Hatid

H: Chapter 26

— 26 —

"Puwede naman tayong umupo 'no?" Sabi ni Ate humiwalay ako sa yakap. Umupo kami sa sofa at ngiting nagkatinginan.

"Is this real?" I looked at Mom who's smiling at us. She nodded and I look at Ate. She's really here!

"Surprise!" Ani ni Mom at bahagyang natawa. A surprise for real. When I returned my sight on her, I hugged Ate tightly. I really missed her.

"When did you come home?" I asked. Nandito na ba siya noong lumipat na ako?

"Kanina lang. Jetlag nga." Aniya at ngumisi. Magsasalita na sana ako nang kinurot niya ang tagiliran ko.

"Ha?" Patuloy na kapkap ko sa aking tagiliran habang siya'y nakatingin sa aking likod. Sinulyapan ko 'yon at si Max nga pala!

Agad akong napatayo at naglakad kay Max na nakatindig at nabigla nang kinuha ko ang kamay niya at dalhin palapit kay Ate.

"Ate." Tawag ko at nilingon si Max. "Si Max, my boyfriend."

"Hello po." He lower his head and gave a hand out. "Max Emeric Ramos." He introduced.

Tumayo si Ate at tinggap ang kanyang kamay. "Sam. Nice to meet you, my sister's boyfriend, Max." Ngumiti si Ate at nahihiyang ngumiti si Max. "Don't ever hurt my sister or else..."

"O-Opo." Sagot ni Max at napangisi si Ate. She's scaring him.

"Good..." Binawi ni Ate ang kaniyang kamay at ngumiti. "So, let's eat?" Anyaya niya at naunang pumuntang kusina kasama si Mom.

"Hey, are you okay?" I concernedly asked. Tumango ito at ngumiti.

"Kain na tayo." Anyaya niya at nilagay ang kamay sa aking beywang at nagtungo sa kusina.

"Respeto naman." Sabi ni Ate habang nakatingin sa kamay ni Max. Kumunot ang noo ko nang dahan-dahan kumawala si Max sa paghawak.

"What's the problem?" Ngising tanong ko kay Ate nang makaupo. "Why did we get bitter huh?" She only rolled her eyes and I was getting the thought of something's wrong.

"So, kumusta?" I looked up at Mom. "Kumusta college?"

"It's okay, I have a friend named Greta." I said and Ate glanced at me.

"'Di ba may kaibigan kang, sino nga 'yon? Vale?" Oh, si Viv.

"Uh, it's Viv." I said and looked down on my food.

"Oo nga pala! Si Viv! Kumusta nga pala siya?" I shifted on my seat. "I heard wala si Mom niya kaya mahirap ang pinagdadaanan niya."

"Maybe she's okay." I saw how her forehead creased.

"We've not talking that much. So, wala akong news sa kaniya." I started eating my food. It's not that I don't want to talk about her but it saddens me to think that we're not communicating anymore.