The (not so) Sweet Serendipity

18.2

As soon as she saw us, she helped me with Richard. We decided to lay him down on the couch. I guess she was just in a rush to get Richard off me. When Tita and Riza saw us, they rushed to get towels.

Well this is awkward. To add to that, when Richard was on the couch, he grabbed my hand, "Don't leave me. Here ka lang please." I looked at Louise but she didn't look at me or him and just busied herself in removing Richard's shoes. And again, all he said was he was sorry. Over and over again, wala ako narining kundi, I'm sorry Menggay.

I crouched down beside Richard and sat on the floor beside the couch, Tita and Riza already handed us our towels, "Chard it's okay na, you're home now." I used the towel to wipe his face, arms, dry his hair. "Thank you for doing this Menggay. Huwag ka paulan please lang. Sorry talaga ha." Tapos nakatulog na siya. Passed out na si gago.

And then it was tita who wrapped a towel around me, "Iha anak kami na bahala sakanya, mag patuyo ka na. Mag bihis ka na rin anak, magkakasakit ka niyan, basang basa ka o."

"Hindi, huwag na po tita, okay na po ako. Sa bahay na po ako magpapalit. Okay na po tong towel. Thank you po."

"Huwag na matigas ang ulo anak. Riza kuhaan mo nga ng damit itong Ate at Kuya mo."

Syempre alangan naman umangal pako. Sunod lang ng sunod. I know better than to not follow tita's orders.

"Dito ka na rin matulog. Basang basa ka, maligo ka na dito. Ang lakas ng ulan, uuwi ka pa sainyo, wala ka pang kasama dun. Dito ka na. Papaayos ko na rin kay Riza yung isang kwarto." Okay, dito hindi ko natiis at napaangal ulit ako.

"Tita, okay lang po talaga ako. Huwag na po."

"Anong sabi ko, huwag na matigas ulo diba. Tsaka para sayo naman talaga yang isang kwarto diyan." Nahiya nako at naalala ko andito rin nga pala si Louise. So teka, dito rin ba siya matutulog?

So I tried again, "Tita, kahit magpalit na lang po ako ng damit dito, tapos uwi na po ako." Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay, "Sabi ko nga po eh, dito na po ako matutulog, bukas na lang ako ng umaga uuwi."

"Very good Menggay, kaya love kita eh, napakamasunuring bata."

"Labyu din tita."

"Pero seryoso iha, thank you ha. Alam mo naman yan minsan pag napapalakas ang inom." Actually hindi ko alam, pero umoo na lang rin ako.

"Tita naman po. Ako pa ba."

"O sige na, maligo ka na dun at ipapahanda ko na rin kwarto mo."

"Sige po."

I stood up, tumingin ako kay Louise and then kay tita then left. They lived in the same house so I didn't have to ask where was what, I knew this place by heart.

After I showered and changed. I went out to the living room again, Richard was no longer there, I wondered how they got him to bed. Then I wondered where everyone else was.

"O, Ate tapos ka na pala."

"Tulog na sila tita?"

"Oo eh, pahinga na daw siya. Pero sabi niya, huwag mo na daw subukang umuwi tonight at aabangan ka niya sa breakfast bukas." Natatawang sinabi sakin ni Riza. Natawa na rin ako, iniisip ko pa lang, alam na ni tita.

"Bakit gising ka pa?"

"Inaabangan kita, ako kaya papagalitan pag umuwi ka." Natawa ulit kami. Gustuhin ko man tanungin kung umuwi na si Louise, hindi na lang, knowing tita hindi niya rin pauuwiin yun. Baka dun na siya sa kwarto ni Chard. Wala naman palang problema eh. Chismis lang talaga yung kumakalat. I didn't even waste my time to think about what he said. Sobrang lasing lang talaga niya.

"Hindi no, kilala ko si Tita, takot ko na lang dun. I wouldn't even dare." Nakatingin lang sakin si Riza nang nakangiti, as if gusto niya pang magkwentuhan lang kami. Namiss ko rin naman siya, "Gusto mo tabi tayo matulog tonight? Dun ka na rin sa kwarto ko, unless mas gusto mo matulog sa kwarto mo."

"Yes!" Tuwang tuwa si Riza at agad bumalik sa kwarto niya and came out with her pillows and blanket.

Then we entered my room and kwentuhan galore. Okay rin naman pala na di ako umuwi. Just like Richard, I grew up with Riza. I really enjoy catching up with her and exchanging stories, she's like the baby sister I never had.