𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍. sandoval h.

Chapter One: Saturday Frustration

Groaning, Nawal reached for her never-ending ringing phone while cursing inside her head. Frustration, resentment, and a headache are progressively licking her brain for various reasons, one of those is a hangover.

Nawal despises getting up so early. And it's Saturday, after all. Nawal should get some extra sleep, but how can she do so if she gets a call at 6:39 a.m?

6. 39. a. m.

Damn, that will drive the young lady insane for the rest of her life.

"Who the fuck are you—!"

A frigid, penetrating, and hostile voice halted Nawal, forcing her to open her eyes, sit on her bed, and make a satisfactory nerve shattering wake up noise with her room mate.

"Sheerazade," said by the voice in the other line.

fuck, I. am. dead. was in her mind as she realized that the one who made the effort to call her was her dearest older sister.

Nawal who is still shocked, hindi niya mapigilang tumaas ang kaniyang boses na siyang resulta kung bakit makatanggap ito ng mas malutong pa sa chicharon ni Mang Juan na mura galing sa kaniyang room mate na sa kabilang kwarto lang.

Sa sobrang aga ba naman ngayon, sinong hindi maiinis kung ang ayos ng tulog mo tapos biglang may sisigaw sa sobrang random na oras?

"Oh, my fucking god! Hello there, Lama!" what a great choice of word, really wrong move to pull. Bulalas ni Nawal pagkatapos niyang makilala ang may-ari ng boses.

"Shut the fuck up, Shalom!" Sigaw naman ito ng kasama niya sa kaniyang condo, kaya napakamot ng batok si Nawal at sinigawan ito pabalik.

"Good morning too, little shit!" Bulyaw ni Nawal kaya tumikhim ang na sa kabilang linya, phews.

Sa sigaw na 'yon galing sa kabilang kwarto, nalingat si Nawal at nawala sa isip niya na si Lama pala ang kausap nito.

"I believe, you're studying in catholic school, Sheerazade." Nawal's blood suddenly disappeared from her body the moment when she heard how Lama's voice changed into impatient, disappointed and harsh voice.

Before the storm hits Nawal, huminga si Nawal ng malalim at sinubukang pakalmahin ang nagwawala niyang puso.

God knows how Nawal's older sister can be scary as hell. Lama is not the type of person that smiles often. She is the most stoic person for Nawal. Walang tatalo kay Lama pagdating sa kawalan niya ng expression sa mukha.

She's scary and always be. Lumipas na ang anim na taon pero ang takot ni Nawal kay Lama ay gaya pa rin noon, walang pinagbago at mas lalo panglumala sa nagaganap ngayong umaga.

"L-Lama, nagulat lang ako. Hindi ko lang inaasahan ang pagtawag mo sa akin—ng ganito kaaga. It's been 6 years, right? You never call. I never heard your voice since that day, six years ago? Right, How are you? Being one of military really makes you busy, huh?" Seryosong sabi ni Nawal na siyang dahilan upang matahimik saglit ang linya.

Nawal and Lama isn't that close to each other. In fact, they barely see each other. Kung mag-usap naman sila, tungkol 'yon lahat sa kapalpakan ni Nawal sa buhay at never naging maayos ang daloy ng usapan nilang dalawa.

This is all because of their age gap. Lama was 22 years old when their mother gave birth to Nawal. That time, Lama was already training to become a soldier kaya reasonable ang pagiging distant nilang dalawa lalong lalo na't hindi ugali ni Lama ang bonding maliban kung mahalaga ito masyado.

Therefore, not seeing each other for almost seven years isn't new for the Shaloms. Tuwing umuuwi kasi si Nawal sa family house nila, palaging wala si Lama. Gano'n din si Lama, hindi naman nila ugaling mag-usap sa video chat. Parehas wala sa vocabulary nilang dalawa ang gawain na 'yan, malabo kung mangyari kahit ngayon.