Gin and Gin

4

Pagkatapos kong sabihin kay Gin na mag-uumpisa na kami sa plano namin bukas ay nakita ko kung paano tinakasan ng kulay ang maamo nyang mukha. Ang kanyang itim na itim na parang mata ng mga manika ay nabalot ng halo-halong emosyon.

Galit? Takot? Excitement? Hindi ko sya mabasa.

Agad napawi ang mapag-larong ngiti sa manipis nyang malarosas na mga labi. Inalis niya ang aking mga kamay na nakahawak sa hugis kandila nyang mga daliri at hinawi ang kanyang pulang maiksi buhok na dating itim na itim, bagsak at hanggang bewang.

She closed her eyes for a second and when she opened it she gave me a blank expression.

Ang laki ng pinagbago nya sa loob ng nagdaang taon. Kung dati'y kaydali sa akin basahin kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isipan nya'y hindi na ganun ngayon.

Nakakahanga na kaya na nyang baguhin ang takbo ng kanyang emosyon at itago ang tunay nyang nararamdaman.

"Spade." She called my name in a cold tone. Nawala ang bakas ng saya at excitement sa kanyang boses kanina. "I can never thank you enough for helping me all this time."

Ang mapanuri kong mga mata na nakatitig sa kanya ay naging malikot at tumingin sa kalooban ng coffee shop na ito. Kanina ko pa nararamdaman na parang may nagmamasid samin. O baka guni-guni ko lang?

I drink my matcha green tea,
"Gin, you know you will always have my back." I assured her.

Bahagya syang ngumiti ang lumabas ang dimple sa kaliwang pisngi nya.
"I waited for this moment for the past years. By the way how's Ace?"
She changed the topic and now she's back to her playful happy mood again.
Parang sinasapian ang babaeng to. Isang taon lang ako nawala at ganito na kalaki ang kanyang pinagbago?

She's referring to my younger sister. "She wanna meet you tonight Gin. She's staying at Serendra. It's close here, 5 minute walk maybe?"

She checked her wristwatch. She's still wearing that Tommy Hilfiger's watch I customized for her, it was my gift 3 years ago.

"Can we meet her now?" She asked me sweetly.

It's already quarter to 4pm. "Sure."

Palabas na kami ng Starbucks ng makita ko ang pamilyar na bulto ng babaeng iyon. Natigilan ako habang pilit inaalala ang kanyang mukha. Saan ko nga ba sya nakita?

"Hey Spade, bilisan mo!" Gin shouted at me and it brought me back to my senses.

I walked towards her and looked back to the woman I saw. Nagmamadali syang pumasok sa isang taxi.

Inakbayan ko si Gin at naglakad na kami patungo sa Serendra.
"Ang ganda dito no? People say that BGC is like mini New york. They even named the streets by numbers just like in New york city." Pagmamayabang ko.

Pero walang sumagot sakin. I followed Gin's gaze and saw the pain in her eyes while looking at the man and woman who's playing with a child. She must have remembered her past.

"Well, you look like you want to have a baby again Gin. Gawa tayo tonight?" Mapanukso kong asar sa kanya. She gave an irritated look but she's blushing. Sarap asarin!

She pinched me in my stomach and removed my arms in his shoulders. "Dumi mo Spade ha!" Natatawang sagot nya. There, I don't wanna see her eyes sad kaya lagi ko syang tinutukso.

After 5 minutes of walking we arrived in my sister's garden unit.

"Aaaand we're here," I opened the door and my sister's image suprised us.

"Oh my god. Ace! Why are you tied up? What happened to you?" Natatarantang pumasok si Gin sa loob ng unit at tinakbo ang sala kung saan nakatali si Ace sa isang upuan.

When I walked up to Ace she was shivering. Her left eye was black and blue and she had bruises all over her arms and sides. Her shirt was particularly ripped off and her knees were scrapped. Blood was soaking through her pants.
Gin moved her head and tears streamed from her eyes.

I took the phone out of my pants and dialed 911. We need to bring her to the hospital ASAP.

Dammit! Who did this to you lil sister?