Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

Mine

"Ano bang hinahanap na'tin Ate?"

Isinama ko si Kael papuntang bayan. Sid mentioned me Lorenzo's upcoming birthday three days from now. And Kael being the impatient one, he'd been complaining a lot. I can't blame him though. Kanina pa kaming pauli-uli pero wala akong makitang kahit anong regalo.

Binigyan ulit ako ni Papa ng pangbili. At first, I wanted to give Lorenzo clothes but knowing him, all of the ones he owns are designer brands. Nakakahiya naman kung bibigyan ko ng may tatak na Baymax or minions.

Pumasok ako sa isang antique shop. It isn't filled with a lot of customers unlike the other stores. Lahat ng tinda nila ay puro gawa sa mga lumang bagay which easily caught my attention. I even asked Melissa what I could give to Lorenzo but she told me to not give him anything because he doesn't need things anymore.

Doon ako mas na-challenge. There must be at least one thing that he still doesn't own. I scanned all the aisles. Humiwalay naman si Kael ay kung saan saan nagpunta.

"Pag ikaw nakabasag na naman, kalimutan mo nang pamilya tayo," he ignored me. Akala ko kay Sid nahahawa, kay Lorenzo pala.

"Ate, ito!" may dinala s'ya saking board. It's made of wood. May nakadikit doon na coins na magkakaiba ang sukat. Some looked really old.

"Ano bang tingin mo kay Lorenzo? Taong kweba?" I told him.

"Ate, ito nalang!" sigaw ni Kael kaya lumapit ako sa kanya. He's holding a blue and white colored jar.

"Kael, hindi na'tin susunugin ang katawan ni Lorenzo," lagayan kasi iyo ng abo pang-patay.

"Ate, ito na talaga! Promise!" hindi ko na s'ya pinansin. Pero dahil sa kakulitan n'ya ay pumunta na rin ako. Lumapit sa amin ang tao sa cashier.

"Maganda nga 'yan, iho," I looked at them with full confusion.

"Para kanino n'yo ibibigay?" tanong ng babae. She looks like she's in her late forties or something.

"Sa boyfriend po ni Ate," tinakpan ko ang bibig ng kapatid ko at hilaw na ngumisi sa nagtitinda.

"Sa kaibigan ko po sana. Hehe," I gave her an awkward smile.

"Alam ko na. Sumunod ka sa'kin, iha," nagkatinginan kami ni Kael. Hindi kasi ganoong kaaya-aya ang awra ng magtitinda. She's even wearing a long white dress, like those in the horror movies.

Kinilabutan naman ako. "Ate, tara na,"  I agreed to him and quietly went out of the shop.

"Dito, iha." Sabay kaming napatalon ni Kael nang lumitaw sa harap namin ang babae.

"Pisting palaka!" halos takasan na ako ng kulay sa mukha dahil sa gulat. She let us follow her on the side of her shop. May kinuha s'ya doon at inabot sa akin.

I covered my mouth with my hands when I got what she's trying to imply. It's a really simple gift but it's very cute.

Hindi pinabayaran ni Ate ang lahat ng nakuha namin. She told us that our company itself is enough for payment.

"Thank you po, talaga! Ingat po kayo. Mwa!" tuwang tuwang sabi ko sa kanya bago napagpasyahang umuwi. I placed my gift inside a white paper bag and slid a letter inside.

Saka naman kami pumunta sa mansyon. Kasama ko ulit ang apat kong alaga. Si Kael, Yñigo, Garfield at Scooby Doo.

"You're late. Again," nasa pinto si Lorenzo sa labas ng bahay nila. Inantay n'ya talaga ako.

"Naglaba ako eh," I said, it's partly true. Nahahawa na rin ako sa hayon nila.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" nahihiyang tanong n'ya nang hindi tumitingin sa'kin.