Welcome, Player: Grand Quest

Chapter 102: The Tale of Rae & Rie (Part Two)

-chapter one-hundred-two-
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"Why don't you two come with us to the mall?"

THE MALL was huge and full of people. Rae and I almost got lost twice so Uncle Val and Rae's Mama had to hold our hands.

Ilang store na puno ng maraming damit na ang pinasukan namin. Ilang beses na ring pumasok si Rae sa isang silid na may full-length mirror. Everytime he walks out, he's wearing some sort of suit. Hinayaan ko na lang sila doon at naghanap ng bagay kay River na damit. I don't have any money with me, but the next time we visit the mall, I'll point one of the clothes and make Papa buy them.

"Rie, darling," lumapit si Uncle Val sa'kin. "Have you got any dresses you like?"

"I have dresses at home po."

Mahinang tumawa si Uncle Val. "Yes, but why don't we buy a special one just for this night?"

Nag-aalinlangan akong tumango. Mama always wants us to use our money wisely so we shouldn't spend a lot on things we already possess. Pero, sinabi niya rin na okay lang gumasto kapag special night.

Eventually, I was placed in a hundred of dresses and got five ones. Umiling-iling ako at humindi dito, but Rae's Mama only smiled at me and told me it was a gift.

"But, Rae!" nakanguso kong reklamo kay Rae na ngayon ay may tinitingnang laruan. "It's not yet my birthday!"

"Gifts are not just for birthdays." sagot nito at binasa ang description ng isang hologram board game. "There's holidays too."

I sat next to him in the floor and glanced at the game. Maganda nga. I wonder how they made this.

"Pero hindi naman holiday ngayon." bulong ko sa kaniya.

Rae stops inspecting the game and stares at me. "You don't like the dress?"

Napakurap ako. Eh? Ba't 'yan ang tinatanong niya? "Maganda siya."

Binawi niya ang tingin at ibinalik ang atensiyon sa game. Ngumuso ako. Napakahirap talagang intindihin ng pamilyang 'to. Although, I guess I should just be thankful for the gift.

Is this some sort of apology for making me cry in the test yesterday?

Tumayo ako at iniwan si Rae doon. Sana naman mayroon ditong game na kailangang ibuild from scratch. Mga sandworld o blocks. I want to help Papa but he always tell me that I'm too young.

Natigilan ako nang makita ang isang doll. It's the warrior woman in the TV earlier! Tumakbo ako pabalik kay Rae at kinuha ang kamay niya.

"Rie... what now?" reklamo nito kahit na nagpapahatak naman.

"Look! I found Miss Warrior!" masayang tugon ko sabay turo sa nag-iisang doll...

Na ngayon ay hawak-hawak ng isang batang lalaki.

"Someone has it already..." bigong sabi ko.

Rae patted my head. "They'll restock. Why don't you check out the game I found?"

Nauna siyang naglakad pabalik habang tinitingnan ko pa rin si Miss Warrior. May dumating na batang babaeng mas matanda sa'min at humalukipkip sa harap ng batang lalaki.

"Cali! Ano 'yang hawak mo, barbie?" the girl smirked. "That's for girls!"

"Shut up, Feure! Dolls aren't just for girls, you know. Toys should be for every kids." itinaas nito ang barbie. "Besides mula ito sa maangas na movie na pinanood natin!"