September

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

"Walter? Anak? Have you watered the plants already?" Mama said as I entered the kitchen. I came from the backyard as I rearranged and trimmed the plants as per Mama's request.

"Yup. Yung sa backyard. Nadiligan ko na yun" I said before getting some cold water from the refrigerator. "I watered it after I trimmed it"

"Eh yung sa front yard? Yung mga bulaklak ko dun? Nadiligan na ba?" Huminto ako sa pag inom at napatingin sa bintana. The leaves and the flowers there are still dry. Oh, yeah. I forgot to water those. Kaya nga pala ako pumunta sa likod para kunin yung hose na nakalimutan ko kasi pumasok ako dito sa kusina.

"You forgot, didn't you?" Mom said and chuckled. "Kumain ka muna bago mo diligan yon"

Ate Sophie entered the kitchen while brushing her hair, walked towards the refrigerator, and got her tumbler that she put in this morning.

"Sophie, join us" Mom signaled Ate Sophie to join us but she refused.

"I can't. Malelate na kasi ako, ma" Ate said before kissing Mom's cheeks.

"Well, at least bring this with you" Handing her some Tupperware with food she prepared that mom stacked in an eco-bag.

"Thanks, Mom" Ate Sophie looked at me and waved her hands to say goodbye.

It's Saturday today and I don't have any extra classes that's why I'm here at home, helping Mom with some household chores to kill boredom. I also consider this as an exercise.

"Weird" Mom blurted out of nowhere.

"Why?"

"Wala" She said before smiling at me and pour my empty glass wih some water. "Napansin ko lang na di ka pinuntahan ni kulit ngayon considering na wala kayong pasok"

That made me realize that also. Himala nga't hindi nambulabog ngayon si Seph. She's always here whenever there are no special classes every Saturday. Her being talkative has been my mom's favorite first thing in the morning ever since she learned where I live and became friends. She always bombards Mom with nonsense questions that make her earn Mom's nickname for her, kulit, dahil paulit-ulit ito.

Palagi din ito napapagalitan ni Tita Hershey dahil nga kulang nalang ay tumira samin tuwing tatambay ito. Para kasing wala na itong balak umuwi sa kanila. Nahihiya na nga si Tita Hershey samin dahil kada bisita nito samin ay hawak hawak nito ang tenga ni Seph pabalik sa bahay nila na katapat lang naman ng amin.

"Baka puyat" I said as I finish my meal and drink my water. "Alas dose na, inaalok pa akong mag laro online"

"Baka nga" I handed my plate to Mom as I excused myself from the table.

Pumunta na ako sa likod para kunin at ikabit yung hose sa gripo at diligan yung mga tanim sa harap ng bahay malapit sa bakod. I was just going to turn the water on when I heard someone yelling.

"Walt!" I heard Stellar's voice from outside our gate. "Walter!"

"Oh?" I said as I approached her. She looked stressed and haggard at the same time which is not her. Stell always looks presentable and seeing her looking like shit is new to me.

"Have you seen Sophie?" She asked as she leaned on the fence. She wiped her sweat with her hand and tucked some of her hair behind her ears. Her hair is a mess. Breathing heavily like she participated in a marathon or was chased by a dog.

"Hindi, bakit?" I answered. "Ano bang meron?"

"I can't find her!" It's rare to see Stell looks like shit and Seph not being around so something must have been gone bad. These two are troublemakers. Whenever there's trouble, you can see these two twerp there.