"TIG-BALAY!"

Sabay na bumungisngis ang mga bata dahil sa sabay na pagsabi nilang magkakaibigan. Kada isa sa kanila ay may dalang palanggana para lagyan ng kung ano man ang makuha nila sa pagkatok ng bahay sa area nila.

It was the Halloween. First of November. Six o'clock in the evening. They've been knocking on thei neighbors' door since five o'clock, and so far they've got a lot of foods such as; kalamayhati, bahi-bahi, suman, ibos.

No, they don't ask for candies, they ask for the food that they already have in their home. It's been a tradition for them.

"Wala yata tao dito?" mahinang sabi ni Mary Khoney.

"Shh, baka meron, hindi lang narinig," ang sagot naman ni Tintin. "Katok ulit tayo," ani pa bago sila kumatok ulit.

Pagkatapos ng ika-anim na katok, bumukas ang pintuan. Ngumiti ang mga bata para batiin ang nagbukas ng pintuan.

"Oh, eto suman," ani 'saka ibinigay ang suman sa mga bata. "Paghatiin niyo na, at magsiuwi na kayo. Gab'i na, panghakigan gid kamo sang mga iloy n'yo karon."

Ngumiti sa kaniya ang mga bata at nag-salute sa kaniya bago nagsialis at tumakbo papunta sa kamalig. Napailing na lamang ang tao bago isinara ang pintuan ng bahay niya.

"Oy, ayon, ayon," excited na sabi ni Khiazel nang makaupo na silang lahat. Ang mga palanggana na hawak nila kanina ay nakalapag na sa maliit na mesa; nandoon na ang lahat ng mga nakuha nila. "Dami!"

Their eyes twinkled at the sight of the foods and then afterwards divide it into how many of them. Each one of them got a lot, since they do have a lot.

Masayang umuwi sila sa kani-kanilang mga bahay. Tintin, Marianne, and Ericka was hopping as they head home. Khiazel was running together with Vhanelie, her cousin. Mary Khoney and Zyndy were bickering, as usual, on their way home. They were all happy and joyful, and nothing can at least falter the smile on their faces even as the day passes briefly.

*****

NOVEMBER 10. It was a great day. Blue sky, cold air, and the tree dances with the breeze of wind.

"Malapit na birthday mo, Marianne!" Nanlalaki ang mga matang tinignan ni Mary Khoney ang kaibigan. "Party party ba?"

Umiling si Marianne. "Hindi, 'no! Pero, ano, meron daw pabitin sabi ni Mama!" nakangiting sabi nito. Nagbilang siya sa kaniyang mga daliri at ipinakita ito sa kaibigan. "Tatlo! Three days nalang, birthday ko na!" hindi mapakaling tili nito. "Excited ako sa gifts ko!"

Marianne's excitement, for her friend, is contagious that Mary Khoney couldn't help but to also get excited. All of them are excited for another birthday.

Sino ba naman ang hindi? Maraming pagkain kaya, magalak na isip ni Kulit.

"May cake ka?" singit naman na tanong ni Zyndy.

Proud na tumango si Marianne. " Oo naman! Barbie barbie daw 'yon, sabi ni Mama," she said with a smug face. "Tapos bibilhan pa ako ni Papa ng barbie!"

"Wow!" Amazement painted on Marianne's friend's faces. "Laro tayo sa susunod, ha?" excited na sabi ni Khia.

Nag-thumbs-up naman si Marianne. "Oo naman, no!"

Nagsingisian silang lahat at nag-apir.

*****

HAPON NG NOBYEMBRE 12. It's already four o'clock in the afternoon, and they are all playing under the fading glow of sun.

"Bato bato pik, bulong sa adik!"

"Ah!" naiiyak na sigaw ni Khiazel. "Taya ako!"

Nagtawanan silang lahat at mabilis na naghanap ng lugar na pwede nilang taguan. Naisipan nilang maglaro ng tagu taguan, at dahil talo si Khiazel sa bato bato piks nila, siya ang naging taya.

"Bok shak bong, hindi manago siya aswang. Isa, duha, tatlo... june?!" Khiazel chanted loud enough for all of them to hear.

"Wala pa!" sigaw naman ng hindi pa nakatago.

"Juuuuune?!" sigaw ulit ni Khiazel matapos ang ilang segundo.

"June ah!"

Agad na gumalaw si Khiazel para hanapin ang mga kaibigan. Kada pwesto nakikita niya na pwedeng taguan, tinitignan niya, pero walang nagtatago doon.

Meanwhile, Mary Ellen, who was near the base, sneak out on Khia's back and ran quietly to the base and shouted, "Save!"

And it means that she's safe from being the next taya. Bumelat si Mary Ellen kay Khiazel na nakasimangot habang naghahanap parin sa ibang mga kaibigan.

Mary Ellen wistle as she searched the surroundings and saw her younger sister, Marianne, and gestured to her that she save herself.

She was about to, but then Khiazel saw her and beat her to it with a shout, "Marianne bong!"

And just like that, after finding the rest, Marianne was the next taya.

*****