"Ate Ly...."
I could barely hear anything but those words repeated over and over again. Hindi ko kilala kung sino man tong kumakausap sa akin. The image was a blur.
I turned to my side and decided to continue sleeping. Pagod ako.
"Ate Ly, gising na. Breakfast's ready."
I felt someone shake me and that somehow made me jump up. I saw Dani laughing at me at the foot of her bed. So I was not dreaming all along? Someone was indeed calling me and it was her.
Tiningnan ko ang paligid ko. Ngayon ko palang na realize na wala pala ako sa dorm, and that I'm in his house.
"Ang cute mo, Ate."
Humahagikgik pa rin si Dani so I threw her a death glare pero wa epek. Patuloy pa rin siya sa kanyang tawa. Napa buntong hininga nalang ako while I desperately gathered my wayward hair in a bun, pero wala pala akong pantali.
Dani handed a spare elastic so I could tie my hair. I guess it must have been bad since she moved over and let go of my hair before combing it with her hands.
Dani: Hay nako, Ate Ly. Di ka talaga marunong mag-ayos ng hair.
Ako naman ang natawa. She seemed so frustrated with me. It was evident in her voice. When she managed to pull my hair up in a nice ponytail, she stood in front of me, hands on her waist.
Dani: Pagalitan ko nga yang si Manong mamaya. Yan tuloy, you slept late tas you look so tired pa.
Ha? What is she talking about?
Kumunot ang noo ko. She must have read the confusion kaya she answered me.
Dani: Sabi ko po, kung di sana kayo nagmoment pa ni manong kagabi, edi sana nakatulog ka po ng maaga at maayos. Minsan yung kapatid kong yun talaga, selfish.
Ly: Dani...
Dani: Oh please, ate. Sa akin ka pa talaga magdedeny? Save it. I saw you guys.
She turned towards her shoe rack and gave me a pair of cute bunny slippers. The same bunny slippers I wore whenever I was here a year ago.
I stared at it for a bit.
Ly: Nasa sayo pa rin pala to?
Tiningnan niya ako at tumango.
Dani: Uh-huh. Gusto na nga yang ipatapon ni Mama e kasi sobrang worn out na, pero nagalit si Manong. Sabi niya babalik ka pa and you would want to wear those again. So I kept it.
Wow. Akala ko mga damit ko lang ang tinago nila, pati pala mga gamit ko noon. And to think Kief was the one who wanted to keep them. I felt happy, relieved, even. He wanted me back in his life even before. No, he knew I was going to come back.
I felt Dani wrap her delicate fingers on my arm and tug me.
Dani: I'm sure gutom ka na kaya let's go. Mama cooked adobo.
Ly: Sige sunod lang ako.
Dani nodded and went out of the room, while I stood up para ligpitin ang higaan namin. I was still shocked that Dani saw us since I was so sure she was asleep when I left the room. Hay tutuksuhin na naman ako ng isang yon.
I stopped myself just before going out. I dont know but I didnt feel like I wanted to see Kiefer. Para ngang gusto ko pa siyang iwasan, e. What is this... Pero knowing na nasa bahay nila ako, that would be impossible.
Naghilamos nalang ako saka bumaba papuntang dining room. Nakita ko naman na nakaupo na sila Tita at Tito with Dani. Himala wala ata si Thirdy.
Thirdy: Morning, guys! Morning, Ate Ly.
