I Could Fall

Chapter Twelve

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Hi. You were nowhere in sight so I wasn't able to say goodbye.

Halos sumabog ang puso ko nang pindutin na ang send. I bit my thumb as I stared on my phone. On the way home, I had a hard time deciding if I'm gonna chat him or not. I only made up my mind when I reached my room.

Nang hindi agad makatanggap ng reply ay napasimangot ako. Maybe he's busy?

I was ready to drop my phone when it alerted a reply. My small frown was immediately replaced with a smile.

It was him!

Ali Santiesteban:
I'm sorry. I was in my room. Are you home?

I didn't wait another second and quickly replied.

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Yes. :)

The circular tick immediately turned a full blue. I was instantly nervous. I feel like he won't reply anymore because my response was a conversation ender.

Quick, Hyon.

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
What are you doing?

Agad din itong nag-blue katulad ng kanina which means the message was delivered and seen. I thought I was going to wait for long but the typing bubble appeared in a flash. My giddiness quickly escalated.

Ali Santiesteban:
Just doing some school work.

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Oh. I'm sorry. Am I disturbing you?

His reply came instantly that I was surprised.

Ali Santiesteban:
You're not. Have you eaten dinner?

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Not yet. Hindi pa ako tinatawag. How about you?

I brought down my phone and went to my dressing room to get changed. Simpleng shirt at shorts lang ang isinuot ko. Nagmadali pa ako sa pagbihis para makabalik agad sa phone.

A big smile plastered on my face when I read two replies from him. May isang minutong gap.

Ali Santiesteban:
Hindi pa rin.

Ali Santiesteban:
What are you doing?

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Chat lang. :D

Ali Santiesteban:
With friends?

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Nope. Just you.

Hindi ito nag seen. Hindi rin siya agad sumagot. I pouted a little at that. Tatlong katok sa pintuan bago bumukas ay alam ko na agad na tatawagin ako para sa dinner. Instead of a maid, si Kuya Zeno ang nasa labas.

"Kain na, Hyon," tawag nito. Hindi na nag-abalang pumasok.

"Okay, Kuya." I stood up and brought down my phone on the bedside table. Wala pa rin reply doon.

Sabay na kaming bumaba patungo sa dining area. Nandoon ang lahat maliban kay Ate Laurene. I very rarely see my sister. At kapag nandiyan naman siya ay na siya tulad nang dati. She's quiet and always spacing out. I think I know the reason why she changed. Si Kuya Silas.

I was in second year highschool when Ate Laurene and Kuya Silas became an item an eventually broke up. I never knew the reason though. Ate Laurene doesn't open to us. Si Kuya Hadeon lang ang totoong nakakaintindi sa kanya dahil kambal sila.

It makes me sad. I want my old sister back but I don't know how to. She's the jolliest and most playful among us that when she changed, something changed in our family as well. Kuya Hadeon tries to keep it light but the mood during our family dinners and family bonding is just not like what it used to be.