Chapter 4

Bumukas ang isang malaking gate sa harapan namin then our car entered the premise. We passed by many houses na halos pare-pareho ang design. They were heritage houses with paints of white, ivory and black on the exterior. Meron ding mga lampposts na nakahilira sa sidewalk leading us our way.

Habang nilalakbay namin ang kaloob-looban ng subdivision, unti-unti ring bumabalik ang mga ala-ala ko nung maliit pa'ko. Before it was like faded and blurry but this time the colors were coming back to life.

"Here we are, kids," sabi ni Pops pagkahinto ng kotse.

Bumaba agad kami at kinuha ang mga gamit sa likod ng sasakyan. I stood for a moment while holding my luggage.

The house was two storeys and the white front porch was welcoming us. Gaya ng ibang mga bahay na nadaanan namin, white and ivory paints were all I could see from the outside except for the black door. Makaluma ang design ng bahay pero maayos at malinis naman. Old looks but fresh vibes, if you know what I mean.

Nothing much in the house had changed maliban lang sa isang swing na nakabitin sa porch. The seat was made of wood with a printed cushion and brass chains. The lawn was also landscaped with bermuda grass at may konting halaman na nakatanim sa paligid.

"What are you waiting for? A red carpet?" asar sa'kin ni Kurt.

We walked up the front porch together. As we did, may lumabas na isang middle-aged na babae, like fifty-ish, mula sa loob ng bahay. May suot siyang isang kulay gray na manipis na cardigan with a white shirt inside and a long black skirt. Medyo maputi na rin ang kanyang buhok na nakapusod.

"Kids, siya pala si Edna," pakilala ni Pops. "You can call her Auntie Edna. Siya ang tumutulong sa'tin dito sa bahay."

She smiled at us and then opened the door widely for us. She also offered na tulungan kaming mag-akyat ng mga gamit namin because we'd be staying in our old rooms on the second floor.

The childhood memories were beginning to come back again, one by one. Habang paakyat kami, bigla kong naalala ang hagdan kung saan naghahabulan kami ni Kurt noong mga four or five years old pa lang kami at sumisigaw si Mom na tumigil kami dahil baka may gumulong.

We continued walking through the wooden floor upstairs. There's a crystal chandelier on the ceiling that gave us light through the corridor at may mga nakasabit na paintings sa dingding.

There were four rooms all in all, two on each side. The rooms on the right belonged to me and Kurt saka 'yung dalawang room sa kabila naman ay kay Pops at ang dating kwarto nina Mom and Dad. I had no idea kung ano na laman ng kwarto nila now they're gone.

Kurt got inside his room first since my room's next to his and then I thanked Auntie Edna sa pagtulong niya sa'min. Di ko na maalala ang dating hitsura ng kwarto ko nung bata pa'ko. Pero nung pagpasok ko, it felt like a whole new room for me. Yet at the same time, may mga parts na reminiscing which gave me warm feelings.

There was my bed completely turned down, a lampshade on the bedside table, then a closet right next to the bathroom door. Sa kaliwang side ng kama ko naman ay may isang study table katabi ang bintana overlooking the frontyard.

I started to unpack all my stuff. Nilagay ko lahat ng mga damit ko sa closet, ang mga baon kong cookbooks sa ibabaw ng study table at ang mga toiletries ko sa banyo. Agad akong nagbihis pampatulog pagkatapos kong mag-shower nang biglang may kumatok sa labas ng kwarto ko.

"Come in," I called.

Dumungaw muna si Pops pagkabukas niya ng pinto. Then he stepped inside, "I'm just checking if okay ka lang dito sa kwarto mo."

"Thank you, Pops. I like my old room," I told him while sitting on my bed.

"Mabuti naman. Si Edna ang nag-ayos ng mga kwarto n'yo," sabi niya. "Make sure you get a good night sleep."

He kissed my forehead and then walked towards the door. "Oh, and, Lionheart. All caps," sabi niya and I completely had no clue what he meant. My brows furrowed in cluelessness.

"It's the wi-fi password," he revealed to me bago siya lumabas ulit ng kwarto.

When I was left alone, kinuha ko ang charger ng phone ko sa backpack. Matagal nang low-bat ang phone ko, nasa restaurant pa lang kami. I immediately recharged it then I shut the lights off.