Thelieka (TagLish Version)

Lee 7•Change

[Summer, three years ago...]

Word on the streets said that the Decortia couple had fixed whatever caused a crack in their marriage. Dahil ang mga Singson ang pinakamalapit nilang kapitbahay sa village, wala ring nag-noise complaint sa mga away nito an halos araw-araw nangyari sa bakasyon.

3rd Street was silent for the month of May. In fact, it was so silent, that even the maids started talking about why the eldest Decortia stopped visiting.

"Bradlee, hindi na ba dumadalaw si Nika?" tanong ng kanyang ama isang gabi.

Nabinbin sa hangin ang pagsubo niya ng ulam bago sumagot. "Opo, Dad."

"Bakit?"

He occupied himself with the rice, stalling a second or two, to make excuses. "...Busy siya, Dad."

"I heard from Laura, she picked up painting again, and joined classes with Kathlyn. Isn't that great?"

Nagpasalamt na lamang si Lee sa pagsingit ng tulong ng kanyang ina.

"How about joining their painting classes too?"

"No need," his father, Paulo Singson, declined Mildred's suggestion. "Nag-asksaya na nga 'yan ng oras sa pagbabanda, idagdag mo pa nag ibang bagay."

"Bradlee," his father called after a minute of faint clanging of utensils.

"Yes, dad?"

"Invite her before the summer ends. No matter how busy she is. She'd always come if you called her, right?"

Wala sa loob na mahigpit na siyang nakakapit sa tinidor, buong lakas na kinuyom ang handle ng kubyertos hanggang namutla ang kanyang mga daliri. "Opo, dad."

They always had a good relationship with Decortias. They must be. Decortia Industries, especifically Elias, was a fervent supporter of Lee's father when he ran for election. Kasama na roon ang pinansiyal na suporta sa pangangampanya. In return, mabilis umuusad ang mga permit sa pabrika ng mga Decortia. And for the friendship to continue, the children must be friends too.

Tapos ng kumain ang kanyang ama ngunit tahimik pa rin si Lee. He only let go of the fork, when his mother squeezed his hand gently. "Ipagluluto ko kayo ng turon."

Lee nodded and ate in silence.

—————

Lunes, ilang araw na lang ng bakasyon, nakaharap si Lee sa bintana ng kanyang kwarto, pinapanood ang magkapatid sa kanilang hardin. Kathlyn, in her pink oversized shirt and joggers faced a canvas, nibbling her lips, glancing at her subject then to her drawing.

"Huwag ka munang gumalaw, ate," hula ni Lee na sinabi base sa ekspresyon nito, maingat na isinayaw ang brush sa canvas.

Sumimangot si Nika, ngunit sumunod. She rarely wore black, but she did, a lacy dress, sprawled in the grass. Ilang beses nang naiguhit ni Kathlyn ang kapatid, ngunit base lamang sa mga larawan nito sa Instagram at ibang app. Nika hated staying still and so Kathlyn's requests were always rejected.

Not until that summer, in a color that she hated the most, a month after she and Lee fought.

Lee wondered for only a few seconds what made the stubborn older Decortia sibling change her mind modeling in the painting, then he quickly thought of ways to appease his father.

Dumating ang sagot nang una siyang napansin ni Kathlyn. Kumaway ito, sabay ang mayumimg ngiti sa labi. The younger of the two had ways of lifting up people's mood. Lee found himself waving back and opening his window bigger.