Always Have Been, Always Will Be

08

[ ◉¯]

Chapter 8

Living

I hastily dragged a chair from the dining table and placed it on the other corner of the living room. Then, I stepped on it to level with Phelomeno who was holding the other side of the banner on the opposite corner before pressing it against the wall. I then got down from the chair and admired the work I put a lot of effort into.

—And by effort, I meant the time I used to buy a banner that said Happy Birthday! and then sticking it into the wall. But you know, it's the thought that counts.

"Patikim!"

"Ah! 'Wag, Grazen! Para kay mommy 'to!" Iginaya ni Thaianara ang cake palayo kay Grazen na umaambang tikman yung icing.

"Kaya nga patikim muna kung masarap ba talaga! Malay mo, ang pangit pala ng lasa tapos ipapakain mo kay tita?" Giit pa ni Grazen na tumatawa habang nang-aasar.

Inilapag ni Thaianara ang caka sa mesa at tsaka nginiwian si Grazen.

"Malamang, masarap. Ako gumawa, e! Masarap yung gumawa, edi given na rin na masarap yung bi-nake." She flipped her hair.

Euclid, who was trying to work a confetti popper made a gagging sound. "Hindi ka man lang ba kinikilabutan sa mga salitang lumalabas sa bunganga mo?"

Since it was Friday and we didn't have class, Thaianara and I planned out a surprise for tita Nara's birthday. We told everyone to come over early in the morning so that we could prepare. Buti na lang ay nakarating sila nang maaga kaya napapasok namin sila sa bahay at ikinulong muna sa kuwarto ni Thaianara habang naliligo pa si tita. At nung umalis na siya para bumili ng groceries, sinimulan na namin ang paghahanda.

Kaya lang mas inuna nga lang nila yung bangayan.

"Ano 'yan, Euclid?" Tanong ni Kaia nang napatapon ng tingin sa kaniya habang sinisindutan ang mga kandila sa cake.

"Confetti popper. Kaso hindi ko alam kung paano to pasabugin." Aniya na litong-litong binabasa yung instructions, nagkakasalubong na ang mga kilay.

"'Yan ba yung sumasabog?" si Thaianara.

"Baka hindi kasi confetti popper ang tawag," sarkastikong sambit ni Euclid kay Thaianara.

She groaned. "Ang saya mo talaga kausap, ang sarap mong pauwiin."

"Sorry, I'm not a morning person kasi..." Inosenteng tugon ni Euclid.

"Heh! Andami mong excuse para sa masama mong ugali!"

I massaged my forehead, getting stressed from their quarreling. Ang aga-aga tapos mag-aaway pa sila? Kaya hindi dapat sila sinasama sa iisang bahay, e. Kasi magugulat ka lang na may sasabunutan nang nagaganap.

"I feel like we should trash the confetti popper idea. It might surprise tita a little too much.." Phelomeno stated as he got down from a chair.

Tumango-tango si Thaianara. "Tama. Huwag na 'yan , baka magkaka-heart attack si mommy. Masyadong magulatin pa naman iyon. Fatherless na nga ako tapos mawawalan na rin ako ng ina."

Euclid understood what they were trying to say so he threw the confetti popper away, pouting like a child, not given the lollipop he wanted.

"Guys, she's here! She's coming na!" Bumukas yung pinto at iniluwal no'n si Swyney na hinihingal. Kanina pa siya naka-antay sa gate bilang lookout namin.

Bahagya kaming nataranta sa biglaang pagdating ni tita Nara kaya binilisan namin ang aming nga galaw. Pinatay namin ang lahat ng ilaw at tsaka tumakbo papuntang kusina upang doon magtago. I could hear her car entering the driveway, and after a few seconds, the engine stopped. What followed were her footsteps approaching the entrance door, and then the creaking sound of the door.