Chapter Theme: Levitate - Imagine Dragons

I woke up in a bed, in the middle of Mom and Dad who were lying asleep. Mom's arm was around my waist as if she fell asleep while hugging me close to her. Dad on the other hand was on a seated position, his back leaned against the headboard as if he fell asleep watching over us.  I felt like a little kid again with them by my side. 

I remember from last night, I didn't let go of Mom even if we were already in the backseat. The entire ride home, all we did was cry and hug each other tight. I guess I fell asleep in her arms.

I roamed around the room and realized that we were in Dad's. He must've been so sure that he'd get back together with Mom that he bought a larger bed.

My eyes settled on Mom and Dad again. I couldn't help but smile. That sight of them, of us together, was enough to make all my pain go away. It was a dream come true for my younger self, and a miracle for my present. 

My mind came back to what Warren and I talked about back in the Falls... about keeping good memories for the bad days. And in that moment I was sure... that sight of Mom and Dad will something I will keep and treasure for the rest of my life. 

My attention was caught by the digital clock above the bedside table. It was only 4 in the morning. I laid down again and closed my eyes, a smile on my face as held both Mom and Dad's hands.

"Ano ba, Rico! Bumangon ka na! Ipagluto mo na si Reika!" 

"Hayaan mo na ang kambal na magluto. Dapat paggising ni Reika, katabi niya pa rin tayo. Tulog tayo ulit."

I woke up hearing Mom and Dad's whispery-argument. They were trying not to wake me up but their whispers were too loud to ignore. I didn't move nor opened my eyes, I acted like I was still asleep. I guess my acting worked too much because I found myself drifting to slumber again.

By the time I woke up again, sunlight was already piercing through the partly opened blinds of the window. I was still in the middle of Mom and Dad who were still asleep, only this time Dad was so close to the edge of the bed that he just might fall off over one movement. 

I knew Mom and Dad won't leave the room if I was still asleep so I decided to get up. I slowly removed Mom and Dad's arms over my waist and got up. To my surprise, it was already 8 in the morning.

I didn't want to miss class so I hurriedly ran to my room and prepared myself to go to school. Dressed in my usual black jeans and shirt, I went down the kitchen only to find Silver and Slade arguing as they cook. Ni hindi napansin ng mga ito ang pagdating ko.

"Sil, hindi mo ba tinanggalan ng hasang ang isda?!" Slade asked as they both faced the pot in the stove. 

"Anong hasang?" Silver was dumbfounded.

"Hindi mo alam anong hasang?! Gills! Silver, Gills!" Nakangiwi at hindi makapaniwalang bulalas ni Slade.

Suminghal si Silver at taas-noong pinanlisikan ng mga mata si Slade. "A gill is a respiratory organ! It allows fishes to breathe underwater! I know what it is!"

"Well, did you remove the gills?!" Slade glared at her with equal intensity. 

There was panic in Silver's eyes but instead of backing down, she swallowed hard and yelled. "Mukha kang Hasang!"

"Kambal tayo, mukha ka ring Hasang!" Slade shot back.

Bago pa maghampasan ng mga hasang ang kambal, mabilis akong lumapit sa kanila at kapwa sila inakbayan. I had to tiptoe since they were a little taller than me. 

"Good morning Ugly twins! What a good day to be alive!" I greeted them as my face smiled uncontrollably.

"Someone's in a good mood?" Slade chuckled as he yanked my hand away from Silver and scooped my waist to an embrace with just one hand. He looked down on me, I looked up at him, our foreheads touching lightly as my hand went up his nape. I smiled as I planted a light kiss on his lips.

"Tito naglalandian na naman sila!" Tumili si Silver nang pagkalakas-lakas at sa isang iglap narinig naming may kumalabog mula sa taas.

"Slade!" Umalingawngaw ang napakalakas na sigaw ni Daddy kaya dali-dali kaming napabitiw  sa isa't-isa. Mabilis na napatakbo si Slade palabas ng bahay lalo na nang marinig malalakas na yapak ni Dad. 

That morning, we ended up ordering food from outside. At the breakfast table, I sat in the middle of Mom and Dad. They kept doing stuff for me, kulang na lang subuan nila ako. I found it completely endearing even if on the outside, I acted like I found them annoying.

As usual, Slade looked so uncomfortable. Nag-abot lang ito sa akin ng baso pero sobrang sama na agad ng tingin ni Daddy sa kanya. Si Silver naman pachill-chill lang habang nagbabasa ng libro niya.

***

11:56 AM

Reika's Guy:

Nag lunch ka na?

Reika:

Waiting for the bell

ikaw?

Reika's Guy:

Oo

Pinagluto ako ni tita

botong-boto siya sa akin hahaha

Reika:

And Dad?

Reika's Guy:

Parang gusto akong patayin pero ok lang naman

I'll gain his approval soon

Reika:

You're like a son to him

maybe he's just shocked

My parents approve of you, im sure

Reika's Guy:

Lakas talaga ng paniniwala mo sakin hahaha

Reika:

Naniwala ka naman hahaha

Reika's Guy:

Hindi mo na ako maasar

alam kong mahal mo ako

Reika:

Buti naman alam mo

Reika's Guy:

na ano?

Reika:

Na ano...

Reika's Guy:

Na ano ng ano?

Reika:

na mahal na ang sili ngayon

hahahahaha kala mo boy

Reika's Guy:

Hahahaha makakaganti rin ako

Reika:

hahahaha

how's my parents by the way?

Reika's Guy:

They kept bickering

good kind of bickering

Reika:

Sa tingin mo magkakabalikan sila?

Reika's Guy:

Gusto mo? hahaha

Reika:

I used to dream of it but i gave up on the idea

ngayon gusto ko na ulit para sa kapatid ko

Reika's Guy:

nagkabalikan na sila hahaha

pride na lang ng mommy mo ang kulang ng tulak 

may pinagmahan ka

Reika:

Hey, i improved

Reika's Guy:

we both did 

we're perfect for each other

Reika:

Ewww

Reika's Guy:

hahahaha

kinikilig ka lang eh

Reika:

Kadiri ka gago

Reika's Guy:

akala ko ba demonyo?

Reika:

Versatile ka

Pag-uwi ko mula sa university, dumiretso agad ako sa bahay. I didn't know if I'd get to see Mom in the house again. Sa totoo lang, nag-alala rin ako ng kaunti. Ayoko kasing masaktan kapag nalaman kong isang magulang na lang ulit ang makakasama ko sa bahay. I didn't even ask Slade or Silver.

Nasa labas pa lang ako ng bahay, may narinig na akong musika. Nagtaka ako kaya dahan-dahan akong pumasok. 

As I got to the living room, I heard Mom and Dad's laughter from the kitchen. I tiptoed towards their direction, trying not to make a sound.

I peered into the kitchen and smiled at the sight of Mom and Dad, hugging each other as they slowed-dance to Frank Sinatra's music. I could see nothing but comfort and happiness on their smiling faces. Their eyes are both closed as if they were savoring the moment.

"I love you, Abbey." Dad spoke up as he kissed the top of her head.

Mom closed her eyes and held Dad by the nape. "Don't leave us again, okay?"

"Never." Dad promised.

Seeing them like that reminded me of the good old days. When I was a child, I'd find them slow-dancing to Frank Sinatra songs. Sometimes Dad would even sing to her and Mom would just stare at him lovingly. I buried those lovely memories ever since we fell apart. 

I found myself smiling as tears streamed down my face. My heart felt so full knowing they're back together again. 

I didn't want to ruin their moment so I took a step back and slowly left the house. I ran straight next door and used my spare keys to enter. 

I found myself running along the stairs and corridors. With tears and a big smile on my face, I opened the door to Slade's room and found him on his bed, reading a book as an Imagine Dragons song blared inside the room.

Napabalikwas siya sa gulat. Hindi niya inasahan ang pagdating ko.

I laughed at his reaction, and out of sheer happiness as well. I jumped to his bed and hugged him tight. He looked surprised but he was quick to recover, and hugged me back as well with just one hand.

"Saya mo ah?" He asked as he laughed. His laughter that has become one of my favorites.

"Sobra!" I hugged him even tighter.

"Reika! Andito ka ba?!" Biglang umalingawngaw ang napakalakas na sigaw ni Daddy mula sa sala ng bahay nina Slade.  Mabilis kaming napabitiw sa isa't-isa at malalaki ang mga matang nagkatinginan. Kalaunan, kapwa kami natawa.

▬ end of 57// thank u ▬