WHEN LOVE IS JUST A WORD

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

I went to catch up with my sisters in a coffee shop. Minsan nalang mangyari since we came to live here from the States. Pare-pareho yata kasi kaming busy.

When I got there ay nakita ko na agad si Gillian and her book. Umiinom na siya ng kape. If I wear to describe her right now ay sasabihin kong kanina pa siya nakaupo sa kinauupuan niya, not minding the world around her. On the table were a cup of hot chocolate and a cup of tea, maliban sa iniinom niyang kape

Malapit na ako sa kinauupuan niya nang ibaba niya ang libro.

"Hi" ngiti niya. Gil has always been this attentive. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagagawa iyon habang nagbabasa ng libro.

I kissed her cheek and sat next to her.

Hinugot niya ang glasses niyang halata naming mamahalin. She has a vast collection of reading and non reading glasses.

"I got your tea, it's still hot" sambit niya sabay tulak sa akin ng baso. Umuusok pa nga ito. She has always this right timing.

Parang walang kulang kay Gil. She got everything under control.

"Thanks" I said at tinignan ang librong binabasa niya. 'The Librarian'. Gusto kong matawa. Pinigilan ko lang.

Hindi ko na din tatanungin kung kanina pa siya. She answers thesame anyway. Sasagutin ka lang niya ng walang traffic. Which is not the answer that you'd wanna hear.

"Why are you so silent? Hangovers don't last for 3 days"

I rolled my eyes on her at nakita ko nang parating si Gin. I waived my hand nang mabaling ang naghahanap niyang mata sa gawi namin.

Pero natawa nalang ako nang makita siyang naka pygiama. Gillian's jaw dropped literally at feeling ko konti nalang ay sesermonan na niya si Ginger.

"I dinna shower either, save yer frowns" she said and sat on the vacant seat pero binigyan muna kami ng tag isang halik. Parang hindi pa nga nag tooth brush.

"Thanks for the choco, I badly needed some warming up, it's chilly" she added kaya humalakhak ako. Ang init init eh. Palibhasa patpatin!

"I am freaked out you didn't have a pillow with you" taray ni Gillian.

"Nah, I'm good" tungga ni Ginger sa hot choco niya. Aliw na aliw sa pagtataray ni Gillian sa kanya.

"So is Gam back? What's the early call all about?" She asked.

"It's two, it's not early and Gam isn't back yet" Ako na ang sumalo sa sasabihin ni Gillian.

"Yer startin' to sound like Yuri Benjamin and her" Sabi niya sabay turo ng kutsara sa mukha ni Gillian.

"Stop spoon pointing, you are disgusting" Gillian spat.

"Hay nako, get a boyfriend yer so stiff" pang asar pa niya.

Napailing nalang ako sa mga kaharap ko. Yes we look a like but definitely different. May kanya-kanya kaming trip sa buhay. Gillian is the prim one, Ginger is more on the chill type of a person, taliwas sa pagiging ballet dancer nito. She has two persona in one body, because she transforms like Gil on the stage. Then si Gam naman ay nevermind.

"What's this all about? Hindi naman tayo kumpleto" Baling ko kay Gillian nang maalala si Gam.

"Nothing, I just wanna meet my sisters, you got all busy lately" Gillian answered at sumipsip sa chocolate mug niya. She carefully placed it back on the plate at saka tinignan ako.

"What?" I frowned at her. Kung makatingin naman ito ay parang lasing na naman ako. Hindi naman ako nakainom.

"You look neater that usual, that's all" sabi niya. Ay itong si Ate, iba!