“Oo nak!” she yelled in excitement, almost bouncing her head from too much nodding. Mom's contagious smile infected me at this point. ‌ ‌

Sa pagkaka alala ko, si Tita Maggie ang bestfriend ni mama evr since kinder pa ako.
Napangiti nalang si mama "She deserves to be happy after such a long time since her husband's death. And what makes it even happier is that " She trailed off, creating a suspense atmosphere.

"Is that? What mom? Tuloy mo lang ma!” I said, eager to know it. I was desperate for an answer because I didn't want to wait any longer.

"She has asked you to be her bridesmaid, Si Nathan bilang ringbearer at ako daw ang kanyang maid of honor!" She was ecstatic.

Oh..I've never been a bridesmaid before, so this will be my first experience. ‌ ‌

"Wow! That sounds amazing!" I exclaimed, knowing how important it must be for my Aunt.

"Kailan daw ang kasal ma?” Tanong ko pa.”

"Next month na, nak.”

Nathan showed up to the kitchen, curious as to what we had been discussing with our loud voices, "Mommy, ano ang ring bearer, mommy?" Tanong nya pa, his eyes wide with curiosity. His eyes were sparkling with wonder as his brows raised in anticipation.

Naiintindihan ko sya. Hindi nya killala si Tita Maggie dahil never nya pa nameet ito at di nya pa alam ang mga bagay dahil apat na taong gulang pa lang sya.

I ruffled his hair as mom replied to his question, "A ring bearer is the one who'll take care of Tita Maggie's ring and heirlooms." She said, “At ikaw ang gusto ni tita Maggie mo, okay Nate-nate?”

Napatanong sya.

“Kaya mo namang gawin ito anak?" Tinanong a ni mama ulit.

"Malaki na ako ma, kaya ko! I'm a big boy now!" he exclaimed, standing up straight and proud like a military officer who has recently been assigned a new mission.

“Good job! I’ll be expecting that, Captain Nate-nate!” Mom said, ruffling his hair.

She then turned to me, "Natatandaan mo ba nunng lagi ka nya binibigyan ng chocolates?"

I chuckle softly as I recall the incident. ‌"Yeah, pero bakit bigla syang huminto sa pagbisita, ma?"

Mom sighed, "Sadly, she migrated to England.Dun na sya tumira,” Before her eyes lit up. "Pero dito nya gusto ang kasal nya kaya umuwi sya.”

Oh...fantastic; “I can’t wait to see her again ma.." ‌ ‌I replied.

Putting on her coat, Mom grabbed the keys of the car and started to make her way on the car, as she had night duty today.

**‌ ‌
EION'S POV

A little boy who was about four years old ran on the sidewalk. Nadapa sya sa bato at nauna pa ang mukha nya. Bigla siyang umiyak, napasigaw at tinawag ang kanyang mama.

His mom came immediately to the rescue, kneeled, and carried his son to her shoulders, comforting his son. "Wag ka na kasing tumakbo sa susunod."

I diverted my eyes to the ground as I passed by the scene. Stupid boy, Kung hini sya tumakbo edi sana hindi nangyari yun. Snorting in annoyance, I continued walking along the sidewalk, passing by some stores.

Today's appointment with him wasn't interesting as usual, I could see his efforts of helping me, but everything was still the same. If it isn't dad and this stupid nonsense, then maybe I could try to act normal like he wanted me to. Pero ayaw ko.

The cement ground groaned under my shoes as I dug it harder in irritation, my steps were getting desperate as I yearned for one thing. Hastening my steps, I watched as a few people passed by, eager to end the day. The usual small chattering coming from this small town is never strange to me. Lahat ay kilala ang lahat.Typical.

Pushing back my head, napatingala ako sa langit. The clear blue sky and the glazing sun made no effort to hide that it’s already summer.

Napatingin ako sa relo ko. Alas kwatro na ng hapon. After a few steps, the store I was seeking was in front of me. Bilg nlanag ako pumasok at nakita ang ibang customers na nakaupo sa mga upuan, minding their own business.

I went to the register to order something. As I reached it, a person behind the register was asleep, he was sitting on a monobloc chair while his cap covered his face. Furrowing my eyebrows, I looked close enough and nakitang hindi sya natutulog. Hawak-hawak nya ang kanyang cellphone at mukhang naglalaro.

Who in the right mind plays in the middle of his shift? What a lazy worker. Ang tamad.

I coughed to get his attention. Naglalaro pa rin sya. Releasing another cough, he still didn't notice my presence. The anger I was holding back appeared. I clench and unclench my hand.

With that, I coughed again, this time it was louder than some customers glanced at me. Ignoring their curious eyes, I focused on the person in front of me. Instantly, his body jerked and his phone almost fell. But I was shocked to see his face. Nagkamali ako, babae pala ito.

I look at her blankly. Her face turned pink. "If I was the owner, I could have fired you for playing in the middle of your work,"

Hindi niya siguro inexepect yun kaya napatanong sya, "Excuse me?"


Does she really have any clue what I just said? Bingi ba sya? Psh, tamad na nga, bingi pa.

"Psh, workers and their services," I mumbled in an almost inaudible voice. "Are you going to ask my order or what?" I snapped.

I was expecting her to throw a comeback but instead, nakangiti sya. Oh, an expression in which a person was wasting all her energy and time.

"Good afternoon, sir, what would you like to have?" She asked cheerfully, her smile was so wide it would rip off of her face. Tinatago nya ang galit nya….

"A strawberry ice cream," I demanded, crossing my arms impatiently.

She immediately grabbed a cone, filled it with strawberry ice cream, and handed it to me. I grabbed a handful of money from my pocket ng hindi man lang binibilang to at binigay sa kanya bago umalis sa shop.

I turned a corner while licking my ice cream. The sweet flavor engulfed my mouth as a sense of satisfaction flooded me. After turning corners and a few steps, naramdaman ko nalang na parang may sumusunod sa akin.

I slowed down my pace and halted. Turning around, I was greeted with something.

Sya nanaman. Napasinghap ako.

"Ikaw nanaman? Are you following me?" I snapped, trapping her with my gaze. My eyebrows knitted. Ano ba tong ginagawa nya?

All of a sudden, she walked the distance between us, stopping in front of me with a meter in between.

"Hindi kita sinusundan, sir,” her hands held money, a crumpled three-dollar bill.

I stood still, just looking at her and the money. Nakatingin lang rin sya, mukhang naiirita na.

After a minute when she realized that I had nothing to do with it, she opened my left hand and placed the money quickly.

"Sukli mo po sir, nakalimutan nyo," she explained quickly, turning around to go back to the shop. Bago pa sya makaalis, bigla kong hinawakan ang kanyang kamay para patigil sya.

Even I was still confused as to why I did that.

"Take it," I said in a low voice, handing back to her the money. My face softened but I masked it before she could notice.

She released an irritated sigh. "I don't take money from strangers, especially money I didn't earn and didn't work hard for."

Huh? Did she think that chasing me all the way here and returning my change is considered a heroic scene? And making me feel like it was my fault that I had left my change there?

She should feel honored. Kailangan to ng ibang tao. Ni hindi nga nila ibabalik ang sukli kapag sobra.

Hindi ko napansin na nagmemelt na pala ang ice cream sa kamay ko at nahulog sa lupa. She turned around and walked in the other direction before I had the chance to stop her.

That stupid girl! Now I'm only left with an empty cone with the ice cream on the ground.
Damn it!