"Tita Irene..." I planted a kissed on her cheek when they arrived. "Steffy." I just hugged my sister.
"Are you ready na ba?" tanong ni Tita Irene. Susunduin naman ngayon si Tito Greg sa airport.
Masaya kaming sumakay ng sasakyan at bumiyahe sa paliparan.
"It's literally happy Sunday for Kuya Bonget." I immediately looked to Tita Irene when I heard Bong's name. She was on her phone, laughing a bit.
"Yeah, tita... baka magka bunso pa kami niyan." It's Sandro's voice. I heard some laughs and teasing on Tita Irene's phone.
Their family having an group call. I'm so curious!
"Too happy, Tita Irene?" tanong ni Ate Steffy.
Napatingin ako sa kanilang dalawa.
"We are teasing Kuya Bonget and Ate Liza. Nagkatuwaan dito sa gc namin. Look oh!" She let us see a photo they looking and laughing on their gc. "Sandro send it. Kuya Bonget still sleeping, it's getting late to his usual early time waking up. Hinahanap na kasi siya sa twitter... eh ito natutulog pa mukhang nag-enjoy kagabi."
It's a photo of Atty. Liza and Bong. The first lady is in the side of their bed where Bong's sleeping peacefully.
Atty. Liza was on her phone beside Bong, he still sleeping while a blanket wrapped on him. Even though the blanket covered him, it's clear that he's not wearing any top. It's unusual, because Bong always wear shirt when he's sleeping, he was easily to feel cold.
Steffy looked at me. I just looked away, trying to act normal and control what I am feeling right now.
"No, they didn't do anything. They just slept, that's it." I assured myself.
Bong told me that they're not sleeping together. Well, he told me that even though they sleeping in the same bed he puts something in their middle.
But, from what I saw...
They slept as what they should be, as husband and wife. He even not wearing any top, that made me overthink again and again.
***
"Tito Greg!"
"Hon!"
Masaya naming sinalubong si Tito Greg. Para kaming isang pamilya ngayon.
"I miss you! Oh my... Steffy! Long time no see. I miss you!" he hugged Steffy. "And my princess... my Clarey! I miss this little girl so much too!" he also hugged me. He hugged both of us.
I hope my dad is like him. Missin' this kind of scene of us, with my Ate Steffy and my dad, Chris.
After that reunion, we decided to eat in a restaurant.
"Are you okay, Clarey? Are you not feeling well?" Tita Irene asked me.
"Hindi ka kumakain. Ang lalim ng iniisip mo." si Tito Greg.
Hinawakan ni Ate Steffy ang kutsara na nasa plato ko at walang ano-anong sinusubuan ako.
"Steffy!" pagpigil ko.
Tawang-tawa naman sina Tita Irene at Tito Greg.
"Nakakamiss kayong dalawa!" ani ng mag-asawa.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Ate Steffy. "Kakain na ako. Huwag mo akong subuan." naiinis kong sabi.
Patuloy naman sila sa pagtawa. Tahimik na lamang akong kumain habang silang tatlo ay walang katapusan ang kwentuhan.
Pinipilit ko man na alisin sa isip ko ang litrato nila at hindi maging marumi ang pag-iisip doon, hindi ko mapigilan. Natatakot ako, ang sakit-sakit pala.
***
"Sa bahay muna kayo ah?" Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang pagbigyan sina Tito Greg na sa bahay muna nila kami. Hindi pa raw kasi tapos ang mga bonding naming apat.
"Hon, sa munisipyo muna tayo... idadaan ko lang itong mga papeles kay Matthew. All of the business papers for those businessman na interested magtayo ng business dito sa Ilocos." ani Tito Greg. Tumuloy naman na muna kami sa munisipyo. Wala naman si Sandro rito kaya okay na rin.
"Tito Greg! Tita Irene!" Sinalubong kami ni Gov. Matthew. Mabilis din itong tumungo saakin nang makita ako. "Stella!" nagbeso lang kami.
"Si Steffy... ate ni Stella." pagpapakilala ni Tita Irene kay Steffy.
"Hi, welcome to Ilocos Norte! Hawig nga kayo ni Stella. Ate ka pala niya." Hawig? Ang layo!
Tumuloy muna kami sa office ni Gov. Matthew. As usual, walang pagbabago. Mabati rin ang mga taong nadadaanan namin.
"Oo nga pala... tito, may bagong provincial engineer. Umalis na kasi si Engr. Tuviera, pero kaagad naman nakakuha ng kapalit. Kilala niya nga kayo eh." biglang turan ni Gov. Matthew.
Wala naman kaming pakielam nina Tita Irene at Ate Steffy sa usapan nila. Dito lang kami sa may likod, nagkukwentuhan.
"Oh? Who's the new engineer? He knows me?" tanong ni Tito Greg.
"Kilala ka niya tito, nagulat nga ako eh. Wait, puntahan ko sa kabila. Baka nandyan pa." Tumayo si gov at lumabas.
"Sino naman kaya yung engineer na yon?" wala sa sariling tanong ni Tito Greg.
Ilang sandali pa, pumasok na si Gov. Matthew. Nasa pinto pa lamang ito, nasa labas ang tingin. "Nandito pa siya. Let's wait for him. May inayos lang." Excited naman na lumabas muli si gov at may sinesenyasan na lumapit. "Come here, Engr. Ravello! Tito Greg is here!" ani gov sa labas.
Para bang nagpaulit-ulit sa tenga ko ang apilido na tinawag ni Gov. Matthew.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Tito Greg. Narinig niya rin ito. Napansin ko rin na napatitig si Ate Steffy saakin.
My heart beats so fast, the whole me started to feel anxious.
Engr. Ravello...
