Hatsukoi

Chapter 6:

“Manang Imee!” Bongbong excitedly screamed when he saw his sister, Imee Marcos, when he went home with the books he borrowed on the public library. He dropped the paper bag and ran towards his sister, giving her a tight welcoming hug.

“Ading, it’s been a long time! How have you been?! Ang laki mo na, ang guwapo mo rin!” Imee replied as he hugged Bongbong back.

“Kailan ka pa po dumating? Hindi man lang po kayo nagsabi sa ’min nila Tatang at Inang, mabibigla ’yong dalawa kapag nakita kayo!” tawa naman ni Bongbong. Kumalas na rin siya sa pagkakayakap.

“Marami akong pasalubong sa inyo, lalo ka na! Binili ko lahat ng mga librong ni-request mo sa ’kin.” Kinurot-kurot ni Imee ang pisngi ng nakababata niyang kapatid.

Walong taon nang nurse si Imee sa Europa at tumutulong sa kaniyang pamilya upang pag-aralin si Bongbong. The two has always been good and close siblings and by the time Imee was leaving to study at Manila, Bongbong couldn’t stop crying over for her sister.

“Salamat po, Manang Imee, but I just borrowed some chick literature books from the public library. So maybe sooner or later ko na lang po siguro babasahin, pero thank you po talaga!” kinikilig na saad ni Bongbong. He unboxed those books that are for him, some books are historical fictions, teen fictions, and chick literature—three of his favorite genres.

“Ah, anong oras nga pala uuwi sila Inang at Tatang, I want to see them right away!” Imee excitedly exclaimed. Napakamot naman sa ulo si Bongbong.

“It’s currently five in the afternoon so anytime they would be here, there’s a lot of work on the strawberry farm lately.” Napatango naman si Imee.

“Well, let’s just wait for them here.” Ngiti niya at umupo sa sofa. Inilagay naman ni Bongbong ang mga maletang dala ng kaniyang ate sa isang sulok at itinakbo niya na rin sa kuwarto niya ang paper bag na may lamang mga libro at ang ibinibigay sa kaniya ni Imee.

“Manang Imee, I’m gonna cook po. What do you want for dinner?” alok ni Bongbong nang lumabas siya sa kuwarto niyang nakabihis na ng pangbahay.

“Ah, the usual, Ading. Do you have it here pa?” Imee requested and asked at the same time, napahagikgik naman si Bongbong.

“Of course naman po, Manang Imee. The pinakbet with saluyot, kabatiti, and utong! Kukuha lang po ako sa garden.” Ngiti niya at kaagad kumaripas ng takbo patungo sa kanilang maliit na gulayan sa bakuran.

He then plucked two pieces of each vegetable he needed. The kabatiti—ridged gourd, utong—string bean, and saluyot—Jute leaves. Then grabbed some eggplants, amorgosos, lady fingers, a squash, tomatoes, and garlic from the garden also.

He grabbed some ingredients in the kitchen like bagoong, oil, pork belly, and alamang. Then, he cleaned the vegetables from the garden and grabbed some utensils for cooking, hesauted the ingredients then boiled it and added bagoong.

Suddenly, napadpad si Imee sa kusina at naamoy ang niluluto ni Bongbong, lumapit siya rito nang nakangiti at masaya niyang tinignan ang kaniyang kapatid.

“Parang kailan lang, ang liit mo pa. Ngayon heto ka na’t nagbibinata, hay... oras nga naman. Itatanong ko lang sa ’yo, me’ron ka na bang ano... gayyem?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Bongbong nang sabihin iyon ng kaniyang ate, kaagad siyang nasamid.

“Oh, okay ka lang, Ading?” Imee asked worriedly.

“What kind of question is that, Manang Imee? I-I don’t have one yet.” Utal niyang saad.

“Hmm, so what’s with that... you know, expression?” kinikilig na tanong ni Imee. Napatawa na lamang si Bongbong at nagpatuloy siya sa pagluluto.

“I-I’m just... nabigla lang po ako.” Tawa niya, Imee then smirked and patted his head.