Athaliah's Redemption (Ortega Series 1)

Kabanata 5

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V - Crushing

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Nakita ko ang agad na pag-iling ng kapatid ko habang si Mommy ay parang naghahanap ng sasabihin.

It was Daddy who answered.

"No, darling. Whatever misunderstanding the adults have, it's just between them. Children are out of the issue."

I already expected Daddy to say that. He is always mature in everything. But, I wanted to hear Mommy's side. I wanted to know her thoughts. Afterall, she's the one directly involved if there is actually a real issue.

"Just...just friends. That's the only thing you can offer," si Mommy matapos ang ilang segundo.

"Jezebel."

"You can't force me to accept your thoughts, Domenico," matigas na sabi ni Mommy habang nakatingin na ngayon kay Daddy. Ilang sandali pa ay bumaling ulit siya sa amin, sa akin. "I can deal with you being close to them, but please, not too close."

Tinitigan kong mabuti si Mommy. Her eyes seemed pleading like she wanted us to promise her it should be the only relation we have with the Ortegas. Sa nakikita kong ito at sa mga alam ko na dahil sa sinabi ni Ahira ay napagtanto kong sobrang nasaktan si Mommy sa nangyari noon. She lost a child, our older sibling. Whatever happened between her and the parents of the Ortega siblings might have led to such heartbreak.

Dahan-dahan akong tumango at nagpatuloy na lamang sa pagkain habang ang usapan ay lumipat sa ibang bagay.

We went out as a family on a Saturday, just hours before our parents will be leaving for Italy. Sinulit namin ang oras na magkakasama kaming apat. We watched a family movie in the cinema and ate at a restaurant in the mall afterwards. We shared laughs in between our lunch. Tinutukso na naman ni Daddy si Mommy.

We also went around the mall to shop.

"Sulitin na natin habang hindi kuripot si Mommy," bulong ni Ahira sa akin na agad kong tinawanan.

Mommy is always thrifty while Daddy gives us anything we ask for. Parte na siguro iyon ng pagkatao ni Mommy na itinuro ni Lola Petra sa kanya at sa mga kapatid niya.

Nagpabili ako kay Mommy ng mga damit na nakita kong maganda at bagay sa akin. Nang makarating sa isang specialty store ng cosmetics ay sadyang tumigil ako.

Napansin yata iyon ni Mommy ngunit ngumiti lang siya sa akin.

"I am not really fond of makeups. College lang yata ako noon nang natutunan kong mag-ayos," Mommy shared. "But your generation is different. Even a gradeschooler is already wearing makeup nowadays!"

She held my hand and Ahira's on the other as she started walking towards the store. I glanced at our father and he just smiled as he followed us inside.

Agad namang may dumalo sa aming staff at umalalay sa amin sa pagtingin ng mga kolorete at iba pang pampaganda.

I looked at the lipsticks on display. There are different shades to choose from. It reminded me of what I have. Lip balm lang ang ginagamit ko at lip tint para sa mga labi. I just use the lip balm so that my lips wouldn't crack. Iyong lip tint ay para lang may kulay ang mga labi ko. I also use press powder but only for the sake of guarding my face from becoming oily through the day.

"Did you see anything you like?" tanong sa akin ni Mommy.

Umiling ako. "I don't know what is good for me."

Narinig yata ako ng staff kaya siya na ang nag-assist at nag-suggest sa akin sa kung ano ang babagay. I saw our mother agreeing. Kaya nang umalis kami roon ay sa opinyon nila ibinase ang mga nabiling makeup para sa amin ni Ahira.