"Wait lang, P! Kein's following us." Nakalabas na kami ng exit nang sinabi niya yun, we're near at the parking lot.
"He's not following us, he's probably going home too."
"Yeah right, and he's calling us." She held me to stop from walking but I let go of her hand and just walk mindlessly. I don't think I can face him right now. It's just that I don't think it's needed anyway, we're not even friends and we are just obviously classmates. So I think it's not my obligation to talk to him—he's always like that anyway.
Someone held my hand that got me back to my senses. A car stopped just where I'm standing.
"Pace.." As if I was programmed to distance myself from whoever it is—I snatched my hand when I realized he was holding me. He apologizes to the driver inside the car.
"What happened?" Maang na tanong ko.
"A car nearly hit you!" Kunot noo na tiningnan ko si Quuen at binalikan ng tanaw ang sasakyang papaalis. It happened again. Buti nalang may nakahila pa sa akin, baka sa susunod sa hospital na talaga ang dalaw ko.
"Oh! Thanks," simpleng sabi ko sa kanya. Tinitigan ako ni Kein—he's more like figuring me out.
"You're good again?" I tried to look casual to avoid my emotions being read. His brows furrowed upon hearing my question. He leaned back and put his hands into his pockets.
Looking at me intently he answered like it was normal already.
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Okay, let's go Quuen." I firmly said and walk again towards our car.
Before I can open the door of the car, Kein talked behind me which I didn't notice until then.
"Were you always like that?"
I'm not really slow to be clueless about what he asked. Why would he ask that anyway, as if..
"Not your business, is it?" I open the car door and slid myself in, Quuen said bye to him that he didn't make an effort to open his mouth but only nod at her. His attention is still on me.
"What was that?" Quuen said after we left the parking lot.
"Not obvious?"
Inirapan niya ako at umayos ng upo na nakaharap sa akin.
"Bakit nga bruhang bruha?"
"I will really appreciate it if you stop asking questions that I think you have answers to already."
Nasa labas lang ang tingin ko, it's so mesmerizing to watch the busy street. The different cars and their colors made it more comforting to watch. It just shows how unique but similar at some point every person's life is.
"But I was thinking that you like him.." amusement is visible in Quuen's voice.
"On what grounds?"
"You were jealous," we looked like we were in the middle of the interrogation room because she became serious all of the sudden.
I sighed after hearing her claim, she never ran out of advanced ideas.
"Stop overthinking," I mumbled.
"Says the one who nearly got hit by a car."
"I was thinking of other things."
"What? The last time I remembered, we saw Kein with a girl and then hell broke out with you."
I looked at her simply—nothing to say. I chose not to answer because even I can't figure out what was that all about. I nearly got hit by a car, that must be something. And I fear it was what Quuen is thinking right now.
She sighed when we are already in front of their house.
"Stop being in denial, P. Your mouth can deny it but your actions cannot." She gave me a flying kiss before getting out of the car.
"Thank you, manong Juls." Lumabas ako ng sasakyan pagkasabi nun, we just arrived.
The house is silent as usual, and I didn't expect there's a guest in the living room. Two girls are sitting on a two-seater sofa. The one who has her back on me is wearing a familiar maroon dress—who's talking to the girl in a casual flowery dress. Nag-uusap sila sa mahinang boses, they looked like new to our house. I don't know them, so probably.
Papaliko na sana ako kung saan ang daan patungo sa kwarto ko ay nasulyapan ako ni flower girl. Nahihiyang ngumiti siya sa akin na parang kinakabahan pa—na ikinangiti ko pabalik. Her friend on the other hand noticed me too. Napakunot ang noo ko nang makita ang mukha nito. How come she's here?
Tumitig ito sa akin na parang kinaklaro niya ang pagkatao ko. She obviously have this bitchy demeanor but the way I see it, she's a true and a frank person. I bet she has countable friends.
"Ah! Bisita po kami ni Ley," natanto kong nakatayo lang ako malapit sa hagdan—looking at their side. She must have thought I was waiting for more intros, but I wasn't. I simply nodded at them both.
"Okay, feel free."
Pagkasabi ko nun ay umupo ito ulit sa sofa, hinila niya pa ang kaibigan nang hindi ito umupo ulit. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pag-akyat ng hagdan habang iniisip kung gaano ka palabiro ang tadhana. Of all people to see and place to meet!
Isang katok sa pintuan ang narinig ko habang nag-aayos ng mga bagong libro ko rito sa mini library sa leisure room. Dahil hindi pa handa ang hapunan nang matapos akong magbihis kanina ay pinili kong pumasok dito sa leisure room para maglagay ng mga bagong bili kong libro. Pagbaba ko ng hagdan kanina ay nakita kong nandoon narin sa living room si Dhaley, sitting beside the flower girl. They're so cute to look at, from the looks of it, that must be his girl huh!
"Good evening ate," simpleng bati ni Dhale ng makita ako. Napatingin naman ang dalawang bisita niya sa akin tapos sa dala kong paper bag.
"Evening, sa leisure room lang ako." Tinanguan niya lang ako at nakipag-kwentuhan ulit sa katabi niya.
It's my first time seeing my sibling being romantically involved with others. And to think that it's my brother—I think it's all for the better. He's in the process of maturing. Though, I would like to see ate Chacey in his position.
We're not really good at introducing our friends to the family that's why I didn't expect that he would introduce them to me. It doesn't matter anyway, what matters is his comfort right?
"Pacey, kain na!" Salubong na sabi ng pamilyar na boses pagkapasok nito sa leisure room.
Nilisan ko ang mini library at pinuntahan si Ate Res na naghihintay sa sala ng room. Bukas pa sana ang duty niya pero pumunta agad dito kanina for some personal reasons. Hindi ko na tinanong kasi parang ayaw niyang pag-usapan iyon.
Lumabas kaming tahimik dalawa, I know she's thinking about her problems that's why I did not dare to talk. I wanna give her peace and silence even for a moment.
Sa garden kami maghahapunan kaya kitang kita ko ang mga nakaupo na sa lamesa. Sila Dhaley ang naroon, sila Mommy naman ay papasok palang sa hardin.
Nakita kong bumati ang dalawang kasama ni Dhaley nang makarating sila Mommy sa hapag. Napabalik ang pansin ko kay ate Res nang magpaalam itong pupunta muna sa kwarto niya. She has her own room here, we decided to give her since she became an orphan. Mom and Dad decided to let her stay with us but she refused. Gagamitin lang naman niya ito tuwing duty niya dahil nahihiya raw siya at dahil narin sa nobyo niya siya tumitira ngayon.
"Oh, asan si Res?" Tanong ni Mommy pagkadating ko sa hapag.
"Sa kwarto niya raw. I think she got some problems." Umupo ako sa tabi niya. Sa harapan ko ang kaibigan ni flower girl—I still don't know her name even at this moment.
"Ano meron, 'dy?" Tanong ni Ate Chace na ngayo'y papaupo pa lamang sa tabi ko. She just arrived too and clueless about what's the occasion, tho the two girls are a hint already but Dhaley only invites people when there's to celebrate. I wonder what is it.
"I won the tournament in school!" Dhaley simply said.
"What tournament?"
"CF20," he proudly said. May patutunguhan din naman pala ang pagiging spoiled niya sa mga mobile games. Adik na adik kaya malamang mananalo talaga. Tumango lang si ate Chace sa sagot nito. I just shrugged it off too since I already knew his capabilities in games.
"So, who are this two ladies?" Kaswal na tanong ni Dad sa kapatid ko. Napahinto sa pagkain si Dhaley at ang dalawang kasama niya ng marinig ang tanong ni Dad. The flower girl is obviously shy while her company didn't even flinched. Kumakain ako habang hinintay na ipakilala ng bunso namin ang mga kasama niya. Ate Chace also did the same.
"'Dy, 'My, Ates', this is Westney my girlfriend, and her friend, Minty." He introduced briefly.
"Hello po, nice to meet you." The flower girl who apparently is Westney, said and smiled at us.
"Mabuti naman at naparito ka, hija. You're the first person that my son introduced to us. Even my two daughters haven't done it yet!"
Nakita kong umismid din si ate Chace sa sinabi ni Mommy. Why would she have to say it anyway, the spotlight should be on Dhale.
"Ah! Inaya po kasi ako ni Ley. Nahihiya nga po akong pumunta rito pero dahil nanalo siya pinagbigyan ko nalang. Ipinasama niya naman sa akin ang kaibigan ko kaya okay na rin." She said in charming voice.
Sinulyapan ko ang kaibigan nito. I definitely saw her earlier. I wonder when did she get here. Ngumiti ito nang tiningnan ito ni Mommy. She may be bitchy but she knows when to go with the flow.
"Buti naman at sinamahan ka,"
"Dito rin po kasi siya nakatira sa subdivision na ito kaya napasama ko." Sagot ni Westney na nakakuha ng atensyon ko. Kaya naman pala, alam niya ang pasikot sikot ng subdivision kaya siguro mabilis lang niyang nahanap ang bahay namin. But how did she made it early to come here when she was just in the mall when we last saw her.
"Oh! What's your surname?"
"Dizzon, po,"
"You must be new?"
"We just moved here 3 months ago, po."
I was checking her out silently. I don't know what for. I should check out my brother's girlfriend but end up on the best friend. Maybe because she's the girl I saw outside the NBS.
Even with her bitchy aura, her beauty is obviously alluring. To think that she's just 17 years of age yet she already knows how to emphasize her beauty to charm others. Bakit ba napapaligiran ako ng mga magagandang bruha?
Napailing ako nang matantong tinatanong ako ni Mommy.
"What's with Res again?"
"Ahh. Some problems, I guess?"
"Her boyfriend again," Dad interfered.
Come to think about it. Natutulog nga siya rito kahit di niya duty pag magkagalit sila ng nobyo niya. It must be this time too!
"Di maka relate sila ate, 'dy." Biglang natawang sabi ni Dhaley. Nagtatakang tumingin si Westney sa kapatid ko.
"Yiee naka move on na kay Shainia." I chuckles upon hearing Ate Chacey's card. She said it in a bored tone but I can sense some humor at that moment. Tho, we both don't have the humor to keep.
"Stop it, ate!"
"Do you know about that fact, Westney?" Walang malisyang sabi ko.
"Yes, he's open about that."
"That girl you were with in the mall?" Sabat bigla ng kaibigan ni Westney.
"Nagkita kayo sa mall?"
"I saw them because my brother waited for them outside the NBS kanina, tita." Tinitigan ko lang siya habang sinasagot niya si Mommy. Kailangan pa ba sabihin yun? What's her deal?
"Oh? Why would your brother wait for them?" Kuryosong tanong ni Dad na kunot na ngayon ang noo. Tiningnan muna ako ng kaharap ko bago sumagot kay Daddy.
"I thought they have something going on with ate Pacey, po. I heard he was there because of her." Oh please! I don't want this topic, how could they assume things I never ever assumed!