Take Me Home (City Series #4)

Chapter Thirty-Three

L

"Hey, all square!" Ngisi ni Kuya Leo.

"Ngiti ngiti ka d'yan? 'Di pa tayo tapos!" Iling ni Dad.

"Daddy, I think it's time for lunch na." I smiled. "Mom's calling, we need to go to our reservation na daw sa club house."

Dad let out a sigh and looked at Kuya Gio.

"Gio kasi." Umiling ulit si Daddy.

"Ba't ako, Dad?!" Kuya Gio defensively.

Kuya Leo and I chuckled as we all walked towards our golf cart. Si Dad naman at si Kuya Gio ay nagbabangayan pa rin. I couldn't help but feel proud of not only the fact that I we didn't lose to Daddy like usual, but also because I did it in such a cute outfit, too. I wore a white sleeveless polo shirt and a baby pink pleated skirt along with all white rubber shoes, as well.

Pagkasakay namin ni Kuya Leo sa golf cart, lumingon kami sa golf cart nina Daddy para makita kung aalis na ba kami o hindi.

"Gerald! So good to see you again!"

"Doc! I didn't know you were back in town." Ngiti ni Daddy. "Akala ko nauna lang si Lia."

"I had to run back to the hospital yesterday. If I'd known, sinabay ko na sana ang bunso ninyo paakyat ng Baguio nung isang gabi." Tito laughed.

It made me flinch.

How much similarities tito and Z had.. it made me flinch.

"Kamusta pala si Nathan? How's medicine treating him?" Pagpapatuloy ni daddy sa conversation.

"I'm sure Lia would know much more than me." Tito laughed. "I barely get to catch up with him."

Tumawa rin si daddy at tumango. "We should play golf again sometime! It's been a while."

Tumango rin si tito kay daddy at lumingon sa akin. "Bye, guys. Bye, Lia!"

Kumaway ako kay tito at ngumiti. "Ingat po, Tito."

Tahimik kong inayos ang pagkaupo ko at humalukipkip. I could already feel my tears betraying me, but luckily, I got to blink them away.

How can I possibly let go of.. all of this?

His family's a part of my heart, my life. My parents golf and chat and see each other in this city. His sister... Reese. She doesn't have an older sister to cry on if ever she encounters her first heartbreak. She won't have an ate who drives her to training when her brother's in Manila and her parents are busy. Who's gonna defend her when Z's in a mood? Who's going to be there for her?

• • •

"Why are there so many seats?" I asked as I sat down.

"Your Kuya Gabe's coming, too. Kasama sina Pau," Mommy answered.

"Sina?" I clarified. "Sino pa?"

"Zeke and Francis, anak."

I sighed.

Great. Two relatives of Z in one day.

"Atchie," Liam called.

I glanced at him. "Yes?"

"You look so nice today."

"Today lang?" I laughed.

"Yes because you looked like you were crying yesterday," Liam said. "I don't like it."

Tumingin sa akin si Kuya Leo at Kuya Gio, at napatingin na rin si Mommy at Daddy.

"That was just my allergies, Shoti." I forced a laugh. "Atchie's feeling better now."