Hindi mapakaling nagpalakad-lakad ako sa loob ng kuwarto. Umuwi ako kahit pa sinabi ni Kuya na huwag daw akong uuwi. I was thinking that maybe it was just a prank since he tend to do that even when he's busy. Ngunit iba talaga ang pakiramdam ko sa mensahe niya. Hindi ko lang makuha kung ano.
Isa pang nagpapagulo sa akin ay ang pagiging aligaga ng lahat sa bahay. Sinabihan din ako nila Mommy kanina na mag-ready dahil may pupunta raw na make-up artist dito. Tapos na nga nila ang trabaho nila pero hindi ko pa rin alam ang nangyayari. Wala namang okasyon na dapat ipagdiwang.
I texted Raine and even she doesn't know what's happening. We both tried contacting my brother but only to hear the operator. Nanlalamig ang mga kamay ko sa kaba at halos tumalon ang aking puso nang tumunog ang notification no'n.
0949***
Ma'am, Lazada po ito. Paparating na po ang order niyo.
Halos malaglag ko ang cellphone nang makita ang message. What the fuck?! Kailan pa 'ko um-order?! Wala akong ino-order! Tinawagan ko ang numero habang salubong ang kilay. Wala akong pambayad! Nagtitipid ako ngayon, shit lang.
I swear I'm gonna kill my friends if this is one of their jokes.
"Hello po, Kuya." Huminga 'ko nang malalim, "ahm... wala po akong in-order. But don't be disappointed! Babayaran ko na lang po 'yan since alam ko naman po na mahirap naman kung hindi kayo mabayaran."
"Bayad na, ma'am."
"Thanks God bayad na—"
My eyes slowly widened in shock when I recognized the voice. It's none other than that potato jerk, Ashton Clark Gonzales!
"Paano mo nakuha ang number ko?! And really? Acting like a freaking Lazada delivery rider?!" sunod-sunod na tanong ko.
He chuckled deeply, "you sounded nervous while explaining. Did I scare you?"
"Sinong hindi magugulat, ha? Nakatatakot kayang bigla na lang may mag-text sa'yo na may order ka gayong wala naman talaga. Bwakanang shit ka talaga."
"I enjoyed listening to it."
"Pakyu. Lahat na lang ng ayaw ko nage-enjoy ka!" inis kong asik.
"Do you want me to fuck you? You keep on saying that. Just tell me if you want me to."
Kung may iniinom lang ako ngayon, malamang naibuga ko na. Ngunit kahit wala ay nasamid naman ako sa sarili kong laway. Umuubong tinapik-tapik ko ang aking dibdib. Hinimas ko ang lalamunan ko dahil nagasgas yata 'yon.
"Gago kaaaaa!" namumulang sigaw ko. "Bwisit ka! Letche! Isa kang bwakanang shit na patatas! Pervert!"
Gigil na pinatay ko ang tawag. Malalim na ang paghinga ko sa halo-halong emosyon. Tama bang tanungin niya 'ko no'n?! Bastos! At ang inosente pa talaga ng boses niya? Seriously? Nababaliw na ba siya? Nakawawalang gana sa gabi!
Damn it! Nadurumihan ang utak ko! My virgin ears! Omo! Kailangan kong itaktak 'to!
"Eunice?" Tatlong beses na kumatok si Mommy mula sa labas ng kuwarto na siyang tumawag sa akin. "Halika na, anak. Nandiyan na ang mga bisita natin."
I took a deep breath and calmed myself. Isinantabi ko muna ang inis ko para kay Ashton at binuksan ang pintuan. When Mommy saw me, she smiled proudly.
"Ang ganda-ganda mo, 'Nak," nakangiti niyang puri.
Inangkala ko ang braso sa kaniya, "mana-mana lang 'yan, 'My. Maganda ka, guwapo si Daddy, siyempre pati mga anak."
She smirked teasingly, "'di mo sure."
I gasped while we're descending to the stairs. Omo... My mother knew that word?! Alam niya rin 'yon? Wow. Ang gara naman niya. Nakikipagsabayan din sa henerasyon namin.
"You know DMS?"
"Oo naman! Anong akala mo sa'kin, matanda na?" nahihintakutan niyang tanong.
Ako naman ngayon ang napangisi, "hindi sa'kin galing 'yan, Mom."
"Heh!" Mahina niya 'kong kinurot sa beywang, "tigilan mo 'ko, Eunice. Umayos ka at babawasan ko talaga ang allowance mo."
"Joke lang 'yon! Love you po, hehe."
Uutuin ko na lang talaga si Mommy para hindi bawasan ang allowance. I have to buy something—a lot of things! Marami pa 'kong merchandise at kung ano-ano pang dapat bilhin! Hindi importante ang mga 'yon kaya nga nag-iipon na lang ako sa allowance ko at hindi nanghihingi. I need new posters na rin since luma na ang mga nasa kuwarto ko.
"Kuya!" gulat na tawag ko sa nakatatandang kapatid na kapapasok pa lang sa kabahayan.
Mukhang papunta rin siya ng dinning room. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at napansin ang pag-igting ng panga niya nang mapansin ang ayos ko. Sunod ay mariin niyang tiningnan si Mommy na nag-iwas lang ng tingin. Tinanguan niya 'ko at nauna nang pumunta sa hapag.
"'Oy!" Dinutdot ko ang matigas niyang braso, "ayos ka lang? Bakit parang wala ka sa mood? May nangyari ba?"
"Maraming nangyari at marami pang mangyayari," malamig niyang sagot.
I frowned, "Kuya Khal, you're not okay. Tell me the problem."
Kuya Khalil stopped on his tracks that made me stop, too. Hinarap niya 'ko at hinawakan ang aking balikat. Nakayuko siya habang nakatingala naman ako upang magtama ang aming paningin.
My brother's usual laid-back attitude was replaced with menacing, serious and dangerous aura. His eyes were shouting warnings I can't comprehend. Tila galit din ang brown niyang mga mata na mas dumilim ngayon. It's shade was more darker than it used to be.
"If you want to fucking run away after this damn dinner, tell me. Ilalayo kita sa kanila."
"Huh? Ano bang sinasabi mo?" naguguluhan kong tanong.
What was he trying to point out? Na may mangyayaring hindi maganda sa dinner na gugustuhin kong umalis? But I'm not a coward! I don't run away from my problems! Sinusugod ko nga nang mag-isa ang tower dahil pabuhat at puro farming lang ang alam ng mga kakampi ko, ito pa kayang mangyayari?
Kuya made it sound like it will ruin my life or whatsoever. It gave me different feelings but I decided not to overthink. Hindi healthy para sa'kin 'yon. Sasakit lang ang aking ulo at lalong malilito.
"I don't understand you but... I won't run away, Kuya. Kilala mo 'ko, hindi ko hilig na takbuhan ang mga bagay-bagay. Maybe I'm avoiding some but I never run away from it," matigas kong sagot.
He heaved a harsh sigh and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Fine! But remember my offer will always be open for you, Eunice. Mapagtatanto mo ring hindi lahat ng bagay dapat hinaharap, minsan kailangan mong iwanan 'yong iba."
I shrugged, "it's my decision to make, Kuya. Calm your ass down, will you? You're making it sound like huling hapunan ko na and ibibitay na 'ko."
"Ako na lang magbibitay sa'yo," pang-aasar niya.
"Oh, please! Shut up!" I grunted at nauna nang maglakad paalis.
My heart suddenly beat so loud that someone can hear it now. Dinaga rin ang aking dibdib sa hindi malamang kadahilanan. Bullets of sweats almost formed on my forehead as I slowly entered the dinning room. Nanlalamig ako na naiinitan.
"Oh my!" a woman with the same age as my parents gasped when she saw me. "Is this your daughter in person? She grew up like a fine wine!"
Nahihiyang ngumiti ako sa ginang, "thank you po, ma'am. I'm Eunice, nice to meet you."
"I'm Asheville, Eunice." He pointed someone behind her, "and he's my husband, Clein. Just call me Tita or Mommy. Kung saan ka komportable. Ganoon din sa asawa ko."
Mommy...?
Mommy pulled me closer to her. Inilahad ko ang aking kamay sa babae na may pamilyar na kulay ng buhok. Napagtanto ko lang na magiging pamilyar talaga siya dahil sa dalawang lalaking kasama niya. The two men both have the same ash-gray eyes. Magkamukhang-magkamukha rin sila although the other one is the same age as Dad.
"Anong... ginagawa mo rito?" nanlalaki ang mga mata sa gulat na tanong ko kay Ashton na walang emosyon ang mukha. Kakikitaan naman ng pagkainip at pagka-bored ang kaniyang mga mata.
"My parents told me so," he answered in a bored voice.
Mommy and Mrs. Gonzales both giggled. Pinaupo na rin nila 'ko sa tabi ni Kuya na tahimik lang. Nakatingin lang siya sa kaniyang pinggan habang nakakuyom ang kamao sa ilalim ng mesa. I reached out for his knuckles with my cold and slightly trembling hands. He didn't bother looking at me but he held my hand and gave it a light squeeze, calming me a little.
"I heard the two of you were close." Mrs. Asheville wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
Kami ng anak niya? Close? Ha! Imposible! We can't even stand each other in the same room without bickering! Pero... tama nga siya, close kami. We're super close... on killing each other. Pareho kaming inis sa isa't-isa. Mga ma-attitude, amp.
"Ahm... we're not really that close, Ma'am—"
"—Tita," she corrected.
I nodded and pursed my lips. "As I was saying po, Tita, hindi po talaga kami close ng anak niyo. Nagkataon lang po na... palagi kaming partners and groupmates sa mga projects."
That's right. Itanggi mo, Eunice, maniniwala sila.
Hindi ko gusto ang mga tinginan nila! They looked like they were planning something and it's making me anxious! Hindi ba puwedeng straight to the point na lang nang makahinga naman ako? I feel suffocated with the thick air here. Ramdam ko rin ang tensyon na nanggagaling kay Dad at Kuya.
"At least you both have a progress on your relationship, right?" Mommy asked hopefully.
Relationship? What kind of relationship is that? Hate-hate relationship ba? Kasi kung iyon, may progress talaga. Mas naiinis na kami sa isa't-isa dahil gumagaling na kami sa pang-aasar. Hindi na nakagugulat kung nasa headline na nagpatayan kami, 'no.
"Uh... I guess?" I said awkwardly.
"That's great!" Tita Ash clasped her hands, "what do you think of Eunice, Clark?"
Ashton sighed out of boredom. Napaayos ako ng upo nang lumipat ang tingin niya sa akin. I saw how the side of his lips rose when he saw what I did. I subtly glared at him and cursed him in my mind.
"She's... pretty. Athena suits her, she's smart." He played with his lips and looked intently at me, "not a partner material but a feisty and independent one."
I felt my cheeks burned at his words. Amusement instantly filled his eyes so, I had to look down to avoid his gaze. Natahimik din ang mga tao sa hapag-kainan bago sila napansinghap. Our Dads chuckled like they were proud of what he said while our Moms giggled like a teenager.
Ugh! Next topic na, please!
"'Fucking smooth talker..." my brother whispered.
"How about you, princess?" Dad smiled at me, "what do you think of Clark?"
"He's smart and good looking. I think he's an A+ in the physical department," plastik na sagot ko.
I wanted to add how annoying he is! Kung gaano siya ka-pilosopo tuwing kinakausap at sarkastiko! How good he is at mocking others that I won't be shock if someone would just shoot him dead! Even I wants to cut his tongue and throw it away so, he won't talk anymore!
"Oh my God!" Tita and Mommy squealed. "They would create such great couple!"
Nasamid ako sa iniinom na wine kaya mabilis akong dinaluhan ni Kuya Khal. Anong sinasabi nilang couple?! I'm not assuming but I feel like they were shipping us! Hell no! Wala akong balak magkaroon ng boyfriend na paiinitin lang ang ulo ko araw-araw. Baka ma-high blood ako!
"Just get straight to the point, Mom." Ashton crossed his arms over his chest, "time is ticking, it shouldn't be wasted."
Wait. He knew? He knew why they are here?! Of course, he knew! Wala naman yata siyang bagay na hindi alam!
Ito na naman tayo sa kaba kong hindi ako maiwan-iwan kahit anong paalis ko.
"Eunice, we want you to meet your fiancé, Clark Gonzales. Clark, son, we want you to meet your future bride, Eunice Jung."