Thelieka (TagLish Version)

Lee 4•Decortias

[Summer, three years ago...]

Nika was of many things.

Malambing ang boses nito, ngunit minsan ay may taglay na lason ang bawat salita. And like it was part of her existence, Lee and others always accommodated her whims.

"Pwede ka namang mag-practice sa banda niyo ngayong summer, but spend time with me too," sabi nito sa unang araw ng bakasyon. Kasalukuyan silang nasa veranda ng mga Decortia, pinagsaluhan ang homemade strawberry ice cream at turon.

"Maybe, one to two hours every afternoon." Pandanlian itong napaisip matapos isubo ang huling scoop sa tasa. "Nevermind, I'll come over anytime."

"Sama ako ate," ani Kathlyn, kasalukuyan silang pinagsalinan ng ice tea sa baso.

"'Di ba may tinatapos kang painting? Akala ko ba next week ang deadline sa contest?"

Napasulyap si Kathlyn kay Lee, tila nahihiya sa kaalamang dapat silang magkapatid lang ang may alam.

"He knows," deklara ni Nika. "Sinabi ko."

"I think you'd do well," sabat ni Lee, hinayaan si Nika kutsarahin ang natitirang ice cream sa baso niya. For better access, he slid the mug closer to her, as always. "You always do," dagdag niyang puri kay Kathlyn.

"Thank you, Kuya," wika ng nakababatang Decortia, kumalat ang pamumula sa tenga, hindi makatingin kay Lee.

"Akin 'yan."

Tiningnan ito ni Nika ng masama ng umambang kunin ni Kathlyn ang natitirang ice cream sa tub. Sinimangutan ni Lee si Nika, inabutan niya ng tissue upang pahiran ang kaunting bakas ng sorbetes sa gilid ng labi nito. She took his hand instead, guiding him to wipe her mouth. Lee did, as always. "Kinain mo na nga ang turon. Let her have the ice cream."

Marahang umiling si Kathlyn. "It's fine. Busog na rin ako. You can have it, Ate." Idinulog nito ang tub palapit sa nakakatandang kapatid.

Lee flitted his eyes between the sisters, as different as night and day. Kath loved her ponytails, a habit she picked up when painting to keep everything neat. As for Nika, she as always, was of many things.

One day, she'd have twin buns, the next she'd let her hair down, bouncing in the wind as she ran after Lee with a smile. Sometimes she'd let Irish style her hair into braids or waterfall and clips like flowers.

"I look cute, right?" She'd always ask him, as she twirls to show off the hairstyle, or her new dress, or even raise and wriggle her toes with her new socks with flower prints. And as always, Lee would just mumble a disinterested "Yeah," but steal a glance when she's not looking.

As for Kathlyn, she loved the arts, especially painting. Matapos nito manalo ng kompetisyon sa elementarya, higit na naging suportado ang mga magulang ng magkapatid. She even took classes once a week and on weekdays during vacations.

Nika loved everything. Minsan rin itong nag-aral magpinta ngunit hindi tumagal ng isang buwan. Then as they grew older, she tried guitar, then the piano and even the drums, to keep up with Lee's love for music. She always gave up, except for singing. Minsan ay kinakanta nito ang mga komposisiyon ng banda. She loves to sing his lyrics, only at the corners of his room. She never sang a word outside of it.

"To wake you up every morning!" Iyon ang sagot nito nang minsang umabot ang usapan nila sa pangarap sa buhay.

"Bakit mo ba ako ginigising sa umaga ng basa pa buhok mo?" maktol pa niya noon.

"You always dry them anyway." Ngumisi pa si Nika.

Lee never asked about her dreams again, because he knew that despite her unpredictability, she'd answer the same thing.

The contrast between the sisters was also noticed by outsiders. The sisters were admired in school for different reasons. One was voted a representative as an upcoming junior, while the other had a reputation of opposing authority. Kathlyn inherited their mother's calm and gentle ways of dealing with people as well as the crescent shape of her eyes when smiling. People say her smile resembled their fraternal grandfather, a once famous matinee idol in the seventies.

Nika inherited their father's temper and ways of dealing with his business. They choose people well and cut off the useless ones. They were clear with their choices and stood by them, never minding others' opinion. Kaya naman, sa paningin ng iba, spoiled si Nika sa ama.

Sa kabila ng pagkakaiba, may dalawang bagay lang ang pagkakatulad ng magkapatid. Pareho silang mahilig sa pink. Halos lahat ng kanilang pantulog at kwarto ay puno ng gamit ng ganoong kulay. Or maybe because their mother liked to make them look alike at times

They also both liked desserts, especially turon. Sa mga ganitong bagay lang humihiling ng higit si Kathlyn, ngunit palagi ring nagpapaubaya sa nakakatandang kapatid.

"What?" untag ni Nika, pasubo sa icecream mula sa tub. Kathlyn shook her head, glancing longingly at the ice cream. Walang sabi-sabing inalok ni Nika ang kutsara nito upang subuan ang kapatid. "Fine, one scoop." The other leaned closer to the spoon, but a scream alerted the three of them.

Nika pulled the spoon back and returned to the tub. "Na naman?" She clicked her tongue and glared at the hallway to the library. "Kath, cover your ears."

Napakagat labi ang huli, sinundan ang direksyon ng paiyak na sigaw ni Laura Decortia. She flinched at sound of something break.

"I said cover your ears!" bulyaw rin Nika sa kapatid.

As the latter's tears fell, Nika grabbed her sister closer and covered Kathlyn's ears. Curses were exchanged from the library, then crashing sounds. The veranda was now filled with the sound of chaos in the house, with silence in between and Kathlyn's sobs. As Nika was covering her sister's ears, finally, Lee covered hers.

Sa ganoong posisyon nilang tatlo, dumaan si Elias Decortia na may kalmot sa pisngi. Matapos ng nagngangalit na sulyap, agad itong umalis, iniwan ang hagulgol mula sa library.

Inabot ni Nika ang mga palad ni Kathlyn at itinibon sa tenga nito. "'Wag mong ibaba 'yan hangga't 'di ko sinasabi." Doon pa lamang binawi ni Lee ang kamay niya sa tenga ni Nika, pinanood ang kababatang ubusin ang ice cream. "Don't go to practice later," utos nito. "Let's play."

Lee nodded. "Ubusin mo muna 'yan."

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