Minsan may mga bagay talaga na kahit hindi na natin sabihin. Alam na kaagad natin ang ibig sabihin. They said, words without actions are useles and actions without words are useless too; but for me? It's not, it depends on a person's character. Sa ugali at nakagawian niya.

There is someone else who already knows each other, so even if he or she doesn’t speak or say anything he or she will know right away. May iba naman na hindi pa nila lubusang kilala ang isa't isa kaya nag-aalalangan. Tulad namin ng ate ko, lagi kaming nagbabangayan at nag-aaway.

Maliit na bagay pero pinapalaki pa namin. We are not like other siblings who are sweet to each other. Pero masasabi kong close kami. Komportable kami sa isa't isa sa ganoong pamamaraan. Although we can't admit it, but I know we love each other as a family and as a siblings.

Hindi na namin kaylangang magsalita, kaunting aksyon lang ayos na. Maayos na. As easy as that. Hindi na kaylangan pang mag-inarte at patagalin pa. We both know what are mistake is. Ganun kami pinalaki ng magulang namin. And I can say, that I am proud of it.

"Nakakainis naman 'oh!" Nabubungnot na sabi ko habang tinitignan 'yung documents na ginawa ko. As usual, I'm working on another project.

Mabuti nga at via documents ngayon. Akala ko talaga madali lang ang course na kinuha ko. I mean, when I was in elementary days. it seems like it's easy, ma'am will just teach and scold us when we are not listening. She will just discussed in front and write on the board. Prepare the lessons and assignments.

But how wrong I am, ang dami pala. Mahirap na parang madali. Marami akong nalalaman na hindi ko pa alam. I have no intention of finding out but I have to. Researchers. Damn you. Sometimes other resources are scams..  so it's really hard to find what is the right are. Maganda na ang sa libro dahil tama ang mga nakalagay.

Malakas akong nagpakawala ng buntong hininga. Napalingon ako sa kanya, my sister; who is now artistically sipping her strawberry juicy, closes her eyes tightly. Placed in glassware while wearing sunglasses. Parang tanga lang, nakalimutan niya 'yatang nasa bahay kami at walang araw dito.

I tsked and adjusted the school glasses I was wearing. I bent down and went to another tab to search on goggles. I copy my searches and paste it in the document. There are still errors so I edited more. Nagdagdag na rin ng kung ano anong tungkol sa subjects na magiging topic namin. I was the only one chosen to make a summary plus experiences of our group.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I finished as well. I removed my glasses and glanced at my wristwatch. It's already 5:45 pm! I was soaked in the laptop for almost four hours? Oh, that's bad. I quickly saved what I did then turned off the laptop. I sidestepped it and then looked at where my sister was. She's with mom, they are watching a movie. Mabuti nalang at medyo malayo ang agwat namin kaya hindi ako naistorbo.

Tumayo ako saka nagpaalam na manonood ng sunset kaya napailing sila. While holding the phone I walked towards my tambayan. As usual I took the stairs then went up. I immediately remembered Louie's complaint  Nakakatuwa talaga 'yung reaksyon niya 'nun. I was shaken then sat down and looked at the sun. Very beautiful.

My forehead furrowed when I heard my cellphone ring. Mabilis ko itong isinagot ng hindi tinitignan kung sino nga ba ang caller. Pero base sa paghinga lamang nito sa kabilang linya ay alam ko na. My face lit up and a smile flashed on my lips. Good and he called.

"Louie."

"Watching sunset?" I heard him asked.

"Hmm.." I nodded, he chuckled and mumbled 'I knew it'.

I was shaken, I can't even see his face now but I know it's clear. Oh, how I missed his expression. It's been a week since I haven't seen him yet. We are both busy, we only make phone calls. Kadalasan siya na ang pinapatawag ko kase kapag tumatawag ako ay busy pa siya. I don’t want to bother him. Especially since the case with his parents is starting.

"How 'bout you?" I sofly asked as I stared at a the sun infront of me. Slowly moving down.

"Resting, sitting in the swivel chair."

"Tired?"

"Earlier, yes, but not anymore."

I chuckled. "Why? Dahil ba.. narinig mo ang magandang boses ko attorney?"

"Such a confidence."

"Just telling the truth 'kuya." I even empathize the last word. He tsked, mukhang sumama nanaman ang mukha.

"Spoiling the moment huh?" He said, sarcasm.

Natawa ako. "Soreey na attorney!"

"Whatever." Na-iimagigine ko na ang pagsasalubong ng kilay niya habang sinasabi 'yun. Napailing ako saka napakagat sa ibabang labi. I love teasing him. He always satisfied me by watching how his serious expression change into something I can't explain what is. Weird isn't? Well, I am guilty.

"Kamusta ka?" Naitanong ko, nangingiti.

"I don't know." He said. Kaagad naman akong nag-aalala. I know him, he's too workaholic.

"Pinapagod mo nanaman ba ang sarili mo?" Nag-aalalang sabi ko. Salubong ang kilay.

"It's needed Hazel."

Bumuntong hininga ako. "Kumakain ka naman ba ng maayos?"

"Yeah, kinda late sometimes but because of the alarm you schedule in my phone before..kumakain naman ako sa oras."

Napatango ako. "Mabuti naman."

Nung nagkausap kase kami noon at nasabi niyang minsan ay nakakalimutan niyang kumain kapag marami siyang ginagawa. He gets too busy. Although he doesn't have a lot of work because he finishes it right away. But now, he needs to focus.

"Don't worry that much, I'm used to this situation."

Napabuntong hininga ako at napanguso. "Kaya nga lalo akong nag-aalala. Baka pinababayan mo ang sarili mo."

He chuckled, I think he's smiling. "Hmm.."

Napairap ako. "Don't 'hmm' 'hmm' —'hmm' me attorney! I'm serious."

"Hmm.." Napanguso ako, kulit talaga.

"Kapag pinabayaan mo 'yung sarili mo. Sige ka, hindi na ako magpapakita sa'yo. Hindi na ako makikipag-usap sa'yo at lalayuan na kita." Nananakot na sabi ko.

Natawa siya. "A huh."

"Totoo nga!"

"Hmm.."

I tsked at hindi mapigilang hindi mag-cross arm habang nakasibangot. Ano kaya ang nakain niya at naging makulit siya kausap ngayon. Parang ginagaya niya ang pagiging matigas ng ulo ko 'ah. Madaya naman talaga. Plagiarism si attorney, nanggaya. Joke.

"Magagawa mo ba talaga 'yun?" He asked.

Nangunot ang noo ko, pumirmi ang labi. "Oo naman!"

"Talaga?" Seryosong sabi niya.

Sumeryoso naman ako. "Oo, kaya ko talagang gawin 'yun lalo na kung nahihirapan ka. You'll see kaya hindi kita inaabala dahil gusto kong mag-focus ka sa ginagawa mo. Pero kung nagiging dagdag lang ako ng isipin mo.. mas gugustuhin kong lumayo nalang sa'yo."

"Don't."

"Huh?"

"Hindi ka kaylan man magiging abala sa'kin Hazel."

"Alam ko naman 'yun attorney." Nakangiting sabi ko.

"That's good." Parang nakahingang sabi niya pa. Napailing ako. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang araw, sa isip ko ay nagbibilang na ako.

"By the way.." Nangunot ang noo ko.

"Huh?" Tumingin ako sa araw at saktong paglubog nito ay ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

"I missed you.."

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi. "I missed you too.."

I heard him cleared his throat. Kung nandoon lang ako sa harapan niya ay malamang sa malamang ay iiwas siya ng tingin. Mamumula ang tainga at magsasalubong ang kilay. I secretly giggled. I leaned over and looked up at the sky. Darkness covers the clouds, the birds are gone, the trees are dancing with the wind.

"It's already dark, go home." He said.

Tumayo ako at nagpagpag ng damit. "Copy that attorney!"

Bumaba ako ng hagdan ng dahan dahan. Mabuti nalang at hindi pa ganun kadilim kaya nagagawa ko pang makababa ng hindi nagkakamali ng hakbang.

"Magdahan dahan ka sa pagbaba, ma-aksidente ka diyan." Mabilis na sabi niya, tila naalala ang hagdan na inakyatan namin.

"Opo kuya." Natatawang sabi ko at tuluyan ng nakababa.

He hissed in the phone, I chuckled silently. Naglakad na ako pauwi, marami rin ang taong naglalakad ngayon. Ang iba ay mag-isa lang at pinapakiramdaman ang magandang gabi. Ang ilan naman ay may kasamang kasintahan at nagtatawanan. Sana lahat. May mga magulang na hinahabol ang kanilang mga anak na hindi pa rin tinatapos ang laro.

Inayos ko ang damit ko habang nagpaalam namang ibaba na ni attorney ang phone. I agreed even though I still wanted to talk to him. Nakakabitin. Hays. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako saka binuksan ang phone ko. Gabi na kaya tumahol si Heldon, napailing ako saka kinawayan siya. Napansin ko na ubos na ang kanyang pagkain kaya kumuha ako sa kusina na nasa ibaba ng lababo. Naabutan ko namang nagluluto na si mommy.

"Oh, where's your pink apron mommy ganda?" Naitanong ko, abala sa paglalagay ng dog food.

"Well, it kinda dirty na anak. Tapos 'yung kapalitan ay hindi pa natutuyo dahil hindi ko napaarawan kanina. Ang ganda kase ng movie na pinanood namin ng ate mo." I heard her said. Tinapos ko ang paglalagay ng dog food.

Napalingon ako sa kanya, kasalukuyan niyang inihahalo ang niluluto niya. I barely sniffed, smelling what she was cooking. I think it's sinigang. I smiled and couldn’t help but let go of the dog food. I quickly wiped my hand to clean and took out a spoon. Natatawang gumilid si mommy dahil alam niya na ang binabalak ko. Pagkatikim ko pa lang ng sabaw ay kaagad akong nanginig sa asim. Sakto lang pero napakasarap.

"Anong lasa?" Mommy ganda asked.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi at nagtanong. "Sino ako?"

Napahalakhak si mommy saka pinitik ako sa noo. "Nakuu! Ikaw talagang bata ka, oo alam ko ng masarap akong magluto. Sige na, baka maubos mo pa 'yan!"

Napailing ako. "Sige mommy."

Kinuha ko muli ang dog food saka pinakain si Heldon. Natutuwa ako dahil hanggang ngayon ay tila napakasigla niya pa. Tahol siya ng tahol, naalala ko pa 'nun kung papaano siya bilhin ni dad. Napakamahiyain niya kaso dahil lagi siyang kinakusap ni dad ay lagi na siyang tumatahol. Ilang araw nga siyang tahimik ng mamatay si dad. Kapag hindi niya kilala ay tinatahulan niya kaagad kahit wala namang ginagawa. Parang nakuha niya ang ugali ng amo niya. Dad is so protective, he always protect us in his own way.

"I miss you dad.." Mahinang bulong ko saka hinaplos si Heldon.

Matapos kong pakainin si Heldon ay naghugas na ako ng kamay. Kakain na kami, tinawag na ako ni mommy. Kararating naman na si ate na galing sa trabaho. She's a designer, may maliit siyang boutique na siya mismo talaga ang nakapagpundar. I think that's well known in the industry. Many people that well-know, like actress and actors. Models and politicians are able to wear her works and actually become her customers.

At the age of 27, she already reach her dreams. I was happy for her because I saw her effort. I no longer wonder why dad is always proud of her. Always. Napabuntong hininga ako, hanggat maari tinatanggap ko na ang mga nangyayare. Siguro nga nagkulang si dad o baka hindi ko lang nakikita ang pagmamahal niya. Wala naman sigurong magulang ang hindi mahal ang kanyang anak hindi ba? Napangiti ako saka ginulat si ate.

Suminghap siya. "Hazel!"

Napailing ako. "Tigilan mo kase ang pagkakape ate!"

"Shut up! You twerk—"

"Bleh—"

"Kayong dalawa, kumain na muna. Gabing 'gabi na pero napaka-sweet niyo pa rin." My sister and I both gasp, looked at each other and in unison we said 'yuck'.

"Disgusting!"

I scolded her. "Terrible is the right word."

Mommy ganda just laugh as she let us seat. We ate together. Because of mommy's delicious cooking, my sister and I fell silent. We were busy eating while chatting. Kinukwento ni mommy ang napanood nila kanina ni ate.

I was shaken and then laughed as well.  Nakakatuwang isipin na with actions magkwento si mom kapag hindi niya ma-explain. Si ate rin ay ganun din. Napatingin ako sa tawa ni ate, hindi ko alam kung maiinis ako o matatawa sa pagtawa niya. Ang arte din kase. Tch.

"How about you sistah? Kamusta naman ang ka-dramahan mo kasama ng sunset?" She asked sarcastically.

Natigilan ako, naalala ko ang pag-uusap namin ni attorney. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako. It's my first time na hindi malungkot sa paglubog ng araw. And it's because of him. Kung tutuusin nga ay nakangiti pa ako kanina habang sinasalubong ang paglubog ng araw. Nakakatuwa.

Sinulyapan ko si mom, tinignan si ate. "Amazing."

Naramdaman ko na natigilan sila sa sinabi ko. I just shrugged and continued eating. They know what is the reason why I always love sunset. It's because of my ex and my dad. But everything is changing now. I didn't know that the sunset can be my beginning, changes in everything I used to believe. Oh, thanks to attorney.