Stay Away
UMUPO ako sa couch nang umilaw ang iPad na nakapatong doon. Napangiti ako sa aking nakita. Sinagot ko agad ang FaceTime call. The last conversation we had was four days ago.
"Ate Oli, hi!" bungad ko.
"Hey, little sis," ngumiti si Ate sa screen at bahagyang kumaway. May nakabalot na puting scarf sa kanyang leeg habang suot ang isang brown coat sa ibabaw ng Led Zeppelin sweater na regalo ko sa kanya dati. She was still into those stuff, I presumed. "Sorry ngayon lang ako nakatawag ulit. I've been really busy with work."
I could see that she was in their faculty office. May mga tao sa likod niya at mukhang busy rin sa trabaho.
Ate Oli worked as a professor in a university in New York right after she took her Masters degree pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa siya nakakabalik ng Pilipinas. She went there for better experience. She really loved teaching ever since we were kids. Siya lagi ang tutor ko kahit hands-on pa sa amin si Mommy.
When I was younger, I remembered her professors commending Ate's credentials during her despedida party before she went to the States to pursue her career. I couldn't help but feel proud with every achievement she had.
"Okay lang, Ate. Kamusta? Any update kung kailan ang balik mo?"
She did plan to come back para dito na lang mag-turo. Wala kaming kamag-anak sa New York. Mag-isa lang siya doon kaya nag-aalala kami minsan sa kanya.
We all knew that Ate Oli had this independent personality. She hated being reprimanded or told of what to do with her life. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit hindi lagi sila magkasundo ni Daddy.
Our dad had always been strict to us. Buti na lang, nandiyan si Mommy para pagsabihan siyang huwag tutulan ang mga bagay na gusto naming gawin.
"Yes. I've got my resignation approved earlier. This will be my last semester here," saad niya. She seemed a bit sad pero alam kong excited na rin siya na bumalik dito. "See you in two months!"
"We can't wait to see you, Ate. Gusto ka nang makita ni Art! You owe him a set of Lego daw." I chuckled.
"Sabihin mo sa kanya, I already bought him the limited edition. Ikaw, anong gusto mong pasalubong?"
I shrugged. Hindi naman ako particular sa gamit. "Ikaw bahala."
Ngumiwi si Ate sa sinabi ko. "Ayan na naman tayo sa ikaw bahala na 'yan, e! Sige na... tell me."
"Ikaw mahilig mag-shopping sa ating dalawa. Kaya mo na 'yan."
"Hay nako, bibilan na lang kita ulit ng make-up sa Nars and more feminine clothes, para kahit papano naman ay hindi ka napapagkamalang tomboy! Tapos, pagsisisihan lalo n'ong ex mo iyong ginawa niya," pang-asar pa niya. I had to ignore the latter statement.
It was the truth, though. Maayos naman ako sa sarili but I wasn't as kikay as her. It had also come to a yearly habit of Ate na bilhan ako ng bagong set ng make-up kahit hindi ko naman talaga kailangan. Ginagamit ko na nga lang minsan ang mga binili niya dahil nanghihinayang ako sa pera. Lagi kasing nae-expired sa'kin.
"Ha-ha. Very funny," I gave her the look habang humilig sa arm rest. "Huwag ka nang bumili ng mga make-up at damit, Ate. Marami na niyan dito."
"Oo na. You don't need make-up na! 'Cause you're too damn pretty already."
"Sus! Nambola pa. Gusto mo lang ata masabihan ng maganda ka rin."
Humalakhak siya. "You got me. Hindi naman kasi iyon mapagkakaila, 'di ba? If you're pretty, then I'm pretty, too. Magkamukha tayo, e!"
