Three Kinds of Love (COMPLETED)

KABANATA 20

"Ate!!!" a loud voice surrounded the house as I entered.

Was that Akiko? Sounds like Akiko, my younger brother.

Hinanap ko ang pinagmulan ng boses. Tama nga ako, it's Akiko. Nakatayo siya sa hagdanan, nakangiti.

"You're here!" I exclaimed.

Tumakbo ako palapit sa kanya at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. I missed this little boy.

"Ate, I missed you," bulong niya sa'ken.

You heard it right. Sa US na siya pinanganak at lumaki, pero he used to call me 'ate' and he can speak tagalog.

"I missed you more little boy," sagot ko.

"Ate, I'm not a little boy anymore," kontra niya then he let go.

"Then what are you? Uhuging bata?" I teased.

He pouted, "Of course not. Poging binata!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes. Yes."

Oh brother, how I missed you so much. Pero teka, alangan namang umuwi siyang mag-isa ng Pilipinas.

"Akiko, where's mom and dad?"

"Living room," he plainly answered.

I can't wait to see them.

"Let's go downstairs," yaya ko kay Akiko.

"Go ahead, I'm busy playing."

"Ok, careful ha."

"Opo ate," he smiled at me.

I immediately run to the living room. Pagkarating ko, everyone was looking at me. I was surprised. Really surprised!

Napahinto ako. AT agad naman akong nilapitan ni mama.

“Hi baby, we missed you so much!” she hugged me and I felt that she really missed me.

Then after a few seconds, she let go of me.

Hindi pa rin ako nagsasalita.

Si Dad naman nakaupo lang sa sofa with…

Tito Greg and Tita Lucy. And…

Sayoko.

Inakbayan ako ni mama at saka nagsalita ulit.

“Para namang hindi ako namiss ng anak ko, hindi nagsasalita.”

Lahat sila nakatingin sa’ken, pero si Sayoko nakayuko at mukhang nakikinig lang.

“How’s your day Aki?” Dad asked.

Kami ni mama naupo na din sa sofa, pinagitnaan ako ni Mom and Dad.

“Okay lang po Dad,” simpleng sagot ko.

“Sayoko, okay lang ba talaga ‘tong si Aki?” hindi ko inaasahang tanong ni Dad kay Sayoko.

Nag-angat ng ulo si Sayoko. If I know hindi naman niya alam kung okay lang ba talaga ako o hindi. He only cares for Rachel.

“Okay lang naman Tito. In fact I always watch her from afar, and I guess okay naman sila ni Josh.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niyang ‘yon. What the hell!

“Josh?!” they said in chorus. Not only Mom and Dad, pati na rin sina Tito Greg at Tita Lucy.

Sayoko smirked at me. Kapag ako hindi nakapagpigil, masasapak ko ‘to.

Pinandilatan ko siya.

“He’s just a friend,” I answered plainly.

“Kaibigan lang pala e, baka naman nagseselos ka lang anak,” singit ni Tito Greg.