I didn't expect the number of visitors that we have. Ang sabi ni Auntie na sa dinner daw yung celebration. I thought it's only gonna be us. I mean it's been awhile since I celebrated my birthday with family. Nagulat nalang ako na marami nang nakaparada sa harap ng bahay namin. I heard violins playing. Even the chattering of the people, I can hear it from where I am now."Happy Birthday, Kali! It's so nice to finally meet you," Biglang may lumapit sa akin kaya nagulat ako. "Your Auntie told me a lot of things about you. How's life being an architect?"She must've mistaken me for Kali. Hindi naman nakakagulat yun kasi magkamukhang-magkamukha kaming dalawa. Even I sometimes mistaken myself for my twin on pictures. Well, sometimes."It's Kaia po," I corrected her. Napawi yung ngiti niya sa labi na para bang nadismaya. "Oh. The disappointment," iling niya. "Oh well, happy birthday anyways."Hindi na niya hinintay yung sagot ko at agad tumalikod na. The disrespect which I expected from eve
I found myself on the bridge. Don't get me wrong. Hindi naman ako tatalon. It's just healing when I saw the place. Mahangin at walang masyadong tao. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako napunta dito. Hindi ko din alam kung nasaan na ako. I just drove my car, not knowing the directions until I found myself here. I didn't stop my tears from crawling down my cheeks. No one will judge me here. Gusto ko lang maibsan yung bigat sa aking dibdib. Life was never by my side and I guess it's too much for me to handle now. I look down the river and noticed how calm the current flow is. Pumikit ako nang mariin at huminga nang malalim. I knew that after this, I'll have to face everyone at the party. Hindi nga lang ako sigurado kung babalik ba ako ngayon or I l'll have to stay away from home muna. "I say broken bones. But death? Impossible."May biglang nagsalita kaya dali-dali kong pinahiran ang aking mga luha at nilingon yung tao. She's a she. She's wearing a black hoodie and without a make up on her fa
"Shots pa!" Abot ni Carol sa akin ng baso.I smiled at her and took the glass. Agad ko namang nilagok yung laman at inilagay sa mesa. Carol is already drunk. Napapansin ko na panay lang yung ngiti niya, tumatawa, at nage-ingles na. "Kali," Tawag ko sa kakambal. "It's okay for you to stop drinking."Kinuha ko mula sa kanya yung baso pero binawi niya naman agad. Same as how Carol is doing now, mas dumoble si Kali. She can't even open her eyes. I told her that it's okay na hindi siya iinom but she still insisted."Kaya ko pa, Kaia. I'm your big sister, okay?" She smiled, half-awake."Wow! You are younger than her?" Gulat na tanong ni Carol. "Why do you look older?""Because I'm not the type who smiles a lot?" Irap ko. "Sige na, Kali. Tama na.""Ayoko!" She resisted. Bago pa man niya mainom yung alak ay kinuha na ni Lev yung baso at siya ang uminom nito. Napanguso nalang si Kali at sinamaan ng tingin yung lalaki."Tama na," Lev said, full of authority."Bakit ayaw niyo akong painumin?
I stared at Kali's sleeping face from the mirror. Natutulog pa rin siya hanggang ngayon. I'm sure that this would be her first hangover. I'm worried kasi alam kong sobrang sakit ng first hangover niya kaya I prepared a pain reliever right by my side.Will everything be okay? Did I make the right decision? Letting Lev like Kali wouldn't cause any conflicts, right? I'm okay with it naman. Kung may makakakita man silang magkasama, then they would've thought that it was me. Except for Auntie, of course. She can differentiate us from one another.Inayos ko na yung buhok ko at naglagay ng kolorete sa mukha. I'm going to work today. Even though I am the boss and that I could choose to go and not to, I still chose to go. Kasi ayokong manatili dito sa bahay. Nakakabagot at nakakasakal."Kaia?" I heard Kali called my name.Napalingon ako sa kanya. She's trying to sit back up while holding her head. I can see how she flinched the moment she opened her eyes."You can stay in bed," Sabi ko at nila
Lev stared at Sebastian with knitted brows. Marahil ay hindi niya naintindihan kung bakit kailangan itong sabihin ng lalaki sa harap niya. I, too, am surprised as well. It's a no-brainer that Lev and I are basically seeing each other. Alam naman siguro yan ng lahat."Kaia's not entertaining anyone aside from me," Sabi ni Lev."I'm not saying that I'm stealing him from you. Tinanong mo ako kung anong klaseng babae ang gusto ko. I am merely answering your question," depensa ni Seb sa sarili."I'm just making sure, pare. Know your limitations," pabalang na sabi ni Lev."You are so possessive of her. Bakit? Sinagot ka na ba niya?" Ngisi ni Seb so I had to step in."Tama na," I halted them. "Please not in my shop. You are scaring the customers away."Napalingon ako sa paligid and I guess I was wrong about scaring the customers away. Sa katunayan nga, nakaharap phones nila sa amin, waiting for the drama to arise."Looks like your customers loves the drama," Iling ni Seb. "Don't worry, Kaia.
"I am so sorry of how we acted earlier, hija. Akala kasi namin..." She paused. "It won't happen again."Nasa harap ko ngayon Mommy ni Seb while he is standing behind me. Papauwi na kasi ako. Ayokong maabutan ng hating-gabi kasi delikado na sa byahe. I overthink a lot and I am already thinking of a worst case scenario."It's okay, Tita. We all make mistakes," I smiled assuringly.Napanguso siya bago ako hinawakan sa pisngi. "Why can't it be you? Gusto ko ng manugang na katulad mo."Napangiti ako at hinawakan yung kamay niya sa pisngi ko. "I'm sure there's someone for Seb, Tita. Maybe someone better?""Who could be better than you?" Nguso niya. "Osya. Mag-ingat ka sa byahe. Are you sure you're going to be okay? You can stay here for the night.""I'll be fine po. Thanks for the offer.""Okay," She nodded. "I'm sure this is not the last time that we will be seeing each other. See you soon!""Until then, Tita," I smiled. Nag-beso muna kami bago siya tuluyang nagpaalam at iniwan kami ni Se
"Kaia? Kaia! Open the door this instance!"Isang galit na boses ang gumising sa akin. I could tell that the sun did not rise yet. Hindi pa kasi sumisilip yung liwanag sa aking bintana. I assume that it's probably dawn. "If you don't open this door, sisirain ko to!" Sigaw ni Auntie.I groaned and forced myself up. Pagbubuksan ko naman talaga siya so she doesn't have to resort to violence. Besides, ano ba ang kinaputok ng butsi niya sa mga oras na ito?I opened the door and saw my Aunt fuming in anger. Kinusot ko ang aking mga mata. Nasa likuran niya at si Kali who still couldn't look at me in the eyes. Sa kabilang gilid naman ni Auntie ay yung katulong sa bahay dala yung susi ng pinto ko. Sisirain daw niya pintuan? May susi naman palang dala."Good morning, Auntie," I greeted her."Good morning? There's nothing good about my morning!" Nay diin niyang sabi.Kumunot yung noo ko. "Why?" Napalingon ako kay Kali na agad umiwas ng tingin. I nodded. "Is it because I let your favorite niece s
"I'm really sorry, Carol. I really must go," Paumanhin ko sa kasama."It's okay, Kaia. I understand."I tried so hard not to answer calls. I turned off my phone when Carol and I were talking— well, most of the time it was I who was talking. Palaging may tumatawag and it's usually Auntie or Kali. I don't want to talk to them pa kahit gaano pa kaimportante yung tawag. But my shop's landline rang. I thought it was from a customer. It turns out that it was my Auntie. Ibababa ko na sana yung tawag kaso she halted my by saying that the President invited us to lunch. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ang sabi ni Auntie na dapat umuwi na ako.I feel sorry for Carol. Kasi iiwan ko siya. She's been with me the whole time, listening to my rants. Although I noticed how off she's been acting. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't seem okay," Sabi ko sa kanya.Umiling siya. "I'm okay, Kaia. You don't have to worry." She forced a smile.Tumango nalang ako, not fully convinced. "I'll call you later after