Celestial Tears

17: Small World

"Uasha."

"Hhmm?"

I stopped walking in front of our wooden gate. Nilingon ko si Aqzeirus. Pabalik na ako sa bahay dahil kakatapos lang namin mag-usap ni Alodia. I'm still surprised about what just happened.

Life is full of surprises.

Iniabot niya sa akin ang isang plastic. "You left it in the porch."

Oh. It's my sunflowers. I almost forgot about it. "Thanks."

I was about to left when he said my name again.

"What?"

He rumpled his black hair. "Go inside your room, let's remove that plank."

I agreed on him and went inside the house.

"Uasha, kain na." Nadaanan ko sila Mama at Papa na naghahanda na sa kusina.

"I'll be back po, just a sec." Paalam ko at umakyat sa kwarto ko. Sabay naman kaming nakaakyat ni Aqzeirus. Inilapag ko sa kama ang hawak kong mga sunflowers at saka binuksan ang bintana.

I'm feeling itchy now because of the tiny hairs in my shoulders and neck. I need to take a bath after lunch.

"Push it to me, okay?" He shouted. I did what he said with all my might but it won't budge. He did the same too and resulted the same.

"I can't!"

"Me too."

Kahit ilang beses namin itulak at iangat ang kahoy ay ayaw nito. Tila ba nakadikit na ito sa bintana naming dalawa.

"What did you do, Aqzeirus?"

He looked to me with a question in his face. "I'm also confused and surprised as you are."

"So you did not put anything?"

He arched me his right brow. "Why would I?" And he started to lift and push the plank again.

"What's wrong with this thing?" I whsipered. My back and face is getting itchy and it stings because I can feel myself sweating. I tried my best again to remove the plank by using the hammer's 'horns' that I found under my bed but it's stuck. There are 'carpenters' stuff under my bed, looked like Papa used it when he built the wardrobe.

"Argh!" Aqzeirus yelled in frustration. He's also sweating. "Forget about it. It is fucking stuck. I'll try to cut it tomorrow."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I won't mind about the plank..." I said. It's just a plank, it's harmless. Aqzeirus is harmless.

"Okay, so the plank stays?"

"Sure... Where's Donut, by the way?" I haven't seen Donut lately. Did she ran away or something? I hope not.

"She's here." Yumuko si Aqzeirus at umangat ulit na nasa bisig niya na si Donut. He placed Donut in the plank and Donut started to walk towards me with ease. She didn't even bothered to look down, what a brave cat.

"Hi, munchkin!" I pinched her cheeks as soon as she get to me. She licked her paws and licked my hands too. I'm happy that she still recognize me or maybe is it my smell that she's familiar? A good smell though.

"Alodia's here. Mind if you babysit her for a day?" Aqzeirus scratched the back of his head. I think he's feeling embarrassed for asking me that.

I smirked while playing with Donut's ear, scratching it as she purrs. "Is that even a question?"

The shyness in his face disappeared. "Thanks. And oh, your cheeks are covered in hives right now."

My hand automatically caressed my cheeks. Ouch. Wrong move.