Morning Blushes

chapter twenty-five

Sinamahan ko si Manang magluto ng dinner namin. She's making my father's favorite dish kahit para saming dalawa lang. It's okay. Mom never cares about my father's birthday anyway. Work's way more important. She's been avoiding the topic related to my father for the past years.

I almost jumped when the main door opened.

"Good evening," Kuya Adriane greeted casually. "Sorry, late. I have been busy."

This man looks like graduating sooner. I'm proud of him.

"Upo ka na d'yan. Manang's almost finished cooking," I told him.

Napatingin siya sa'kin. "Hey, Yanna. You're cooking too?"

"No. I'm just assisting Manang." 

Buti wala si Mommy. Alam niya schedules ng exam ko. Uuwi kaya 'yon? Birthday pa naman ni Daddy. 

I can remember how I used to text and call my mother. Ngayon, parang halos isumpa ko ang araw kapag dumating siya. She's so busy. Well, I'm still glad she's coming home to check on me. She's checking if I'm actually doing good. Doing perfectly. If I'm still functioning well, like a robot. That thought sounds funny.

"Yanna, pakidala na nga ito sa dining table."

I helped Manang prepare the food. Kuya Adriane is busy with his phone. We're eating and he's still holding his phone on the other hand. But as much as possible, he's trying to put it down.

"Kamusta naman, Adriane?" Manang asked.

"Busy lang po. Kulang sa tulog." He smiled a bit.

"Ikaw, Yanna?"

"Kakatapos lang po ng exam. Nasagutan naman po." 

I can hear my mother's voice. Naibagsak mo ba?  Napailing na lang ako. 

"Darating daw ba ang mommy mo?" tanong ni Manang kay Kuya Adriane.

"Hindi po nag-text e," sabi niya. "By the way, Manang, I'm gonna stay here tonight until tomorrow morning. Okay lang po ba?"

"Aba'y oo naman."

Mukhang sleep-deprived nga si Kuya Adi. He's asking Manang if he could sleep in his own house. That's funny.

"Thanks, Manang," he smiled and continued eating.

I'm being suspicious about my brother and his behavior. He's not making a fuss about me. He's not even asking me questions regarding my academic status. May girlfriend na ba 'to kaya nagkakaganyan? Or is he too stressed to mind me?

"Yanna, may natira ka pang allowance?" my brother asked.

I just nodded to cover up a lie. Wala na akong allowance since the food at school is expensive as hell. Hindi naman ako binigyan ni Mommy since who knows. And it's okay. I have everything I need in order to survive. The only moment I don't feel like surviving is when Manang left the house for a while.

"Yanna, are you doing great?" he asked once more.

"Well, yeah. We just had our exams and I'll be waiting for the results."

"No, not about academics. Tell me about that boy you're seeing."

I almost choked on my food, looking at him with wide eyes. What the actual heck. 

"I'm not seeing someone," tanggi ko.

"Eh, sino yung lalaking pinuntahan mo sa convenience store nung gabi? Yung may birthday? Hindi ko natanong 'yon."

I felt my cheeks heating up when Manang laughed. 

"Manang, diba?" I asked for her help. 

"Aba, malay ko sa'yo. Hindi ko rin alam. Ba't di mo sagutin ang Kuya Adriane mo?"