Amara
Maaga akong gumising kinaumagahan. Nagset talaga ako ng alarm. Ayaw kong abalahin si mama sa paghahanda ng breakfast lalo na at galing lang sila sa byahe. Umuwi narin kasi si kuya at Tina sa bahay nila after dinner last night.
"Good morning, mom!" Maligayang bati ni Darryl habang naghahanda ako ng pagkain sa mesa. "Daddy will be joining us for breakfast, right?"
"Huh? Baby, no."
"He's here." She giggles and when I check, Four is really on his way, walking toward the dining room.
"Good morning, love." He greets, looking at me.
Amara, he's greeting his daughter, not you.
"Good morning, dad." Bati ni Darryl dito saka yumakap.
"And good morning to you too, babylove. Are you ready for school?"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marealize na nakapagbihis na nga siya. Natutulog pa 'to kanina nang i-check ko ah.
"Darryl, why are you up so early? Your class will be in two hours." I confront the innocent being.
"Yeah. But dad and I will be driving you to work." She responds quickly and turns her attention to Four. "Is my dress nice?"
"Very nice." Nakangiti namang sagot ni Four. "Ang ganda-ganda mo anak, mana kay mommy." Dugtong niya saka lumingon sa'kin saglit. Mabilis na nag-iwas ako ng tingin at nagpatuloy sa paghain ng mga pagkain sa mesa. Darryl understands what he's saying because most of my friends and our family's acquaintances say that each time they see her. And for that, I hear her giggling.
"Munchkin, why won't you call mama lola and papa lolo so we can have our breakfast together?"
Feel at home din 'tong hayop. Tsk.
"Right away, dad." Darryl replies naughtily, even modifying her voice.
"Good morning, love." Nakangiting saad ng mokong nang maiwan kaming dalawa. Lumapit siya at umakmang hahalikan ako sa pisngi ngunit mabilis akong umilag.
"Palmer? Ano'ng ginagawa mo?"
Ang bwesit, nginitian lang ako ng ngiti niyang talaga namang nakakaasar saka nagkamot na parang bata. Kapag ako napuno sa lalaking 'to, hindi na 'to makakalabas ng bahay ng buhay.
"Ang aga-aga, ang sungit-sungit ng diyosa."
"Wag mo akong mabobola diyan kung ayaw mong sirain ko 'yang mukha mo." Hindi ko mapigilang sabihin rito.
"Ang sungit." Reklamo niya ulit, nakangiti parin. "Can I help you with something, love?"
"Yeah. Sure." Sagot ko kaagad. "Get lost. That would really help."
"What should I do to stop you from sulking?"
Sasagot na sana ako ngunit narinig ko na ang mahihinang yapak ni Darryl pabalik ng dining area. Sumunod naman sa kanya sina mama at papa. Agad na lumapit rito si Four at nagmano. Hindi ko maiwasang huwag umirap habang pinapanood siya sa pagbabait-baitan niya.
"Oh. I forgot. Mom got you your favorite pancakes. Kukunin ko lang sa kotse tita." Sabi niyang talagang nagpatuwa kay mama. Na-miss talaga siguro ni mama ng sobra si tita Demi. Akalain mo ba naman 'yon? Seven years silang walang communication. And they have been friends for more than two decades. That's like a torture, right? Tsk. Kasalanan 'to ng Four na 'yon e. Actually, kasalanan ko, naniwala ako sa mokong na 'yon e.
Napailing ako para iwaksi sa isip ko ang tungkol sa pagbabalik-tanaw na ginawa ko. All throughout the breakfast, sila lang ang nag-uusap. Minabuti kong manahimik upang 'wag mabadtrip.
BINABASA MO ANG
LIKE I NEVER LEFT °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE
Fanfiction[The Palmer Brothers: FOUR] - I was scared not because you love me, I was scared you'd change your mind because that's what you always do.