This Lifetime

Chapter 2

Last night was rather unpleasant.

Buti nalang talaga mabait si Tita Lana at Tito Warren. They'll be leaving in 3 days. At iiwan nila dito yung anak nila.

Wala na kasi silang bahay dito since all of them migrated years ago.

"Ate Mia thank you so much for letting my son stay here" I overheard them talking.

"Lana... para ano pa't naging magpinsan tayo diba?" What? Pinsan ni Mom si Tita Lana? You to say Pinsan ko yung mokong na 'yon?

"You still haven't talk about everything with your daughter right?"

"Sa sitwasyon ni Kai ngayon hindi ko pa pwedeng sabihin. She still had nightmares, hindi na mas madalas before pero meron pa rin. She still see Mommy Tita, hindi ko maexplain bakit nangyayari yon. Wala pa naman sila that time" Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pakikinig, so all my life may tinatago sa akin si Mommy.

"Hindi naman nalalayo si Yuan sa sitwasyon ni Kyla, madalas he speak like Daddy. He never smile, he never laugh, hindi ko na rin alam ang gagawin ko sa kanya. Baka pag nakasama n'ya si Kai may magbago" Ang gulo-gulo naman ng mga sinasabi nila.

"Pero natatakot ako Lana, hindi kaya masyado lang tayo affected sa nakaraan kaya natin nakikita si Mommy Tita at Daddy Tito sa kanila?" My Mom sighed. Napakunot ang noo ko, what are we? A reincarnation of our Grandparents? There's no such thing. Besides why are they insiting on getting us close?

Baka kaya signs of aging lang nilang dalawa, they're already on their late 40's and early 50's kaya siguro kung ano-ano iniisip nila.

And if it's true na magpinsan sila, wala naman akong magagawa kundi tanggapin na pinsan ko yung lalaking 'yon.

I'm gonna wait until my Mom's ready to tell me everything. For now magkukunwari akong walang narinig.

Besides hindi naman n'ya nilihim sa akin na may bestfriend s'yang Lana. Turns out her cousin.

"Good morning" I greeted them

"Good morning ija" they're busy preparing breakfast it's Sunday and it's my RD. At the same time day-off din ng mga maids. Ganito naman si Mommy, she's take care of us kahit na may mga maids naman na pwedeng magprepare for us. Gusto n'ya hands on s'ya lagi.

"Mom what's for breakfast?" Kunwari di ko naamoy yung halimuyak ng bacon and egg na may melted cheese sa ibabaw at fried garlic rice. I was standing behind the concrete division wall between the kitchen and the Dinning area so malamang amoy na amoy ko yon kanina.

"Well your favorite"

Natapos ang breakfast ng hindi bumababa mula sa guest room si Yuan. Pinagwalang bahala lang nila kaya di ako kumibo. Pero lakas makabastos lang. Wala naman s'ya sa sarili n'yang bahay at kahit siguro bahay n'ya 'to, he should at least greet us good morning at sabihin kung kakain s'ya or what.

Mom prepared a plate and an extra ulam for him but he's nowhere in sight.

Bukod sa sayang ang effort ng nanay ko sayang din yung pagkain. Marami pa naman nagugutom ngayon tapos may mga taong walang paki.

Parang mahihirapan ata akong makisama sa kanya.

I was the total opposite of him.

May shift na ako tomorrow night, at least I won't see him in the night at since he's not coming out of his room in the day, I guessed there's a lower chance of bumping into each other.

Great.

Inaya ni Dad si Tito Warren mag-golf at nag-shopping naman sila Mom. I'm alone, meaning I can sleep.

I wore my favorite pajama, tsaka humiga sa bed. I settled myself like a burrito. This is life.

I closed my eyes and pictures of Yuan suddenly flashed. Napadilat ako.

Napatakip ako ng bibig, I just realized hindi si Yuan 'yon, it's Yael. But they look the same.

What on earth is happening?

Nagulat ako nang may biglang kumatok sa pinto. Nakabalik na agad sila Mommy?

I opened the door and slammed it close back.

Shit! Naiwan nga pala yung mokong na 'yon. Why is he knocking at my door?

Binuksa ko ulit, he's still there, "What?" I asked slightly annoyed at his presence.

"I'm hungry" mukha ba akong ref?

"So?"

"I want to eat"

"Then feel at home, go make yourself a satisfying meal," I smiled, "now if you'll excuse me I need to sleep" akmang isasara ko na yung pinto pero pinigilan n'ya.

"I don't know how to cook"

"That's not my problem" I slammed the God damn door! Ano ba? Gusto ba n'ya ipagluto ko pa s'ya? Bakit kasi di s'ya bumaba kanina at sumabay kumain edi sana di s'ya nagugutom ngayon.

And hello why can't he just call for a delivery.

Bumalik ako sa pagkakahiga. Pinikit ko yung mga mata ko and saw his sad face a while ago when I rejected him.

Fucking hell, bakit ako nakokonsensya?

I grunted and mess with my hair and fixed it again. Bumaba ako at pinagluto s'ya.

Nang matapos agad akong umakyat at tinawag s'ya. I knocked three times.

I didn't give him time to ask me what the hell I'm doing here, so I spoke "I cooked, go downstairs and eat, and next time para di ka nagugutom sasabay kang kumain sa amin Break fast is always 6am sharp, got it?" Tsaka ako mabilis na umalis sa harap n'ya at bumalik ng kwarto.

I heard footsteps, mukhang pababa na s'ya.

Thank you Lord makakatulog na rin ako sa wakas!

And again another knock.

Di ko na pinansin please lang patulugin mo ko.

Pero ang kulit n'ya.

"Ano na naman?!" I said annoyed.

"Your Mom called asking you to pick them up, nasiraan daw sila" but I need to sleep.

"Do you know how to drive?" He nodded

"Can you pick them up for me?" He nodded again

"Good"

"But I don't have a car"

"Here's my key, the black hummer is my car" I instructed him, "and oh please drive safely, I don't want my car to have any scratches"