Pasaway ang lalaking ito nakakarami na palagi nalang ako hinihila sa kamay. “Jake, ano ba? I can walk on my own, bitawan mo na ako,” sabi ko saka pilit kumawala sa pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko.”No!”sagot niya tsaka hinigpitan pa lalo pagkakahawak, sumunod na lang ako wala naman ako magagawa. Nakarating na kami sa dining area at andoon na nga mga friends niya, nakaupo na, sabay-sabay na tumayo ang tatlo nang nakalapit na kami sa table.“Guys! Hey listen everyone...This is Hannah, my cousin,” pagpapakilala sa akin ni Jake sa mga kaibigan niya saka binitawan na kamay ko. Cousin? Hala,kelan pa kami naging magpinsan?Nagtatakang tanong ko nalang sa isip ko, pilit akong ngumiti at banati sila. “Hello!”“Hi!” sabay-sabay nilang sagot. “Hello, Steven here,” sabi ng isa sa kanila na mukhang tsinito. “Hi...just call me Lawrence,” aniya ng isa, mestiso at matangkad din pero nakasalamin, in fairness halos lahat sila ang popogi. Tahimik lang si Aaron at di nagpakilala kaya siniko siya ni Stev
I quickly left back to the kitchen baka maabutan niya ako but imbes na bumalik sa kusina I escaped and just went to the terrace. Naglagay ako ng earphone saka kinuha ang hose sa nakasabit sa may gilid ng garahe at nagdilig na lang ng mga halaman. “Hey, Pretty, there you are!” Steve's loud voice echoed pero nagkunwari akong hindi siya narinig, nakatalikod ako at ipinagpatuloy lang ang pagdidilig. “Hannah, come on! Didn't you hear me?” He shouted again habang palapit na siya sa akin. “Something wrong?” I didn't even pay attention to him. Mukhang playboy itong isang ito. Kung si Aaron ay arogante, si Jake ay bossy, etong Steven ay makulit. All of a sudden nasa harap ko at hinila ang hawak kong hose. “Hey, di mo ba ako narinig?” ika niya.“Hindi,” I replied sarcastically saka inalis ang earphone sa tainga ko at ibinulsa. “Give it back to me,” inagaw ko sa kanya ang hose ng tubig at ipinagpatuloy ang pagdidilig. “Oh i see, naka-earphones ka pala kaya di mo ako narinig,” he muttered.
The next day, Jake woke up early. Nagkakape siya sa sala when all of a sudden the doorbell rang, so he went outside to check kung sino dumating. Nagulat pa siya nang bumulaga sa harapan niya ang kaibigang si Steven. Nakabihis ito ng maayos, wearing a printed poloshirt, black pants and white rubber shoes. Napakuno't-noo siya sa hitsura ng kaibigan sabay tanong, “What brought you here? Aga-aga nambubulahaw ka, kahapon lang andito ka din diba?” “Hi, good morning Bro!” masayang bati ni Steven at di pinansin ang pang-susupalpal ni Jake. “It' Sunday Bro, I'd like to bring Hannah out, simba lang kami.” “Simba? Kelan ka pa naging maka-diyos ha?” pang-aasar ni Jake sa kaibigan. Di nya lubos akalain na totohanin pala nito ang sinabi kahapon. Jake know exactly what's going on, if Steven wants something or someone he will do everything to get it.“Ngayon- I mean from now on, Bro! Gising na ba si Hannah?” “She's in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Wait here, I'll call Hannah.” Pinaupo niya si
Kinabukasan, I did my morning routine again, hilamos, sipilyo at nagpalit ng damit. I went outside para magwalis muna bago magkape.Natapos na ako sa pagwawalis, diniligan ko naman mga halaman ni Tita Marie bago bumalik na uli sa loob ng bahay. Ang lungkot naman sa bahay nato, tahimik ang paligid parang walang nakatira. Napatingin ako sa wall clock na nakasabit sa kitchen to check the time, it was already eight in the morning na pala, pero hindi ko pa nakikita si Jake. Buti nalang at tulog pa ito kaya makakagalaw ako ng maayos kapag wala si Jake sa paligid.Minutes later, nagtimpla na ako ng coffee at nag prepare ng sandwich, nilagay ko sa tray at binitbit pabalik sa kwarto para doon nalang mag-almusal. Habang nagkakape, kinuha ko yung mga illustration board ko at colored pencils, nag sketch nalang kasi wala naman gagawin maghapon. Kasalukuyan ako nag do-drawing ng may kumatok sa pinto ng room ko.Tok! Tok! Tok! “Hannah gising kana ba?” boses ni Jake yong nagsasalita.“Bakit?” I answ
I overheard Jake said to Steven that his Mom told him to buy some groceries coz tomorrow we're going to the hospital. Jake then told Steven and his friends to go inside the store. From where I was hiding, I can still hear them chatting while they entered the store.“Is Hannah with you?” Aaron asked Jake while his eyes roam around the store.“Oo”Actually, I was hiding in the corner and decided to sneak out and just as I was about to leave the place, Steven looked at my direction. Lagot na, nakita na niya ako.“Oh, There you are, Cutie!” Steven shouted at kumaway pa sakin. I couldn't believe my luck at all, being with Jake is already a mess and now I was here with these four men. Ngumiti nalang ako tsaka sinenyasan si Steven na lalabas na ako and I'll wait outside the store.“Hannah, wait! Samahan na kita!” Steven said as he ran after me.Meanwhile, Aaron, Lawrence, and Jake watch Steven running after me.“Go ahead, run as fast as you can, Steven Lopez! Chase her until you stumble and f
Jake was left alone in his room, confused. My God! what did he do? Darn it!...Minutes later, he quickly stood up and went to Hannah's room. Knocking, he said, “Hannah, open this door!” He called out but there was no response from Hannah. Nasapo niya ang noo sa katangahan niya, paano nga ba siya pagbubuksan nito dahil sa kagaggawan niya. “I know gising ka pa, can we talk?” he was nervous but still haven't heared any answer so he continued, “I'm sorry!” he said while leaning outside the door. “Sorry? Alam ko sinadya mo talaga iyon, just to make fun of me right?” Hannah answered.“No! Hannah, I didn't mean to, I know I was wrong.” He was about to explain but she just yelled at him. “Forget it, Jake! Matutulog na ako, we're leaving tomorrow, you should go to sleep too.” Oh no! Jake almost forgot! Aalis nga pala sila bukas to visit his Dad at the hospital. Scratching the back of his neck, he said, “Good night Hannah! see you tomorrow.” Hannah didn't answer so he left. He first went to
Hindi na ako kumibo at nagkunwaring tulog. Deep inside I'm already laughing but still trying not to show kasi baka mahalata ni Jake. “Sige, kung yan ang gusto mo, matulog kalang,” bulong ni Jake. I suddenly dropped my left arm on the chair and lowered my head to make him think I was really asleep. I slowly opened my eyes a little and peered at him, magkasalubong na dalawang kilay ni Jake. Natatawa na ako sa ginagawa ko and to pissed him off even more, I snored loudly. I'm holding myself back trying not to laugh coz if not, Jake would find out I was just pretending. Natataw ako sa ginagawa ko and I can see his reaction from the corner of my eyes. Biglang pinaharurot ni Jake ang sasakyan kaya na out of balance ako at napadausdos sa upuan.“Ouch..Ano ba yan? Alam mo namang natutulog yong tao eh?” sabi ko habang inaayos ang aking sarili sa pagkakaupo. “Oops, Sorry! May tumawid na aso!” Ginagantihan nya ba ako? Lokong ito, alam kong wala namang aso sa highway, nagdadahilan pa.“Sige,
Naiwan sa baba si Marie dahil kakausapin daw nito si Doc that's why nauna na sila.“Opo, kaya lang may dinaanan po siya Tita kaya nauna na kami dito,” sagot ni Jake saka binalingan si Hannah. “Sige dito muna kayo, lalabas muna ako titingnan ko ang Mommy mo.”Naiwan na silang dalawa dahil lumabas na nga ito. Hinabol naman ni Hannah ang Mama niya na palabas na ng kwarto. “Anak, samahan mo si Jake doon, babalik din ako agad,” aniya sabay tapik sa balikat ni Hannah.“Hayaan na muna natin siya Ma, para naman may time siya na makausap at mabantayan Daddy niya.”“Kunsabagay, siyangapala kamusta naman kayo sa bahay, sabi ni Kumare mainitin daw ulo niyan si Jake hindi ka ba pinagdidiskitahan?”“Ah hindi naman po,” mabilis kong sagot pero umiwas ako ng tingin ibinaba ko tingin sa hallway dahil alam ko malalaman niya na nagsisinungaling ako kapag nagkataon. “Hay salamat naman kung ganon! Pasensiya ka na 'nak kung pati ikaw nasama dito.”“Ma, okey lang po,” sagot ko habang nakangiti. Tiningna