CHAPTER 5: THE SAME THING TWICE

She's holding bags of fruits and vegetables but she's staring at nothingness. She didn't even notice how she got back to their house after that incident.

She was greeted by her three sisters giggling and showing their happy faces at her.

"Deandra?" Dina noticed my mood.

"Sissy!" Dahliah excitedly hugged my waist as soon as she saw me.

"Yow..." Dee came near me as she looked down, looking at a different direction.

"My goodness. You're calling me with three different names. It's okay if you will all call me dear sister." She tapped all their heads as they got the bags from her hands.

She smiled as she looked at them getting busier with the things she bought. However, she can't help but to feel guilty.

"I don't know how to solve math. I was born not knowing numbers that much. However, I can feel that you need this more than I do." These are the exact words of the guy she mistook as a thief.

She could feel the sarcasm from his tone. She can't help but frowned at what she did. She pulled her hair with her fingers as she gritted her teeth. That scene repeated inside his head again and again. It made her feel really bad having wronged that guy. She felt really sorry for him and what she did to him. She groaned lightly as she stomped her feet many times on the floor.

"Dear sister? What happened to you?"

"Huh? Ah, I'm okay." She bit her lower lip as she avoided her gaze to her sisters. She slid her hand to the pocket where the five-hundred peso bill is. When she felt it from her pocket, she felt her heart pulsating. She closed her eyes when she realized that the five-peso bill is real and everything she did to the guy is epic.

If only she could bring back the hours from a while ago and started to think wisely. She might think straight and analyze the situation first before jumping to worthless conclusions.

"Are we going to cook the meat? We know how to cook the one you taught us last time, dear sister." Dina insisted. It made her worries slowly fade away as she looked at her younger sister's face. That innocent-looking gaze made her feel a bit well even after that epic moment of her life.

"Yes, dear. Make sure Dee and Dahlia will help you too."

"Aye, aye, capt'n." Dee winked as she showed a salute pose to all of them. Dahlia clapped her hands because of excitement.

Deandra went to the kitchen and her three sisters followed her right away. She prepared all the things and ingredients needed to cook the food. The three of them observed very well.

"Hey, Dahlia, don't touch that, it's a knife." Dina whispered to her sister. She handed it with care to Deandra who is wearing an apron now.

"Okay. Watch me first and then I will let you all take turns as we cook the stewed beef meat with vegetables. Are we all ready?"

"Yes!" They all chorused with smiles on their faces. Deandra only had an extra apron. That means, she will let her sister try to cook on the pot one by one. As one will cook, the rest will have to observe what she will do.

She washed the potatoes, carrots and cabbages and drained them. She's glad that all her sisters observed her while doing it.

"Who will be the first to try slicing the potatoes?" Deandra raised her hands a bit as she looked around her. She chuckled when Dahlia raised her hand first.

"Okay. Looks like someone's too hungry for knowledge." She looked at the twins who were looking at each other with hesitation.

"Come here my little bunny." Deandra let Dahlia sit on her lap as she clapped her hands as she grinned. She gave her a little knife to slice the small potatoes that were already peeled. She started to slice the potatoes the way she instructed her.

"Wow, I am happy that Dahlia is a fast learner." Dina nodded as she looked at Dahlia who is also proud of what she's doing. Deandra is holding her hands as she guides her in slicing the potatoes carefully. Dahlia looked very happy and willing.

She instructed the twins to help them in the other steps in cooking their lunch. As soon as they are done with it, their mother arrives from her mahjong session. They all stopped and stared at her looking at all of them, too.

They all look at each other because their mother is frowning again. She could hear her mother silently cursing to herself. Maybe because of what happened to her Mahjong session. From her facial expression, you could see that she lost the game to her group of friends.

"M-Mom, lunch is ready."Deandra greeted their mom with an awkward smile.

"We all helped Deandra in cooking it." Dina cheerfully added. She only looked at the four of them with a blank expression. She's still wearing her night dress with the towel on her hair, already dried up. She looked messy and miserable at the same time. Deandra could notice the dark circles around her eyes too. She looked down and she went to her room again, without a word. She never even answered or acknowledged Dina for telling something to her. Despite her daughter being proud of what they did, she didn't care at all.

"Uh, Dee, Dina and Dahlia, please set the plates. Get some rice and meat, too. I want you all to help one another." Deandra told them to at least shift their attention.

They all agreed right away. They moved in a swift motion. Deandra could see that they were already hungry. After setting up the table, they all sat quietly while looking at her. It's like they are all waiting for her signal for them to eat. She chuckled a bit. They prayed and thanked God for the meal and they already started eating.

"Please eat well, I have to get mom to join us."

"As if she did that." Dee said with sarcasm and she rolled her eyes. She frowned as if not liking Deandra's suggestion at all.

"Dee, it is an inappropriate thing to do in front of a meal. Please tell your sisters to eat well. I will be right back real quick."

Deandra stood up and wiped her mouth with the table napkin after taking many spoonfuls of rice with meat.

When she's outside their mom's room, she knocked gently before entering her room.

"Mom?"

"Don't mind me. I will eat later after all of you are done with your meals." Her mom answered while laying on her bed like a bedridden woman. She turned her back to her, not even minding to talk to Deandra face to face.

"Mom?" She said one more time as she gently pulled her mom's body that's facing sidewards, turning her back at her. She made her turn to her slowly as she faced her. However, she noticed her mom's eyes were shut. It's as if she's closing it on purpose but she noticed a damp on her left cheek.

Was her mom crying?

As soon as she saw her in that situation, she gently slid her hand on her pocket and got the five-hundred peso bill.

"Were you lost to your game again?" She had no response. "Here, I have five hundred peso-bill, mom. It's for you to keep. Do whatever that makes you happy."