"Bakit ka nandito?"
"I'm here to see you, Kat." Buong pusong pagbigkas ni Addie lalo na ang pangalan niya.
"I don't want you here." And just like that, Kat turned her back and walked away.
I was left questionable.
And speechless.
What the hell is happening?
Nang nilingon ko si Addie ay ngumiti lang eto ng mapait, teary eyed. "I expected for this to happen." At paulit-ulit na bumuntong huminga tila pinapa-kalma ang sarili. Trying to stop herself from crying. She smiled, "Tara?"
Kahit nagtataka, I still managed to guide and welcome Addie inside the house and to the room where she will be staying for a couple of days.
Habang nasa kwarto at kinakausap siya tungkol sa bahay for her to be familiarized since I can't be here 24/7 due to my works and school responsibilities, narinig namin ang pagbukas at pagsara ng pinto sumunod ang tunog ng papalayong motor.
Agad kong sinilip si Kat mula sa bintana, "Lintek na batang yun di pa yun nag a-almusal ah."
"Ako na maghahatid ng pagkain sa kanya." Addie volunteered.
"Ha?"
"Alam ko rin naman kung saan yun patungo eh, hehe." Sagot niya.
"Wala naman akong gagawin this morning kaya I can take you there." Ang sabihin mo Kisses gusto mo rin malaman kung saan nagpupunta yung batang yun, "But first, let's take our breakfast muna. I'm sure gutom ka sa byahe."
•••
"Is she-- working here? Are you really sure?" Di makapaniwalang tanong ko kay Addie habang tinitingnan ang galaw ni Kat sa loob ng shop.
"It's been 2 years since she started working here." Sagot niya habang titig na titig kay Kat. Alam kong may kakaiba sa mga mata niya. Yung saya at lungkot, naghahalo. Saya dulot ng masasayang alaala at lungkot, baka na rin sa sitwayon ng dalawa. "You didn't know?"
"Ha? Ah. Um. Yah." Marami akong hindi alam kay Kat, I admit it. "She never mentioned."
"She really won't." Natatawa niyang komento, "Kaya di na ako magtataka pa." I saw her hand tighty holding the packed food for Kat, it seems like she's taking all the courage before going outside. "Ihahatid ko muna 'to."
I am eyeing every Addie's move from the time na bumaba siya sa sasakyan hanggang sa pumasok na siya sa coffee shop. Mabuti at clear glass ang shop na pinagtatrabahuan ni Kat.
I can't believe that this is happening. Galing sa may kayang pamilya ang angkan ni Kit at Kat kaya lubos akong nagtataka kung bakit kinakailangan pa niyang magtrabaho. To think too that Kit never forget to set aside either small or big amount for his sister.
Ang buong akala ko ay nag-aaral si Kat o kaya naman sa barkada pumupunta that's why she's not around in the house most of the time.
Pero mali ako.
And the biggest question today, why is she working?
Nakita kong ningitian ni Addie ang mga kasamahan ni Kat na nakakasalubong niya, who were suprised to see her. Aside from being surprised, it is also clear in their faces that they are worried of Addie's presence.
May alam kaya ang mga to sa away ng dalawa?
Nevertheless, ang iba naman ay sinalubong ng yakap si Addie nang makita siya.
Mag best friends nga.
At ang inaabang-abangan ko ay ang paglapit ni Addie kay Kat who at that moment is busy serving a client. Isang kasamahan ang nagpresentang kunin ang tray mula kay Kat nang tawagin ni Addie ang atensyon niya.
Hindi nagulat si Kat bagkus isang walang ka-emosyon na reaksyon ang tumambad kay Addie. Even if that dead look it's not for me, I can feel a sting of pain for Addie.
Ano ba talaga ang nangyari tila sukdulan hanggang langit ang galit ni Kat?
Lumabas ang dalawa at dun na nag usap. Addie tried to reach for Kat's hand but the latter harshly removed it from touching hers.
Wala akong naririnig sa pinag-uusapan ng dalawa pero it's pretty obvious that Addie is taming her, kaso sa mukha ni Kat halatang nagtitigas-tigasan. Tsk. That kid.
While watching them from distance, natawa ako nang napagtanto kong parang akong nanunuod ng drama. Sira nga lang ang volume.
What happened next infront of me surprised me. Umiiyak na si Addie. And Kat... Biglang siyang lumambot nang nakitang umiiyak si Addie. She hugged her. Yes, Kat is hugging Addie.
Am I jealous?
Must not be. Hello, best friends sila Kisses. It's normal.
Akala ko wala ng rason upang magselos ngunit ikinagulat ko ang malumanay na haplos ni Kat sa magkabilang braso hanggang sa mga kamay ni Addie.
Ganyan ba talaga ang mag best friends? I've never experienced that with Reese.
The next thing happened was even more surprising to my eyes. And to my heart.
Kat gently cupped both Addie's cheeks and smiled. When Addie frowned, she laughed. Lastly, she planted a kiss to Addie's forehead.
Out of a sudden I remembered the night when Kat went home drunk and wasted, the night that we kissed, the night that I took care of her and the night that I first hear Addie's name coming from her mouth.
"Sino ka ba talaga, Addie?"
