I am walking downstairs, well I mean more like running because I'll be late for our breakfast. Well, no one really cares if I'm going to eat or not but I want to eat with my family.
"Hello. Goodmorning everyone" sabi ko at umupo sa tabi ni Nala.
"Goodmorning Kuya Rylee"
"Goodmorning Kuya"
"Goodmorning bro"
We are a pretty big family, I could say. Ate Chance is the eldest pero apat ang panganay ni Dad. And lahat kami nakatira sa iisang bahay, but the oldies are always nowhere to found they're always busy in a business trip. But except ate because she lives alone in a condo for some reasons but she always visits our house.
Sa mom namin we are six. There's Ate Chance, me, Raven, Steven, Molly, and Rance.
Kay Tita Paula they're four. Adam, Aidan, Kathryn and Kathlyn.
Kay Tita Ylona naman they're three. Neo, Namron and Nala.
And last kay Tita Eve they're also three. Dwight, Vaughn and Evan.
Yep, pretty big right? Hindi ko alam bat ganito kami karami but I can say that I'm happy with them even though we all have differences.
"Kuya Rylee, hatid mo ko sa school mamaya please?" request sakin ni Nala. She's my half sister pero we get along with each together. We don't hold grudges dahil pare-pareho naman kaming walang kasalanan kung maharot ang tatay namin.
"Bakit? Inaway ka naman ba ni Neo?" tanong ko sa kanya kaya ngumuso naman sya at tumango.
"Hmp. Pano kasi sinira nya lahat ng palette ko, it's a prank daw pero di nya pinalitan, hangal sya" pagsusumbong nya sakin.
I chuckled and patted her head.
"Sige na, kumain ka na. Mamaya susunduin din kita tapos pupunta tayo mall para bumili ng bago, okay?"
Agad naman nagliwanag ang mukha nya at niyakap ako.
"Thank you, Kuya Ry!" sabi pa nya at tinignan si Neo sa kabilang side ng table at nagmake face kaya naman nag-middle finger si Neo nang pasimple habang iniiscratch ang kilay nya.
"Ako din" pagsabat naman ni Molly.
"Okay. Sige. Isama nadin natin si Ryn at Lyn" sabi ko at walang kaide-ideya ang dalawa ng kambal dahil di nila naririnig ang pinaguusapan namin dito dahil andun sila sa kabilang dulo at nakikipag asaran kila Dwight.
"You're spoiling your sisters too much na, Rylee" sabi naman ni Mom
"I agree" sabat naman ni Tita Ylona. Kaya agad na sumeryoso sa pag-kain si Nala at Molly
I could say na si Mom and Tita Ylona lang ang magkasundo ung iba naman pinaplastik lang nila or nagpaplastikan lang sila. But sometimes they get along just fine, ewan ko ba sa kanila.
Oh well, who cares about those oldies' business.
"Mom. Tita. Minsan lang naman eh. Tsaka they deserve it naman eh. They showed me their grades kaya kagabi. Matataas naman lahat." I said kaya umiling naman si Mom at umirap naman si Tita Ylona.
And then kinindatan ko si Nala at Molly kaya nag-apir silang dalawa.
Nagusap-usap pa sila bago matapos ang pag-kain. At dahil hindi namin kasabay kumain ngayon si Daddy, kumakain pa rin ang iba kahit marami nang unalis sa hapag. May rule kasi kami sa hapag na kapag tapos ng kumain si Daddy ay dapat tapos na rin kami. I dont really understand that rule pero na-adapt na namin hanggang paglaki namin.
Naligo na ako at nagbihis para maihatid ang kapatid ko. Well, hindi ako papasok sa office ngayon because it's my day off. Hooray! And I have a date today actually.
Pababa ako ng hagdan ng makasalubong si Nala na paakyat habang inaayos ang necktie nya.
"I'll wait for you outside, okay? Bilisan mo na lang"
"Okay. Okay. I'm sorry, I'll just hurry up" Nala said then she hurriedly went to her room to get her things.
I stopped when I saw the door of Steven's room is opened. I peeked into his room and then I saw him sitting at his bed staring blankly at his hands while his tears are falling down. I sighed and then leave. I want to comfort him, I want to tell him that he have to forgive himself and go on with his life, but I know it's hard for him.
I sighed and went outside. I was about to open my car pero bigla akong inakbayan ni Neo.
"What's up with you?" I asked
"Pasabay ako. Tinatamad ako mag-drive eh" sabi nya sakin. I patted his head and pinch his nose hard making him scream in pain
"Kuya, not my nose" he said as he tries to get away from me
"Hay nako. Magaaway lang kayo ni Nala eh" sabi ko naman
"Hehehe. Un naman talaga balak ko eh." sabi pa nya at pumunta na sa kabilang side para sumakay.
Sumakay na rin ako at nakita ko syang kinonnect muna ang cellphone nya para makapagpatugtog.
Biglang bumukas ang pinto sa may shot gun seat at si Nala ang nagbukas nun. Kumaway at ngumiti ng nakakaasar si Neo kaya nabadtrip si Nala at pumunta na lang sa likod.
"Epal na naman. ampucha" pagmumura nito
"Watch your words" paalala ko pero inirapan nya lang ako. That's a sign na badtrip talaga sya
Neo mocked him kaya naglagay sya ng earpods at hindi na pinansin si Neo.
I already started the engine but Ethan knocked on my window. Hay, kelan ba kami makakaalis nento?
"What do you need?" I asked pagkababa ko ng bintana
"Penge ako fifty pesos, Kuya Ry, please" sabi pa nya at pareho pang nakadikit ang palad at parang nagmamakaawa.
I reached for my wallet and gave him five hundred pesos. "Oh ayan, wag ka na manghihingi sakin bukas ah. Parang di ka naman binibigyan ng baon, ikaw talaga. Layas na!"
"Thank you, Kuya. Bye. Love you" sabi nya at sumakay sa kabilang sasakyan kasabay ng kambal at si Vaughn.
"Problema nun?" tanong ni Neo
"Nanghihingi ng pera"
"Ha? Bakit pa?" tanong nya na nagtataka
"Ewan ko dun"
"Dapat di mo na binigyan nanghingi din sakin un kanina. Binigyan ko nga ng isang daan un eh"
"Aba't lokong bata un ah" I chuckled why shaking my head.
"Nala" Neo called for his sister. He called her again but she cant hear him so he tapped her knees.
As what she looks like right now mukhang kalmado na sya.
"Nanghingi ba sa'yo ng pera si Ethan?" tanong ni Neo
Napakunot naman ang nuo niya "Oo. Binigyan ko ng bente kanina. Kahapon binigyan ko un ng limang daan eh"
"Aba naman talaga binubudol tayo ng ating bunso" comment naman ni Neo na natatawa na din
"Bakit anong nangyari?" tanong ni Nala kaya inexplain naman ni Neo ang nalaman nila kaya nagtawanan kami.
Habang tumatawa si Nala ay bigla itong nag poker face "Ay wait, di pala tayo bati" sabi nito at bumalik sa pag cecellphone.
Nagkatinginan kami saglit ni Neo at natawa. Alam kong gusto nyang asarin pa si Nala pero itinigil na lang nya dahil nga't ayaw syang pansinin nito. Nagfocus na lang ako sa pagdadrive hanggang sa makarating kami sa university ay nanahimik na lang kami. Bumaba na sila at nagpaalam sakin kaya umalis din ako kaagad.
Eight-thirty pa lang ng umaga kaya nagdrive lang ako ng walang direksyon pero naalala kong bisitahin si Ate Chance kaya lumiko agad ako para puntahan ang condo nito.
"Hi ate" I greeted her as soon as she opened the door. She gave me a hug and guided me inside.
I went to her terrace where there is a small swimming pool. Umupo ako malapit doon at nilagay ang kamay ko sa tubig. I hesitated for a moment and put my hand in the air then I tried to control the water.
"It's been years since the last time I saw you used your gift" sabi ni Ate at nilapag ang tray na may lamang pagkain.
I kept my focus and tried to make a fish-like into the water, I dropped it and it appeared into a real fish.
"Wow" she said while clapping her hand.
I just smiled at her and took a sandwich from the tray.
"So how's your relationship with your fiance?"
"Hmm, we have a date later"
"Are you still trying to get to know her?"
"Yes. Pero mukhang ayaw nya talaga sakin eh. Di ko naman gusto ito, siya pa nga ang dapag magpasalamat kasi kung hindi baka na bankrupt na kumpanya nila"
Me and ate just talk for a little longer just to catch up for a little longer because everytime she goes home I dont have time to talk to her.
"Sige na, alis na ako. Call me if you need me, okay?" pagpaalam ko at lumabas na sa condo
Sumakay na ako ng elevator at nung akmang sasara na ito ay may babaeng tumatakbo at sinubukang makapasok agad.
"Wait!" she said so I tapped into the button to open the door widely "Thank you"
"Oh hey, Celene. We'll be having lunch right? Tara na" pagbati ko sa FIANCEE ko. Tumingin naman siya sakin at inirapan lang ako
"You should go alone. Busy ako"
"Oh honey, dont lie to me. Your secretary said you dont have any meetings today"
"Ano bang pakialam mo? Ayoko ngang sumama sa'yo"
This girl has been irritating the hell out of me since we've meet, kung hindi lang ako sinabihan ni Dad na I should treat her nicely, sinungitan ko na din 'to.
I just calmed myself and smiled at her.
"Okay. Enjoy your day with your girlfriend" I said as I stepped out the elevator.
Her eyes widened and tried to stop me but I just ignored her.
Bahala sya sa buhay nya.
♓