Deprived

Deprived 09

Promise

I woke up feeling all shitty inside. Napahilamos ako sa aking sarili.

Fuck! Why do I tend to be so nosy?

Tumayo ako sa kinahihigaan ko. I made the bed bago dumiretsyo sa banyo. Naghihilamos ako mg maalala ang narinig ko kagabi.

"She's their little sister after all..."

"It's for your own good..."

These lines kept replaying on my mind last night that I didn't even had enough sleep. Or dahil siguro nakatulog na naman ako nung hapon? Whatever!

I started brushing my teeth when I hard three soft knocks on my door. Hindi ko muna pinansin dahil puno ng bula ang bibig ko.

Three soft knocks were made again. I gargled some water then used a towel to dry myself up.

Lumapit ako sa may pinto at binuksan ito. Like yesterday, Gael was leaning on the door frame only this time he had a little girl next to him.

She was all pink from her head to toe not gonna lie. I can tell that she was years younger than me dahil naka barbie siya na pouch.

"Hello! Good morning Ate Ela." She greeted me cheerfully. She had this vibe like Gael's it was warm and welcoming.

"Uh, good morning..." I trailed of because I didn't remember who she was. Is she Maria Trish? Maria Ethalian? Or Marrinette Millen?

They all look the same from my perspective.

She was fairer than me. Her heart face is small. Her hair is also jet black, you can noticed it shining even though it's braided into two boxer braids. Her eyes are grey  like mine, probably because of our foreign blood. Her nose looks perfectly contoured together with her jawline. She may be young but her features are matured for her age. Mukha na siyang dalaga. If only she isn't wearing all barbie from head to toe aakalain ko mg kasing edad ko siya.

"I'm Maria Ethalian, in case you forgot! And your my big herman-" before she could finish her statement tinakpan na agad ni Gael ang bibig niya.

The little girl- Ethalian protested. But it was a failed attempt. Napangiwi ako sa aking nasasaksihan. Ang aga aga.

"Stop it Gael." I eyed him.

Binitiwan naman niya agad ang bata. Gael placed his index finger on his lips like he was telling Ethalian to keep quite. Which confused me.

"Kuya you're so mean!" Mangiyak ngiyak na siya ngayon. I bit my lip at the sight of her. Something was tugging my heart. Something was telling me to console her but since I'm an only child I didn't know how.

Nagkamot ako ng ulo. I opened the door wider enough for them to see it whole.

"Bakit ang aga niyo mangatok?" I asked. Iginaya ko sila papasok ng aking kuwarto. Ethalian immediately sat on the bed.

Lumapit ako sa cabinet para makakuha ng damit. Since naka lilac velvet lang ako na terno pajama.

"Kakadating lang niyang batang iyan kanina. Gusto ka agad makita." Gael also sat near Ethalian.

Pumasok ako sa walk in closet at nagpalit ng damit. Ang awkward naman na harapin sila na nakapantulog lang ako, diba?

I chose a simple white dress syaka yung sandals ko kahapon. Mainit kasi kaya ganito karamihan ang binaon ko. Nang makalabas ako ay nakita kong hawak ni Ethalian ang family picture namin nina Dad at Mama. The picture was taken on my fourth birthday.

Nakatingin si Gael sa akin as if waiting for my reaction.

"Ate is she your Mom?" Ethalian asked. Something was warm in my heart  in the way she called me 'Ate'.  I couldn't explain it. Like how I couldn't explain a lot of things since I stepped on this mansion.