"Pwede ko ba siyang kausapin?” Gab said.
“Oo naman, of course,” Camille said. “Nasa taas lang siya, nagpapahinga.”
“Ai naku! Yung babaeng yun. Ayaw talaga kumain…” Cienne ranted.
She just came down the stairs and she was holding a tray of food. Dinalhan niya pala ng merienda si Carol, kaya pala hindi ko makita kanina. She was stopped in her tracks and ranting when she saw Gab in her living room. “Gab! Nandito ka na!”
“Hi Cienne,” Gab greeted. “Si Carol?”
“Hay naku, nandun sa taas. Dinalhan ko ng merienda, ayaw naman. Iisang saging pa lang yung nakain ng babaeng yun sa buong araw. Kausapin mo na nga,” Cienne said.
“Akyatin ko na lang?” Gab asked.
“Go lang,” Cienne said.
At umakyat na nga si Gab para kausapin si Carol.
“Ai naku Cienne, sana pinadala mo na yang sandwich kay Gab,” Camille said. “Para mapakain na yung bruha.”
“Ai oo nga, sorry nakalimutan ko,” Cienne smiled at her twin sister. “Di bale, alam na ni Gab yung gagawin niya. Teka, nasan yung asawa ko?”
“Dun sa labas naglalaro ng basketball kasama nila Thomas,” Kim answered nonchalantly.
“Nino?” Cienne’s attention suddenly shifted to Kim.
“Kasama nila Thomas at nung mga boyfriends ng mga kapatid mo,” Kim repeated.
“Thomas? Basketball? Eh hindi na naglalaro yun ah,” Cienne said as a matter of fact.
Kim and Camille just pointed at me. “Ahhhh… dumating na ba yung inspiration?” Cienne asked the other two.
“Uh.haaaa,” the two answered.
“Ewan ko sa inyo,” I said. “Tara na nga sa labas”
“What happened?” AVO said, taking huge strides to our direction. The boys are walking towards the inside of the house. They wore worried faces.
“Wala. Dumating lang si Gab. Nandun na sa taas kinausap si Carol,” his wife informed him. “Ba’t kayo tumigil?”
“You girls were watching us kanina and when we turned you were gone. Kuya Jason said, he saw you were in hurry to get inside,” Thomas said as he looked at me from head to toe, checking if I’m still intact.
“We’re okay,” I said trying to convince Thomas. I kind of fidgeted as he continued to stare trying to look for something physically missing from me.
“What’s up?” It was Ate Cha. She came in from the inside. “I got a call from Mom so I went up sa terrace. What’s the commotion about?”
“Dumating kasi si Gab, Ate. Andun na sa taas kakausapin na daw si Carol,” Kim informed.
“Talaga? Hindi ko nakitang umakyat,” she thought loudly. “Okay lang ba yung dalawa?” Ate inquired.
“Okay lang yan,” Kim answered.
“Cienne?” we all turned to the man who called Cienne. He was standing on the door.
“Yes Gab?” Cienne went in front so they can converse properly.
“Can you help Carol to some food?” he said and stepped aside and it produce Carol with her head down. “Cars, please kumain ka muna,” he half pleaded and half commanded to the girl beside him. Judging by Carol’s face, they still aren’t okay.
“Babe, please,” Carol looked at Gab. Now that I get to see Carol’s face properly, her eyes are almost blood red and watery.
“Cars?” I can’t help myself but be worried about my friend.
