pink skies // donny pangilinan

fifteen

Billie

"Ate Lili!" Solana giggles as she saw me when I got out from the car, I greeted her as well then I hugged her. Sobrang cute ni Solana, grabe. Since I don't have things to do at home, I decided to gate-crash at the Pangilinan's. I spotted Donny and Benj outside din playing Frisbee. When he saw Solana ran to my direction, he also noticed my presence including Benj.

"I didn't know girls na pala yung nagvi-visit sa boys," tawang sabi ni Donny while his hands are in his pocket, Solana and I walked towards their front yard. "I'm here for Solana, right Solana?" I pinch Solana's cheek and she nods with a smile, "At huwag kang feeling, hindi ikaw yung binibisita ko." I rolled my eyes and then he laughs, "May sinabi ba ako na ako yung binibisita mo? I meant Benj." Jusmiyo, parang kapatid ko na yan si Benj. "Ikaw ha, huwag mong isali si Benj sa kalokohan mo." He laughs at me pati na rin si Benj natawa.

"BJ!" Tita Maricel exclaimed as she got out from the front door, I smiled at her then gave her a hug. She asked me if I'm okay, then the usual I would say I'm fine. Alam niya naman kasi kung gaano kalungkot sa bahay, especially having a broken family, it's just me and my dad then madalas pa na wala si dad sa bahay dahil he travels a lot. We all got in the house, dinalhan ko rin sila ng pasalubong ni dad from his recent visit in Baguio kaya they were so happy din.

I'm teaching Solana on how to draw, this is usually what we love to do when I got time for her. I love anything about drawing, especially painting but let's start with the basic. "Isn't it my favorite child of Fred Cojuangco?" Tito Anthony just arrived from biking, I turned to look then stood and gave tito a hug. "It's because I'm the only child." I sighed then all of them laugh. "Soon to be daughter-in-law, right Donny?" asar ni Tito, we looked at Donny who knitted his brows then covered his face with a pillow.

"Secret, sa amin na yun." Donny grinned and he buried his face on the pillow, like kunware kinikilig siya. Kyot niyo po huhu. Ganyan talaga si Donny eh, hindi KJ kahit inaasar kami. "Diba, Beej?" tinaas-taas niya pa kilay niya sa'kin tapos tumawa lang kaming lahat. As you can see, super close ako sa family nila especially sa siblings kasi iisang anak lang ako.

Nasa backyard kami—Donny, Hannah and me. Solana went for a nap while si Benj naman nagbabysit daw sa neighbour, si Ate Ella ay may pinuntahan daw at hindi ko na siya naabutan. Napagod ako kakalaro kasama si Solana and si Hannah, ganito pala yung feeling na may kapatid. I'm so surprised though nung dumating si Solana sa kanila, I get along with her pretty well kasi I thought I don't know how to adjust basta kids.

We have snacks in front of us, like chips, juice and cookies that Hannah baked. "Okay, smile!" Tita Maricel took a photo of the three of us, Hannah is crossing her legs while smiling in the camera, I sit next to her I just smiled while holding my phone then Donny on the other hand, is raising his peace sign. "Hannah, Donny and Donny's girlfriend." asar ni tita while admiring the picture, "Mom!" binigyan ni Donny si tita ng 'stop na ma please' face then we laugh. "Oh sige! Donny's future girlfriend." tawang sabi ni tita and we all laugh, then Donny pouted. Pa-kiss wooo joke hahahah.

Donny, Hannah and I decided to play football because we are in the mood. Hannah and I are teammates so we usually hang around trainings, though she is still in the Juniors' Team so we haven't played together in an actual game.

Me against Hannah then Donny is the goalkeeper, Hannah make things so difficult for me to get the ball, sure she knows that I've been slacking off and drinking too much that's why she got rid of me easily then she scored, 1-0. I kick the ball with control making sure Hannah won't get it from me, keeping the ball near me when I got closer, I kicked the ball with all force and I look at Donny who just stared at me then it was too late, it hit Donny's forehead but managed to get the goal. Hala! Patay ako nito oh.

I ran to Donny while he fell to the ground, Hannah called tita Maricel so it's just me and Donny. I lift his head slowly but still, tinatakpan niya pa rin mukha niya. Nung nakaupo na siya, kinurot-kurot niya yung buhok niya at mukhang nilalayo niya yung buhok niya from his face.

"I'm really sorry, Dons. I didn't mean to." I hold his arm while he still covers his face, "I'm fine," he mumbled. Sinubukan kong kunin yung mga kamay niya palayo sa mukha niya pero matigas din bungo nito, pareho kami wah. "Let me see your forehead," sabi ko ng malumanay, still holding his arm nilayo niya na yung mga kamay niya from his face. His forehead was so red, I held his hair away from his face just to have a view of what I did.

When I look at him directly in the eyes, I couldn't read any emotions. Yun' bang hindi ko maintindihan kung okay lang ba siya o galit ba siya. Natatakot lang talaga ako, hindi ko alam anong pwede kong gawin. "I'm sorry talaga, are you okay?" I know it sounds stupid to ask him that, but I barely manage to make a statement that is comforting, kung bakit kasi hindi ako caring na type na tao eh. He just looks me in the eyes, yung parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero hindi niya alam kung paano. I hate it when we are having this eye contact stuff, it bothers me kasi I don't know what's running inside his head.

"BJ, I-i..."

"Donny!" Tita Maricel raises her voice, she's totally nervous. She ran towards us with Hannah. I know Tita will react like that kasi she's a mom, binigyan ni Tita si Donny ng icebag for his forehead habang nakaupo na kami sa table sa backyard. I apologized to Tita Maricel and that I didn't mean it, and she understand naman. They left me and Donny because they had to prepare for dinner.

Donny has his icebag on his forehead while he also wipes his sweat with his towel around his neck, I'm sitting in front of him. "I'm sorry talaga ha," I said, "Bakit ka kasi nakatulala? What were you thinking?" Tinignan niya lang ako uli, ano ba problema nito?

"Stop apologizing, it's okay. I'm okay." he smiled at me genuinely, I sighed kasi naman kasi, sobrang tanga niya nun' ewan ko kung ano iniisip niya. "Sa susunod kasi, mag-ingat ka yan' tuloy nangyare sa'yo." I muttered then he just smiled at me, anyare sa kanya? Masama ba talaga yung magkasipa ko sa ulo niya, mukhang nakalog ko yata.

"Uy, you care for me pala?" he fake gasps, I throw a towel at him then he laugh, "Wag' nalang! Ayaw mo naman pala eh." I rolled my eyes then I crossed my arms, "Sorry na! I know you love me." Paano mo nalaman huhu, aysh. He smirked then I gave him a deadly glare, "Di' noh! Ano ka sinuswerte?" pataray kong sabi.

"Ikaw siguro yung su-swertehin sa'kin." he stick his tongue out then I laugh at him, "Ano? Diba totoo? You'll be the luckiest." he added. "What are you talking about?" patawa kong sabi, ano kaya ibig sabihin niya, di ko magets haha.

"Wala! May kasalanan ka pa sa'kin." he pouted changing the topic, "What do you want?" I groan then he chuckles. "Libre mo ko," he grinned putting the icebag down, "Kailan na naman?" I stared at him blankly. "I'll text you or something, basta ready mo wallet mo. Okay?" sabi ni Donny tapos tumango lang ako.

It was getting late, then it was a sign for me to head home because dad might be waiting for me. I checked the time, it's almost 6pm.

"Are you sure you're not joining us for dinner?" Tito Anthony asked, "Hindi na po, Tito. Maybe next time po." I replied tapos nagpaalam na ako sa kanila, hinatid ako ni Donny sa labas. I told him na huwag na sana kasi he needs to rest dahil dun sa nangyare kanina, pero magkasing tigas yung mga bungo namin then he also wanted to make sure na makasakay ako ng safe dahil magmamaneho pa daw ako pauwi. Ang oa din noh, wala naman sigurong masamang mangyayari dito sa village nila.

While walking out from their house, I noticed that Donny is busy with his phone kaya walang usapan na naganap habang palabas kami. When I reach my car, I took his attention away from his phone.

"Sorry ulit sa nangyare kanina. Alis na ako." I waved at him and then he smiled.

Donny grinned. "Ingat ka."

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