I'm Lucifer's Wife

35

Just One Day

"Like what I told Lu-lu awhile ago," I grin, "I'll have the three of you for the whole day."

They look at me as if I have two heads that made me smile wider. Ano bang mali sa sinabi ko? I just told them the truth.

"O, bakit ganyan kayo makatingin?" I look at each of them then sigh when nothing changed. Natuklaw na ba 'tong mga 'to ng ahas at natulala? Tsk. "Since you won't answer me, it means yes. So from this point onwards, I don't want to hear any whines coming from you. Clear?"

I didn't wait for them to react at mabilisan silang hinatak. Well, since tatlo sila, pinagsama ko na lang yung mga dulo ng tali nila para magkakadugtong sila. They resisted at first, but I won't be who I am if I let them overpower me. Huh. So in the end—despite their whines and grunts —wala silang nagawa kundi sumunod. If anyone sees us, we look like a new version of the classic kiddy rhyme tatlong bibe.

"Where are we going?" I look behind.

"Ezek, as far as I know, hindi ka pa matanda para makalimutan ang lugar na 'to." I gesture towards our ancestral mansion and the whole ranch then glare at him. "Siguro naman natatandaan mo pa iyon? Sinasabi ko sa'yo, masasapak kita."

We continue walking kahit naririnig ko pa ang reklamo nila. Na kesyo malayo, mainit at ang bilis ko daw maglakad. Jusko. Talo pa nila ang babae kung magreklamo. Well, malayo-layo naman talaga yung mismong bahay mula kung nasaan kami kanina.

In all truths, this place had been a big part of our lives. Mula pagkabata madalas kami dito lalo na kapag busy parents namin. We played and grew up here. The reason why we're here is because of that simple thing. Dito sa lugar na 'to, huling beses kaming nabuo and I want to experience it again even just for one day.

————-

"Apo."

"'Nay!"

I can't help the smile that curl my lips upon seeing her. Agad kong binitawan yung tali na nagdudugtong sa kanila at patakbong sinalubong siya ng yakap.

"Ang batang ire," gosh. I miss that tone and voice. "Hindi ka na nagbago. Para ka pa rin bata kung kumilos."

"'Nay naman!"

Humiwalay naman siya at tinignan ako buong katawan. Inikot-ikot niya pa ako bago haplusin ang buhok ko kagaya nung ginagawa niya noon.

"Ang laki mo na." lumamlam ang mga mata niya. "Dati-rati'y hanggang beywang lang kita, ngayon mas matangkad ka na kaysa sa akin, hija. Lalo mo pang naging kamukha si Señora."

Nanay Linda is my former nanny so as my Mom's. Matagal na siya sa pamilya namin nagtatrabaho. Sa amin na nga siya nagkapamilya at kahit ganoon, hindi siya umalis. She's like my third grandmother. She's kind of strict lalo na pagdating sa akin. But despite the age gap, she can easily adapt at kung minsan mas kalog pa siya kaysa sa akin.

Now, dito na sila ni Tatay Ronnie sa ranch nagpaiwan since may sarili na silang bahay dito. Sila na rin ang siyang ginawa namin na tagapangasiwa sa bahay at rancho.

"Of course, 'Nay. Kanino pa ba ako magmamana?" paglalambing ko sa kanya.

Natawa naman siya kaso napansin kong nakatingin siya sa likuran ko kaya lumingon ako. Shoot.