Mimi Turns Pretty - SOON TO BE PUBLISHED ✅

Chapter 16

"Isa pa."

Lumingon ako kay Ollie at sinubuan ulit siya ng fries.

After ng mga pagpahid na naganap iniabot ko na lang sa kanya ang burger kahit na alam kong medyo mahihirapan siya. Matagal pa bago nawala ang nginig sa kamay ko kaya naiilang pa rin ako magsubo sa kanya.

"So, pwede na tayo ulit mag-usap? Really talk like you wanted?" tanong niya.

Parang ayaw ko na.

I bite my lip, "Ikaw. Kung hindi ka pa pagod."

Natawa siya ng mahina, "Ikaw naghamon kanina, Mi ah. Parang umaatras ka na ngayon."

Matalim ko siyang tiningnan, "Hindi ah. Iniisip ko lang baka pagod ka na."

He grins, "I'm fine. Let's talk."

Lumingon ulit ako sa likod at si Kuya nakahiga doon nakanganga pa.

"Natatakot kang magising Kuya mo?" aniya.

I shake my head, "Hindi naman."

Tumahimik kaming pareho at gusto kong sumigaw ng "awkward!". Ano bang gusto kong malaman sa kanya? Actually marami pero natatakot akong magtanong.

"So..." he starts, "first question."

I brace myself.

"Bakit ang awkward natin?"

Natawa ako at napailing, "Hindi ko rin alam. I know you're still the Ollie I remember pero parang ang dami nang nagbago."

His smile fades, "Like the fact that you don't want to talk to me anymore."

I sigh, "Hindi naman sa gano'n."

"Then what?" he asks.

I cross my arms over my chest, "It's not like you answer my questions too. Lagi ka kayang vague sumagot."

"I'm not talking about that Mi. Bakit no'ng nasa New York ka ayaw mo akong kausapin?"

I don't like where this is going.

"I just didn't."

He laughs sarcastically, "I thought you wanted to talk. But you won't give me answers."

Hindi ako nakasagot.

"So it's okay to talk about generic stuff? What have I been doing these past years? Where have I been? What's changed? What's new? Gano'n? But I can't ask about the things that have been bothering me since you left?" he says.

The air suddenly feels thick. I'm uncomfortable because he called me out on it. I can't answer his questions with Kuya sleeping sa likod. Baka marinig pa kami.

"Maybe you're right. I'm not ready to talk." I say.

He sighs, "Yeah."

He speaks again, "Just so you know, Mi. I can be as honest as you want me to be. Ask me anything and I'll tell you. I'm not keeping secrets anymore."

He sighs, "Just tell me when you're ready to hear me out."

Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. There's so many things I want to know but I'm scared to ask.

"I thought we were okay, Mi." mahina niyang sinabi.

I take a deep breath and prepare myself to speak but then Kuya woke up.

"Saan na tayo?"

Umurong siya palapit at dumungaw sa pagitan namin ni Ollie. Feeling ko tuloy may narinig siya sa usapan namin. Maigi na rin siguro, hindi naman kami dapat mag-usap nang nandito si Kuya.