"Congratulations, anak!" Mama told me. It's the graduation day, sadly they couldn't make it earlier. "We're proud of you." she smiled at me.
"Thanks, Ma. How are you, our stalls? All going well?" Mama just started working at the market, our old stalls were old enough that they broke, that's why Mama's working at the market which is much nearer to our house now.
"All fine, Selena. Come on and we'll eat and celebrate for your success." she told me and we went to our kitchen.
I inhaled the good aroma of pizza, bread, spaghetti, and some other Filipino dishes on our table. I thought of joking Mama. "Ma, I don't want those. Please remove them in front of me." I joked. Her expression became sad and that made me regret saying those words so I immediately hugged her and apologized sincerely. She pinched my waist and went out to call Papa.
I can't even say it, words can't explain how happy I am right now. Our food may not be as grand as those for others, but it's enough because it makes me happy. Plenty or empty, I won't mind, as long as I'm with them, it will be all right.
"Ma, Pa, where's Keana? And Alistair?" I asked. Keana's my twin sister, we're identical twins, I came out first. Alistair is our baby prince, he's grown up now but it doesn't matter to us. He's a third-year college student right now while Keana is already working, she just started, actually. She studied before me, so, that's it.
"Keana, as usual, working. It isn't a working day, but she went to the company because her boss called her." Papa explained.
"I've heard that Alistair's being a playboy. That kid, it's a good thing he is still an achiever. As long as he can still study like how he does effortlessly, then he should be fine. " we laughed. I can tell by my self that Alistair looks good. The word handsome itself isn't even enough for him. And yes, it won't shock us if we'll hear about girls who cried because of him. I pity every girl who'll fall inlove with that kid, you see.
Playboy.
I nodded and continued eating. Tomorrow, I'll help Mama. We're selling vegetables at the market. Actually, it's only Mama. Because it's Papa who grows vegetables we'll sell and eat. There's a hut in our field, and that hut is where Papa stays sometimes whenever he can't come home. The hut was built beside the field, it would tire him if he'll come here and there every single day. Yes. Our field, our land but our house was built here so we won't be too far from the universities. One jeepney ride and, ta-da!
I presented to wash the dishes and rested after I did. I'm really thankful that I graduated. So now it's only Alistair who's studying, just him now.
I sighed and lied down the bed. I opened my Facebook and saw my blockmates' and batch,ates' post. There are gifts, huge celebrations, and such. I witnessed how classy looking they are but I didn't feel any bit of sympathy for my self. I saw the pictures. I saw how they were alone. That isn't happy. That's not happy if I'm the one to be asked. They're alone, they're the one I'm sympathizing.
I dropped my phone on the desk and sighed. I immediately fell asleep due to tiredness. I woke up and of course it's morning already. I stood up and saw Keana sleeping on the top of our double-deck. She looks like me, I look like her. We're identical twins, after all. That's why we both agreed not to have a single mirror inside our room.
I went out of our room, and strode off towards the kitchen. I saw Alistair in front of the mirror looking at his, wait...
Kiss marks?
"S-sis! Good morning." he moved drunkly and tried to cover the kiss marks that I have already seen.
"Good morning." I said. I pulled his earlobe and he nearly screamed loudly, in pain. "I'm telling you, playboy. Once you meet your karma, huh. I'm warning you now. You'll regret everything." I threatened him and released my grip on his already red ears.
"Big sis, it's not my fault. Besides, they are the one chasing me. What can I do?" the brat even got the guts to smile at me.
I turned my back against him and went in front of the sink to brush my teeth. "Once the tables turned and you're the one played by a girl, I swear Finn Alistair, no crying, okay?" I was looking at the mirror in front of me so I saw how he rolled his eyes.
"Sis, chill. I know what I'm doing." he leaned at the table and took a sip from his mug. "Besides, what's the use of this," he held his face, "if I won't use it to make them chase me?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Alistair." I washed my face after that.
"Sis, I can manage." he told me and gave me a smirk. Now I know. Just a smirk and girls will do almost everything just so he'll notice them.
I went to the market and headed to our stalls, I saw Mama happily fixing her vegetables. I smiled and went to pretend that I'm a buyer.
"How much for the tomatoes?" I asked. Mama's not looking at me, she's focused on the calculator now.
"No pranking, Selena." she laughed and looked at me. "What brings you here?"
"Ma, I'll help." I told her. She agreed, so I did.
It was a tiring day. I don't know, maybe it's really tired standing? It was already dusk when I went home with Mama. Keana arrived before us, she was already eating when we just got home. Alistair followed us, sweating heavily. I saw another kiss mark, and another one. On his jaw, and his... neck. He kissed Mama's cheek and went to his room. We all shook our heads in unison.
I started eating and me and Keana talked about tomorrow. I have to work, I have to look for a job. I need work, I have to. Everything's settled. I just have to apply, tomorrow.
I got jealous while washing the dishes when Keana told me about her handsome and sexy boss. How about my soon-to-be boss? Oh God, I won't mind even if he's in his late 40's already. Wrinkled, old, fat, those stuff doesn't matter, as long as I'm gettin paid, that's fine.
I studied and I'll work for work, not to emtertain men. I'm not that ugly and I know it myself. But I'll work, besides, I'm not planning to and I don't want to marry someone. I'm a bit experienced but I can't fully understand love, how about when it's about marriage?
I sighed and prayed.
I hope I'll get accepted at a decent company to work in. And please give me a decent-paying boss.