I'd Lie (On Hold)

Chapter 2

Madeline

-December 17-

Hmmm… ang bango-bango talaga ni Ate Jhona.

I gently open my eyes and see Ate Jhona as she brush her long hair. Oo, seryoso ako, ang bango bango niya. Amoy ateng ate! Hahaha.

“Good morning to you, baby Mads,” bati ni Ate Jhona ng makita niya akong gising na. She walks across the room then kinuha niya yung orange juice na nandoon kanina sa glass table. “Drink up, baby, para naman mawala na yan antok mo.”

“Thanks, Ate Jhona,” tinanggap ko yung juice na bigay ni ate at ininom. Wow… nakakamawala nga ng antok! Tumayo na rin ako at nag-inat-inat. Anong oras na ba? “Ate, si Kuya po?”

Napangiti si ate, naalala ko tuloy yung kagabi. Ano ba yung kailangan kong malaman kay Kuya? “He’s outside. Doing some rounds, I think. Sabi niya rin kasi may laro nila mamaya,” --Ate Jhona showed her sexy smirk with her glowing black eyes-- “and we are going to cheer for them,” she continues then winks.

Natawa na lang ako kay ate, paano ba naman kasi, female na female version lang siya ni Kuya Jonathan. Kung hindi mo ga siguro sila kilala, baka isipin mo pang kambal sila but that’s obviously impossible kasi halos ten years ang tanda ni ate sa kanya.

I finished my juice and get on with my bath, gargled some mouthwash then on to the shower. Napaisip tuloy ako habang busy ako sa pagsha-shampoo ng mahaba kong buhok katulad ng kay Ate Jhona. Sayang pala at wala man lang akong ate / kuya o kaya naman mga nakababatang kapatid. Well, I’m very fond with the idea of having some pero hindi na kasi kaya ni Mom. She suffered just to bring me to this world and Dad with me is not going to take the risk of losing Mom.

Kahit ganun pa man, masaya naman ako at may Ate Jhona at Kuya Jonathan naman ako. At malapit na akong bigyan ng pamangkin ni ate. I’m so excited!

I rinsed myself and got out of the shower.

“Hey,” greets Kuya Jonathan, looking so shocked because I think he didn’t know I was coming out of the bath, all face reddened. May sakit ba siya?

“Good morning,” I said worried. Namumula kasi si Kuya Jonathan at kinakabahan ako kasi baka malala na ang sakit niya. I was about to move to touch his forehead when he immediately walks out, glancing back once, he mouthed “get dressed”.

 Napatingin naman ako sa katawan ko, nakatapis naman ako ng twalya. Is there something wrong? I know I should get dressed but… Okay lang ba si kuya?

I shrugged. Wala, baka sa ice cream kagabi at masyado lang siyang nalamigan kaya naman baka may sinat na siya. Mahina pa naman si Kuya Jonathan sa malamig. Kinuha ko na nga ang mga damit ko at nagbihis na, naririnig ko na kasi ang sarili kong tyan. Nagugutom na ako.

“Good morning, Ma’am Madeline,” bati ng isa sa mga maid nila kuya. I greeted her back.

As I’m walking here in the corridor, pass the picture frames, narealize ko na sixteen years na nga kaming magkakasama nila Kuya Jonathan. The memories warm my chest. Tapos in the next few months, ga-graduate na si kuya. And I will be still stuck in high school.

“…you didn’t tell me that she’s there!” rinig kong sigaw ni Kuya Jonathan. Nakatayo siya, mad, I think.

Makikinig pa sana ako ng maintindihan ko ang sinasabi ni kuya pero napansin na ako ni ate, looking so amused with her own brother. “Baby Mads! Just in time for breakfast, com here now. Join us,” ate said pointing the chair beside kuya.

Nagtataka pa rin ako sa kanila, si kuya naman naupo na rin. Alam kong frustrated na naman siya kasi kunot na kunot na naman ang noo niya. I shrugged off my curiosity then sits beside Kuya Jonathan; he looks at Ate Jhona with such displeased expression in his eyes.