CHAPTER 3
The day's passed by, and now it's Friday, meaning they have no classes, Matthew just has some homeworks to finish.
He went down, and walked towards the kitchen to check if there's some ingredients that he could use later.
Katatapos lang niyang gawin ang activities niya, at magbasa ng paborito niyang libro habang nakikinig ng kanta ni Taylor Swift.
After that he planned to sleep but looks like it won't happen.
Ngayong araw isa siyang baby sitter, yep a baby sitter. Nasa bahay nila ngayon ang cute na kambal niyang pamangkin. Bale three days ang mga ito sa bahay nila, their parents have an important business trip, hindi alam ng tita at tito niya kung kanino iiwan ang kambal, matatagalan naman kung hahanap pa sila ng trusted nanny's kaya sa kanila na lang iniwan ang kambal.
Actually every weekend the twins always here pero hindi siya ang nag aalaga kung hindi ang Mommy niya kapag hindi kailangan sa office or wala siyang work, minsan naman ang mayordoma ng bahay nila, which is super trusted person.
And since his parents are out of the country, which is super okay to them. Malapit na ang anniversary ng mga ito kaya naman hinayaan na lang nila. They need to rest, and enjoy of course, minsan lang nila iyon gawin dahil sa sobrang dami ng gawain sa company at restaurants that they owned. They deserve it anyway. Siya at ang mga kapatid niya ang mag aalaga sa kambal which okay lang rin naman.
May dalawa siyang kapatid na lalaki, nasa parehong nasa high school. Si Matthew ang panganay, si Rio ang pangalawa at si Theo ang bunso.
Mario Ian Dela Cruz, 17 years old, a grade 11 student, STEM. Rio doesn't like talking, he likes silent places, or being alone. He cares but he doesn't show it unless you really know him. He's a varsity player,
Matheo Dela Cruz, 15 years old, a grade 9 student, HUMMS.
Sa ngayon silang tatlo lang nasa bahay, ang kambal at si Matthew. Nasa labas si Rio naglalaro ng basketball. Sports ang pinaka hilig niya e, lalo na kung outdoor games. Lagi siyang kasama sa mga dinadayo para maglaro ng basketball, and speaking of dayo, next neek ay madayo sila sa ibang school kaya kailangan niya mag practice.
Balak rin nila manood kung sakaling walang pasok o wala gawain. Syempre, Rio needs their support.
Si Theo nasa labas rin, dahil may group activity ”daw" silang kailangang gawin at sa Tuesday na ang present nila. Hinayaan na lang niya, hindi naman maloko si Theo at seryoso sa pag-aaral. Minsan lang rin iyon lumabas ng bahay e, kapag kailangan lang talaga.
Kahit na mayaman sila, hindi talaga kumuha ng Yaya ang parents niya. Ang gumagawa ng gawaing bahay ay silang magkakapatid, tulong-tulong hanggang sa matapos. Mapagod maglinis kaya na rin siguro sila nasanay na laging malinis ang kani-kanilang kwarto, dahil walang ibang maglilinis kung hindi sila. Kahit sa sala, kusina, cr at ibang kwarto talagang malinis.
Wala silang Yaya pero may mayordoma ang kanilang tahanan. Si Nanay Aya, she's nice, may edad na rin. Dati itong mayordoma sa bahay ng Lola ni Matthew sa mother side tapos ng mag pakasal ang parents niya pinasama ito ng kaniyang Lolo para daw may katulong ang Mommy niya sa gawaing bahay, at may magkasama sa bahay kapag nasa trabaho ang Daddy niya.
Matthew and his siblings learned how to clean because of their Nanay Aya. Matthew learned how to cook because of his parents who's both chefs but his Father has a company to manage, so yeah, their company is his father's priority rather than the restaurant.
Malapit silang magkakapatid, tuwing nasa trabaho noon ang parents niya lagi siya at ang Nanay aya niya ang nag aalaga kina Rio at Theo no'ng mga bata pa 'to.
Nanay Aya is already 50 years old, may katandaan na kaya hindi na nila hinayaang gumawa ng gawaing kaya naman nilang gawin, lalo kung magbubuhat ng mabigat.
Matthew was now sitting on the single sofa, checking the activity he did earlier when someone hugged his leg.
"Kuya" Anny called him– one of the twins
Two years old pa lang ang kambal, pero buo na nitong sabihin ang kuya, ate, dada at iba na madaling bigkasin.
He smiled cute! "Yes baby? Ano 'yon?" He asked. Ngunit hindi na ito nagsalita.
Hinawakan ni Anny ang laylayan ng short niya at pilit na hinihila.
Now he's confused!
Tumayo si Matt at hinawakan ang maliit na kamay ng pamangkin and he let her pull him, Anny walks towards the kitchen that made him more confused. Gutom na ba s'ya?
Nang makapasok sila sa kusina nakita niya si Anna na pilit inaabot ang hawakan ng ref. Kunot ang noo ng bata at mukha iritado na.
He laughed a little, Anny looked up to him and point her twin sister
"Kuya. Gutom" sambit nito habang nakaturo pa rin sa kapatid ang hintuturo

Mahinang tumawa si Matthew at binuhat si Anny, ngayon gets na niya kung bakit
"Hello baby, Anna" bati niya sa isa pang pamangkin.
"Kuya!" Masiglang sambit nito at ngumiti ng napakalawak, parang isang grasya ang dumating. Pumalakpak pa ito at tumalon-talon
"Gutom kana ba?" He asked
"Opo. Anna gutom" sagot nito
"Okay" he lift up Anna too and he brought them in the living room
"Dito lang kayo ha, kukuha lang si Kuya ng foods, okay?"
Ngumiti at tumango lang ang kambal
"H'wag kang malikot ha, baka malaglag kayo." He instructed.
He smiled and pinched the twins cute cheeks when they nodded at him.
Nakakagigil!
Kumuha siya ng isang balot ng Cheesecake Biscuits at nag timpla ng gatas para sa kambal. Nagtimpla rin siya ng juice sa pitcher para may mainom ang mga kapatid niya pagdating.
He went back on the living room, tahimik na nakaupo ang kambal sa sofa na pinag iwanan niya sa mga ito.
"Ito na" he happily announced while placing the food and drinks on the table.
Nag bukas si Matthew ng dalawang cheese cake at ibigay iyon sa kambal, he let them it the biscuit on their own.
Tahimik naman na tinanggap ng kambal ang inabot niyang pagkain at sinimulan itong kainin.
Matthew can't stop himself from smiling, he remembered his siblings when they were kids.
"Talap kuya" sambit ni Anna at bumungisngis.
Bata pa lang pansin na talaga ang pagkakaiba ng kambal maaaring parehong-pareho ang itsura nito ngunit sa ugali at galaw at iba.
Tahimik lang si Anna habang may pagka-madaldal si Anny. Malinis si Anna sa mga bagay, habang kasama niya ang kambal pansin ni Matthew na hindi makalat si Anna sa laruan, after din nitong maglaro kahit hirap-hirap pilit nitong ibinabalik ang mga laruan sa kahon na pinagkunan nito habang si Anny at mukhang walang pake kung makalat o ano. Kung sa pagkain pareho nitong hilig iyon. Sa panonood si Anna ang tutok sa tv o cellphone, habang ang hilig ni Anny ay mag buklay ng libro, drawing book, coloring book at iba basta makita nitong hugis libro iyon ang binibigyang pansin ni Anny.
Siguro magbabago pa 'yong ganung ugali nila, habang lumalaki sila marami silang mare-realize, at mas maiintindihan nila ang dapat at hindi dapat gawin.
"Kuya!" Iritadong tawag ni Anny
Pilit nitong inaabot ang gatas na nasa baso, kahit kaunti na lang ay mahuhulog na ito sa sofa.
He laughed a little when he heard Anna's cute laugh, tuwang-tuwa ito sa iritadong mukha ng kambal, ganun din naman ang itsura nito kanina nang hindi maabot-abot ang hawakan ng ref.
He shook his head and get the glass of milk. Tinulungan niyang painomin si Anny para hindi matapon.
Maya-maya si Anna naman ang gustong uminom ng gatas. He'll cook their lunch kapag may dumating na sa kapatid niya. Hindi niya pwedeng pabayaan ang kambal, nagkakasundo ito kapag sa kalokohan.
"After this maliligo na kayo ha?" Sambit niya.
He ate the biscuit too, and drank the juice.
"Opo" sambit ni Anny at tuwang-tuwa pa
Habang si Anna ay parang hindi gusto ang narinig dahil sa biglang lukot ng mukha nito.
Isa pang pagkakaiba ng kambal is, Anny likes playing in the water a lot, he thinks Anny we'll be thankful if you let her play in the water all day while Anna didn't like playing on it, if you're bathing her she wants it to fast.
Kung si Anna halos ayaw madikit sa tubig si Anny naman halos ayaw ng umalis sa tubig.
"Tara na maliligo na kayo" Tumayo na si Matthew at nilagad ang kamay kay Anny para maibaba sa sofa, sunod ay si Anna.
Anny is the oldest, Anna is the youngest.
"Ligo. Ligo. Ligo!" Paulit-ulit na sambit ni Anny, minsan kinakanta pa ang jatagang iyon habang tahimik si Anna na naglalakad.
Pareho itong nakakapit sa magkabilaan niyang daliri.
He bathes the twins after that he needs to get away the both of them in the water, baka ubuhin o sipunin ang kambal kapag nabatad. Just like when he expect, Anna was more than willing to get away on the water kaya napakadali para may Matthew na alisin ito don at tinapisan ng towel. Si Anny naman ayaw talaga umalis, umiyak pa ito at tumigil lang ng sinabi niyang bibili siya ng maraming lollipop at ibibigay niya iyon sa kanilang magkapatid.
And just like that, she stopped crying, Anny smiled at him so wide like nothing happened.
Binihisan niya ang kambal at binalik sa sofa. Binuhay niya ang tv at nilagay sa channel na pambata na nagtuturo ng sa ABCD.
Pansin niyang nag e-enjoy naman si Anna habang mukhang antok na antok na si Anny kaya binigyan niya ito ng libro na puro ABCD rin ang laman, and she happily accept it.
He sat in the middle of the twins while his hand was on the both side para hindi mahulog ang magkapatid
Oras din ang lumipas bago mag para-hihikab si Anna.
She climbed on his lap, and she placed his face on Matthew shoulder, niyakap din nito ang maliliit na braso sa leeg niya.
Marahang ginalaw niya ang katawan at mahinang kumanta hanggang sa lumalim na paghinga nito.
He placed Anna on the crib near the table.
Hindi pa s'ya natatagalan sa pagkakaupo si Anny naman ang yumakap sa kan'ya dahil antok na..
He placed her on the crib too.
He got back on the sofa and he changed the channel to watch something interesting. That was what he was doing when his phone vibrated. Someone is calling.
It's Rio..
"Rio?" Bungad niya
Hindi agad nakasagot sa kabilang linya, ang naririnig lang niya ay parang uminom ng tubig "Kuya, tapos na practice namin, half day lang kami ngayon. D'yan ako kakain ah. Saka si Theo pauwi na rin, baka sabay na kami" Rio said
Matthew nodded even though his brother didn't see him
"Okay. May naisip ka bang ulam?" He asked.
He heard him chuckling "Thank you for asking-" he laughed at that "- I want some adobo kuya, can you cook Adobong Manok?"
"Sure"
"Great! Bye na, uuwi na ako. Daanin ko lang si Theo"
"Okay, ingat kayo"
"We will."
"Bye na"
He was about to end the call when he heard him saying "wait"
"Nandyan daw yung kambal?" Rio asked.
Maagang umalis si Rio kanina kaya hindi na naabutan ang pagdating ng Tita nila para ihabilin ang kambal
"Yeah" he answered
"Okay. Hintayin mo kami bago ka magluto, para may matitingin sa kanila"
"They're sleeping, pero hihintayin ko pa rin kayo"
Rio said goodbye so he ended the call afterwards.
Tiningnan niya ang kambal, mahimbing ang tulog ng dalawa at mahinang humihilik which he find it cute.
Half an hour passed.
"Kuya"
Napaigtad siya ng may bumulong mula sa pinto, it was Theo who's now tip toeing
The hell?
"Bakit gan'yan ka?" He can't himself from asking
"They are sleeping baka magising" rason nito
"You look like dumb" the commented and laugh
Masamang tingin ang sinukli nito sa kaniya. It looks weird actually, he can walk slowly, or walk normally. That didn't cause any sound that made the twins awake. Isa pa, mahimbing ang tulog ng kambal hindi ito magigising sa ingay n'ya maglakad.
Theo walked towards him and sat beside.
While Rio walked upstairs "Ligo lang ako"
He looked at Theo "Ang baho mo rin, bakit hindi kana maligo?"
"Hoy hindi naman ah!" Reklamo nito at inamoy pa ang sarili
"Amoy pawis ka" he pointed out
Theo's upper side lips tugged a little.
"Mamaya na. Luto kana kuya, gutom na talaga ako" Theo said and made his face looks pity. "At saka, maghihintay ka ng matagal, kaya mamaya na lang"
"Wow, you cared pala kung maghintay ako ng matagal ha?" humarap siya dito "Akala ko nga hanggang bukas ko pa kayo hihintayin na makauwi e"
That was an exaggeration of him, half an hour is the fastest when you drive from their school to their home.
"Ang OA mo" sambit nito at sinandal ang likod sa sofa "Kung alam mo lang kung paano mag drive si Kuya Rio! Akala ko nga may pakpak yong kotse e"
"And that, sino nagbigay ng permission na mag drive siya? Paano kapag nalaman nila Daddy? Lagot kayo"
Lahat sila marunong mag maneho pero hindi pa sila ina-allow mag drive.
Kunot ang noo nito sa kaniya "He ask your permission and you said yes"
Taka siyang tumingin dito. He didn't remember!
"Nope he didn't asked me"
"I did." Rio interject.
Daig pa ang kabute kung sumulpot
"When? I didn't remember" he really didn't remember!
"Kagabi, nasa harap ka pa ng laptop mo" paalala nito
Rio looked at the twins, a soft smile drawn on his lips before sitting on the single sofa. Rio crossed his legs just like his while Theo's foot was on the sofa too, naka-crus pa.
Hindi nakaimik si Matthew hindi niya maalala! Oh boy! I remember! I thought he asked something, why the hell didn't I hear carefully that he'll be using the car?! Shit!
"Magluluto na ako" he said and the two, nodded.
Bago pa s'ya makalayo narinig niyang nag paalam si Theo "Ligo lang ako, Kuya"
And that he stand up and walked straight on the stairs, hindi man lang ito tumingin sa kanila. Dumeretso na si Matt sa kusina nang mawala sa paningin sa bunsong kapatid.
Matthew sliced the chicken, he prepared the utensils he needed. The pan he will use is already cleaned but he will wash it again just to make sure it's really cleaned.
Nasa kalagitnaan ng paglalagay ng sangkap si Matthew sa niluluto ng may parang biglang nalaglag na ang sanhi ng malakas na ingay mula sa kabilang bahay, because of curiosity he looked on the window that can see their neighbor's house.
Pero hindi naman niya nakita ang mahulog, pinto papasok ng bahay, at bintana sa taas ng kwarto ang kita lang niya. There's a wall that blocks on something that causes the loud sound.
Matthew shrugged and continued cooking, he prepared the Adobo and placed it on the dining table.
Sa muling paglingon sa bintana he saw a very familiar body build entering their neighbors house.
Nope! Maybe I saw it wrong. Hindi siya iyon! Ano naman gagawin ng lalaking iyon dito? Shit! Why the hell my heart beat race?!
He shook his head. Tinawag na niya ang dalawang kapatid. When Rio and Theo entered the room karga na nito ang kambal. Anny is on Rio's arm, Anna is on Theo's.
Mukhang nagising ang kambal dahil sa ingay sa kabila.
"Let's eat."
Hindi na kailangan sabihin ulit ang dalawa they sat on the chair, at nasa hita ng mga ito ang kambal.
Matthew smiled when his brothers fed the twins. Unti-unti lang bigay para sigurado nitong makakain ito ng maayos.
They finish eating, he wash the dishes.
Yong dalawa ang nag aalaga sa kambal kaya s'ya na ang nag hugas, lalabas siya pagkatapos dito. Curiosity eats him! Gusto niyang masiguro kung ang lalaking iyon ba talaga ang nakita niya.
He went outside using the backdoor. Bukas ang gate ng kabilang bahay kaya pumasok siya, the ground is clean, flowers and trees are everywhere, there's a fountain just like their.
"Shit! Bakit ba ang dami ditong bato?" Humarap si Matthew sa gilid ng bahay at doon niya nakita ang nag-iisang lalaki na ayaw makita.
He doesn't understand why this man caused something to happen to him. Everytiime he saw him his heart automatically beat loud and fast as if he ran so fast and far, he felt nervous.
Nakaupo ang lalaki sa sahig at hawak ang paa nito, mukhang natapilok. The man keeps on talking and cursing sometimes, looks like it really hurts.
Three medium boxes are on the floor, books, pens and other things that are related in school are on the floor too.
He didn't move his feet to help the man, he just stared at him, listening to his complaints.
Matthew didn't pay attention to his heart who's beating so fast.
The man looked up on him. Para itong natigilan ngunit kalaunay may binulong-bulong ito. Matthew blink, blink after a blinks. Hindi niya maintindihan ang nararamdaman, he felt like anytime he moved he'll be clumsy because he is in the front of this guy.
Matthew decided to leave. Coming here is a mistake. His heart didn't want to beat normal, he's nervous as f-ck!
He turned around and was about to leave when the guy said "Wait!" The man shouted that made him stop.
Bakit ba kung kailangan ako aalis ay saka s'ya magsasalita? Hays
Walang nagawa si Matthew, boring na humarap siya sa binata para maitago ang kabang nararamdaman.
"What?" He irritatedly asked
"Aren't you gonna help me?" the guys asked again
"No. Why would I help you?" He asked.
Kung ibang tao lang ito tulungan niya itong tumayo, pero malas lang niyang lalaking 'to. He made me mad at him.
"Because" the guy stopped talking "because uhm I can't stand alone, didn't you see?"
"I see it. But I'm not helping you" Matthew said and turned around again
He heard the guy calling him but he didn't stop walking nor looked at the man, we walked straight and went back to his house.
Ang daming laman ng isip ni Matthew, he didn't pay attention to his brother Theo when he asked something.
Diretso siyang naupo sa sofa hababg malamin pa rin ang iniisip.
Magkapitbahay ba kami? Shit! No way! Baka kaya walang tao sa kabilang bahay dahil may bago ng may-ari? God! Sila ang may ari? S'ya na ang titira da bahay na yun? Oh my gooooood! Mahal na mahal talaga siya ng malas. Sheems! Ayoko s'yang maging kapitbahay! Ayaw ko siyang makita! Oh well, hindi naman siya para labas ng bahay, lagi siyang nasa school kaya hindi nya ito makikita.
Wala sa sariling napangiti si Matthew sa na-isip, he did see him unless he went outside the house plus obviously they have the university but it's okay they are different in Department.
Nawala ang malalim na iniisip ni Matthew nang marinig niya ang iyak ng kambal.
Kailangan ba talagang sabay? May balak pa itong sumali sa kantahan?
"I'll make their milk" mabilis na sambit ni Rio at maingat na hiniga ang isa sa kambal sa crib but the moment Anna's back kissed on the crib she cried so loud that made Rio's bewilders.
Rio looked at him, his face says 'i need your help'
He shook his head at his brother kinuha niya si Anna sa crib at mahinang isinayaw ito. He mentioned Rio to make the twin's milk, sumunod naman ito agad. Maya maya narinig niya ang boses ni Theo. He's baby talking para siguro kahit papaano malibang si Anny. And it works. Anny laugh but minute later she cried loud again, sakto naman lumabas si Rio galing sa kusina at may dalang dalawang milk bottle.
"Here" inabot nito sa kaniya ang isang milk bottle, color pink. Kay Theo naman niya inabot ang milk bottle na color light blue.
The twins stopped crying, binalik nila ito sa pagkakahiga sa crib at hinayang maubos ang gatas.
Hindi na nila kailangan kargahin ang kambal para makatulog dahil matapos nitong mag dede sa bottle sunod-sunod ang hikab ng dalawa.
Marahan nilang ginalaw ang crib, hanggang sa tuluyang makatulog ang kambal.
"Kailan pala uuwi sila Dad?" theo asked.
The three of them were looking at the twins who's now lightly snorting, it made a cute sound.
"If I'm not misheard it, tomorrow morning sila uuwi" he answered
Theo nodded.
"Taas muna ako" paalam n'ya.
Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot ng dalawang kapatid at umalis na. Hindi naman nito pababayaan ang kambal at iiwan ng walang kasama.
He went inside to his room, he halted when he felt like someone was looking at him.
And he didn't wrong. Nakita niya ang lalaki na nakahilig sa may bintana at matiin na nakatingin sa kaniya.
The witch man Matthew called the guy “witch” because of the guy's effect on him.
Baka kinulam siya nito.
"What?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya
He rolled his eyes on the man when it didn't speak.
Kahit sobrang na bo-bother siya sa tigtig nito hinayaan na lang niya iyon at umaktong walang tao na nakatingin sa kaniya.
He planned to read a book pero malapit iyon sa bintana kung saan malapit sa lalaking iyon.
"Hello, my lovely neighbor" he heard the guy said
Cringe!
Hindi niya ito pinansin. He get the book he wanted to read at pabagsak na nahiga sa kama habang plinay ang songs ni Taylor Swift.
T W I L I G H T Z I R A