The Girl at 829 (girlxgirl)

Chapter 1

 Pinagmamasdan ni Yasmin ang isang babaeng nakaupo sa paborito niyang Narra garden bench. Siya ay tulalang nakatingin sa Taal Volcano na tila hinihintay niya itong mag-erupt. Her hair was pulled up in a bun, with few streaks of white hair subtlely mixing with the foggy and cold morning of Tagaytay. She was wearing a floral blouse and Khaki capri pants. She's in her early 40s. The wrinkles on the corners of her eyes were noticeable and it made Yasmin wonder if it was caused by age or by sadness. She had seen her smile a couple of times—and yes, Yasmin is certain that she had mastered the art of mocking—for she had never really see her happy nor see her laugh.

 "Good morning, Auntie," masayang bati ni Yasmin sa babae. She kissed and hugged her Aunt as if she wanted to give her human warmth. Hindi sumagot ang kanyang Auntie, but she reciprocated the gesture. "Did you have breakfast na, Auntie?" tanong ni Yasmin.

 "Nag-coffee na ako," maikling sagot ng Auntie niya.

 Umupo sa kabilang dulo ng garden bench si Yasmin, "Two weeks from now and I'm going to marry the man of my dreams—I'm gonna miss this house—I'm gonna miss you," bakas ang naghahalong excitement at lungkot ni Yasmin nang sinabi ito sa kanyang Auntie. Then she kissed and hugged her Aunt for the second time. "Auntie, activated pa naman yung Skype mo, 'no? Eh yung Facebook mo? Make sure lang na activated pa po sila ha...Para makapag-chat at Skype tayo parati," dagdag pa ni Yasmin.

  Tumingin lang ang babae at hindi siya sinagot na para bang wala itong narinig, "Auntie—Auntie? Baka naman puro CoC ka lang ha...makalimutan mo na ako."

 Tumango ang babae at pilit ang kanyang ngiti, "Sige, I will check it later," maikling sagot ng Auntie nya.

 At sa unang pagkakataon ay kumilos ang Auntie niya sa pagkakaupo at dahan-dahang  itong humarap kay Yasmin, "I'm really happy for you...and I will miss you more. Basta promise me, you'll stay happy, okay? Gawin mo whatever will make you happy," she held her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. Yasmin didn't reply, but she made a short grin.

 "Auntie, I've been staying with you since I came back from the States. And you're like my second Mom. But I never asked why were you never married?" There was a look of surprised—No, shocked, that was vividly clear from her Aunt's eyes. Hindi nakasagot ang kanyang Auntie.

 "Sorry po, if you don't want to answer. It's okay, naiintindihan ko naman. And I know it's not even my place to ask, anyway," dahan-dahang tumayo sa pagkakaupo si Yasmin. "Maiwan ko po muna kayo. I need to go and change," dagdag pa niya. Tuluyan nang tumayo si Yasmin mula sa garden bench at kinuha ang kanyang coffee mug mula sa mesa.

 "Wait!" madiing sabi ng kanyang Auntie. Napatingin si Yasmin sa kanyang Auntie at napahinto. Tila nagdadalawang isip siya kung ibababa muli ang kanyang coffee mug. "Well, if you're not in a hurry, ikukwento ko sa'yo," mahinahong sabi ng kanyang Auntie habang ito'y nakatingin sa Taal Volcano.

 Hindi sumagot si Yasmin at muli niyang ibinaba ang kanyang coffee mug at umupo sa kabilang dulo ng garden bench. At pagkatapos ay tinawag niya si Yaya Minyang, "Yaya Minyang, some more coffee please."