TESSA: Catch You, Catch Me (Part 2)

“What is she doing here?” I asked my Yaya when she called me to greet the guest in the receiving area.

I didn’t expect I’d see her again. It’s summer vacation, anyway, I thought. She must’ve come to play.

“They won’t let me go out by myself. Will you come with me to the playground?” the girl named Akira asked me.

“Eh? Why won’t you ask your yaya to accompany you?”

“I don’t have a yaya. And the people in the house are always busy.”

She was new in the village, so she probably didn’t have any friends yet.

“I can’t go out in the sun too much,” I said. “I get sunburned easily.”

“Ah, is that why you’re so pale?” She stared at me. “I thought you’re sick or something.”

“My skin’s always been like this.” I crossed my arms, getting conscious all of a sudden. “Anyway, we can play here if you want. I have video games.”

“Eh kung habulan taya na lang? O kaya tagu-taguan. Pili ka.” (What if habulan taya or tagu-taguan? You choose.)