LIKE I NEVER LEFT °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

18. Issue

Amara

Sa sumunod na araw, pagkagising ko, sinalubong ako nina mama at papa ng may malungkot na mga mukha. Nang makita ko ang malungkot na ngiti ni Tina, naalala ko ang pag-uusap namin kagabi ni Four.

"What are you plans?" Kuya asks, confirming I'm right with my intuition that they already know.

"I don't know kuya. Maybe, just let it go. Ayaw kong lumaki 'to at madamay si Darryl."

"Tama 'yan anak." Saad ni mama. "Pero sa tingin ko, hindi papayag si Four na walang gagawin. Kilala ko na ang batang 'yon." Aniyang nagpangiti sa'kin ng mapakla. Of course, he will do something. Ganon naman talaga siya.

"Si Darryl nga pala ma?" Tanong ko nang mapansing hindi namin kasama ang anak ko.

"Nagyayang maglibot sa daddy niya. Kakaalis lang. Babalik din 'yon." Sagot ni mama. "Kayo ba ni Four, anak, nagkaayos na?"

"Po?"

"Are you back together?" Si papa ang nagklaro ng tanong ni mama. "Naisipan namin ng mama mo na dito na patirahin 'yan e. Ang late na umuuwi tapos ang agang pumupunta dito." Biro niya saka tumawa.

"Papa naman e."

"So nagbalikan na nga kayo?" Tanong niya ulit.

"Hindi." Nagtinginan sila ni mama, parang hindi naniniwala sa'kin. Lagi naman silang ganyan. Kahit nga noon. Tsk. "Nandito lang si Four dahil kay Darryl."

"That's not what he told us." Mama butts in who places a plate of sandwiches on the table. She's preparing our breakfast. "Mukhang nandito na ang dalawa."

Mama's right. Not long after a few minutes, Four walks in with my little girl. She's smiling from ear to ear.

"Where have you been, jellybean?" I ask Darryl when she hugs me.

"Dad and I just drove around. I want to wake you up so you could come but dad said you need to sleep because you were up late last night."

My cheeks heat up when she said that with everyone in the room listening. Oh, geez. The looks on their faces are so obvious! Good gracious! We didn't do anything! I mean, the jerk just kissed me and nothing more! He just sang a few songs for me until I drift to sleep.

"Nadiligan din, Mara?" Bulong ni Tina na siniko ko kaagad. "Aray ha. Four, tingnan mo 'to! Ang bayolente!" Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang sira pero tumawa lang siya. Si Four naman, nginisian lang ako. Nakakaasar silang lahat!

"Your face is flushed, love." Four comments when he sits beside me.

"Shut up." Asik ko sa kanya.

Inasar akong lalo nina mama at papa habang kumakain. Balak daw nilang paalisin na ako ng bahay. Parang mga sira. Habang tumatagal ang pang-aasar nila sa'kin, hindi ko sinasadya but I feel hurt.

"Totoo ba 'yan ma? Pinapalayas niyo na ako ng bahay?" I come to realize that maybe, they mean it in some way. I am twenty-eight and I am still living under their roof. Alam ko namang hindi ako naging pabigat pero...

"It's okay, beshy. May pinapatayong mansion na si Four para sa inyo ni Darryl." Singit ni Tina bago pa makasagot si mama.

"It's weird when you all speak strange and the only thing I catch up is my name." Darryl tells everyone, changing the subject. But my mind still recalls how my parents joke about kicking me out of the house. I can only be grateful that I manage to keep my tears from falling while we have our breakfast.

"Hey." Tawag ni Four nang pumasok siya ng kwarto. Magkasama sila ni Darryl sa baba kanina. "Are you crying?"

"Huh? No." I gush but deep inside, I really wanted to cry. Four crosses the room and crouches in front of me while I sit on the edge of the bed.