ng Dad niyo?"

"She hated my Dad, but she loved me! It's funny, really. Nung una, galit din ako kay Dad. Pero nung natuto akong magbasa at nang mabasa ko ang letter ni Mommy, nawala lahat ng galit ko, kasi hindi naman pala pinabayaan ni Dad si Mommy. Ugh, but he was such a player!" she laughed.

"Yung mom ni Ian, how did she accept the situation? I'm sorry ang dami kong tanong" napakamot ako ng ulo. Ang galing lang kasi e, parang teleserye yung buhay nila.

"I'm not sure, but I know she still loved Dad. Feeling ko naman napatawad niya na si Dad. Biruin mo yun, bigla siyang nagkaroon ng baby girl. Tsaka, nasundan pa kaya ako, pero boy nga lang ulit"

From what I remember, apat silang magkakapatid. Yung panganay nila, 25 years old, si Ian, then Ruby, and yung bunso nilang 11 years old lang.

"Sorry, masyadong magulo ang pamilya namin. Haha! I miss her, I really want to see her" she stared at the picture as she said those words to me.

"You have to die first" biglang dumating si Basty kasama si Miko.

"Oh my.." I was shocked, I think that was kinda mean... or not?