I'll Change

IC 3: Harold Jimenez

IC 3: Harold Jimenez

"Stalker ka ah," tumawa si Harold nang mahuli si Zion na tinitignan ang Instagram photos ng isang magandang babae.

"Adik! Girlfriend ko yan! si Eliza," sabi nito sabay tawa rin.

"Hindi nga? Masyado yang maganda para sa'yo pare! Ang panget mo kaya!" asar nito.

Nagkakilala sila sa isang quiz bee competition. Nagkaharap sila hanggang finals and sino pa nga ba ang mananalo? Ede ang mas gwapo, si Harold.

"Yeah, but she just dump a lead vocalist para sa panget na 'to!" and they both laugh.

***
"Ito o, ang ganda nya dito."

"Ito rin Mommy o."

"Oo nga. Tignan mo 'to, nagstage play din pala sya."

"Mommy! Ang cute nya here o. Highschool dance nila."

"Dito, mas maganda sya. Woke up like this."

"Patingin nga. Hala oo nga, wala ng make up, make up."

"Mommy, pwedeng pakihinaan yung boses? nanood po ako," magalang nyang sabi para manahimik ang dalawa.

"Zion, nandyan ka pala. Look o, she's so pretty," sabay pang iniharap sa kanya ng Mommy at kakambal ang mga tablet nila showing the face of...

"Si Elis yan ah," naningkit yung mata nya. He do it whenever he thinks somethings wrong on what he said.

"Eliza," sabay na pagcorrect sa kanya ng mag-ina.

"You know her, son? Classmate mo?" tanong ng Mommy nya.

"Girlfriend ng tropa ko," he said.

"Really? You know kung saan sya nagsschool? Ililipat ko doon si Haira," their mother excitedly said.

"Really?! I'm so excited to finally meet her!"

***
"Eliza. Meet my twin, Harold Jimenez," pakilala sa kanya ng kakambal.

"H-hi," she don't know why she stutter upon greeting him.

"Eliza! Ilang gwapo na ba ang naging boyfriend mo?! Where are your confidence!!!"  she told to herself.

"Teka. Did I introduce myself? I'm Felicity Pontia- Jimenez, but just call me Tita Felly. Okie?" she charmingly smile at her, "Cookies? You want? I can bake!"

"Talaga po? Pwede po ba akong manood?" her eyes glimmer. Noong bata pa kasi sya ay nagbebake din ang Mom nya, nahinto lang nang manlalaki ito at dahil 6 years old pa lang sya nang mga panahon na yun, naiwan sya sa Mom nya at sa kabit nito.

***
"I'm home!!!" dinig ang boses ng businessman na si Darwin Jimenez sa kusina. Katatapos lang kasi nilang magbake at sakto ang dating ng padre de pamilya.

"Daddy! We bake some cookies and cupcakes! And remember the girl Mommy and I look at Instagram? The pretty lady Mommy and I talk about? She's here and she's my new bessy. Did I say that she's pretty? Like oh my gosh talaga!" mahabang pagbati ni Haira sa Daddy nya sabay mano dito at halik sa pisngi.

"Andaldal mo, Haira," sabi naman ni Harold na pababa ng hagdan at nakipagfist bump sa Daddy nya.

"Ansaya naman ng family nila," napangiti na lang ng mapait si Eliza. They used to be like this a decade ago.

"Ang aga mo naman umuwi, baby ko. Hindi pa ako nagluluto ng dinner," halos naiiyak na sabi ni Tita Felly.

"Okay lang yun, Mommy. I'll do the cooking. Magrest ka na lang muna sa room mo," sabi ni Haira.

"Eeeehhh... I want to cook for Eliza. I'll cook Sinigang with honey!" parang batang sabi nito.

"Naglilihi sya sa honey," nagulat sya nang bumulong sa kanya si  Harold.

Sinigang with honey? Anong lasa nun?

"Tita, kami na po ni Haira ang magluluto. Nagbake ka nanaman po eh," she smiled at her.

Her eyes glimmer, "Sure ka? Basta, I want anything with honey."

"Once, she cried when we didn't eat her Sinangag with honey partnered with seaweed soup with honey," natatawang kwento ni.... how should I call him?

"Teka? Eliza right? I'm your Tito Darwin," he flash his smile kaya lumabas ang malalim nyang dimples.

"Hello po," she sligtly bow her head as a sign of respect.

"Tara na at magluto Eliza!" Haira pulled her to the kitchen.

***
"Fried chicken and tempura on honey and squash soup," she said.

"Walang honey yung squash soup?" nakapout na tanong ng kanyang Tita Felly kaya lumapit sya dito at dinrawingan ng heart with smiley ang soup nito gamit ang honey syrup.

"It's so nice!" she exclaimed.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful meal served for today. Thank you sa lahat ng blessings na nareceive namin. Thank you for Haira and Eliza's life for cooking this wonderful meal. Nawa po ay magustuhan ito ng pinakamamahal kong baby ko at ng new baby sa tummy nya. We lift all praises and honor in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen." Her Tito lead the prayer.

Nanibago sya. She never did pray for food or rather say, she never heard a prayer before na puro thank you lang. Kasi whenever she pray, nawawala lagi ang thanksgiving at puro hingi*tanong*hingi ang laman ng less than 7 times a year nyang dasal.