Before Rosa

[BR 32]

R A F F Y
Before Rosa 32

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Christmas Eve, December 24th.

Bilang tradisyon tuwing pasko, naghahanda ang pamilya namin ng maagang Noche Buena para sa mga street children at kanilang mga pamilya. Nanay takes that time to know some of the parents, choose the worthy ones to add to her crew of servers at the restaurant. Bawat pasko, may dumaragdag sa pamilya namin dito sa Rosalie's. And every year, I'm still looking forward to it.

Now, as the social butterfly that I am, I roamed around the restau to entertain our guests. Nakatambay ako sa may pila ng ice cream nang lapitan ako ni Sia.

"Raf," she called.

Umayos ako ng tayo at tiningnan siya. She wore her hair in a ponytail today, giving me a clear view of her heart-shaped face. She's smiling -- a big leap from her unreadable expression last night when she came back from talking to her father. I'm still bothered about that but I set it aside for now. I'm just glad to see Sia smile.

Sa katutulala ko, hindi ko na nasundan ang sinabi niya.

I blinked when she gave me an expectant look. "Ha?" tanong ko.

Pinanliitan niya 'ko ng kaniyang mga mata. "Hindi ka nanaman nakikinig," she said.

"Na-mesmerize kasi ako sa 'yo, Mami," admit ko sabay gesture sa mukha niya. "Sa bawat araw na dumaraan, lalo kang gumaganda."

Sia, the ever so appreciative love of my life, showed her affection by scowling and slapping my arm.

"Ow," daing ko. Pero napangiti rin ako nang makita ang pamumula ng kaniyang mga pisngi.

"Makinig ka kasi," aniya.

I chuckled. "Sabihin mo munang kinilig ka," tukso ko.

Sia glared at me.

"Dali na," pilit ko.

"Hindi ako kinilig," pagmamatigas niya. "Now, makinig ka na, please?"

Sumimangot ako sabay halukipkip. "Ayoko nga. Inaaway mo 'ko."

"Inaaway--?"

"Hinampas mo kaya 'ko," reklamo ko.

Sia rolled her eyes. "At kaya kitang sampalin ulit kung hindi ka makikinig."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Domestic violence," akusa ko. Sakto, dumaan si Jhe sa tabi namin. Hinila ko ang kapatid ko at pinagitna sa 'min ni Sia. I said, "Kausapin mo lawyer ko."

"K-kuya?" Mukhang hindi alam ni Jhe kung anong nangyayari kaya gulat na nagpabalik-balik sa 'min ni Sia ang kaniyang tingin. "Ano--"

"Kakasuhan natin ng domestic violence si Sia, Jhe," sabi ko.

Sia just rolled her eyes and crossed her elbows against her chest. "Hindi pa tayo kasal, Raffy. Walang 'domestic' sa 'ting dalawa."

"The law includes intimate partners, right?" I looked at Jhe for answer. Hindi siya makatingin sa 'kin, o kay Sia.

Sia interjected. "Raffy, we are not intimate."

I cocked a brow towards her direction. "Are we not?"

Sia avoided eye contact, a light pink tint spreading across her cheeks.

Jhe cleared his throat. "Uh, Kuya--"

"Jhe, look at her. She's guilty."

"Of what nga?" Sia asked, her forehead creased but she couldn't meet my eyes, still.