"Pwede naman pero.." I looked at Princess and Valerie who was smirking with each other, kunwaring hindi nila naririnig. "I have work." I gave her a sad smile.
"Deila, she's here for work. Kasama mo naman ako, e." Dylan was already seated beside his sister.
"Hmph, hindi mo naman ako sinasamahan sumakay ng mga rides. You're being such a tito." Deila sarcastically rolled her eyes at her brother.
"Kath, pwede ka naman sumama sa kanila. Alas sais pa naman ang balik natin sa bus, e." Valerie told me before moving her brows up and down.
"Saka, samahan mo na, mamaya pa kami sasakay ulit ni Val. Feeling ko magkaka-hangover ako kahit di ako uminom, e." Princess massaged her forehead.
"Please? Please?" Deila showed me her cute puppy eyes while pouting. Napangiti ako, ang cute niya!
Dahil medyo malapit siya sa akin, saka ko lang nakita ang pagkakahawig nila ni Dylan. They have the same brows, nose and lips, they only differ in their eyes. Dylan's eyes are hazel brown, light brown naman ang kay Deila.
Tiningnan ko si Dylan at nakita ko siyang hawak ang cellphone niya habang nakatayo at nakaharap sa amin. When he noticed me looking, he gave me an apologetic smile and put his phone back in his pocket before scratching on his nape.
"Deila." Dylan called, sounding like her father. "Let's go, wag na natin abalahin si Katherine,"
Deila's face saddened at what her brother said. Matamlay siyang tumayo at kumaway sa amin habang malungkot pa rin ang mukha. She looks like she's about to cry any moment. Plus, the strictness of her brother.
Ang gwapo naman niya maging strikto.
Nagpaalam na rin sa akin si Dylan at nagbigay pa ng apologetic smile bago sinundan ang kapatid niya. Nakakailang hakbang pa lang sila nang..
"Deila." She turned to me with a sad face.
"Wait for me." I said before I stood up and excused myself from Valerie and Princess, tumango lang sila.
"Samahan ko lang ah, babalik ako before 6 PM." I smiled at them before kissing their cheeks. Masaya rin naman silang kumaway sa akin. Nakakailang hakbang pa lang ako nang marinig ang pang-aasar ng dalawa.
"Enjoy, fam bam!" Valerie said. Nagtatawanan silang dalawa nang irapan ko sila pareho at naglakad na papunta sa magkapatid.
Deila's eyes were immediately painted with excitement the moment I stopped in front of her. Agad siyang nagtatatalon at kumapit na sa braso ko bago ako hinila papunta sa kung saan, nakasunod lang sa amin si Dylan.
Sinamahan ko si Deila sumakay sa carousel dahil ayaw siya samahan ng kuya niya. One ride was not enough for her so nakapila na naman kami, kasama si Dylan kahit hindi siya sumasakay.
"Ate Kath." She whispered.
"Yes, Deila?" I turned to her, and she had her index finger in front of her mouth, telling me to hush.
"Can you convince Kuya to come with us? I really want him to join us." She smiled sadly.
"Let's try," 'cause I want it, too. Deila happily nodded at me before urging me to talk to her brother.
"Dylan." Humarap siya sa akin at itinago ang phone niya sa kanyang bulsa nang tawagin ko siya.
"Bakit?" He gave me a small smile. Napapagitnaan ako ng magkapatid, si Deila nasa likod ko, kunwari walang alam na kinakausap ko ang kuya niya.
"Sama ka sa amin." I nodded at him.
"Kinukulit ka na naman ba ni Deila?" He said, enough for his sister to hear it.
"No, no, naisip ko lang na.." Ano nga ba naisip ko?
Shet, parang nawala bigla yung isip ko!
"Na?" He tilted his head a little to the side, waiting for me to speak up.
"Na.. baka magreklamo yung mga tao kasi pumipila ka tas di ka rin naman sumasakay." Okay, what the hell?
"Ha? Wala namang nagrereklamo a?" He looked around.
Shit, anong sasabihin ko?
"See? Everyone's fine with me in here, kayo na lang-"
"Please? Gusto kitang kasama.. dun." I cut him off from speaking.
Damn, that was the last resort I have, will he still not buy that?
I heard Deila's chuckle from behind, and that's when I realized what I just said.
Fuck, why do I have to say that out loud?
Umiwas kaagad ako ng tingin kay Dylan nang makita ko siyang ngumisi. Natawa pa siya nang konti habang inaalog ang ulo niya. Nakakahiya! Humarap na lang ako kay Deila na halatang nagpipigil ng kilig. Agad ko siyang tinapik para tumigil, umayos naman siya at umaktong zinipper ang kanyang bibig.
I was wishing for the land to just bury me alive at the moment. Sobrang nahihiya ako sa magkapatid dahil sa nasabi ko. Napapagitnaan pa nila akong dalawa kaya hindi ko alam paano ako makakatakas sa nagawa ko.
"Ate Kath." Deila whispered again.
Don't tell me she's going to ask me another favor?
"That's sweet, a." She said before covering her mouth with both hands, giggling.
I felt like my cheeks were burning because of embarrassment. Deila was teasing me when in fact she was the one who asked me to do it!
Gusto ko ng tumakas sa magkapatid pero hindi ko na nagawa dahil agad akong hinila ni Deila papunta sa carousel nang kami na ang sasakay. Naupo kami sa magkahiwalay na kabayo, tuwang-tuwa pa siya. Somehow, I forgot what the hell I just did a while ago. She looks so cute.
Pinapanood ko lang si Deila habang magiliw siyang nakaupo sa kabayo at umaaktong tumatakbo talaga ito. Nagulat pa ako nang konti nang gumalaw na ang carousel kaya napahawak ako sa bakal nang muntik na kong mahulog.
"Hold on tight." I heard someone from behind.
I turned my head backwards only to see Dylan standing there, a little in between me and his sister. Nasa likuran siya na pagitan ng kabayo naming dalawa ng kapatid niya.
Tuwang-tuwa si Deila nang makita ang kuya niya kaya't nagpapa palakpak siya at umaaktong nagpapatakbo talaga ng kabayo. Inaalalayan naman siya ni Dylan sa tuwing mumuntik na siyang mahulog.
I smiled at my sight, the two of them alone looked so cute, what more when they're together.
Nainggit tuloy ako lalo, I've never had the chance to be someone else's sibling.
When I was a kid, I always wished to have a younger sister. Palagi ko 'yong hinihiling kay daddy but all I could get from him is, "I'm sorry Heilie,".
Nang malaman ko na ang dahilan ay dahil wala na ang mommy ko, sobrang malungkot talaga ako noon. I was just six years old when I discovered that. All I can think about is that, I can't have a younger sister, and I can't even be with my own mother.
That's too painful for a six-year-old kid, and as a matter of fact, for any age as well.
"Ate Kath." I heard Deila. I got back from my senses when she called me. Nasa gilid ko na silang dalawa ni Dylan, nakababa na siya ng carousel niya at tinititigan na nila akong dalawa.
"Oh, it's done." Bumaba na ako kaagad but I felt my legs weakened, muntik na akong matumba.
"Careful." Naalalayan ako kaagad ni Dylan bago pa man ako matumba.
His hand on my waist simply brought shivers down to my spine. Agad akong lumayo dahil sa kakaibang pakiramdam.
"Thanks,"
"Ate Kath, let's go, I'm a bit hungry." Deila showed me a sulking face while holding her stomach.
"Ha? You just ate lunch, right?" I chuckled.
"That's not enough." She circled her arms around mine before pulling me out of the ride.
Naupo muna kaming dalawa sa isang bench na may silungan habang si Dylan ay nakatayo lang.
"Kuya, can you buy me some churros po?" Deila showed her pouting face to her brother.
"Is that all?" Dylan asked.
"Fries and burger na din, plus coke zero, too!" Deila raised her pointer finger like she just had a bright idea.
"Okay, wait here." He reminded his sister before looking at me. "Ikaw, Katherine?"
"Samahan na kita." Wala pa kasi akong maisip na kakainin.
I heard Deila's silent 'omg' so I turned to her, who immediately behaved when she saw me looking.
"But how about Deila-"
"I'm fine here, kuya. And besides, hindi mo naman madadala 'yun lahat. Ate Kath can give you a hand." She smiled sweetly. Dylan just let out a heavy sigh before shaking his head a little.
"You stay here, okay?" There goes the strict voice again.
Deila happily nodded at him. Nagpaalam muna ako kay Deila bago kami naglakad ni Dylan papunta sa mga food kiosk. Papunta kami sa Churros Corner habang iniisip ko pa din ano ang gusto kong kainin, I just had my lunch so I'm still a bit full.
"I'm sorry about Deila, I hope she's not making you uncomfortable?" He glanced at me.
"No, of course not. Nakakatuwa nga siya eh, she's so full of energy." I smiled at him.
"Yeah, I can clearly see that. She's been longing for sister's love ever since then. Dalawang kuya lang kasi ang meron siya, e." He said while walking.
Oh, dalawang kuya? So may isa pa pala silang kapatid?
"Really? I thought it's just the two of you." I furrowed my brows at him, getting a little more curious. I've never heard about his brother before.
"What do you want to order?" He suddenly asked when we arrived in front of the Churros Corner. I turned my gaze from him to the food kiosk in front of us. Wala namang pila at nasa harap na kaagad kami ng counter.
"Churros and chocolate dip na lang rin." I pointed at it from the menu.
"Okay, anything else?"
"Ayun lang, I have my water jar naman." I smiled at him.
Humarap na siya sa counter at umorder ng tatlong churros, isang coke zero at sprite lite. Matapos magbayad ay lumipat naman kami sa katabing kiosk para mag-order ng fries and burger ni Deila. He ordered the largest size of fries, panigurado daw kasi ay kulang 'yon sa kapatid niya. Naglakad na rin kami pabalik sa kung nasaan si Deila nang maorder na lahat.
"Thanks for accompanying her, she's really enjoying." He said without looking at me, he's looking at his sister from afar who was now taking pictures around.
"Welcome, I'm enjoying it, too." I smiled while looking at Deila.
"She's always been the sunshine of the family. Maybe that's one of the reasons why she has a lot of friends from school." He chuckled.
School?
"She's not homeschooled?" Because I remember him saying that he was homeschooled back then.
"Nope, it's just me." He shrugged before shaking his head.
"Bakit-" I was cut off from speaking when we reached the bench.
"Thanks, Kuya!" Deila happily received her food with both hands, her brother just smiled at her.
Nakain na kaming tatlo pero lutang pa rin ang isip ko. I feel like there's something up but I didn't want to barge. I don't want to intervene, it's obviously a family matter so I don't have much right to ask.
"Thanks for coming with us, Ate Kath." Deila said before waving at me.
It was already 5 PM at nasakyan na namin ang halos lahat ng rides, what a miracle na sumama na si Dylan, kaya kailangan ko na bumalik sa mga bata. Because of too much enjoyment, I almost forgot that I was here for the field trip.
"You're welcome, and thank you for letting me join you." I smiled at the two of them.
"Oh, right!" She raised her pointer finger like she just had a brilliant idea.
"You're invited to my 18th birthday, Ate Kath. Don't be absent, okay?" She held my two hands.
18th birthday? Right! Dylan mentioned that before.
"Kailan ba? So I can free up that day for you." I smiled at her.
"It's on the 24th of February, don't forget, ha! I'll have Kuya to bring you the invitation." She jumped a little because of excitement.
"Okay, I will wait for it."
"Thanks, Ate Kath!" She then hugged me.
I saw Dylan's shocked reaction because of what Deila did to me so I just gave him a reassuring smile to tell him that it's fine with me while hugging her back.
"Bye, Ate Kath!" Deila waved at me before walking away while skipping.
"We'll go ahead, Katherine." Dylan said.
"Drive safe, Dylan." I waved at him a little.
"You too, stay safe." He smiled.
He started walking away but stopped after a few steps, then turned to me before tilting his head a little to the left.
"Thank you for this day, and for making Deila happy. I enjoyed it, too." He said before winking then finally walking away.
Shit, there goes his wink once again..