Skies' not the limit

Chapter 6

Nagising ako dahil sa ingay sa baba. Naririnig ko ang boses ng nga pinsan ko at ng mga Tita at Tito ko. Naalala ko na ngayon nga pala ang dating nila.

Ate Syd and Aika are still sleeping so I didn't bother on waking them up. I did my usual routines instead. But this time, I chose to wear a dress. Grandpa is here. He's formal, yet, he's very jolly unlike my uncle.

I peeked in the guest room before I went down at si Eros, Mark and Kuya Aki ang natutulog. Tosh is blow-drying his hair.

"Rin, baba ka na?" Tosh asked as he removed the hair dryer from the plug.

"Yup. Tara na." I said at inakbayan ako ni Tosh habang pababa ng hagdan. Ganito kaming magpi-pinsan, pinalaki kami na may close bond.

Sabay kaming bumaba ng staircase ni Tosh and our cousins are waiting for us downstairs. "Erin! Tosh!" Sigaw ni tita Maria dala ang mga tray ng juice.

"Tita!" I shouted and hugged her. Siya ang tita ko na secret keeper ko when I was younger. She never tells.

"Laki na ng baby ko, ah!" Tita Maria said and our cousins joined. Cholo and Zaki.

"Hey, ate Erin." Bati ng panganay na si Cholo. Ginulo ko naman ang buhok niya. He hated it ever since.

"Got rid of mine already." Zaki said and pointed out his teeth, talking about his braces. "The twins still have a couple of years left."

Si Zavi at Zach naman ay pumasok kasabay si Grandpa.

"Erin at Tosh apo!" Lolo shouted from the main door.

"Lo." I said and reached for his hands pero binawi niya nito.

"I don't do bless. Handshake!" He said and did some fist bumps. Same with Tosh. "Hay nako, ang laki-laki niyo na. Nasaan na 'yung mga batang kinakarga ko that used to steal dollar bills on my wallet for candies?"

Nakita ko na rin ang pagbaba ni Ate Syd at Aika. They are from my Mother's side but Lolo treats them as his grandchildren. Patay na kasi ang Lolo at Lola ko from my Mother.

"Sydney and Aika?" Tanong ni Lolo sa mga pinsan ko.

"Yes, lolo sir." Ngiti nila.

"Call me lolo Jonny, ano ba 'yan. I told you to get rid of the sir. Ano ba kayo. Fistbump!" He said.

Lolo is really cool. Namana iyon ni Daddy sa kanya, though Daddy can be really strict sometimes. "Breakfast." Sabi ni tita Maria at inaya na kami sa dining. Our dining table is a big presidential table.

Medyo nagtagal kami sa pagkain dahil na rin sa pag-uusap. Glad I brought my phone with me.

"How's your Father's bussiness, Erin?" Lolo asked.

"Okay lang, lo. Aside from madami na siyang competitors, but he stayed as number one, may kasabay nga lang."

"Oh, Zobels? Their grandparents used to be a good friend of mine. Razon stayed up and Zobel remained second. Not until they aimed higher. Natapos ang friendship namin doon." Lolo sighed.

Narinig ko naman ang pag-notify ng phone ko. Tita Maria is on my side kaya napa-tingin siya. I just gave her a smile.

clvlljrszobel: u up alrdy?

rxzxnerinathena: yup. Breakfast with lolo and my cousins from US.

clvlljrszobel: wowow. Sana all :(( didn't eat breakfast yet though, kawalang gana sermon ni Dad.

rxzxnerinathena: u eat then. Let me call later when breakfasts' over.

clvlljrszobel: wish you'd finish sooner. Tell me when you're done, I'll call.