Chapter 1
"Nak, guess who." I look up at Mom from scribbling something on my notebook.
Inisog ko muna ang salamin ko bago sumagot sa kanya. Her mouth curving in a mischievous smile. Hmm. Something is up.
"Who, Ma?" bumalik ulit ako sa pagsusulat we're at the kitchen right now, me doing some requirement checking para sa graduation. It's past 6 in the evening, ganito kami ni mama simula noong umalis na para magtrabaho ang mga kapatid ko at si Papa naman exact 7pm lagi dumadating sa bahay.
Bigla na lang tumili si Mama at tumalon. I threw her a questioning look.
" Ma, maghunos dili ka. Dadalhin na ba kita sa ospital?"
"Anaaaaaak! Hulaan mo kung sino dadating dito next week." Her eyes twinkling (if that's even possible) she's so excited na nakakahawa na rin.
"Sila Ate?" Naexcite ako bigla kasi magsasummer na 2 weeks from now at beastmode na ang mga 4th year na katulad ko sa pag aasikaso ng mga requirement dahil gagraduate na kami at tsaka ang tagal oo ng hindi nakikita mga kapatid ko.
"Hindeeeee. Guess again." ngumingisi na sya na parang may scheme sya with some ungodly creature.
"Eh, sino naman po? I can't think of anyone else na gugustuhing magbakasyon dito sa atin other than my siblings." bumalik ako sa pagsusulat.
"Sirit na ba?" huminga ako ng malalim at inayos ulit ang salamin ko at tumingin kay Mama. Humor thy mother.
"Sirit na po Ma." ibigay ang hilig ng matanda.
"Si Kokoy anak! Si Kokooooooy! Aayyyyyeeeeeee!"
Ano daw? Tama ba narinig ko? Nagpapalit palit lang ako ng tingin mula kay Mama at sa notebook kong di ko na bigla maintindihan kung ano ang nakasulat. Tumingin ako kay Mama na nakangiti pa rin sa akin. Keep your cool, Summer.
"Ano naman po gagawin nila dito? Tsaka Ma malapit na graduation, stressful na next week." Bumalik naman si Mama sa pagluluto nya.
"Um, baka Wednesday andito na sila. Buong family ata nila Kokoy ang magbabakasyon dito. By the way anak, dito sila satin tutuloy muna kasi alam mo naman na pinagbili na nila yung dati nilang bahay pagka alis nila."
"What?!" My voice came out a few octaves high. Of all places and houses bakit dito pa?
"Sabi ko, dito sila tu--"
"I know what you said Mom." Exasperated now, I fixed my glasses at the bridge of my nose.
"Then why bother asking me again?"
"Did Dad agree with you on this? Bakit ngayon nyo lang po sakin sinabi 'to?"
"Yes, he agreed with me on this and actually, I forgot, anak. Sorry. "
"Argh, and you didn't even ask me if I am okay with them staying here. Kelan nyo pa po sila nakausap?"
"Last month pa, it's his Mom that I talked to. Are you okay with them staying here?" I rolled my eyes and gave her and irritated groan.
"Whatever." I shook my head then adjusted my glasses again.
"Anak naman, you know staying at a hotel is too expensive kahit pa sabihin natin na mayaman sila and besides, family friend natin sila. Ano ba yung tumulong
Sa kapwa, diba? Are you still affected with what happened before?"
"Let's not talk about that Ma. Basta po no distractions next week. Pupunta ako kila Mavis kapag may nambwisit sakin during Hell Week."
"Copy that. Yeeeey! Thanks baby, I love you. Don't worry hindi na makulit si Kokoy
You'll be surprised kapag nakita mo yung batang yon, susko, laki na ng pinagbago oh."
Di na lang ako sumagot at pinilit na magfocus sa homework. I don't even want to talk about Kokoy, not even with my conscience.
"I'm home!" Dad beamed at us pagkapasok nya sa kusina. He kissed the top of my head and I hugged him in return.
"Hi honey! How was work?" Mom kissed him on the lips and Dad hugged her after.
"Freddy got sacked. It was heavy at the office."
"oh, what did he do now?"
I drowned their conversation and even at the dinner. I can't even think straight to be exact. Lahat ng memories ko with Kokoy biglang nag playback sa utak ko, on replay ha, want-to-sawa ata tong utak ko kakaremind sakin kung ano ang mga nangyari during teenage years ko. Eugh. Anyhow, wala namang complaints sila Papa sa katahimikan ko, they just let me be with my annoying thoughts. Alam na kasi ni Papa na sinabi na sakin ni Mama ang tungkol sa pagstay nila Kokoy dito kaya they are keeping their distance para walang pagwawala ang mangyari.
During bedtime I keep on tossing and turning. Hindi na mawala ang bwisit na Kokoy na yon sa isip ko, my brain keeps on conjuring scenarios about their arrival; should I give him a cold shoulder or hug him when he arrives? We were close before...or so I thought. Ugh. Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa desk ko at tiningnan kung online pa si Mavis sa facebook, nocturnal din kasi ang bestfriend ko, perks of being a college student, umaga ka na talaga natutulog. Unfortunately, she's already asleep. I should have known this day would come, tutal yun naman sinabi nya sakin dati.
"I'll come back." He even kissed me on my cheeks that day at the airport and I held him to that promise but...promises are meant to be broken and so does my heart.
I bury my face on my pillow and pray loudly na bigyan ako ng lakas at patience ng Diyos next week kasi baka may mapatay akong lalaki. Haaay.
May the force be with me.
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