Mirage

thirty

Aliyah was so excited and nervous at the same time. She was back in her home town, with Mira! But she was nervous because she's going to see her mother.

She had always felt like her mother's upset with her. Aliyah probably knows why; she was too busy with her career to forget to call back and talk to her family, her mother to be exact.

But! In all positivity, Mira's with her. Finally.

After getting out of the airport and getting off bus, it was late at night already. Aliyah was going to grab her duffle bag from the ground but Mira beat her to it.

"Akin na yan, ikaw na lahat may hawak ng gamit- "

Mira evaded her and pointed her lips at the road. "May sasakyan." She pointed out and gestured Aliyah to get off road.

Aliyah could only scratch the back of her head and let Mira have her way. She led the both of them to where her house was.

And when they were at the gate, Aliyah stopped first and took a breath. Before she could knock, Mira spoke.

"I really don't think I should be here..."

Aliyah raised her brows at the girl. "You always do that." The latter looked at her confused.

"Overthink. You overthink so much. Dinala kita dito, I think you should be here."

Then the gate opened. "Aliyah, anak?"

Both girls turned their heads.

"Ma, hi. I'm home." Aliyah said. "I'm uh with a," She glanced at Mira first before continuing. "A friend, si Mira. Bakasyon lang." She smiled.

"Good evening po." Mira greeted.

"Hali kayo, pasok."

Her mom went inside, urging both of them to follow. Aliyah chuckled a little nervously and followed in with Mira.

Confirmed. Her mom is upset.

Not only did she not give Aliyah a hug, her mom also wasn't smiling.

When they were inside, the girls were greeted by a big dog. He immediately ran towards Aliyah.

"Sky! My love I missed you!" Aliyah hugged her mom's dog.

"Ang laki mo na!" The dog ran around them excitedly. He also sniffed Mira and started barking at her.

"Hey sky, she's a friend! She's Mira, come on give her a hug." Aliyah said as she pointed at Mira.

Sky jumped on Mira's legs, making the girl bend her knees so she can let the dog do whatever it is that means a hug for them. But sky started to lick her face.

"Sky! Don't do that!" Aliyah laughed and tried to get sky away from Mira.

Mira was just looking at Aliyah and Sky, unknowingly giving a small smile while she wiped her face off.

Tita Ellie, Aliyah's mom, called Mira's attention. "Ibaba mo muna ang mga gamit niyo. Lagay niyo muna sa kwarto."

"Ah sige po, salamat."

"Aliyah, dalhin mo muna si Mira sa kwarto ng kuya mo."

After hearing what her mom said, Aliyah quickly stood up. "Wag na don ma, magalit pa si kuya. Sa kwarto ko na lang."

"Ikaw bahala. Kumain na ba kayo, magluluto ako." Tita Ellie went straight to the kitchen.

"Seryoso?" Mira looked at Aliyah, surprised.

"Huh? Anong seryoso?"

"Sa kwarto mo..."

Aliyah frowned. "Bakit? Ano meron? Halika don para makapag ayos na tayo. Grabe nakakapagod biyahe." With no thoughts, she grabbed her bag from Mira and dragged her upstairs.

They both was inside Aliyah's room now and the latter was fixing her clothes. "Ayaw ko kasi sa kwarto ni Kuya. Meticulous sa gamit, magsusungit yon." She made face while saying that.

And Mira was silently by the bed, she stood there awkwardly.

"So dito ka na lang sa kwarto ko."

Aliyah turned to Mira and smiled. "Dun ako sa kwarto ni mama."

Mira slowly nodded, "Ah."

Aliyah's smile turned into a teasing one. "Akala mo magkatabi tayo noh?" She laughed as Mira's face turned red.

"Gusto mo ba? Okay lang naman sakin." Aliyah teased and laughed loudly again when Mira's face turned into a tomato.

"Not funny." Mira frowned.

"Cute mo." Aliyah pinched her cheeks. She slowly put her hands to her side and gazed at Mira.

This made Mira even more awkward with Aliyah staring at her so intently.

"Uhm...bakit?"

Aliyah shook her head. "I'll let you be alone here muna then kain tayo pagluto na ni mama."

Mira just nodded.

"You can talk to me when you're ready. I'm here, okay?" She stared at Mira's eyes, making sure the girl understands it.

"Okay." Mira said quietly.

"Okay, tawagin na lang kita mamaya."

Aliyah went out of the room and sighed. "Now, let's face mother and daughter problem first."

She went to the kitchen to see her mom. Her mom aged really well, everybody kept saying that Aliyah was a younger version of her mom and she's really proud of that.

"Ma, anong pwede kong itulong?" Aliyah asked as she put her hair into a ponytail.

"Hmm? Wala okay na, ininit ko lang naman ung ulam tsaka nag saing."

Aliyah nodded and looked around. Well, this is awkward.

"Naguusap ba kayo ng kuya mo?" Her mom suddenly asked.

She creased her eyebrows. "No. Busy siya sa buhay niya."

Tita Ellie sighed, "Magkapatid kayo."

"I know, "Aliyah shrugged. "And he's busy, so am I."

"You can't be busy enough to not call your mother, can you?"

Hala nag full English na. Aliyah bit her lip. "Sorry Ma, nakakalimutan ko kasi."

"But I called naman nung birthday ko at mahal na araw." She tried to reason.

Her mom put down the plates on the table. "Hindi ka tumatawag kasi galit ka parin. Don't try to reason with me."

Aliyah sighed.

"So, bat ka nandito ngayon? Kasama si Mira, pano mo siya nakilala?"

"Galing kaming Baguio, I wanted to bring her here kaya ayon..."

"Kailangan ko pala pasalamatan si Mira."

"Ma naman."

Tita Ellie looked at Aliyah sternly. "Dahil sakaniya umuwi ka na ulit."

Aliyah didn't say anything.

"Bakit kayo nasa Baguio?"

"Ah, wala hinanap ko lang siya. Mag ka ano kasi kami! Kapitbahay sa apartment, kaya kami nagkakilala. Mabait siya, close na kami." Aliyah rambled.

Her mom raised her brows and nodded. "Uhuh. Tawagin mo na siya kain na."

Aliyah went upstairs quickly to call Mira.