Remnants of Our Drowned Love

Chapter 24

"I got you." Hinawakan ko ang bewang nito upang alalayan sa pag-akyat, may hawak kasi itong malaking box.

"I got you?! Sana ikaw nagbuhat diba!"

The thing is, that box is heavy kaya hindi ko kinuha kanina, hindi ko nga kinuha tapos tutulungan ko siya magbuhat? No way.

"At least I'm not letting you fall."

"Oh please, I'm already in pieces right now just acting like I hadn't fell yet, tawag do'n facade."

I gasped. Ang sabi volunteer lang ulit sa orphanage bakit naman may pa gano'n.

Didn't see her that bitter tho.

Hindi ko na ito pinatulan pa, baka mamaya mag walk-out 'yan dito maiwan pa ako mag-isa.

"Ate Olie!"

Zef was running towards us. Ako ang sumalubong dito bago pa man maipasa sa akin ni Olie ang malaking box na hawak niya, seriously, no way.

I lifted Zef up, she smells exactly like strawberry baby shampoo.

"Na-miss mo ako Zef?" Olie beams.

"Opo!" The kid cupped my face again, telling me she misses me too. Awe, she's now may favorite.

Day-off naman namin kaya we took time playing with the kids, as usual, nakabuntot sa akin ang bubwit na si Zefidy.

"Okay ka na?" tanong ko sa bata habang kandong ko ito, naka-indian sit ako sa lapag, umiyak siya kanina dahil inagawan siya ng toy, mas bata sa kaniya kaya umiiyak niyang ibinigay iyon, you could really notice that she willingly gave it but still cried out of hinayang, gusto niya kasi ang laruan.

"Opo big girl na po ako." Tinuro niya ang librong nakakalat kaya kinuha ko iyon at inabot sa kaniya, she silently flipped the books as if naiintindihan niya.

She's murmuring every color she's seeing, kung ano ang bagay na nakikita niya from the book. And her favorite color is green. We're talking about her favourites nang dumating si Olie, she sat just infront of me, Indian sitting too.

And her favorite color is burgundy.

"Wow! Ano pong color 'yun?"

I chuckled.

"Uhm okay, red nalang!"

Zef's favorite food is Fried Chicken, for Olie, Sushi - grabe hindi Filo food ang favorite, taksil.

"Wow! Ano pong food 'yun?"

Napaawang ang labi ni Olie at napatingin sa akin, seeking help, she smiled and shook her head. "Hala! Favorite ko pala Sinigang! Sinigang baby! Amoy ko nga 'yan! Baka asim ka ah!"

Kiniliti nito si Zef, I didn't realize I'm holding my breath while watching them, eto nanaman, feels like something is kicking my heart, not in a painful way, these two really takes my breath away kapag magkasama sila. They're so close to me and it makes me want to keep them both.

"That kid, she's very sweet!"

Tumango ako habang binubuksan ang softdrinks na binili ko, nagpunta nanaman kami kung saan niya gustong kumain - sa isang Food Hub. Maraming stalls na nakapaikot sa amin, good upbeat song is blaring on their stereo. I bought tacos for myself habang siya ay burger, fries, chicken and mango shake, mula iyon sa iba't-ibang stalls.

"Anika said Zefidy doesn't want to be adopted yet, gusto niya pa sa orphanage dahil marami raw itong kalaro," I told her.

"For sure she will miss the other kid there, or baka ayaw niya 'yung mga nakakapili sa kaniya."