Chapter 3

"Huy ikaw ah. Baka makalimutan mo. Sumama ka!" Si Elly.

"Oo na," sabi ni Astraeus. "Hoy ikaw."

I stopped midway from drinking my iced tea. "Ako?" Tinuro ko ang sarili ko. He nodded.

"Sunduin na kita bukas."

"Hoy pa'no ako? Pasundo na rin!" So ayun na nga nagsimula nang magmaktol iyong isa. Astraeus just nodded at her. She giggled and clapped her hands like a toddler.

"Hindi ka talaga sasabay? Andilim na dito sa labas oh. Tignan mo pa 'yang suot mo." I was trying to persuade her to just come with us pero ang isang 'to ay nagmamatigas.

"Astraeus una na kayo ah! Mariella ayos lang naman ako dito, iintayin ko lang si Manong, he should be here any minute," irap niya sa akin.

Nasa parking na kami ngayon, sa tapat ng sasakyan ni Astraeus. I was convincing Elly that we should just give her a lift home but she insisted on waiting for her driver. It was almost ten and I wasn't comfy leaving her here out in the open by herself.

"Sigurado ka? We can just wait until nandito na driver mo before leaving." Jesus.

"Ew, Mariella. You sound worse than my mom. Mauna na nga kayo, ayos lang ako rito." She stomped her feet. It looked like I was really on her nerves now. "Andyan si manong guard oh. If anything happens I'll shout real loud and Austin will come and get me."

"Asa ka," buwelta ko na kinasimangot niya.

At the end I wasn't able to convince her. Nagmamaktol nalang ako habang pinagbuksan ni Astraeus ng pinto sa sasakyan at padabog akong tumitig sa kan'ya.

"I-text mo nalang ako mamaya kapag nakauwi ka na." It was Astraeus talking to Elly. She just smiled at him as a response. Nakapagtataka lang at sa nipis ng suot niya parang hindi manlang siya nilalamig.

Tiis ganda ang shuta.

I rested my elbow on the window and gazed at the busy city night. Patay ang radyo kaya tahimik lang sa loob. We were only accompanied by the muffled sounds of the buzzling Manila streets from outside.

"Sasama ka bukas?"

"Yup. I wouldn't want Elly giving me a mouthful." Astraeus smirked. Tumango naman ako since that really made sense.

"Wait stop!"

"Huh?" Obviously Astraeus didn't listen to me. He was busy with his eyes on the road, doing a great job driving us safe but still looked severely confused because of me. "Bakit?"

"Liko ka sana muna. Andyan lang 'yung mamiham medyo gutom ako eh." Napahimas ako sa tyan ko. He chuckled and tilted his head. Nangunot ang noo ko dahil pinagtatawanan pa ako ng isang 'to.

He didn't say anything but he did manage to turn. Napansin kong nasa hita niya ang isa niyang kamay while the other single handedly played with the steering wheel. I could see the veins in his neck gushing out as he looked behind to park his car.

"I'll just park this thing properly. Mauna ka na sa loob. Here's my wallet." Hinagis niya sa akin ang wallet niya. I nodded like an obedient puppy and rushed to the mamihan.

Wala nang tao sa loob at tahimik na. There were a few noisy passersby but that was the end of it. All I could hear was the weak radio playing inside the kitchen, maybe.

"So na-in love ka sa friend mo?" I heard the person from the radio said. Nakatingala ako sa pader nilang puno ng mga polaroid ng mga suki ng mamihan. I placed my purse on top of the table and searched for my picture with Astraeus.

Napangiti ako nang makita ko na iyon sa bandang itaas sa kaliwa. It was a picture from way back his elementary graduation. Eleven na ata siya non and I was still nine or eight. He wore his white toga that was a bit big on him, may nakasabit din bulaklak sa leeg niya. Mukha siyang Sto. Nino. He had his slender arm wresting on my shoulder habang suot ko ang graduation cap niya.

"Hindi ka pa nag-order?" Napatingala ako kay Astraeus na bagong dating. He looked down on me with his hands inside his pockets. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay bago naupo.

"Ah hindi pa. I was waiting for you... actually. Ano ba gusto mo?" Tumayo na ako. Bitbit ko ang wallet niya tutal siya naman ang nag-volunteer na manlibre. Tatanggi pa ba ako? Who doesn't like free food?

"Ikaw?"

"Ha?"

"Anong i-oorder mo kamo. Pareho nalang ako ng iyo." He seemed unpleasantly uncooperative while choosing orders. Hindi manlang niya ako matignan at nakapako ang mga mata sa cellphone niya.

"S-Sure ka? Magbe-beef mami ako?" paninigurado ko. He wasn't really a big fan of my taste buds.

"Lomi nalang pala, lagyan mo ng itlog, patis, saka pigaan mo ng kalamnsi."

"Okay po kamahalan. Ayan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko." Napakamot ako ng ulo ko at nagmartsa na papalapit sa harap para maka-order na ng kakainin.

Mami felt painfully appetizing. Bagay kapares sa malamig na gabi. I looked around the shop to keep myself busy while waiting for our food. Napansin kong pinalitan nila ang ilaw nila. It used to be those fluorescent tubes pero pinalitan na nila ng mga lamps na yellow tinted, gawa sa kawayan na may varnish ang mga upuan at mesa, they had wall fans that kept the place cool.

"Took you long enough," bungad sa akin ni Astraeus habang titig na titig sa cellphone niya. Sa inis ko sa kan'ya hinagis ko sa mukha niya iyong napkin galing sa tray.

"Ito 'yong iyo oh. Nasa gilid 'yung kalamansi, ikaw nalang magpiga." Hinagis ko sa kan'ya 'yung kalamansi. Buti napigilan ko pa sarili kong ihagis 'yung supot ng lomi sa kan'ya.

"Hindi ka nag-order ng kanin?" Tanong niya. Sinumulan niya nang ibuhos 'yung lomi sa mangkok.

"Ay o-order pa ba ako? Teka ah."

Tatayo na sana ako para bumili ng kanin, but then he suddenly yanked my wrist so I had no choice but to sit again.

"Ako na." Tumayo siya. Kinuha niya ang wallet niyang nakalapag sa mesa at pumunta sa counter.

Surprisingly, Astraeus has a big appetite. He eats more than what you should expect him to eat. I'm not really sure if he's an avid fan of working out but he never seems to gain weight. Baka rin mabilis lang ang metabolism niya. Ewan ko ron.

He came back not too long. I couldn't wait for him since I was rushing to eat. Kahit na mas madami siya sa akin kumain, I was still a slow eater. Lalo na't mainit ang kinakain namin.

My mouth watered by just smelling the aroma of a hot bowl of beef mami. It was my comfort food ever since I could remember. I would probably never get sick of it.

"Tawagan mo'ko mga bandang nine para magising ako," utos ko sa kan'ya.

"Eh kung mag alarm ka nalang kaya?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay habang humihigop siya ng sabaw.

"Papatayin ko lang 'yun"

"What time was it again?"

"Nine nga. Ang kulit mo naman." Napakamot ako ng ulo.

"No, I meant the park thing."

"Oh. hindi ko alam exactly... Elly just said before lunch. So mga ten or eleven siguro." Napatango nalang ako sa sarili ko. We nodded in unison.

Tomorrow wasn't really that special. I mean we do hang out a lot at minsan nakaka-umay na rin ang mga mukha nila kaya hindi ko na gaanong iniintindi minsan ang mga paggala ni Elly at um-oo nalang ako or minsan dinadahilan ko na hindi ako pinayagan ni Mama. The usual.

"Dito nalang." Nginuso ko ang tapat ng bahay namin kay Astraeus kahit hindi naman niya ako kita.

"Dito naman talaga. Ano gusto mo ibaba kita sa bahay namin?" Namilosopo pa nga.

"Haha funny. Funny-ra ng gabi." Padabog kong sinara ang pinto ng sasakyan niya.

"Pumasok ka na sa loob."

"Mag-ingat ka ah." He better. Mamaya makita ko nalang bungo niya sa TV. Panget pa naman siya 'pag stolen.

"Will do." Tumango ako sa sinabi niya. I started creaking our gate open and clipping my purse onto my armpit. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang pagod mula sa buong gabing kaganapan. I couldn't help but crave for my soft cushion.

"Mariella," tawag niya sa akin.

"Hmm?" I managed to smile as I turned to him again.

"No, nothing. Goodnight though."

"Oh sweetcake. Nandito ka na pala? How was the acquaintance party?"

Naabutan ko si Mama na nanood ng TV sa sala. Her hair was damp and she was already wearing her pajamas. I smiled at her and stopped midway the stairs to at least talk to her before going to my room. We barely interact with each other these days, nakatira pa man din kami sa iisang bahay. She's just so busy lately.

"Hindi ka pa po matutulog? The event was fun, Mama. Nakakapagod but it was fun," I told her. She nodded at me with a smile. She seemed so warm.

"May kaldereta riyan sa ref, gusto mo initin ko? Si Astreaus dapat pinapasok mo," mahinahon niyang sabi.

"We stopped by the mamihan before coming here kaya busog po ako. About Astraeus..." napaisip ako. "Ah! Nakalimutan kong ayain." Pinagdikit ko ang dalawang palad ko at hilaw na tumawa.

"Well, if you aren't hungry, umakyat ka na at maligo. Nag-text sa akin si Eleanor at may lakad kayo bukas, you should rest already."

I secretly bit my tongue disguised as a smile. Ang isang 'yon sinugurado talagang makakapunta ako bukas at inunahan pa akong magpaalam kay Mama. I wasn't even planning to ditch her!

I creaked my door open. The smell of my room felt like home. It was like I've been away from my room for years that it almost felt nostalgic. Napasinghap ako sa pagod at inumpisahan nang hubarin ang sapatos ko. I didn't even turn on my light first.

I saw that I left the window at my study desk open. Sumasayaw ang kurtina roon habang naaninag ang maliwanag na buwan, it was October's full moon. Pagkapasok ko ay nilapag ko ang cellphone ko sa study desk, sumilip ako sa bintana para tignan ang langit bago ito sinara.

I took a quick shower to freshen myself up. Napangiti ako nang makita ang regalong lingerie sleepwear na binigay sa akin ni Georganne noong birthday ko last week, Georganne is my cousin from Bicol at nagpadala siya ng lingerie noong kaarawan ko.

I heard a muffled knock come from my door kaya dali kong tinago iyon sa kabinet ko at hinigpitan ang hawak sa roba ko.

"Mariella?"

"Yes, 'Ma?

She didn't open the door so I changed into my pajamas while she was outside.

"Maaga ako aalis bukas baka hindi mo na ako maabutan, initin mo nalang 'yung kaldereta sa ref o dumiretso ka sa café 'pag nagutom ka ha." Katok niya ulit. Lumapit na ako sa pinto tutal patapos na ako magbihis at sando nalang.

I creaked the door open and Mama's slender figure welcomed my line of sight, she stood against the hallway's dim lights as she wore a faded smile.

"Oh, okay po. Are you busy with the cafe? I mean... I can lend you a hand pagkauwi ko galing ng park?" I suggested. She must be so tired from working all the time, the leat I can do is help her, even just for a bit.

Napatingin ako sa kamay niyang hinawakan ang akin. She gave me a gentle smile and slowly shook her head. Hindi na ako nagulat, it's always been like this. Minsan nakaka-frustrate na.

"Mama..." inihanda ko na ang sarili ko para pangaralan siya. I mean seriously? Why is she trying to carry everything here?

"Nagpadala na raw ng allowance sa ATM mo ang daddy mo, Mariella." I'm starting to dislike where this conversation is headed.

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntong-hininga. "Sige na po, 'Ma. Med'yo napagod ako ngayon eh, can we talk about this some other time." Napaiwas ako ng tingin, I slowly pulled away my hand from her grip and took a few steps back para maghandang isara ang pinto.

"Sige... matulog ka na, Sweetcake." Tumango siya. I smiled at her and slowly closed my room's door. The smile I was making slowly faded, in sync with the door's closing.

Pagod akong humiga sa kama. Gumulong-gulong ako at med'yo naiirita pa. I just stopped when I felt my head go a bit dizzy and my throat started to feel like throwing something up. I heaved a deep sign and placed the back of my hand on top of my forehead, inevitably looking up the sealing.