"Kuya, ayusin niyo naman po!" sigaw ko mula sa labas ng bahay.
Si Kuya John ang anak ni Lola Mirasol. Sa kaniya kasi binigay ni Lola ang pera na napanalunan, tapos naman inambag nila pambili ng bahay nilang pamilya. At heto ako ngayon sa harap nila na kinukunan sila ng litrato.
Karga ni Ate Yen ang panganay nilang anak. She was smiling while Kuya John looks so serious. Kaya ako nagrereklamo dahil sa poker face niya.
"Kuya! Kahit si Gracy at Ate Yen nakangiti, oh!"
"Ang pangit pangit mo sa mga picture, John!" Ate Yen lamented when she saw her husband's expression on the phone.
Tumango tango ako. "Oo nga, 'Te. Halata mong sobrang saya niyang si Kuya John."
Kuya John was near us when I said that, it gave him a big chance to mess my straight hair up which he did. I huffed and moved his hand off me.
"'Lam mo, ikaw. Ang dami mong alam, kung nagpahinga ka kaya diyan," itinuro niya ang sofa at binalingan si Ate Yen.
"Tama ang Kuya John mo, MJ. Baka mapano ka pa diyan," Ate Yen added as she took me to the sofas, avoiding Kuya John.
Pagkatapos naming mag almusal, plinano namin ni Ate ang mga furnitures na gusto niyang palitan sa bahay. Kuya John's almost a multi millionaire, nag-inarte lang talaga si Lola Mirasol at inambag niya ang pera hindi aasahan na darating.
"Gusto kong palitan ang curtains, MJ. Either gold or white. Tingin mo?" si Ate habang pinagmamasdan ang loob ng bahay.
Tumango ako. I said that it can be mixed or whatever. Totoo naman, gold and white are two great pairs. She hired an architect to be guided. Nakikisiksik lang naman ako dito kasi wala sina Mama at Papa sa bahay dahil may kung anong business sa abroad.
Well, I feel at home with them.
"Bukas, sunduin natin si Nanay sa airport. Sama ka din MJ?" tanong ni Kuya habang nasa sala kami.
"Sure! Sabi nga ni Lola, excited na daw siya."
Their subdivision was one for people who has millions in their pockets. Kuya John was from a family that isn't one of those people, pero dahil sa sikap at pangarap, Kuya John's now a successful lawyer.
Si Ate Yen naman, galing sa pamilyang lahat ng gusto, nakukuha. Sabi nga niya, she used to be a brat. Siguro kaya sila ang nagkatuluyan kasi they need each other. Each other to fill what they lack. Sa characteristics talaga sila naliligaw.
I went out of their house to see other houses. Our subdivision is malayo. Kaya talagang nag effort pa ako para makita sila. Wala sina Mama, wala rin akong kapatid. I only have two cousins I am close to and they are both in Europe.
My eyes caught a black Range Rover passing by the house. Lumiko iyon at nakita kong diretsong pumasok pagkabukas ng gate mag-isa sa isang malaking bahay. Napatingin ako sa two storey house nina Kuya John. Mas malaki 'yong bahay nung may Rover.
Ang gara nga, eh. Daig ang Fortuners nina Kuya.
Lumabas mula sa gate ang isang matangkad at morenong lalaki. Kahit may kalayuan, kita kong mukhang may lahi siya. He isn't gwapo, that's an understatement.
"Psst!" I catcalled, hopin' he would turn to where I was.
Ni hindi niya ako nilingon hanggang sa tuluyan niyang naisara ang gate nila. Dahil malaki ang bahay nila, siguro may asawa na siya. Kaya siguro hindi lumingon. Sayang chix, kung lumingon siya kanina, akin na siya eh.
"Kuys," tawag ko kay Kuya John at nilingon niya naman ako. "Sino 'yong kapit bahay niyong may Rover?"
"Black or white?" si Ate Yen na nakikinig pala.
"The one that's black po."
"It either si Mrs. Felipa or si Mr. Silveo," Ate Yen said.
"Maybe it's Silveo, lalaki kasi, Ate."
"Huwag na huwag kang magkakamali, MJ." banta ni Kuya John.
"You know Valmore Clover?" si Ate Yen ulit, binabaliwala si Kuya.
"The... airline?"
"Hmm," she nodded her head. "He's the CEO 'ata. John's their family lawyer."
"Family lawyer? May... asawa na pala, Ate?"
"No! Pero... nalaman ko kina Katelyn na he doesn't date daw... I dunno."
"He's single?" I asked, sparkling eyes.
"Gracien, that's enough. MJ, your Mama said you still need to undergo so many things so, you can't do boyfriends yet." Kuya John lazily said.
Whatever. I mentally rolled my eyes.
I think him, being single is already a sign.
Silveo, you don't ignore an MJ Agdipa.
Maghanda ka.