Other Earth

Chapter 13 - Tough Favor

CELESTINE

"Anong ginagawa mo? This is unethical. A boy and a girl hugging each other in one bed? You're not even my boyfriend!" I gave him this lecture with an annoyed voice. Well gusto ko siya, pero bawal 'tong ginagawa niya. "And even--" I halted from ranting after he cut me short.

"Anong unethical? Wala naman tayong ginagawang masama. At Saka unan ang yakap ko hindi ang katawan mo." Ang galing niya pa ring magdahilan, kahit ako naman ang tama. Napailing na lang ako. "And even I'm not yet your boyfriend, I know soon I'll be." Pagpapatuloy niya

Iba talaga ang pagiging straight forward at confidence nitong lalaking to. Nahawa na yata 'to kay Vincent. Hindi ko na niyakap ang unan at pinabayaan na lang siya. Pero －

"Oh, ayan na." marahang itinulak ni Steve ang unan papunta sa 'kin.

"Salamat naman." niyakap ko na ulit ang unan at pumikit. Naistatwa ulit ako dahil niyakap niya ulit ang unan. Nagulat ako kaya mabilis kong inalis ang kamay ko. Pero hinawakan niya ito para pigilan. "Huwag ka nang gumalaw, mapapagod ka lang. Ilang minuto na lang din ako dito." Hindi na ko nagprotesta pa at hinayaang tangayin na lang din ng antok.

I rose from the bed earlier than usual even it's Saturday. Pagkatapos maghilamos at makapagbihis ay nagtungo ako agad sa kusina. Naabutan kong kumakain si Sirius ng ilang pirasong tasty bread na pinalamanan niya ng peanut butter. Hawak nito sa kaliwang kamay ang isang newspaper habang ang bibig ay nasa labi ng tasa na hawak niya sa kanang kamay.

"Good Morning!" I greeted him after I yawned like there's no tomorrow. Hindi ako pinansin nito. He was too preoccupied by whatever he's reading. Sana pala ang hangin na lang ang binati ko di ba? "It's still early, where's Mama and Venus went to?" tanong ko sa kanya habang naglalagay ng mainit na tubig sa tasa.

"Mama has a meeting with their special client today while your sister have an insignificant matter to attend to." Sirius answered while his eyes still fastened to a page.

"Come again Sirius? Your sister?!" Minsan talaga nagiging bastos na 'tong kapatid ko kay Venus. He's being impatient by Venus' mischievous personality. But I wouldn't allow him to be like that. Venus is still his sister. Our sibling.

"Sorry, I mean Ate Venus." he said unemotional while giving me sideway glance.

"'Yan lang ang kakainin mo? Dapat ginising mo 'ko para pinagluto kita ng almusal." I said while pulling a chair.

"This is fine with me, this will make my brain full." Itinupi niya ang libro at lumingon sa akin saka kumuha ulit ng isang tinapay. "You want some?" alok niya ng nakataas ang mga kilay.

"No thanks, hindi ko trip ang kumain niyan sa umaga," nakakunot ang noo ko habang marahang umiiling. "Hmm, Sirius?"

"Mwath?" Halos hindi ko maintindihan ang sinabi niya dahil sa pagsagot niya habang ngumunguya.

"Pwede ba talagang lumamig ang core ng Earth?" Napokus sa kanya ang tingin ko mula sa aking kape.

He snickered and shook his head. "Why you seem to be interested in science now?" Ito na naman kami sa pagiging pilosopo niya, as if siya lang ang pwedeng maging curious.

"Hey Sirius, don't make fun of me, I'm serious." I'd give him an "answer me or else" glare.

Suddenly the insulting grin on his face was gone and looked at me seriously in the eyes. "Actually, yes it is, and a cold core means unhabitable earth." Kahit na hindi ko ito sa kanya unang narinig ay napahinto ako at nanlaki ang mga mata. "Earth's core is cooling down very slowly over time. And when the day comes it is complete cold it will bring havoc on planet's magnetic field. Aside from that, compasses would do strange things, as they aligned themselves by nearby magnetic fields. Birds couldn't migrate for the winter, the aurora couldn't be the same, cosmic rays could reach Earth's surface, widespread power outages and broken satellites and there's too many to mention."