K A T A R I N A (•GXG•)

XXVI.

K

"Andito na ho si Ma'am Katarina!" Pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko pa lang ng bahay when suddenly, daddy and mommy's eyes looked up to meet mine and they hurriedly stood up and walked over to my place too. Medyo nawe- weirduhan man ako sa inaasta nila ay hinayaan ko na lang.

Lumapit sila agad saakin and embraced me with a hug. "Katarina! You're alright!" Si daddy iyon. As usual. Mas paranoid pa siya kay mommy to be honest. But I love him. I love him so much and mommy too. I love them both so much. They helped me overcome all those struggles of being haunted by the past.

But now...

I don't know anymore.

I feel like I was never away with it, because I just realized I have been still held captive by the memory along with the feeling of it.

"Katarina. Where is Andrea?" Si mommy naman iyon.

Now this. This makes me feel even more confused. Why does it feel like they know Andrea more? Like Andrea already became a part of their lives? Bakit ba palagi silang curious tungkol kay Andrea? Bakit palaging si Andrea? Hello? Ako ang anak nila dito!

I sighed. "Umalis na rin agad siya pagdating namin sa may entrance ng village. Why?"

Tumangu- tango ito, even daddy did so. This time, I want to know. I need an answer as to why. "Why mommy? Daddy? Why? What is with Andrea?"

"What do you mean, iha?" Daddy inquired. "What do you mean what is with your friend, Andrea?"

I closed my eyes and stopped feeling annoyed. I don't know. Parang ang buong araw na ito ay nakakapagod, sobra. "She's not my friend." I told them. "And, I already asked you the question mommy." I looked at mommy. "Daddy." Then averted to his gaze. "What is with her that you trust her so much when she's with me? I just don't understand."

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa sa harapan ko.

Daddy then nodded at mommy thus she looked at me.

She held my shoulder. "Iha, it's just because she's your friend. You never brought other people in this house aside from Veronica, Primrose and Genevieve." She smiled right after she told me that. "Imagine our surprise when we saw a new face?" Ngumiti pa si daddy at tumangu- tango sa sinabi ni mommy. "We're just glad you're finally letting other people in your life."

I'm letting Andrea enter my life?

What? No. No. No way.

Yes, she's already a part of your life and you're letting her, Katarina.

Damn it, damn it! Why am I feeling this way? And why do I let her?

"Mommy, I'm not letting her. It's just school stuff po." I clarified even when the tone of my voice fought against me. "After that, nothing. We're not friends. How many times do I have to tell you that mommy? Daddy?"

Daddy touched my shoulder. "Don't worry iha. I personally think Andrea is a good person."

Kahit si mommy ay napangiti sa sinabi ni daddy na iyon.

Damn it. Gooood! I feel like I really have no control over everything. I feel like wala akong kaalam- alam sa mga kaganapan ngayon. I'm so confused. Tumataas ang anxiety level ko pag ganito. It's like it's all going back to the past in which I didn't know myself anymore.

"Katarina, darling. Aren't you hungry? Do you want to rest already in your room?"

Tumango ako. Sa totoo lang tinatamad ako gumawa na ng mga bagay ngayon.