San Francisco

Chapter 6

"Tara sa loob," my mom invited James.

I turned to look at James and gave him a tumanggi-ka look. But being as stubborn as he can be, James gave me his not-so-famous smirk before turning to my mom.

"Sige po," he gave my mom a warm smile.

Nauna na silang pumasok sa loob samantalang ako naman ay naiwan dito sa labas. Wow. Just wow. Sino bang anak dito? Ako o si James?

I decided to go in. Pagod na rin ako. I just want to rest. As I enter our living room, I saw James sitting prettily on one of our couches while looking at the picture frames.

Gosh. Nakakahiya. My siopao face!

Mukha namang napansin ni James ang presensya ko dahil agad siyang tumingin sa akin. He giggled and looked back at the pictures.

"You look way cuter when you were younger," he said.

Trying not to blush, I rolled my eyes and sat down on the opposite couch.

"Oh, shut up," I said and turned the TV on using the remote control.

I'm looking intently at the screen but I couldn't focus because I can also see James staring at me from my peripheral vision.

Nang hindi ko na matiis, in-off ko ang TV at humarap sa kanya.

"Why are you staring at me?" I bluntly asked him.

He didn't answer. Instead, he looked down. Wait, is he looking at my butt?

Tumingin ako sa pwetan ko saka sa kanya. My eyebrows furrowed as I ask him, "What are you looking at?"

His right eyebrow raised and he scratched his head. He took a deep breath before speaking. "You do know that's my favorite, right?" he said as he points towards my butt.

I looked at it. Oh, is it his hoodie?

Tinuro ko iyon. "Ito?" I asked and he gave me a nod.

Lalong kumunot ang noo ko. "Masama bang upuan? Inupuan ko rin naman 'to kanina, ah?" I said as I stand up to remove it from my waist. "Tsaka it was you who—"

"Don't," James said.

Napatigil ako sa pagtanggal ng hoodie dahil sa sinabi niya. Binigyan ko siya ng tingin na malalaman niyang naguguluhan na ako sa kanya. Tinignan niya lang rin ako.

"Just...go check yourself in the bathroom," sabi niya sa akin.

"Why would I?" I asked.

He stood up and held my shoulders. He softly pushed me that I had no choice but to walk wherever he'd take me. Nakarating kami sa hagdan saka siya tumigil.

"Go. I'll be waiting here," he smiled at me.

"Will you be okay by yourself? Mukhang may niluluto pa kasi si Mama. Wala kasi dito sila Ate Trisha, eh," I said, referring to our maids that I don't really treat as maids. They're like my relatives that I also care about.

James gave me a nod. "I'll be fine. Go," he smiled.

"Okay," sagot ko saka ako umakyat papunta sa kwarto ko.

Pagkarating ko ay agad akong humarap sa full-length mirror ko para tignan kung anong mali sa hitsura ko.

"Wala naman, ah?" I spoke when I saw nothing wrong about my appearance. Well, except for my legs that my bashers oh so love.

I unwrapped the hoodie from my waist and turned around to get a look at my back appearance. Everything seems fine until I noticed something.

"Oh my God!" I nervously whispered.

No way! Tell me this isn't true! This isn't happening to me! What the! Oh, God! What to do? What to do? Did he see this? Did he?

I kept walking back and forth, my heart beating faster every second. And then it hit me. At this point, I stopped walking.

"That's why he told me to check myself in the bathroom," I said and right after that, I jumped face-down on my bed.

Impit akong sumigaw habang lalo kong binaon ang mukha ko sa kama. Kinapa ko ang isang unan ko at tinakip 'yon sa ulo ko para lang masiguro kong walang makarinig sa akin.

Nang hindi na ako makahinga, tumingala ako at huminga ng malalim.

"Nakakahiya," I said before I stood up. I took my pants off and brought it with me to the bathroom.

Nilabhan ko muna 'yong pants ko saka dahan-dahang tinanggal ang underwear ko. I really hate doing these things. Ang lagkit kasi sa pakiramdam. Ugh.

I'm almost done when I accidentally let go of it and it fell on the floor. Shoot. Mabuti nalang may mga panties talaga ako dito sa bathroom in case makalimutan kong magdala. I also don't like going out without one when I'm on my period. Baka kasi magkalat lang ng blood sa floor ng room ko.

I opened the cabinet where my undies are and took one. I looked for a pad but I saw none.

Bigla akong kinabahan. No way. Ang dami kong stock no'n dito, eh.

Marahas kong binuksan 'yong cabinet kung sa'n nakalagay 'yong mga pads ko pero tanging plastic nalang ang natira.

"Look how lucky you are," I sarcastically told myself.

***

About 30 minutes had passed at nandito pa rin ako sa bathroom, nag-iisip ng paraan kung paano ako makakalabas nang maayos. I have no choice. Maybe I'll just call for my mom. Hope she'd hear me.

"Ma!" sigaw ko pero wala akong narinig na sagot.

"Ma!" sigaw ko ulit sa mas malakas na boses.

This time, I heard something. Parang pagbukas ng pinto. I'm not sure. Maybe it's her.

"Mama!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. Mayamaya lang, nakarinig na ako ng katok sa pinto ng bathroom ko. I exhaled. Mabuti nalang narinig niya ako.

Lumapit ako and just as I turned the doorknob, I heard her voice...

"Kath? Are you okay?"

...and boy, I swear I've never heard my mom talk in an Aussie accent. Not until today.

***
A/N : Super ikli? I know. And I'm sorry! :( So, sino kaya 'yong nasa room ni Kath? Aussie accent, huh? ;)