Borrowed Time (completed)

44. family

Nico came down to get a glass of water. He was carefully manoeuvring the stairs as it was past midnight already and the whole house was enveloped in darkness. As he went down the last two steps, he looked up and saw something swaying in the breeze of the electric fan that was left on in the living room below the stairs.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!

Nanay and Tatay wake up to Nico's scream. They rushed down stairs to find Nico seated on the sofa, all the lights on the first floor are now switched on.

"Anong nangyari?" Nanay says and immediately goes to Nico and comforts him.

Tatay is quick to get a piece of wood they keep by the front door as a weapon. He goes around the house, peeping out the window of the living room and the kitchen where they have a door leading to the back of the house.

Nico is pale-faced and panting as he rubs his chest. Nanay gets up from the sofa and turns the fan at him before getting him a glass of water. She gives Nico the glass and he drinks some before putting the glass down on the side table. Nanay continues to rub his back.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! 'TANG INA NAMAN MARIAN!" Tatay screamed.

"Anong kasalanan ko?" Startled, Nanay turned and looked at Tatay, hand on her chest.

"Bakit mo sinabit to dito?" Two barongs are hanging on (separate) hooks from the ceiling.

"Alin?"

"Etong mga barong namin?"

"Para makita natin agad. Bukas na yung kasal nung anak mo." Nanay stands up and gets the barongs and hangs it on the clothes rack of other clothes she's washed.

"Nay naman e..." Nico finally speaks.

"Anong ako?"

"...excited tayong lahat sa kasal ni Meng pero mas mauuna ako sa simbahan bilang bangkay imbes na abay e!" Nico huffs and goes back up the stairs.

---

"O, halika na. Sorry na..." Nanay says as she pats the bed. Tatay is pacing the room. He slowly makes his way back to bed and lays down.

"Ikakasal na si Menggay..." Tatay says softly as she puts his arm up and lays his head on it. Nanay cuddles and rests her head on his chest.

"...oo..."

"Iiwan na tayo..."

"Sus naman to. Parang ang layo ng lilipatan e...dyan lang naman sa condo sa labas..."