A Close Second

Sixth

Hello! 

I'm back and I wanna ask for your opinions. What else should I do for these guys? Since this is a rewrite, I think this can be something that we can work together with. 

That and I'm really running out of ideas. 

Either way, please tell me what you think. 

---

Six

I stared at my book, but wala akong naintindihan. I've been trying to understand the words, but I don't really understand anything that's on it.

"Thea."

Napaangat ako ng tingin only to see Yaya Rosario na nakatayo sa harapan ko. I look at her strangely and she stared back.

"Hija." She says at me, "Hija! Ano bang nangyayari sayo, bata ka? Ayos ka lang ba?"

I shake my head, clearing it up. Clearly iba ang narinig ko.

Nguiti ako kay Yaya. "Opo, Yaya."
"Nagugutom ka ba?" Tanong nito sa akin. "Nagluto ako ng turon."
I smiled. "Hindi pa naman po ako nagugutom, Yaya." Sabi niya. "Baka si Conrad po gusto niya?"
"Ayun na nga, kumakain na." Sagot nito and I close my Physics book and follow her into the kitchen.

Naabutan naming dalawa si Conrad na nandoon at nilalantakan yung turon ni Yaya Rosario sa may counter. He seems happy as he wolfs down snacks on the counter. I sat down beside him.

"Eto, hija."

She gives me a glass of orange juice and I smile, looking at Conrad, cheeks bulging from a mouthful of bananas.

Nginitian ko si Yaya. "Thank you po."
"Turon?" He asks.
"Hey, don't talk when your mouth is full." I scolded him.
"Ikaw, Hija? Ayaw mo?" tanong ni Yaya sa akin. "Masarap yan habang mainit init pa."
"Hindi po ako nagugutom, Ya." I told her.
"Kahit kaunti lang?" Sabi nito sa akin. "Kanina ka pang tanghali walang gana. Nakakapag alala na, Hija."
"Okay lang naman po ako, Ya. Hindi naman po ako masyadong nagugutom."

Nakatingin lag siya sa akin sternly. My eating habits have been one of the most pressing things in Yaya's life.

"How about I fix you up with a sandwich?" tanong niya sa akin.
I shook my head. "Hindi na po."
"Peanut butter and Tuna!" Sabi ni Conrad. "Yaya, ako po!"

Tinignan ko lang siya saka naman umiling din, smiling softly to myself. Si Yaya naman nangingiti din at kumuha ng loaf bread sa may isang cabinet mula sa likod niya at naglalabas ng kakailanganin niya dun sa gagawin niya.

"Why are you so distracted, Ate?" Tanong ni Conrad sa akin.

I just held the glass of orange juice with both of my hands.

"Ate."
I looked at him. "What?"
"Distracted? Parang ang layo ng iniisip mo." Sabi ng kapatid ko. "Do you have a problem with anything?"
I looked at him. "You're nine. Ano naming maitutulong mo sa problema ko?"
"Malay mo, baka meron?" He grins.
"Meron. Can you get lost? You're my problem." Sabi ko ng pabiro sa kanya.

Nakatingin lang siya sa akin, mouth hanging open. Nabitawan naman ni Yaya ang hawak niyang butter knife at nagkalat ang peanut butter sa pinagbagsakan nito. I looked at them before I realized how rude of a joke that was.

"Oh! I was kidding." I chuckle, waving my hands.

Parang nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Conrad sa sinabi ko.

"Hija, hindi magandang biro yan." Yaya scolds me. "Lalong lalo na sa kapatid ko."

Hindi ko naisip yun. Ate Cathy used to say that to me kiddingly, so I thought it would be funny to do the same to Conrad. Clearly, it was not funny to our little boy as it was to me.