They Don't Know About Us

Chapter 13

"Pasensya ka na sa mga sinasabi ni lola, Sash. I'm sure she's just being a lola. Pati tuloy ikaw napa-praning na," Kai apologized. Sasha knew she wasn't going to get anything from her, so she decided to let the topic go. "Okay," she uttered. "Good night," she added. Kai stared at the floor before she could reply. She wished Sasha would pry, she wished she didn't either. "Good night, she replied before the two of them ended the call.

The next day at work, Sasha stared at her food while she played with it. "Those eggs aren't going to get any more scrambled than they already are," Tonya pointed out. Sasha looked at her. "Ano na naman ba yang iniisip mo, iha? You do most of your thinking at work," Tonya noticed. "Sorry po, 'la," Sasha apologized. "Bakit ka na naman ba tulala? Lagi ka na lang tulala pag nandito ka. Is this job too boring for you?" Tonya took a bite of her food. "Lola, hindi po sa ganun. Nakausap ko lang po si Kai. I didn't get much from her," Sasha finally told her. "Ah. I should have known," Tonya replied. Sasha looked at her. "Ano pong ibig nyong sabihin?" Sasha asked. "I should have known na kaya ka tulala kasi iniisip mo na naman ang apo ko," Tonya answered and teased at the same time. "Tsk. Si lola naman, ang aga-aga po para mang-asar," Sasha complained.

From the door, Kai couldn't help but smile. Tonya would always remind Sasha to open the windows before they eat their breakfast, and their conversation was loud enough for Kai to hear from the front door. She took a deep breath before she rang the doorbell.

Sasha frowned. "Were you expecting someone, 'la? Wear your mask," she said while she stood up and hurried to get the elderly woman a mask. "Sus, mask mask pa," Tonya complained. "'La, hindi ko yun bubuksan ng hindi kayo nag-mamask," Sasha insisted. "Oh for Christ's sake, maybe it's just the mailman at may package na namang iniwan dyan sa front door," she argued. "It's too early for the mailman," Sasha reminded her while she went to get the door.

"Kai," Sasha said surprised. She had forgotten that Tonya's granddaughter was supposed to come. "Hi," Kai greeted with a shy smile as if it was their first time meeting. "Who is it?" Tonya asked from her living room chair. "Pasok," Sasha stepped to the side so Kai could come in.

"Apo! Oh, apo ko," Tonya spread her arms when she finally saw who rang her doorbell. "Hi, lola," Kai greeted her, too. Tonya scooped her granddaughter into a tight embrace. "Where have you been?" She was eager to ask. Sasha swallowed as she watched the two. "Been everywhere, 'la. Kamusta po kayo?" Kai asked. "I've been very well. Thanks to your friend over there. You're getting the bang for your buck," Tonya said while the two of them let go of the hug. Kai looked towards Sasha who smiled sheepishly towards her. "I'd do it for free kaya lang sobrang mang-asar si lola, and that wasn't in the contract," Sasha joked which made the elderly laugh. Kai couldn't help but smile. She loved how Sasha could light up a room without having to try. "I'm glad you're having fun," Kai touched the side of her grandmother's face. "Not too much fun, wala ka eh," Tonya said while her eyes wandered towards Sasha who smiled a little before she looked away. "Well, I'm here now. What do you guys want to do? Want do YOU want to do?" She asked her grandmother. "Sleep," Tonya admitted. "Not before you finish your breakfast. Ubusin mo muna yan, 'la," Kai told her. "Oo nga po, 'la. Tsaka 'sleep'?" Sasha stepped forward. "Sleep pa din kahit natulog na kayo ng buong gabi kagabi? It's a beautiful day outside," she pointed out. "Which you two should enjoy." The elderly woman's response caught the two women off guard. "And leave you by yourself while you sleep the day away? I don't think so," Sasha replied. "Hay naku," Tonya rolled her eyes. This made the two young women laugh. "She's persistent. I'll give her that," Tonya claimed. Kai laughed even more. "She is," she couldn't help but look to the side towards Sasha who smiled a little in return. "So pano mo yun matitiis, lola?" She asked her grandmother. Tonya sighed. "Ano pa nga ba? Edi let's go out and bask in the sun," she told the two. "Yay!" The two of them exclaimed.