"LET'S go?"
Tinanguan niya si Klaus at tumayo upang sumunod dito. Pagtayo niya ay wala sa loob na nadako ang kanyang mga mata sa kabilang bahay, partikular na sa direksiyon ng silid ni Achilles. Nahigit niya ang hininga nang makita ito sa balkonahe at nakatuon sa kanya ang malalamig nitong mga mata.
Kanina pa ba ito roon?
Nang marinig ang pagbusina ni Klaus ay agad niyang inalis ang mga mata rito at tumalikod. Ramdam niya ang titig nito na sumusunog sa kanyang likod hanggang sa makapasok siya sa loob ng van.
Malalim at sunod-sunod na hininga ang kanyang pinakawalan pagkaupo niya. Nakapa niya ang dibdib na mabilis na tumitibok dahilan upang manikip iyon at nahihirapan siyang huminga.
"Are you okay?" tanong ni Klaus nang mapansin ang restlessness ni Margareth. "You're red."
"I-I'm okay, mainit lang," pagsisinungaling ni Margareth. Nakagat niya ang labi dahil doon, nawiwili na siya sa pagsisinungaling. It wasn't healthy.
Nilakasan naman ni Klaus ang air-conditioner bago pinaandar ang sasakyan paalis.
Itinuon ni Margareth ang paningin sa labas ng bintana habang puno ng kalituhan ang kanyang mukha. Ayaw niyang makita iyon ng kanyang kababata.
Nagtaka naman si Klaus sa inaakto ng dalaga. Kanina lang ay masaya itong tumatawa habang magkausap sila. He was sure that something was bothering her, but he respected her privacy.
"Will we reach there on time?" untag ni Klaus sa natahimik na si Margareth.
Napukaw ang pansin ng dalaga at napakurap-kurap. Doon niya napagtantong na nasa gitna sila ng kalsada at naipit sa matinding traffic. Hindi na marahil sila makakaabot base sa congestion na nakikita niya. It was her fault, nawili siya sa pakikipag-usap kay Klaus kanina at nakalimutan ang kailangan nilang gawin. They were reminiscing their memories of the past, especially when they were kids and she was too caught up with their conversation.
"Hindi na siguro. Maghihintay naman siguro sila roon," aniya at lumingon dito sabay ngiti. Subalit hindi iyon nakaabot sa kanyang mga mata.
"What did you miss outside the convent?" tanong ni Klaus upang makapagsimula nang mapag-uusapan.
Nag-isip siya ng ilang segundo bago sumagot, "I miss Mommy's sweets, I miss my family, my friends, I miss going out, I miss the subdivision..." Margareth didn't realize that she missed a lot of things outside the convent until now.
Nakakalabas naman sila sa kumbento tuwing may mission sila. But their movement was limited.
"I don't know, Klaus. I'm torn between going back and staying, I feel like I am cheating on him. I'm the worse," she said openly.
"You're human, Gareth. It's normal to get swayed. Just listen to your heart and it'll tell you what to do. The heart doesn't lie."
This time, Margareth smiled a true smile. How many times did she hear someone tell her to listen to her heart? Everything Klaus had said was beautiful and it calmed her. "Thank you. You're the best." Then and now, he could still make her laugh. They were very close when they were little and up to their teenage years, nothing more developed between them than friendship. She was certain that Klaus only sees her as his younger sister, maybe that was why she's comfortable with him.
"Of course I am the best. I'm Klaus Mikaelson, eyy," he answered playfully. They laugh in unison and they spent the next few minutes on the road while talking about kinds of stuff. He was good in conversation and she was glad that she was able to forget Achilles for a moment.
Nang makarating sila sa harap ng airport ay lalong lumapad ang kanyang pagkakangiti nang makita ang tatlong taong nakatayo sa labas. Pagkaparada ni Klaus sa van ay agad siyang lumabas at tinakbo ang direksiyon ng mga kapatid.
Sumalubong naman sa kanya ang tatlo at agad siyang niyakap ni Cael nang makalapit siya sa mga ito. Umangat na siya sa lupa dahil sa higpit ng pagkakayakap nito sa kanya. Oh, how she missed her brothers so much. They were her bestfriends.
Doon sa airport ang tungo nila ni Klaus at late nga silang nakarating. Nakalanding na ang eroplanong sinasakyan ng tatlo at ngayon nga ay naghihintay sa kanila sa labas ng airport.
"Ako naman, payakap si bunso," saad ni Vince na inagaw si Margareth mula sa mga braso ni Cael.
"Ang tatangkad niyo na, I miss you mga Kuya." Nakangiti ang dalaga bagaman may mga luhang sumungaw sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata.
"Ang liit mo pa rin, bansot." Sabay gulo ni Cael sa kanyang buhok. Sa halip na mapasimagot ay napangiting lalo si Margareth. She miss that.
"Hey, man." Nagbatian ang kanyang mga Kuya at si Klaus nang makalapit ang huli mula sa pagparada ng sasakyan. "Bakit ang tagal niyo, naipit sa traffic?"
Tumango siya sa kanyang kuya at namilog ang mga mata ng sa wakas ay mapansin ang babaeng kasama ng mga ito. Napakaputi nito, matangkad, kulay abo ang mga mata at kulay mais ang buhok.
"Ang ganda!" wala sa loob na bulalas ni Margareth. Agad namang namula ang babae sa kanyang papuri at nagpasalamat. Napasinghap pa siya dahil hindi niya alam na nakaka-intende pala ito ng tagalog.
"I always tell her she's maganda," sabi ni Cael at hinalikan ang gilid ng ulo ng nobya nito. "Babe, she's my sister Margareth, the one I've been telling you."
"Hello." Niyakap niya ito at hinalikan sa pisngi, sa tingin niya ay kagaya rin niya ang nobya ng kanyang kuya Cael, mahiyain.
"Save that for later, guys, let's go home," saad ni Vince na agad siyang inakbayan at inakay patungo sa kinapaparadahan ni Klaus.
The trip to their home was fun. She missed her brothers so much and she was more than glad that they were back.
PALINGA-linga si Margareth sa labas ng kusina dahil pinangangambahan niyang pumasok ang taong iyon.
"You're a good cook, Dear."
Ibinaling niya ang tingin sa kanyang ina nang marinig ang boses nito. Namula naman ang magkabilang pisngi ni Primrose, ang nobya ng kanyang kuya Cael, nang marinig ang papuri. Sang-ayon siya sa sinabi ng kanyang ina, magaling nga itong magluto.
"Where did you learn how to cook?" tanong ni Jasmin.
"I learned from the orphanage and I am a chef," she answered demurely.
"Oh! It's not every day that our table is grace with foods from a very good chef. It's our pleasure. My son is lucky to have you, Dear."
Her brother was indeed lucky to meet such a wonderful woman. Kaya pala natagalan ito sa states bago makauwi.
Magpapaalam na sana si Margareth sa tatlo upang pumanhik sa kanyang silid nang utusan siya ng kanyang ina. "Bring this outside, Margareth."
Wala siyang nagawa kung 'di ang tumalima at dalhin ang pulutan sa labas kung saan naroon ang tatlo niyang kapatid na lalaki, ang kanyang ama, si Klaus at si... Achilles.
Umiinom ang mga ito roon upang iselebra ang pag-uwi nina Cael at Vince. After dinner, the men gathered outside to drink and they invited Achilles. She wished she stayed inside her room after having dinner.
Tatalilis na sana siya ng alis pagkalapag ng pulutan sa lamesa nang hilahin siya ni Vince at yakapin sa bewang. "I miss, Gareth," anito na mukhang lasing niya. Sa mga kapatid niya ay ito ang madaling malasing.
Wala siyang magawa kundi umupo sa tabi nito dahil nakayakap pa rin ito sa kanya. Across her was Achilles who was drinking his beer and was looking at her. Iniiwas niya ang mga mata rito at binalingan ang kapatid. "Lasing ka na, Kuya Vince."
"I miss you, bunso." Lalo lang itong sumiksik sa kanya, gano'n ito kapag lasing, nanglalambing.
"I'll bring him upstairs," agad niyang wika upang makaiwas sa isang taong naroon.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Dad. I could manage this dragon," aniya na natatawa.
She took a fleeting glance at Achilles before standing and guiding her brother. She silently uttered a thank you because he was cooperative enough.
Inihatid niya ang kanyang kuya sa silid nito na katabi lang ng sa kanya. Bagsak ito sa kama at tulog na. Lumabas na siya at pumasok sa kanyang silid. Umupo siya sa couch na naroon at napatulala.
Naagaw lang ang kanyang pansin ni Hissy nang tumalon ito patungo sa kanyang kandungan. "Anong gagawin ko, Hissy?" Sabay hawak sa tapat ng kanyang puso na marahas na tumitibok.
NAPANGITI si Margareth nang makita ang kanyang dalawang nakakatandang kapatid na lalaki pagkalabas niya ng kanyang silid kinabukasan. Nasa teresa ang mga ito sa ikalawang palapag at umiinom ng kape.
"Good morning," bati niya na agad na ikinalingon ng mga ito.
They both smiled at her and kissed her cheeks.
"Good morning, bansot," Cael, then ruffled her hair.
"Morning, Gareth."
"Where's Primrose, Kuya Cael?"
"She's in the kitchen, with mom, they like each other already. She'll have a new daughter soon, aren't you jealous?" tudyo ng kuya niya.
"Jealousy is not a good emotion, Kuya. No, I am not jealous, I am happy for you and you're old na to settle down." Siya naman ang gumulo sa buhok nito, kailangan pa niyang tumingkayad upang maabot ito. "How about you, Kuya Vince, are you with someone?"
Itinaas naman nito ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilang gilid sabay iling. "Not that I know of," he muttered humorously.
Nanatili siya ro'n habang kausap ang kanyang mga kapatid. She missed having a conversation with them. Cael loved to tease her when they were young and he still does. Vince was always the one who treated her like a princess, she could say that he was the closest to her amongst his brother. But she loved them equally.
Nang dumating ang katulong at may dalang kape para sa kanya ay nagpasalamat siya rito. Kagaya ng kanyang mga kapatid ay tumuon ang kanyang mga mata sa labas ng bahay habang nakasandig sa railings.
"So, kailan ka babalik?" tanong ni Cael sa kanya habang sumisimsim ng kape.
Nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi kasabay nang pagpuno niya ng hangin sa baga. She'd been asked that question a couple of times and she still doesn't know the answer.
"Do you still want to go back?" Vince asked carefully. "It's okay, you could take your time, God is not rushing you," dagdag nito nang makita ang kaguluhan sa mukha ng dalaga.
"I don't know. I haven't decided yet." Gusto niyang magsumbong sa dalawa ngunit hindi niya magawa. Natatakot siya na ilabas ang totoong nasa kanyang dibdib. Was she ready for it? Was it right for her to feel that way?
"Whatever your decision is, we are just right here for you, Margareth," Vince uttered seriously this time. "And if you decided not to go back, you have a lot of things to do here outside. You've graduated from college with a Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education, you used to loved teaching kids, maybe you still love it now. You have a place wherever you want to be, Margareth."
She was almost in tears but she held them back. She looked up at the two man beside her and smiled genuinely at them.
"I'm so blessed with having amazing brothers."
"Naman!" Cael jested and showed his muscle. And they burst out into laughter.
"And that man hasn't changed, or did he?" bulalas ni Vince pagkalipas ng ilang sandali habang nakatingin sa ibaba nang lumabas si Achilles mula sa bahay nito.
"He's not that uptight like last time," Cael answered. Vince nodded in agreement.
"M-matagal niyo na siyang kilala?" she asked curiously.
Parehong sumilay ang kakaibang ngiti sa mga labi nina Vince at Cael. They were both looking back at the memory two years ago.
"Vince and I were still here when he started to live here in the subdivision. The man was aloof and rugged. He's not friendly, well, I tried to talk to him but he's a brute."
"Not until that encounter in the bar," patuloy ni Vince. "Umiinom kami ni Cael doon nang may mangyaring away sa loob. Ipagsasawalang-bahala na sana namin nang makita namin si Aki na nakikipagbuno sa mga lasing na lalaki. He is big, yes, and is good in combat, but he was also drunk and he had five opponents. He was beaten, he got stabbed, and the knights came to rescue." Vince thumped his chest proudly. "Well, we saved him. He owes us. He should at least be grateful and be kind to us." He shrugged nonchalantly.
"He saved my life too, a couple of times," she blurted out and her brothers were intrigued.
Ikinuwento niya sa kanyang mga kuya ang mga nangyari sa kanya at ang pagkakaligtas ni Achilles sa kanya sa lahat ng pagkakataon. They were horrified but sighed in relief.
"Now we owe him," Cael muttered.