"Erin? I'm going out with my friends today." I heard Ate Zaf said from outside my bedroom.I pouted as I continued to draw myself on my sketchbook. Hindi ako sumagot kaya narinig ko na naman ulit ang boses ni Ate."Erin, alam kong naririnig mo 'ko. Huwag ka na'ng magtampo. I'll buy you your favorite Pepero pag-uwi ko," she said that made me smile."Okay po!" I shouted back and I heard her groaned to which I just laughed.I locked myself inside my room the whole day while my sister's out with her friends. Nagpapahatid na lang ako ng pagkain sa helper namin tuwing meal time na. My favorite pasta was delivered to me as well after I asked my sister to order it for me para 'yon na lang ang meryenda ko.Kumakain lang ako habang nags-scroll sa P*******t. I was looking for new makeup and outfit ideas. Gusto ko kasing ibang look ko na naman ang makikita ng mga inggitera kong school mates ngayong pasukan. Last year, I went for the hot chic look. And I'm planning to go for the classy look this ye
"Erin, come on! Make it fast, you're wasting our time." My sister shouted from downstairs. "Yes, coming!" I shouted back while putting on my sweater. "God, mahuhuli tayo sa flight natin dahil sa 'yo!" Sigaw na naman ni Ate Zaf. There's no need for her to shout kaya. At nakakairita na rin ang boses niya. "Iiwan na talaga kita, Zephyrine. Ang bagal mo talaga kumilos. " Naiinis na si Ate kaya bumaba na ako. Papunta na kami sa airport pero ang ingay pa rin ni Ate habang panay ang tingin sa relo niya. Pinapagalitan pa ako kasi nga ang bagal ko kumilos. Kung mahuhuli raw kami sa flight namin, iiwan niya talaga dito sa Manila. God, nakakairita eh paulit ulit lang naman ang sinasabi niya! "Ate, pwede bang manahimik ka muna? You're ruining our day. Umagang umaga sinisira mo ang mood ko. Chill ka lang, okay?" I told her. "Chill? Look at the time, it's almost ten! Alas onse ang flight natin!" Inis niyang hinagis sa direksyon ko ang travel pillow na hawak niya. "
My sister and I decided to go shopping the day after. We thought of buying gifts for Nana and Jam. I can't choose what to buy for Jam. Nakabili na kami ng mga damit at bag para kay Nana. Bumili rin si Ate Zaf ng dress and shoes for Jam. Pero wala pa rin akong maisip na gift for her!"Bagay kay Jam 'to." Itinuro ni Ate Zaf ang kulay pink na relo. It's so cute!"Omg, yes! I'll buy this for her." Pumila na kami ni Ate papunta sa counter para bayaran ang mga pinamili namin. Kaso nga lang, ang haba ng pila."God, bakit ba ang daming tao? Kailan pa kaya tayo makakaraos dito." Inis akong napapadyak. Pet peeve ko kasi ang pagpipila ng matagal."Marami talagang tao kasi nasa mall ka, Erin. Wala ka sa bundok.""I know. You don't have to talk about mountains. You're so random." I rolled my eyes.Hindi na nagsalita si Ate. When I looked at h
"Hey." A voice said behind me.I looked over my shoulder and saw my sister. "Ate Zaf." I gave her a small smile."I'm sorry about earlier, sissy." She said softly.I just nodded. Wala lang naman talaga 'yon sa 'kin. She was just stating the fact. And it's a good thing that she did not tolerated my behavior earlier.My sister sat down beside me. Nasa terrace kasi ako ng bahay nila Jam, pinapanood ang paglubog ng araw. This has been a habit of mine ever since bata ako. I love to watch the sunset."You never watched the sunset with me before. Ngayon lang." I smiled bitterly while remembering our childhood days. Naalala ko na umiyak ako ng umiyak noon dahil ayaw niya akong samahan sa seashore para manood ng sunset. Mas maganda kasi panoorin ang sunset kapag nasa tabing-dagat ka. Nagtampo ako sa kanya ng ilang araw no'n. I was really upset that time.
I woke up early the next morning. I washed up and brushed my teeth before going downstairs. Nagugutom na 'ko kaya dumiretso ako sa kusina. "Gising ka na pala, Zeph." Sambit ni Jam nang makita niya ako. Siya pala ang naghahanda ng agahan namin. Nasa garden siguro si Nana. "Yeah, obviously." I said, yawning. "It's too early for you to be grumpy." She told me before handing me a glass of fresh milk. "Is this a low-fat milk?" I asked her. She looked at me before nodding. "Yes." "Thanks." I sat down on the chair. Nakatulala lang ako sa kisame habang uniinom ng gatas. Ganito talaga ako kapag bagong gising. "I'll help Nana to clean up the house." I told Jam who's busy scrambling some eggs. "Tutulong din ako. Si Ate Zaf naman, susunduin daw ang mga friends niya sa labas ng v
Everything hasn't sank in my mind yet! How come that the asshole who spilled the mango shake on my dress is the cousin of my sister's friend? "Erin, do you know my cousin? May something ba between the two of you? Or may nagawa siyang mali sa 'yo?" Mahinahong tanong ng kaibigan ni Ate Zaf na si Jarie. I tried my best to flash her a smile. "No! I don't know him po, Ate Jarie. And there's nothing between us! We're strangers po..." I lied. "You don't know him but you're acting like that? Sinalo ka na nga niya mula sa pagkahulog mo sa hagdan tapos ganyan ang approach mo sa kanya? Kung hinayaan ka lang niyang mahulog edi sana nasa hospital ka na ngayon. Umayos ka, Erin." Halatang naiinis na sa akin si Ate Zaf. I bit my lower lip. "I-I'm sorry." Then I excused myself. Parang pinapalabas pa ng lalaking 'yon na ako ang may kasalanan dito! I thought I will
Everyone's looking at me and Ethan. I aggressively bit my nails, this has been a habit of mine whenever I'm nervous and embarrassed. They're examining our faces and reactions, akala mo naman mga criminal kami. Nag-isip pa ako ng sasabihin sa kanila kanina in case tatanungin nila kung bakit kami magkasama at kung bakit kami nakita ni Ate Wry sa kitchen na magkahalikan kahit hindi naman! Sure ako na nagtatanong sila kung bakit hindi kami sumunod agad kay Ate Wry."Wry saw the two of you kissing inside the kitchen. My god! Hindi n'yo na ginalang ang kusina nila Jam at Nana?" Ang oa talaga ng kapatid ko kahit kelan."D-did you guys really... kissed?" Ate Kyla asked the two of us carefully.Nagkatinginan kami ni Ethan at sabay na umiling. "No."Hindi sila kumbinsido sa sagot namin kaya tinanong nila ulit kami. Tanging iling lamang ang response namin ni Ethan. Nakakapagod magpaliwanag ng paulit
I asked permission from my sister that I'll go out to buy some snacks. I've been eating the same foods since the day I arrived here in Cebu. And I also wanted to breathe some fresh air outside. Nabo-bored na ako sa loob ng bahay nina Jam. I don't know if when are we going out to stroll around the city."You're not going out, Zephyrine." My sister said firmly while typing something on her laptop.Tumaas ang kilay ko. "But why? Hindi naman ako magtatagal sa labas, Ate. Tungkol na naman ba 'to sa age ko? My god, I'm already eighteen! Hindi na ako bata.""Mapapagalitan tayong dalawa nina Dad and Mom kapag nalaman nila ang ginawa mong paglabas ng bahay mag-isa. Gusto mo ba 'yon?" She asked back.I rolled my eyes. "Edi magalit na sila kung magalit. I don't care.""Zephyrine! Anong malay natin kung pinapasundan ba tayo ng mga tao nina Daddy at