Somebody Waiting

LabingTatlo

Raine entered her unit exhausted. She literally throw herself to the bed and scrumbled to get under the duvet, her head comfotably rested on pile of pillows all over it. She looked on the clock that says 11 pm, said her prayers, yawn loudly and finally closed her eyes. It only took a minute before she doze off to dream land.

Yes, she's definitely exhausted but a smile on her lips will tell you otherwise---she enjoyed this day---so much.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earlier that day...

'Naku iha, you should try this too...' Sabi ni tita Beatriz habang nilalagyan ng luto nyang Salpicao ang plato ni Raine.

'Ay nako ate Raine, eto specialty namin ni mama. Super yummy nito.' Wika naman ng isang pinsan ni Richard na si Tricia.

Nakatulala lamang si Richard habang si Raine naman ay di malaman kung kakain ba at tatanggapin ang lahat ng alok sa kanya o mahihiya dahil sa hindi maipaliwanag na atensyong natatanggap nya ngayon.

'What sorcery is this?' Tanong ni Richard sa sarili.

Hanggamg ngayon ay hindi pa rin sya makapaniwala that his family will be happy with the idea of bringing someone sa reunion nila. At hindi lang warm ang welcome ah, sizzling hot talaga!

Abala ang lahat sa pagkain. Salitan sila sa pag-alok sa dalaga na para bang ngayon lang sila nagkaroon ng bisita nang biglang ibinaba ni Grandpa ang baso na hawak-hawak nya ng malakas.

Blag!

Napatingin lahat sa kanyang direksyon na parang mga tutang inalisan ng pagkain. Nakakunot ang noo nito sabay sabing,

'Paano makakakaing maayos si Raine kung alok kayo ng alok ng ulam? Tignan nyo nga parang bundok na ang plato ng bata...umayos kayo ng naaayon! Singhal nito at natahimik ang lahat.

'Sorry Grandpa...' Sabay-sabay nilang mahinang sabi.

Then out of nowhere Raine speak up.

'Lolo don't worry po I'm okey. Ang saya nga po kasi after a long time ngayon ko na lang po naranasan to eat with a family. Masayahin po ang family nyo.' She said warmly that made everyone on the table smile specially the titos and titas.

Grandpa's stone-like face softens again upon hearing her speech.

Napakabait na bata.

He then looked on his plate and started to eat again.

'Pasalamat kayo at palalampasin ko ito. Let's continue to eat now.' He said in a low tone that made everyone sigh in relief.

'Yung totoo..' Richard leaned closer to Raine to whisper.

'Anong gayuma pina-inom mo kay tanda?'

Raine looked at him with disgust.

'Hey, words! Anong tanda. Don't call him that' mariin niyang bulong pabalik dito.

They banter to each other throughout the meal. Actually nagpipikunan sila but to the onlookers they look like a couple saying sweet nothings to each other.

'Ate! Boto ako sa'yo bagay kayo ni kuya Richard ko.' Katrina, who is the youngest on the table blurt out her thoughts which stopped everyone on their tracks.

Napatulala si Raine habang nasamid naman si Richard.

'Look,' Richard started after drinking and recovering from his unceremonious cough.

'Alam naming na-kwento na ni tita pero, Raine and I are...'

He was cut short----AGAIN. By whom? Guess who is it----AGAIN.