It started with a letter - Donny Pangilinan

Chapter 16: Lipstick

Annika's POV

I woke up early in the morning, 4:30 am pa lang ata. This is it pancit. I'm not a morning person pero kailangan, 1 week lang naman.

Umalis silang lahat kaninang 3 am so I'm now left with Donny and Solana.

Solana's still sleeping on my bed so I kissed her forehead. She looks so peaceful.

I checked my To-do list... and the first thing to do is to prepare our breakfast.

I asked Hannah before they left kung ano yung favorite breakfast nung dalawa. She said na they love pancakes daw so yun na lang yung gagawin ko.

Tiningnan ko yun pantry nila and nakakalula. Punong puno. Ganito talaga kapag mayayaman.

After kong magluto and maghanda ng table, umakyat ako para gisingin si Solana.

"Sweetie, wake up na. Breakfast is ready"

"5 minutes pa please."

"No, no, male-late ka sa school niyan sige ka."

Bumangon si Solana pero nakapikit pa din siya so binuhat ko siya pababa. Nung pinaupo ko na siya sa dining table, saka pa lang siya nagising. Cutie pie.

"Good morning Lana"

"Good morning too, Ate. I'll just go to the bathroom ha"

"Okay, okay"

Hindi ko alam kung gigisingin ko ba si Donny or hihintayin ko na lang siya magising. Baka sungitan lang ako nun eh

"Where's Kuya?"

"He's still sleeping pa ata, do you want me to wake him up?"

"Ako na lang Ate"

"Okay, I'll just wait for you here"

Bumaba si Donny na buhat buhat si Solana. Masamang mag-assume pero I would love to see this kind of view every morning. Para pala kaming pamilya dito.

"Why are you smiling?" - Solana

"May naalala lang ako, Lana. Let's eat na"

"Let's pray first"

After naming magdasal, kumain na kaming tatlo. There's an awkward silence between the two of us, yes. Donny and I. Buti na lang nagki-kwento si Solana. So kahit papano nababawasan yung katahimikan.

"Baby, go upstairs na and take a bath na ha."

"Yes, kuya. Ikaw din maligo ka, ang baho mo na eh. Hihi"

"What did you say?"

Naghabulan silang dalawa paakyat. Habang ako naman, naghugas na ng pinagkainan namin. I prepared Solana's baon too. Buti na lang talaga marunong akong mag-luto. Nagwalis na din ako bago ako nag-ayos ng sarili ko. Ihahatid ko pa kasi si Solana sa school.

I'm now wearing my corporate attire, may meeting kasi kami today. Buti na nga lang half day lang eh, hectic kasi sched. ko ngayon. Chos. Kailangan ko pang i-harvest yung mga tanim nila Tita tapos lilinisin ko pa yung pool.

"Ate, please braid my hair"

"Sure, come here"

I started braiding her hair nang nagsalita si Donny.

"Solana, where's your lunch bag?"

"It's inside the cabinet near the dining table."