Poor Affection

02

The next day, I stood up on the bed with high eyebrows because of the noise as if someone was tearing down a wall. I looked at the wall clock, it was only seven o'clock but they were already making a fuss!

Isa talaga sa ayaw ko ay iyong nagugulo ang tulog ko. But today, it's all messed up.

I made the bed and myself first before going out and going to the kitchen. When I entered, they were all looking at me and smiling. "Ang aga-aga, naka-kunot agad ang noo mo, ate." Jaja said, I scratched my head because of that.

"Kasi naman, ayaw na ayaw ko na nagugulo ang tulog ko pero ang agang may nambubulabog, eh." Inarte ko na kinatawa nilang lahat. Nasanay akong matutulog na tahimik ang paligid at gigising din ng tahimik.

"Hindi ko nasabi kahapon, pinapa-extend kasi ng mama mo ang bakod para daw mapalagyan ng kubo iyong likod ng bahay. She said that you don't want to lock yourself in the air-conditioned room too much, so you can breathe better fresh air." She explained so I nodded.

We have a big house in Manila, all the rooms are air-conditioned as well as the living room. But even so, I still prefer to be able to breathe fresh air.

Buong pagkain namin ay tawa lang sila ng tawa sakin dahil tuwing may malakas na nag pupukpok ng martilyo ay napapapikit ako. Naiinis ako kasi ang ingay nang mga nag gagawa, hindi ko pa mapigilan ang mapapikit dahil sa tunog ng martilyo na sumasalpok sa pader.

"Anong gusto mong ulam para mamayang tanghalian, Talia? Pupunta ako ng palengke." Aunt Jane just said because maybe she noticed that I wasn't in the mood.

I shrugged, "kahit ano nalang po, Tita. Hindi naman po ako mapili sa ulam," I answered.

Totoo iyon, kahit nga tuyo ay kinakain ko. My parents don’t know that I eat like that because they will definitely scold me. Hindi daw kasi namin alam kung malinis ba talaga iyon dahil sabi nila, sa palengke daw kapag binebenta ang mga ganon ay naka-buyangyang lang at nadadapuan ng mga langaw.

"Sigurado ka?" I nodded at her question.

"Ma, won't you ask me?" Jaja pouted, "gusto ko lang naman ng inihaw na bangus tapos labanos." She said, pretending to be hurt because her mom didn’t ask what dish she wanted.

"That’s what I had in mind to buy." Auntie Jane shook her head, "parehas talaga kayo ng papa mo, unting-unti nalang talaga ay mag mumukha na kayong bangus at labanos."

Mahina akong natawa dahil sa sinabi ni Tita at sa reaksiyon ni Jaja at Tito na saba'y pumalakpak habang ang laki ng mga ngiti sa labi.

I'm envious.

After dinner, Jaja and I just stayed inside the house with her sister. Si Tita Jane naman at ang asawa niya ay pumunta sa palengke para bumili ng iluluto para sa ulam mamayang pananghalian.

Sa sobrang busy namin kaka-laro ng jenga ay hindi na namin namalayan na naka-uwi na pala sila Tita at kasalukuyan nang nag luluto. Nagulat pa ako nang ang dami niyang hinain na pagkain sa lamesa.

"Kain lang ng kain, ah." Auntie said to the men who entered.

I even approached Jaja to ask who they were, "sila yung mga nag gagawa sa likod ng bahay, ate. Ayan na, pagsabihan mo na sila dahil naistorbo nila tulog mo kanina," she said and grinned softly.

I shook my head. Hindi ko nalang siya sinagot at kumain na lamang. Tahimik lang ako habang sila ay kausap ang mga lalaki. "Sino yung nag pupukpok sa pader kaninang ala-siyete?" Tanong ni Tita kaya napa-angat ang tingin ko at dumako iyon sa mga lalaki.

Mahinang natawa ang isa bago tinuro ang katabi niya. "Si Ishan, na-miss ata maging construction boy," he answered then laugh.

The man he called 'Ishan' also laughed softly before he bit his lower lip. While looking at him, I felt a tickle in my stomach. Ghadd, hindi ko alam kung ano itong nararamdaman ko dahil ayaw maalis ang tingin ko sa lalaking iyon.

I couldn't sleep all night because of the thought of a man named Ishan. In the way he laughed until he bit his lower lip. My small intestine and large intestine in my stomach seem to be going crazy!

The next day, I invited Jaja outside so we could play mobile games there. She even complained because it was a bit hot, but I just ignored her. While playing, I couldn't help but look at Ishan who was mixing cement with sand.

I smiled, and since he didn't have any top clothes on, my eyes couldn't help but turn to his sweaty chest down to his abs. "Ate, natalo tayo." I quickly turned to my cellphone when I heard what Jaja said. She was right, we were already defeated.

I fake a smile. "What time is it?" I just asked. I can't be bothered anymore because I want to prepare a snack so that I can get closer to Ishan.

"Two-twenty, ate." Sagot niya na kinatango ko, niyaya ko na siyang pumasok sa loob ng bahay para ihanda ang merienda.

Jaja mixed the juice in the jug and put ice before she covered it. I was the one who put the bread, stuffing with a bread knife, spoon and plastic cups on the tray.

Bago kami lumabas ng bahay, pumunta muna ako sa kwarto para ayusin ang sarili. I combed my hair first before applying the powder on my face, I also applied my favorite floral fruity scent. While looking in the mirror I couldn’t help but smile.

Ishan myloves, will definitely look at me.

When I finished, I left the room. My cousin smiled when she saw me and came out of the house with a jug of juice. Hindi manlang ako hinintay, napailing nalang ako bago din lumabas ng bahay ng naka-ngiti.

Syempre ang panget naman kung hindi ako ngingiti.

I bit my lip before I looked at Jaja, ordering her to call Ishan and his male companions so that they could have a snack. "Ikaw nalang, ate. Anong silbi ng pag papabango at pag pupulbos mo kung hindi ka lalapit. Bahala ka, hindi ka niya maaamoy," my eyes widened because of that.

Tumingin ako sa paligid dahil baka may naka-rinig sa sinabi niya, napabuntong-hininga ako na tila nabunutan ng maliit na tinik sa dibdib nang makitang walang tao doon.

Jaja naman, eh!

Lumapit siya sakin bago pa bumulong, "bahala ka, hindi ka maaamoy ni kuya Ishan." I squeezed my eyes shut before opening it again. Paano niya nalaman!? Am I being too obvious?

"Jaja,--" she cut off what I was supposed to say.

"Go na, ate. Make him fall for you," she whispered. Tumingin ako sakaniya ng naka-kunot ang noo pero ngumiti lang siya.

Bumuntong hininga ako bago tumayo at lumakad palapit sa pwesto ng mga lalaki, kahit na nahihiya ay nag lakas loob akong nag-salita. "U-Uhm... mag merienda po muna kayo," I said, stuttering.

My nervousness doubled when Ishan first turned to me and nodded before smiling. He didn't just look at me, he even smiled! Oh my ghadd, he smiled at me! My heart!