The Brightest Stars

[7]

"Good morning, Araaaaaw!" The manor's double doors opened wide, revealing a grinning mushroom. Pumasok siya at naupo sa sofa'ng nasa harapan ko, acting like he was welcomed.

"Don't you know that a certain word called knocking exists?" I sarcastically asked.

"Grabe, ang ganda naman ng bungad mo. Ganyan ka ba bumati ng gwapo?"

"You're not handsome so shut up. Why are you here?"

"Sasabay ka sa aming kumain ng almusal tapos gagala tayo!" He raised his clenched knuckles in the air like a corrupt politician determined to convince the people to vote for him.

"Who said I'd go with you?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Ako, duh." He answered, also raising a brow.

Napailing nalang ako. "There's no way I'm going with you on the gala part so get lost, will you?"

"Sasama ka."

"Hindi."

"Sasama ka."

"No."

"Sasama ka."

"Never."

"Sasama ka nga! 'Wag kang makulit." Tumayo siya mula sa pagkaka-upo atsaka dali-daling lumabas ng bahay para hindi na ako makasagot.

"See you later, Araw!" I heard him call out. Napapikit nalang ako sa inis.

How can someone do that to me?! Because honestly, I've never met anyone as annoying as he is! Pinanganak ba siya para mambwisit? Kasi kung 'yun ang misyon niya sa mundo, magtatagumpay siya!

I dragged myself to my room so I can change my clothes. Nakasanayan ko na ang madalas na pagsabay sa kanila sa pagkain. I was forced to eat all three meals a day because I can't refuse Nana or Tata when they invite me over to dine with them.

"Good morning," I greeted.

"Magandang umaga rin sayo, binibini!" Tata replied in a cheerful tone. Napailing nalang si Nana.

"Halika na Sunrise. Masarap ang ulam dahil sariwa pa ang nabingwit ng Tata mo."

We gathered by the table, joined hands in prayer and ate in silence - or at least I did because they were chatting again. Seriously, I don't get how they could still talk a lot when they've been literally together everyday.

Nang matapos kumain ay naglinis lang kami ng pinagkainan. I was given the task to clean up the table every after meal while Titus was assigned to wash the dishes. Umalis na rin ako pagkatapos at nagkulong sa library.

I was immersed in a book I was reading when a mushroom popped out of nowhere and started scanning the book covers with his finger. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin pero nakita kong pumili siya ng isang libro at naupo sa kaharap kong upuan.

We read in silence for hours until I finished the story so I closed the book and stood up to place it back from where I took it. Ibinalik na rin ni Titus ang libro'ng binasa niya atsaka nag-unat ng katawan. I saw how bright the sun was through the library window so I assumed it was already two in the afternoon.

"Ang tagal na rin simula nung magbasa ako dito," he suddenly spoke.

"Hmm you've read books from here?"

"Oo naman. Every summer, kung hindi ako gumagala o tumutulong kina Tata, nandito ako at nagbabasa."

"And how many books have you read so far?"