Chapter 16
"What do you wanna do as we wait for your mom?"
Papasok pa lang sa bahay ay rinig ko na ang boses nilang tatlo.
"Minecraft? ML? Hmm... COD?" Rainer suggested to Phoebe.
I just went home from Imogen Medical Center where I was working at as a staff nurse. Katatapos lang ng duty ko. 4 days straight na 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM ang shift ko ngayong linggo. Malapit lang ang Imogen kaya nakauwi agad ako pagkatapos ng duty.
Sampung taon na rin ang lumipas. It was an NSD or Normal Spontaneous Delivery for my twins. They were 9 years old now and growing up so fast.
"Tita Pretty doesn't know those games, Kuya," Halona said, licking her lower lip while eyes were fixed on the TV screen.
I cleared my throat and they automatically looked in my direction. Nasa pagitan nina Rainer at Halona si Phoebe na mas lalong gumanda sa paglipas ng panahon.
My eyes raked her body and I couldn't help admiring her. She was wearing a white long sleeve loose blouse and a pair of black high waist skinny jeans. Bukas ang ilang itaas na butones ng blouse niya. Nakapaa siya at sa sahig ay nandoon ang high heels sandals niya na mukhang basta na lang hinubad.
Sino bang nagsabi na nakakabawas ng ganda ang pagiging flat-chested?
She pouted her lips and rolled her eyes at me. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin, niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit.
Nothing really changed. She was still my clingy Phoebe.
"Miss me?" I chuckled.
"Hindi ah." Humiwalay siya. Hindi raw pero kung makayakap. Wala pa ngang isang buwan noong huli siyang nagpunta rito.
She called me at 5:00 AM. Naghahanda na ako noon pagpasok nang sinabi niya na pupunta siya rito sa Laguna.
My twins were too fond of her. Kahit may times na may pagkaseryoso ang anak kong lalaki na si Rainer ay nagagawa niya pa rin na kulitin si Phoebe. Hindi na sila nagugulat ni Halona kapag biglang dumadating ang tita nila.
Napatingin ako sa katapat na couch na inuupuan ng kambal ko. I lightly pinched her waist as I saw different paper bags on the couch. Pati sa paanan ay mayroon din.
Napalayo siya sa akin at sinimangutan ako. "Ang sakit ha!"
"Ano na namang pinagbibili mo? I told you not to spoil the kids!"
She turned her back on me and went back to the sofa. "Tingnan mo muna kasi ang mga laman!"
The kids were watching us. I couldn't go near them because I needed to shower first. Pawis-pawisan pa naman ako ngayon dahil medyo mainit sa labas.
"Mommy..." mahinang tawag sa akin ni Halona.
Lumipat ang tingin ko sa kanya. Her short shiny bob hair emphasized her small pretty face. She blinked twice and a cute sigh escaped her lips.
Sabado at walang pasok sa school ang dalawang grade 4 ko.
"What is it baby?" I asked.
"Take a shower now."
I pursed my lips to suppress a smile. Sometimes she acted like she was the mom and I was her daughter. Minsan ay sobrang gaslaw din katulad ni Phoebe noong bata-bata pa kami. Si Phoebe ata talaga ang napaglihian ko.
"Yes po!" I shifted my gaze to my son, Rainer and winked at him.
He smiled at me and a familiar image suddenly crossed my mind. I swept it away immediately.
