Love in Bangketa

08

"Xynnah? What happened to your elbow?" Napangiwi si Aezy nang makita niya ang pagdurugo ng elbow ko. I can still thank the universe because it was not my knees that got bruised. Kung mangyayari 'yon, I won't be able to wear shorts anymore dahil mahihiya ako.

"There's a dumb boy who hit me with his dumb tricycle. Ang burara. Hindi siya nagi-ingat," I bit my lower lip while letting the running water run into my bruised elbow. Mabuti na lang din at hindi ito masiyadong malaki! It can still be cured by a scar eraser, but still, this shit hurts.

"Did you memorize the number of his tricycle?" Aezy asked, while watching me touch my elbow. Sinusuway niya rin akong huwag kong hawakan dahil baka mas ma-infect.

"I forgot. Agad na lang akong umalis doon because people were already looking at me," Inabutan ako ni Aezy ng isang tissue at dahan dahan ko itong dinampi sa sugat ko. When Daddy already allowed me to use his car, I'll find that boy and hit him, too.

"Aezy, where did you go? Hindi ba dapat nagrereview ka na ngayon," Tito Gerard stated with his brows furrowed.

"Pinasyal ko lang si Xynnah sa labas, Papa. Para naman kahit papaano makabisado niya yung--"

"She can still do that at some other time, Aezy. Nakita ko sa bulletin mo na marami ka pang dapat gawin at tapusin. Nagawa mo na ba lahat ng 'yon?"

Aezy quietly shook her head. Napahilot naman sa sentido si Tito Gerard. Suddenly, I felt guilty. Mygod. I am thinking twice if I should apologize or not...

"Tito Gerard, I'm sorry po--"

"You should be really sorry, Xynnah. You can stroll around this place all by yourself, bakit kailangan mo pang isama si Aezy?"

"Papa, please, don't reprimand her. I volunteered--"

"Didn't I tell you to not butt in when I'm talking to someone?" Parehas na lang kaming napayuko ni Aezy sa striktong wika ni Tito Gerard. My wound started to sting. I should treat this right away with a betadine and bandage. Pero, ayoko namang maiwan dito si Aezy at pinapagalitan dahil wala naman siyang ginawa.

Tito Gerard was partly right, though. Aezy has priorities, while I don't. I shouldn't have let her join me. But, I was kinda scared that I might get lost. Kaya thankful na rin naman ako na sinamahan ako ni Aezy. Maybe, next time, I'll just do it myself.

"Aezy, your papers. Don't forget it," Pagpapaalala ni Tita Roan. Aezy was wearing her school uniform already. Tito Gerard, too. They both looked at me as I went downstairs.

"Good morning, Giovannah. Have a seat and eat your breakfast na,"

I awkwardly sat next to Aezy. She only gave me a warm smile and mouthed good morning. Kumuha ako ng toasted bread, itlog at bacon. Pinalaman ko 'yon sa tinapay ko.

"Sana hindi na mangyari ang nangyari kahapon, Giovannah. I guess you've already reflected from your actions yesterday?" Panguusisa ni Tita Roan. I knew it. Alam niya na agad ang nangyari kahapon.

"Opo. S-Sorry po,"

Tumango lang si Tita Roan, but Aezy gave me an apologetic smile. Tinapos ko na lang ang pagkain ko. Pagkatapos naming mag breakfast, pumasok na sa trabaho si Tito Gerard, kasama si Aezy. Si Tita Roan naman ay may pupuntahan lang daw. I was left alone with their housemaid, Manang Tina, who has been working for them for more than 10 years.

Bago pa umalis si Tita Roan, inutusan niya akong tulungan si Manang Tina. While me, being the confused girl, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko, not until Manang Tina approached me.

"Giovannah ba ang pangalan mo, hija?" Tanong niya.

Tumango ako. "Giovannah is my real name. But, you can call me Xynnah... po," I don't usually use 'po' and 'opo'. Not even to my parents. Ngayon ko lang nasabi 'yon nang kaharap ko si Manang Tina.

"Xynnah, pakibalat naman itong mga patatas," Manang Tina made me help her cook our ulam for this day. Binigay niya sa'kin ang patatas. Okay. Now, I take back what I said before. Na kaya ko nang magluto na hindi ginagawang abo ang bahay. I only said that just because I can already cook a bacon. Pero, hindi ko alam kung paano ko babalatan itong patatas.

"Ah... Manang Tina?" Humarap siya sa'kin.

"Bakit?"

"I... don't know how to peel this one," Nahihiya kong sabi. I thought she would get mad at me, because I'm already 19, and still I don't know how to peel a freaking potato! Inabot niya na lang sa'kin ang vegetable peeler at dinemo sa'kin kung paano tanggalin ang balat. She also taught me how to slice it. May iba't ibang uri pala ng pag slice depende sa kung anong gusto mong lutuin.

"Tikman mo na, hija," Ibinigay niya sa'kin ang isang kutsara. I scooped a little amount of chicken's liver. It tastes delicious!

"Masarap po, Manang," I smiled at her.

"Talaga? Ayan. Pwede ka na mag-asawa. Masarap na ang luto mo,"

"I only sliced and peeled vegetables, Manang. You were actually the one who measured the taste,"

Nauna na kaming kumain ni Manang at hindi na namin nahintay si Tita Roan. Yesterday, I was sooo bored. Pero, mabuti na lang, may natutunan akong bago ngayon. Masaya pala magluto.

"Dahan dahan sa pagkain, Xynnah. Baka masira ang diyeta mo riyan, hija," I almost ate my plate, but I stopped when Manang Tina mentioned about my diet. Omg! Oo nga pala!

Kumuha ako ng ulam, pero konti lang. I rubbed my tummy when I finished eating. I was also about to help Manang Tina washing the dishes, but she told me not to bother anymore. Kaya umakyat na lang ako sa kwarto ko.

I took a bath and did my usual routine. Namimiss ko si Elisa. She has been constantly messaging and calling me, but I only set my phone to Airplane mode. I also deactivated my social media accounts, because I am still not ready to tell her that I already moved here.

I just hope for better days.