Smashed

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 #smashedsrs

Saying I got confused will be the understatement of the century. Kinailangan kong basahin ulit ang sender at si Uno Zorca nga talaga. Now... wrong send again?

I was sure that it was wrong sent. Hinintay ko na lang na bawiin ni Uno ang text at sabihin na nagkamali na naman siya. Inisip ko tuloy kung mahihiya na naman ba siya niyan sa akin?

The last conversation we had was that one near the restroom. We didn't text anymore but there were a lot of times that we crossed paths inside the school. Hindi naman kami nagkakausap dahil hindi naman talaga kami malapit.

The last I saw him and his friends was when finals week. Noong nahuli ko sila na parang pinag-uusapan ako sa canteen. Pero hindi naman ako sigurado. Hindi ko na sila masyadong nakita nitong consultation week hanggang holiday break. O baka hindi ko lang gaano napansin.

"Rivo, tulungan mo ang Daddy sa garlands!" utos ni Mommy.

It was afternoon of December 21 and we were decorating the whole house. Mommy is just that type of mother and we were left with no choice but to comply every time. Gusto ko rin naman ang ginagawa. Our house looked merry as it should be and it felt so much home. 

To also feel the spirit of Christmas through these decors elates me. Sa paglipas kasi ng panahon, hindi ko na ito masyadong ramdam. I don't know what changed but I'm sure there was. Hindi na katulad dati noong mga bata pa kami nina Kuya Rivo ang excitement.

Or is it because we are aging?

"Ano, Mom? Do you plan to cover the whole house with garlands?" tanong ni Kuya, ginugulo ang buhok. Halatang tinatamad tumulong.

Pagpasok pa lang ng ber months ay nag-set up na talaga ng Christmas tree si Mommy and we were just improving the decorations. If our mother is a full Filipino, our father is a half Chinese but he was born here and totally grew up to the Philippine traditions.

"Ang daming reklamo ni Kuya, Mommy! Pagalitan mo!" tumatawang gatong ko.

But I understand his reaction. In the past years, kaunti lang naman mag-decor si Mommy kasi. Ngayon ay may garlands na rin sa kitchen arc at maging kada hamba ng pintuan namin. Pati ang barandilya ng hagdanan.

Pabiro akong inirapan ni Kuya Rivo habang kaladkad ang mahabang kulay pula na garland tungo kay Daddy. Humalakhak lang ako.

Meanwhile, I was helping Mommy with the gift wrapping. Pinapabalot niya na talaga ang mga regalo niya sa shop pero mukhang sinisipag siya ngayon kaya heto kaming dalawa at magkatulong na magbalot.

It was almost half an hour since Uno's text and he haven't sent another. Binaba ko muna ang scissors at ribbon to text him again.

Me:
Hi, I think wrong send ka.

Binaba ko ulit ang cellphone ko. I stared at it for a while before I decided to pick up the scissors and ribbon again. Kaso lang ay nakapag-reply na si Uno.

Uno Zorca:
I'm not.

Matagal akong napatitig sa bago niyang reply. I lifted my gaze to his earlier text. Dadalhin sa bahay nila sa pasko? Sino? Ako?

Mukhang nakarating kay Uno ang kalituhan ko na kahit hindi pa ako nakasasagot ay may text na ulit siya sa akin.

Uno Zorca:
Sorry, this is my friend's idea and I somehow think it would work.