Kabanata 16

Sa Bintana

I patiently waited as Maya tried to climb the stairs on her own. Pinagpapa-practice daw siya ni Manang kapag tapos na siya sa mga gawaing bahay at tinuturuan niya ng ilang tricks. Napagpasyahan kong gusto ko makita kung may mga natutuhan na ba talaga siya.

When I saw that she was still struggling because of her small legs, I decided to just carry her to my room. I held her in one arm as she rested on my shoulder while I held my bag with the other. Pilit niyang inaabot ang pisngi ko para halikan at nakikiliti ako dahil sa ginawa niya. I am trying hard not to giggle or else baka mabitiwan ko siya.

Pagbukas ko, nakita kong bukas ang bintana ng kwarto ko na nakatapat sa kwarto ni Forest. The afternoon sun's rays reflected in my room, illuminating all the paintings I have in it. Sa liwanag na iyon ay nabuhay ang mga kulay sa bawat kuwadro.

There was faint music coming from Kyle's room. Kaya naman dahan-dahan kong ibinaba si Maya sa higaan dahil doon. I will play with her later.

I slowly paced to my window at nilapag ang mga gamit ko sa upuan malapit doon. Tinignan ko si Maya at parang siya rin ay curious sa naririnig na tugtog.

I bit my lower lip when I saw that his window was open. I could hear him humming as well.

Parang ang bilis niya namang nakauwi? Nauna pa siya sa amin ni Ethan.

"Forest," tinawag ko siya sa hindi gaanong malakas at hindi rin gaanong mahina na boses.

Maririnig niya kaya ako?

"Fo–" Nang tawagin ko siyang muli, lumakas bigla ang ihip ng hangin. Natabunan ang boses ko dahil sa lagaslas ng mga nagsasayawang dahon ng Acacia na nakapagitna sa bahay naming dalawa.

Bago ko pa siya muling matawag, napansin kong tumahimik ang paligid. Nawala rin ang tunog ng pag-gi-gitara niya.

Napasinghap ako nang biglaan ko na lang siyang nakaharap. Bahagyang natatabunan ng sanga ng puno ang mukha niya pero kitang-kita ang mga mata niya sa pagitan ng mga dahon.

He was now wearing a gray shirt. Ang kanyang bibig ay bahagyang nakaawang at halata ang kanyang pagkagulat at pagtataka. His guitar was strapped around his body.

Tama nga ang hinala ko. Siya ang naririnig ko lagi na kumakanta at tumutugtog. Nasabi niya na sa akin sa ospital na tama ako pero iba pa rin pala na nakikita ko siya sa mismong katapat na bintana ng kwarto ko.

Ginawaran ko siya ng ngiti at muling bumugso ang simoy ng hangin.

My hair flew to my face and I quickly tried to tame the stray strands by placing them behind my ears. Siya naman ay tinanggal ang gitara sa katawan habang nakatitig sa mukha ko. Yumuko siya at bigla ko na lang naramdaman na gumagalaw ang cellphone ko sa aking bulsa.

When I looked at the caller, it was anonymous. Binalik ko sa kabilang bintana ang tingin at nakitang nakatingin sa akin si Forest, his phone on his ear. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

He is... calling me?

Hindi ba namin maririnig ang isa't isa kapag walang telepono? I am pretty sure we will be able to hear the other without the phone if we speak loud enough.

I wonder how he got my number, too. Pareho sila ni Ethan na bigla na lang may contact ko.

Sinagot ko siya at dinala sa kaliwang tainga ang cellphone ko. "Hello?"

We now looked at each other. Bigla akong binalot ng hiya dahil sa ginagawa namin. Akala ko naman kasi hindi niya talaga ako maririnig. Iyon pala maaaninag niya ang boses ko.

"Hi," he greeted back as he tried to stop himself from smirking. Hinawakan niya ang batok niya at nakita ko ang narinig kong paghinga niya nang malalim.

"Are you busy?" tahimik kong tanong.

"Hmm..." humilig siya sa bintana, "not really. Why?"

He placed his forearm on the windowsill and leaned on it. Mukha pa rin siyang galit but I can sense his amusement. His hazel eyes had this glint that I cannot even describe. When the wind blew again, my subconscious suddenly showed me the vision of the trees in my dream.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin, "I am... going to bake cupcakes."

"And...?"

"Do you want some?" I asked in a small voice. Sinulyapan ko siya.

I did not even know that I planned on doing that until I told him. I will just think of it as payment for his kindness and for helping my parents out.

He has been with me for the past days and I am grateful for it. Kahit na minsan naiisip ko na kinakaaawan niya lang ako, I am still thankful that he is someone I can talk to and lean on.

"Why me?" tahimik niyang tanong. His question made me furrow my eyebrows. Forest's tone suggested that there was something more to his question. Ang mga mata niya sa gitna ng mga dahon ay puno ng pagsusumamo.

I pouted and looked at our garden below.

"You do not want to?" Disappointment etched in my voice. Siguro nga galit pa rin talaga siya.

Napabuga siya ng hangin. "I want to," he huskily replied.

Inangat kong muli ang tingin ko sa kanya at hindi napigilan ang mapangiti sa sagot niya sa akin.

"O-Okay. Okay! Just go here. I will just change." Mabilis kong binaba ang tawag at sinarado ang bintana. Hindi ko na pinansin pa ang tanong niya sa akin. Sana hindi niya na tanungin ulit mamaya.

Habang kumikilos ay hindi ko maiwasan ang mapangiti. I changed into a loose white shirt and maong shorts then tied my hair into a bun. I quickly but carefully lifted Maya up in my arms before going down.

Pagbaba ko saktong kakapasok lang din ni Daddy ng bahay. His cold expression when he saw Ethan was gone now. Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin, probably wondering why I was going down the stairs in a hurry.

"Dad, I am going to bake cupcakes. Forest will go here," mabilis kong paliwanag sa kanya. Tumango siya nang wala sa sarili at saktong nag-ring ang doorbell.

"A-Ako na ang magpapapasok sa kanya," boluntaryo niya. He checked his watch ang sighed, "Susunduin ko saglit ang Mommy mo. Tirahan niyo kaming dalawa kung ano man iyang ihahanda mo."

Binaba ko si Maya sa sahig at lumapit siya sa kanya. Her curled tail wagging as best as it could. Yumuko si Daddy saglit para i-pet ang ulo ni Maya. Lumapit naman ako para halikan siya sa pisngi at magtanong.

"Ano pong sinabi niyo kay Ethan?"

Umigting ang panga ni Daddy. A pained expression passed through his face. He tried to hide it with a shrug. "It is nothing for you to worry about, dear."

Napasimangot ako sa sagot niya na hilaw niyang tinawanan.

"Sige na. Mag-ready ka na ng mga gamit na kailangan mo."

I heard him close the door as I went to the kitchen. The gate screeched open and I busied myself with taking out the ingredients for what I want to bake.

I think I want red velvet cupcakes today.

After getting the eggs from our fridge, dumiretso ako sa isang cabinet para kuhain ang red food coloring gel na kailangan ko. I tried to reach for it and heaved a sigh when I realized na hindi ko abot kahit anong gawin ko.

"Mana–" nagulat ako nang may biglang umabot doon kung kailan magpapatulong pa lang sana ako kay Manang.

Dumikit ang dibdib ni Forest sa likuran ko. The contact made me hold my breath. His musky scent suddenly enveloped. The hair on my nape stood up. I unconsciously placed my arms on my chest dahil sa gulat.

"Is this what you need?" he asked in his deep voice. Hawak-hawak niya iyon sa taas ng ulo ko at mabilis akong tumango.

He placed it in front of me. Mukha siyang nakayakap sa katawan ko. Napalunok ako at dahan-dahang kinuha iyon sa kamay niya.

"Thank you," mahina kong sabi. I can feel my face struggling to keep my emotions from showing.

He chuckled then took a few steps back, creating a distance between us.

Paglingon ko sa kanya, nakatalikod na siya sa akin at nakatingin sa countertop na pinaglagyan ko ng mga kailangan para sa gagawin. He picked up the butter at binasa ang nakasulat sa balot bago ibinaba at tinignan pa ang ibang gagamitin ko roon.

I took my apron from its hook and got Mom's para sa kanya.

He raised his left brow with questioning eyes nang makitang dalawa ang hawak-hawak ko. Inabot ko iyon sa kanya at kinuha niya rin naman nang walang reklamo.

I smiled internally. Tutal nandito na rin naman siya, tulungan niya na rin ako.

Kung hindi niya pa tatanggalin ang camera niya na nakapulupot sa leeg niya ay hindi ko mapapansin na dala-dala niya pala iyon. He placed it on an empty corner of the counter bago naghugas ng kamay.

I plugged in my mixer then tied my apron behind my back.

He dried his hands with a towel, waiting for my instructions. For some reason, I find that him helping me bake is amusing. Such a serious man, doing light-hearted work.

I nodded at him bago kami magsimula, "Let's start with the butter."

Pareho kaming nakatingin sa mixer habang naghihintay na ma-mix nang maayos ang bakitter. Ako, alam kong sa mixer lang ako nakatingin. I would catch him looking at me in my peripheral vision kaya mas ayaw kong lumingon. I am getting more anxious because of his presence and silence na hindi ko na siya matignan.

I stopped the machine after a few seconds. I was about to ask him to give me the flour nang biglang may tumama sa mukha ko noong pinihit ko ang ulo ko sa direksyon niya.

I closed my eyes and reopened them in disbelief. Napaawang ang bibig ko. I felt the powdery substance on my face before I saw him holding the bowl of flour in his hands with a smirk on his face. I confirmed my thoughts when I saw that his fingers were covered in it as well.

Sinabuyan niya ako ng harina!

Hindi lang ito ang unang beses na nangganyan siya at sinasayang ang ingredients. At our family dinner, pinahiran niya iyong mukha ko ng cookie dough!

Furious at what he did, hininto ko ang mixer at binalingan siya.

"Oh no, you don't," I mustered with what I could attempt as my most threatening voice.

Nanlaki ang mata niya nang nakitang palapit ako sa kanya. Mabilis niyang naibaba ang bowl at umatras siya.

Wrong move.

I took a handful of flour and threw it in his direction. Tumama iyon sa leeg at dibdib ni Forest dahilan para matigil siya. Pati damit niya nalagyan ko. Kahit puting-puti, kita ang bakas ng harina.

"Sinclair!" He shouted in obvious shock. Natigil ako dahil sa pagsigaw niya and immediately felt guilty about it.

I was about to open my mouth to apologize nang bigla tinapunan niya na naman ako sa mukha ng flour. Ang kanyang galit na mukha ay napalitan ng ekspresyon ng tagumpay.

Muli akong napapikit at bahagyang napatili dahil sa nangyari. Nang narinig na tumatawa siya napangiti na rin ako at muling binuksan ang mga mata.

"Bad trip ka, halika rito!" Kinuha ko ang buong bowl at sunod-sunod na ipinagbababato siya ng flour.

We were now running around the countertop. Nakita ko si Maya sa isang tabi na nalagyan rin ng flour dahilan para pumuti ang ilang bahagi ng itim niyang balahibo.

Magugulat na lang ako na maaabot ni Forest ang bowl mula sa kamay ko at makakakuha siya sa loob para may masaboy.

Tumigil kami nang naubos na ang hinanda kong flour. We looked at both of our states and our surroundings. Forest was covered all over even his hair. One of his cheeks also had white on it. We burst out laughing.

I cannot help but think how good he looks still kahit na sinabugan na siya ng flour. Paano naman kaya ako, hindi ba? Anong itsura ko?

The thought made me laugh more.

I placed the bowl on the countertop and was about to get some more to finally continue baking when I heard a click and a flash. My head turned sharply in Kyle's direction. Hawak-hawak niya na ang camera niya even with flour all over his hands.

I groaned in frustration at lumapit sa kanya. "Give me that! Delete, delete, delete!"

He raised his arms para hindi ko maabot ang camera niya. Hinihila ko siya pababa pero tinatawanan niya lang ako.

"No, Sinclair. Stop," he said while laughing. Mabuti na lang at natatakpan ako ng flour kaya hindi niya nakitang namula ako lalo. His shirt was now fisted in my right hand while I tried reaching for his camera with the other.

Click!

Pareho kaming natigil nang biglang makarinig ng shutter mula sa isa pang camera. When we looked at the direction from where the sound came from. Nasa hamba si Mommy, dala ang sariling camera niya. She was grinning from ear to ear.

A wave of nausea suddenly hit me.

Why does this scene seem familiar to me?

I put both of my arms down at kumapit sa braso ni Forest para ibalanse ang sarili. Napahawak agad siya sa siko ko.

Click!

"Isa pa. Isa pa."

Umungol ang dalawa kong kasama bilang protesta. I held both of their arms and their scowls immediately turned into a smile.

"Soph is their weakness, huh, Hon?" sabi ni Daddy kay Mommy. I smiled at Mommy behind the camera and she winked at me bago muling nagbilang.

"1...2...3...Smile!"

Forest helped me sit on the couch while Mom fetched me some water.

My brain felt like it was being cracked wide open.

What just happened?

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