ATTICUS
"How about this beautiful young lady?"
Napatingin kaming lahat sa gawing tinignan ni tita. Gulat naman itong napatigil sa pagsubo at dahan-dahang ibinaba ang kutsara.
"Ah, this is Saoirse, Tita." Pagpapakilala ni Kenzie sa kaibigan.
"Hi, Ciao-?"
"Saoirse po. Sur-sha."
"Saoirse." Pag uulit pa ni Tita. "Wow, what a nice name. Pasensya ha hindi kita agad napansin. You look gorgeous!" Tita admiringly looked at her. Well, maganda naman silang lahat, I must say.
"Thank you po." Nahihiyang tugon niya. "Pasensya na rin, gutom na kasi ako dahil malayo ang biyahe namin, kaya hinayaan ko nalang kayong mag moment diyan." She answered with a straight face, not even smiling.
"Hahaha, I see. That's understandable, help yourself!" Tita smiled. "How old are you, hun? Do you live in the States as well?"
"Mom! Don't ask that randomly, you'll just make her uncomfortable-"
"Not at all." Pagputol nito kay Damian. Nakakunot noong napatingin naman si Damian sa kaniya.
"What?"
Pero hindi siya pinansin at bumaling ito kay Tita.
"I am 28 years old. And yes, I live with Kenzie."
Napa kagat-labi na lamang si Damian na naka tingin kay Saoirse at nag titimpi sa inis.
"Wow. And you speak Tagalog?"
"A-huh. I do." Seryosong sagot nito na hindi man lang ngumiti.
Bastos!
"You're so firm with your words and I like you for some reason! What do you do by the way if you don't mind?"
"M-mom! Enough of that. Let them eat first." Pag pigil ni Damian sa ina.
"Masama ba ang mag tanong? Curious ako eh." Sumimangot pa itong tumingin kela Kenzie. "Let's talk some other time, ladies. Mainit pa kasi ulo ng baby ko ngayon, pinapaalis na ako."
"Mom! Ano ka ba? I told you to stop calling me that. You're embarrassing me!"
"Wala namang nakaka embarass dun ah. Baby ka naman talaga ni Tita." Singit ni Kenzie na nakaagaw ng atensyon naming lahat.
Namumula na ang mukha ni Damian. Katulad ko, naiinis ito sa pagiging feeling close ni Kenzie.
"Yeah, baby Ian. You gotta be chill right there!" Sigaw ni Chase na pagpapatawa sa amin pero walang tumawa at tinignan lang ito ng masama ni Damian. "That was good, Z."
"Was it?" She replied with a shrug.
"Hahaha, don't tease him all night, okay? I'll leave you now. Enjoy the night, everyone! See you later, ladies." Pamamaalam ni Tita sa amin.
Muling tahimik ang lahat hanggang sa tuluyan na ngang nakalayo si Tita. Ang tatlong bagong dating naman ay abala sa pagkain. Halatang mga gutom nga ang mga ito. They put everything in their mouth not minding us na nagmamasid sa kanila.
Maging si Khyl ay parang kating kati na itong kausapin ang kapatid, ngunit nakikiramdam lamang sa tensyong namumuo sa lamesang ito.
"Mga wala kayong kwenta." Pagbasag ni Damian sa katahimikan.
"Paano ba ang walang kwenta?" ngiting tanong ni Chase.
"Ewan ko sa inyo!"
"Khym," Si Khyl at napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya.. "Let's have a talk later."
YOU ARE READING
The Silver Lining of Solitude
General FictionHave you ever experienced a sense of isolation? Your family and friends--everyone abandoned you. In a world full of surprises, a ray of hope appears in your isolated life---new faces, friends, and perhaps a lover---all eager to fill the void of emp...
