Fall For You

"Zephyrine!" I heard my sister, Ate Zaf, call out from outside my bedroom door. Her voice was soft but firm — the kind of tone she used when she was already dressed up and halfway out the main door, probably with her bag over one shoulder and her car keys dangling between two perfectly manicured fingers. “What?” I answered, lazily, not even bothering to lift my head from my sketchpad. “I’m going out with my friends today.” I pouted. My pencil paused mid-stroke, hovering over the shoulder of a half-finished outfit. I didn’t respond — that was my signature move. Silent treatment, paired with passive-aggressive sketching. And Ate Zaf, of course, knew exactly what I was doing. A beat passed. Then, her voice again, sweeter this time. The kind of tone she used when she knew I was sulking but still wanted to escape the house guilt-free. “Erin, alam kong naririnig mo 'ko. Huwag ka na'ng magtampo. I’ll buy you your favorite drink pag-uwi ko.” I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the smil

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

I woke up earlier than usual the next morning. I immediately got up to wash up and brush my teeth before I went downstairs. Nagugutom na 'ko kaya dumiretso ako sa kitchen ng bahay nila Jam. "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." I said, yawning. "Obviously." "It's too early for you to be grumpy." She told me before handing me a glass of hot chocolate. There were mallows, just exactly how I want my morning drink to be. "Thanks, Jam." I sat down on the chair. Nakatulala lang ako sa kisame habang uniinom ng hot chocolate. Ganito talaga ako kapag bagong gising, tutulala muna bago magising nang tuluyan ang diwa. "I'll help Nana to clean up the house," I told Jam who was busy scrambling some eggs for breakfast. She raised her brow at me. "Sure ka?" Tinaasan ko rin siya ng kilay. "Why? You don't think I can do it?" She shrugged. "Mayaman kayo, eh. Malay ko bang may alam kang gawai

While we were both acting oblivious, everyone was looking at me and Ethan. I aggressively bit my nails, a habit of mine whenever I'm nervous and embarrassed. "Pag-usapan nga natin 'to." It was Kuya Jude. They're now examining our facial expressions and, our actions—as if we were some criminals under scrutiny. Grabe ba! 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 nagtanong sila kung bakit hindi kami sumunod agad kay Ate Wry. Well, we have our reasons. And for the record, hindi kami nag-kiss ng gagong katabi ko. "Wry saw the two of you kissing inside the kitchen. God... Hindi n'yo na ginalang ang kusina nila Jam at Nana?" My sister looked at me. She is overreacting as usual. "Kalmahan mo muna, Zaf." Ate Zelle tried to stop my sister from lashing out. My sister is getting hysterical. Para naman kasing tanga itong si Ate Wry. Hindi niya

Ethan walked me home. Kahit na sinabi kong hindi na kailangan, since I'm already inside the village. I know I'm safe in here. But he insisted. His reason was that his cousin, Ate Jarie, had a house here just a few blocks away at doon siya tumutuloy. I have no strength to argue with him so I just let him.    Hindi kami nag-uusap habang naglalakad pauwi. Hindi kami close pero hindi ko siya sinusungitan. He saved me twice and that's enough to treat him casually.    When I got home, Nana was watering the plants in their front yard and she saw Ethan with me kaya inaya niya ito para sumabay na rin sa aming magmeryenda. Ayaw pa sana nito pero pinilit talaga ni Nana. Magkatabi pa kami habang kumakain ng leche flan at fruit salad. Pero hindi kami nag-uusap kasi nga ang awkward!   Tinanong nila kung bakit ang tagal ko raw sa labas kaya kwinento ko sa kanila ang lahat ng nangyari.    "Ay naku! Ba