Always Have Been, Always Will Be

21

[ ◉¯]

Chapter 21

Survivor

The clock kept ticking as my eyes followed every word of the book I was reading. Medyo hating gabi na habang nagbabasa ako ng libro dahil sa hindi ako makatulog. My mind was wandering somewhere else, especially after that conversation with Swyney that it left my mind in complete chaos, and the only way to ease it was to read a book.

Reading was my escape. Tuwing naguguluhan ako at marami akong iniisip, ang tanging ginagawa ko ay kumuha ng libro at magbasa, dahil sa pamamagitan ng pagbabasa, napapalitan ang mga bumabagabag  sa isipan ko ng imahinasyon sa mga scenes sa libro.

Nasa kalagitnaan na ako nang makaramdam ng pagkauhaw, kaya inilapag ko muna ang libro sa bedside table ko at bumangon sa kama. Mahina kong pinihit ang door knob at lumabas, baka mayroon pa akong magising, ngunit nagtaka na lamang ako nang makitang nakabukas ang ilaw sa kusina.

Buong akala ko ay nakalimutan lang patayin iyon ngunit natigilan ako nang madatnan si Thaianara at Tita Nara na nag-uusap doon. Tita Nara was baking something while Thaianara was leaning on the counter, talking to her. Tahimik sila at mukhang malalim ang pinag-uusapan. Napaurong tuloy ang pagkauhaw ko at nagpasya na lamang na bumalik nang lumipat sa direksyon ko ang ulo ni Thaianara.

Her brows shot up.

"Elize..." Usal niya.

Natigilan naman tuloy si Tita Nara sa paglagay ng icing sa mga cupcake at napabaling na rin sa akin.

"Elize, 'nak, gising ka pa pala?" She asked in a gentle tone.

I stifled a smile and scratched my nape, feeling a little embarrassed that they caught me just standing near them. They probably even thought I was eavesdropping.

"Kukuha lang sana ako ng tubig. Akala ko tulog na rin po kayo," ani ko at dahan-dahang naglakad patungo roon.

Nakita ko kung paano nagtama ang mga mata nilang mag-ina nang dumaan ako at dumiretso sa fridge upang kumuha ng malamig na tubig. Hindi ko lang iyon pinansin at tsaka nagsalin.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't eavesdropping. Wala nga akong narinig," wika ko at agad namang hinugasan ang baso na ginamit.

I heard Tita Nara's chuckle as she resumed putting icing on cupcakes.

"No, don't be. Your cousin was just asking for love advices."

"Mom!" Reklamo kaagad ni Thaianara.

Tumaas ang kilay ko at nilingon sila. Tita Nara was chuckling while Thaianara had her ears red, flustered by how her mother threw her under the bus.

Mahina naman akong tumawa. "Ano po sabi niya?" Sulsol ko para mas lalong asarin si Thaianara.

"Wala! Wala akong sinabi!" Singhal ni Thaianara at tsaka nilapitan si Tita para umambang takpan ang kaniyang bibig.

Tita Nara's chuckles were muffled against Thaianara's palms. "Thai, minimize your voice, you're going to wake the neighbors up!" Saway niya pero patuloy pa rin ang paghalakhak.

My eyes were glistening as I watched the both of them quarrel. The scene was picturesque. Just a mother and a daughter, teasing each other in the kitchen illuminated by a single bulb at midnight. It was healing to watch that I even got good burns from it.