Lorelei X Loki

LoreKi #4: Mother

Lorelei's POV

It is an unusual sight to see Loki being up so early especially when it's weekend. I was about to ask him why but I saw a figure of a woman, wearing an apron above her simple clothes, in our kitchen. His mom, Tita Frigette.

I was stunned. The last time I saw her was when she have to drive us to school just to make sure we would get in.

"Oh, Lorelei! You're awake now! Kain na kayo." Magiliw niyang sabi at inihain ang mga niluto niya. Loki went to his spot. He still looks sleepy. Maybe he was awaken by his mom again.

Marahan kong hinila ang upuan at nagsimula nang kumain. I was about to grab the plate of rice when Tita Frig got it.

"Ako na." Napaupo na lang ako ng maayos at hinayaan siyang lagyan ng pagkain ang plato ko. I am not used to getting served.

"Mom, why are you here?" Loki asked frankly. I kicked his legs under the table and glared at him. That sounds rude. Mukhang napansin naman ni Tita Frig ang ginawa ko. Nginitian niya lang ako.

"Nothing. I just want to bond with you. Is that bad?" Nilagyan din niya ang plato ni Loki.

"Mom, I know that's not the real reason why you're here." He started eating as if he has not eaten for weeks. He surely missed his mom's cooking. Palibhasa kasi puro ready-to-cook at fast-food ang kinakain niya. At kapag nagluluto naman ako ay ayaw niya rin. Baka raw sumakit ang tiyan niya.

"Fine. There's no point hiding it." She sighed before drinking water. "I want to bond with Lorelei."

I almost choked when she said that. Mabuti na lang ay may tubig sa tabi ko. I wiped my mouth with a tissue.

"Bakit naman po?" I don't find any reason why. Ngumiti lang siya sa akin.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay dumiretso ako sa banyo para mag-toothbrush. Si Loki naman ay naghihintay sa labas. Si Tita Frig naman ay naghuhugas ng mga pinagkainan namin. I volunteered to do the dishes but she didn't let me.

Nang matapos ay dumiretso ako ng living room. Ilang sandali pa ay lumabas na si Loki. Dali-dali ko siyang nilapitan at hinila sa living room.

"What's with Tita Frig today? Do you know what is going on?" I whispered facing him. He just shrugged his shoulders.

"Lorele-- Oh. Am I disturbing something?" Nanunudyong tanong ni Tita Frig habang nakatingin sa amin. Bumaba naman ang tingin ko at agad bumitaw sa kamay ni Loki.

"A-ano po 'yon?" I can't believe I stuttered in front of them. Natawa naman si Tita habang si Loki naman ay lumipat ng ibang upuan at nagsimulang magbasa ng libro.

"Are you doing something today?" She's smiling widely and sat on the sofa.

"Wala naman po."

"Great! Can we start our bond now?"

Kahit hindi pa klaro sa akin ang mga nangyayari ay tumango na lang ako. Bigla namang tumayo si Tita ay kinuha ang isang upuan mula sa hapag. She tapped it, telling me to sit there.

Nang makaupo ako ay sinimulan niyang suklayan ang buhok. Her hand is so light and she's doing it as if my hair is going to break any second. She started braiding my hair without including my bangs.

Hindi ko namang maiwasang mapansin si Loki na nasa gilid namin. In my peripheral vision, I saw him peeking from the book. Gusto niya rin bang magpa-tirintas?

HINDI KO namalayan na hapon na pala. Tita Frig dropped me in front of our apartment. We went to the mall and she treated me as if her daughter. We went to a salon, spa, etc. Hindi ako masyado mahilig do'n pero hindi ko rin alam kung bakit hindi ako makatanggi. Maybe because I never experienced being pampered like this and I missed my mom? Maybe I see her in Tita Frig?

Papasok na ako ng gate nang tinawag ako ni Tita Frig.

"Lorelei."

"Tita?"

"Salamat ha. Matagal ko na kasing gustong magkaroon ng babaeng anak. I know I could do it with Louis, but knowing him, he will just rant about it." Hindi ko naman maiwasang mapatawa.

"Salamat din po." Ngumiti siya sa akin at niyakap ako. Nabigla ako no'ng una pero gumanti na rin ako ng yakap.

"Pasok na po ako. Ingat po kayo sa daan." I smiled at her and watched her go in her car. Akala ko ay aalis na siya pero ibinaba niya ang bintana sa passenger seat. She then called me. Lumapit naman ako at yumuko.

"Po?"

"Take care of Louis for me. Is it okay?"

I'm pretty sure, Loki doesn't need a babysitter, but I just nodded.

Pagpasok ko ay nakita kong nakaupo si Loki sa living room. As usual, he's reading again.

"Good evening."

Nang wala akong nakuhang sagot ay dumiretso ako sa kwarto para ilagay ang mga damit na binili ni Tita Frig para sa akin at para na rin magbihis.

Muntik na akong mapatalon nang makita si Loki pagbukas ko ng pintuan.

"Geez. You scared me."

He just stared at me from head to foot. Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla niya akong hinawakan sa balikat. He then made me turn around. Pagkaharap ko naman ay hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko. I rolled my eyes when I realized that he was examining me.

"It's me, Lorelei."

"Why did you cut your hair?"

You heard him. Tita Frig and I went to a salon because she wanted to trim my hair. Hindi naman masyadong mahaba ang nabawas. Loki is just over-reacting.

"I didn't. Your mom did." Napatango na lang ito. He stared at me for the last time then started reading again.

Dumiretso ako ng kusina para uminom ng tubig. Papasok na sana ako ng kwarto nang mapatigil ako sa sinabi ni Loki.

"It suits you."

"Ha?"

"Your haircut." I blushed. Minsan lang mag-compliment si Loki.

"Salamat."

Tumango lang siya. Pumasok na ako ng kwarto at nahiga na. This was a tiring day.

***
Written while waiting for the chapter next to Chapter 43: The Last of Augustus (The Plot)