Set You Free

10

S H A R I L L E

"What are you doing here?"

Humarap naman kaagad sa akin ang mukhang kanina pa nakatambay dito sa sala.

"Shayiiii!"

Dinambahan kaagad ako ni Ashy ng yakap.

"What the-- Ashy! I can't breathe," I said, almost hysterically, just to make fun of him.

Dali-dali naman niya agad inalis ang pagkakayakap sa akin.

"Gosh. Sorry Shayi," he said and showed me a peace sign. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?," nag-aalala niyang tanong.

I just laughed at him. "I was just joking come on."

He rolled his eyeballs on me. "You got me there, dude."

"How did you get here? Where's Aunt Milly?," I asked after we settled for a seat.

"Of course by a plane, duh... and for your second question, mom's in our room, resting."

I just nodded.

"Did you eat already?," I asked.

"Nope," maarte niyang sabi. "I was waiting for you."

"Let's go then," yaya ko sa kanya.

Pumunta na kami sa dining area and nandun pa rin sa may kitchen si Manang Sthar. Malamang ay inaantay rin ako na umuwi para kumain.

Nang makita niya kami ay naghanda na siya ng pagkain para sa amin.

"Ay Manang, kami na lang po dito. Magpahinga na po kayo. Kaya na po namin ito," I told her. Sanay naman akong pagsilbihan sarili ko dahil naturuan naman ako ni Mommy na huwag laging umaasa sa mga kasama sa bahay.
"Ay nako, Hija. Hindi na, kaya ko na ito. Maupo na lamang kayo roon at ihahanda ko na ang inyong pagkain," hindi pagsang-ayon ni Manang sa akin.

"Manang naman," pagpupumilit ko.

I smiled in victory when I heard her sigh. "Oh sya sya. Sige na. Kapag kailangan nyo ng tulong, nasa kwarto lang ako ha," she said bago siya pumunta sa kwarto nila ni Ate Irah.

"Why did Manang Sthar left?" Ashy asked.

"Serve for yourself of course, duh...," mataray kong sabi habang inihahanda ang pagkain namin sa hapag.

"She'll rest na," I added.

He laughed at me. "You're so cute saying that 'na'. It's like I was in cloud nine," nang-aasar pa niyang sabi.

"Shut the hell up, Ashy," I said before taking a bite of my food.

"So what are your plans na?," I asked. I realized what I have said when I heard him laugh.

"Ashy!," naiinis kong saway sa kanya bago ibato ang unan na malapit sa akin. "Can you please stop laughing with that?"

Nailagan naman kaagad niya ang ibinato ko sa kanya. Nandito kami sa guest room kung saan siya magsstay for ilang days? weeks? I don't know.

"Okay okay. You don't have to throw me the pillow. Don't be mad, Shayi. You really are cute anyway."

"So what are your plans again?"

Humiga muna siya sa kama habang ako naman ay nakaupo na rito. "Well, it's vacation so I guess I'll have fun, right? Let's travel around Philippines?"

"You know I can't. I've promised Dad that I'll help Shadd with the company a month after we went back here and it's about time."

"So what will I do here in almost 2 months?," parang bata niyang tanong.

"You went here without plans, and now you're asking me? Ha! Asshole." I murmured the last word.