"I see that you were having fun," Sabi ni Lev sa akin.
"I can't say no to him. Anak ng Presidente. At isa pa, everyone was looking at me. Alangan namang ire-reject ko siya," I defended myself.Lev and I are both sitting in the table with foods in our plates. Si Kali? Hindi ko na alam kung nasaan siya. I didn't bother looking for her kasi naging busy na din ako."I didn't say you should have rejected him," Iling niya. "I just thought that we should stick together.""Right," I nodded. "I'm sorry."Dapat pala hindi na ako nag-entertain ng mga lalaki. I should have been pretending that Lev got my interest and my attention should only be his. Same goes to him. Ganun din dapat."It's fine. Gaya ng sabi mo, bastos din tingnan kong umayaw ka kanina."Tumango lang ako at sumubo ulit ng pagkain. Masarap naman yung pagkain pero wala akong gana. Sayang kasi kung hindi ko kakainin. Mukhang mamahalin pa naman."Anyway, hindi ka yata late?" I asked."Oh. That." He nodded. "I had to take care of my Mom. Nasa ospital pa din kasi and may lakad ang dalawa kong kapatid kaya I waited for them to come back at saka na ako nakapunta dito.""How is she? Ano ang diagnosis ng doktor?" I asked."My sisters won't tell me. Pero sigurado akong hindi maganda. They would've told me sooner if it wasn't that serious," Sagot niya."Why so? Hindi ba dapat alam ko kung ano yung sakit ng ina mo, no matter how complicated her condition is?" I asked confusely.Kung totoo mang may malubhang sakit ang Mommy niya, may karapatan siyang malaman ito. Anak pa rin siya kahit ibaliktad man ang mundo."Ayaw nilang mag-aalala ako," He sighed. "You know that they still treat me like a baby brother, right?""Because you are," I shook my head. "I understand why they have to do that but that doesn't mean kailangan nilang itago ito mula sayo.""Forget it. Kapag nalaman ko baka hindi ko makayanan. My sisters know me best at alam na nila siguro kapag nalaman ko ay mababaliw ako," He sighed. "Anyway, you don't have to worry."I nodded. "Okay. Sabi mo e.""Umiinom ka ba?" He asked na ikinatango ko. "I want to drink something hard. If you want to join me, nandun lang ako." Tinuro niya yung bar counter."You go ahead. Kakain muna ako."Tumango siya at ngumiti bago ako tinalikuran. I feel sad for him. Everything must have been hard for him these days. Nandun yung pressure na dapat siyang ikasal ngayon. Idagdag mo ba yung kondisyon ng ina niya. Everything is happening all at once and it must have been too much for him to handle. But still, he stood strong and managed to put a smile on his face. I envy him though. Nakayanan pa niyang ngumiti kahit andami na niyang hinaharap. Ako nga hindi ko na kayang ngumiti. I don't know it just seems so hard for me. Besides, I don't see any reason for me to smile.LEV'S POVHabang papalapit pa lang ako sa bar counter ay nakangiti na agad sa akin yung bartender. I smiled back at him as he wave his hand to my direction."My friend, how are you?" Tanong niya sa akin nang makalapit ako."Everything is not on their right places," Iling ko. "Alam mo naman siguro ang nangyari."The smile on his fave vanished at napalitan ito ng pag-alala. "I've heard. How's Tita?""The doctor said that she's stable for now. She's conscious though, kaya lang nanghihina pa rin," I replied.Hindi mawala sa isip ko kung paano pinilit ni Mommy yung ngiti niya nung nagpaalam ako kanina. She doesn't want me to worry, gaya ng mga kapatid ko. I just don't understand kung bakit bini-baby pa rin nila ako kahit matanda na ako."Ano daw sakit ni Tita?" Andrew, the bartender, asked."Ayaw sabihin nina Ate. I know that Mom told them not to tell me. Wala akong magagawa kundi respetuhin ang gusto nila. As if may magagawa pa ako," I smirked."Don't worry bro. I got you," He chuckled. "How hard ba ang gusto mo.""Not that hard, Andrew. Nasa party pa ako," I chuckled."Okay."Iniwan na ako ni Andrew para ihanda yung inumin ko. I look around and was welcomed with fancy lights. Kung wala lang sa ospital si Mommy, magagawa ko pang mag-enjoy sa party.Bumalik na si Andrew dala yung inumin ko. Dahil sa kagustuhang maramdam ng manhid, hindi ko na namalayan na naparami na pala ang nainom ko. Hindi naman ako napigilan ni Andrew kasi marami na din siyang inaasekaso. Napangiti nalang ako nang maalalang sinabihan ko pa si Andrew na hindi ako maglalasing. I ended up feeling tipsy.Mula sa malayo ay nakita kong papalapit si Kaia sa akin. Napangiti nalang ako nang makitang ibang damit na naman ang suot niya."What took you so long?" I asked. "Inubos mo pa ba lahat ng pagkain sa buffet table bago ka makalapit sa akin?"Kumunot yung noo niya na para bang naguguluhan. She even squinted her eyes bago lumapit sa akin at umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko."Don't judge me," Turo ko sa kanya. "I know I'm messed up. Don't worry, I won't make a scene."Napapikit ako nang mariin. Damn! Nahihilo na ako. Bakit pa kasi ako uminom nang marami kung hindi ko naman pala kaya. Dahil sa kalasingan, muntikan ko nang mahalikan yung sahig. Buti nalang nahawakan ako ni Kaia sa balikat."Are you okay?" Tanong niya sa akin at pinaupo pabalik."I'm fine. Just tipsy," Sagot ko kahit alam ko naman sa sarili na lasing na ako."I'll take you home. Saan ba bahay niyo?" She asked.Kumunot yung noo ko nang makita yung pag-alala sa mukha niya. Oh? Nag-aalala ba ito sa akin? Akala ko wala siyang puso?"Mukhang ikaw yata ang lasing," I chuckled. "Are you okay?"Tinuro ko pa yung mukha niya. She seemed surprised with my words. Ano bang nakain nito at naging mabait?Teka. Lasing lang talaga siguro ako. Tama. Imagination ko ang lahat ng ito. Bukas na bukas mamalditahan na naman ako nito. I'll take advantage of her being good to me."Ituro mo nalang sa akin kung nasaan yung sainyo. Better yet, tell me your address. Ihahatid na kita," Presenta niya.Tinulungan niya akong tumayo at inalalayan. Hindi ko na din pinansin ang mga tao sa paligid. I didn't have time for I'm too dizzy to do so.Naramdaman kong pinasok niya ako sa sasakyan and so I told her the address. She started the engine and started driving the car. At this point alam kong kong makakatulog ako sa byahe kaya hindi ko na pinigilan ang sarili at natulog na.KAIA'S POVI couldn't find Lev anywhere. Ang sabi niya kanina na sa bar counter lang daw muna siya. Kumain lang ako at pagkatingin ko wala na siya. Hindi ko na din makita si Kali. Paniguradong umuwi na yun dahil sa pagkabagot. I frowned. Boring na nga't lahat-lahat, iniwan pa nila ako. Uwi nalang siguro din ako.I was about to walk out when someone held my wrist. I looked back and saw the same guy who halted me earlier. The President's son, Sebastian."Kaia," He called me. "Uuwi ka na?" I nodded. "Oo. Wala naman akong ibang gagawin dito.""But the party is not over yet," Sabi niya. "Please stay a little longer."I hesitated. It looks like he really wanted me to stay. Pero mukhang ang kabaliktaran ang gusto ng karamihan. All the women were eyeing me as if I did something bad. I sighed before facing Seb."I would love to stay a bit longer. But I really must go. Something came up," I lied.I know that it was a lame excuse pero wala na talaga akong maisip. Alangan namang sabihin ko na ayaw ng lahat na nandito ako. Isa pa, kanina ko pa napapansin na nagpapansin yung ibang babae sa kanya pero siya sa akin lang ang tingin. Hindi makakaporma yung iba sa kanya."Okay." He nodded. "Can I at least ask for your number?""What for?" I asked.Napakamot siya sa batok niya na tila nahihiya. "Ano... I'd like to contact you personally if there will be another party. If you don't mind."Napangiti nalang ako sa kanya. What I good excuse of wanting to see me again, Sebastian."Sure," I nodded.Kumuha ako nang calling card at inabot sa kanya. Kita ko yung galak sa mga mata niya and I couldn't understand it. It's just paper and it made him so happy. May mga tao talagang mababaw ang ligaya and I couldn't blame him for it. We all have different levels of happiness. As for me, hindi ko alam kung makakaramdam din ba ako ng galak.Nagpaalam na kami ni Sebastian sa isa't-isa. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makalabas mula sa venue. It will always be suffocating like how it was previously. I then decided to go home para makapagpahinga na."Kaia, I met the man of my dreams!" tili ni Kali pagkapasok ko sa silid namin."I'm tired, Kali," iling ko at napahiga sa kama."Sa bagay, nakakapagod naman talagang makipag-usap ng napakaraming lalaki. Yieeee!" Tili niya. "Ang ganda mo talaga tonight. Haba ng hair."I chuckled. "Kung maganda ako, maganda ka rin no. Magkamukha lang kaya tayo.""Magkamukha nga pero iba-iba naman charisma natin no," She said. "Ah basta! Nakakakilig talaga Kaia.""Sino ba yan ha? Baka fvckboy yan ha? Naku kapag nalaman kong fvckboy nga yan malalagot ka talaga sa akin," I said."Yes Mommy," Irap niya. "Hindi ko na nga nakuha pangalan niya. It was complicated.""You never even got the chance to ask for his name? Paano mo siya mahahanap?" I asked."Don't worry, Twinnie. I believe that it won't be the last time I'll see him. And when I do meet him, ipapakilala ko siya sayo.""Di nga?"She nodded. "Oo nga!""Okay. I respect your judgment," I said and closed my eyes.Ako yung dapat ikasal pero mukhang si Kali ang naunang nakakita ng nagugustuhan. Ang bilis naman niyang makakita ng crush.KALI'S POV"Bakit ang bait mo?" He asked me as I assist him going up to his condo unit."Do I need a reason to be kind?" Iling ko. Konti nalang mararating na namin yung unit niya. I knew that I wouldn't let him be in that party, drunk. Baka ano pa ang gagawin niya. Let's just say I'm a little interested in him. He told me kasi tungkol sa mom niya and I felt sympathy towards him. It must have been so hard for him. Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit nasa party siya at hindi niya kasama Mommy niya. But then again, maybe he wants to divert his attention to something else. However, he ended up drunk, thinking the same problem over and over again."I just didn't expect this from you," He chuckled. "Girls like me still exists," I replied and we both stopped in front of his door. "Ano yung pin?"Kumalas siya sa hawak ko at pagewang-gewang na lumapit sa pintuan. He started pressing the numbers which I quickly looked away. I know privacy and I don't want to take advantage of him being drunk. I have
LEV'S POV"Are you gonna be married or not?" My sister asked.I woke up with a terrible headache. Pagkabukas ko pa ng mga mata ko, mukha na ng mga kapatid ko ang bumungad sa akin. They opened the curtains which light made its way to my room. They know the pin to my condo unit so they can barge in any time they want."Good morning too," I replied. "Anong oras na?""It's ten in the morning, Lev. Uminom ka ba kagabi?" One sister asked."Oo," I replied.Kaya pala masakit yung ulo. I did drank last night. Pero ang sabi ko naman na hindi ako magpapakalasing. I ended up doing otherwise. I let mysel carried away with the emotions I was feeling.Come to think of it, someone did helped me last night. Paniguradong hindi ko kayang umuwi na ako lang mag-isa. Knowing my condition, I would end up lying on the streets if I were left alone. Sino nga ba yung kasama ko kagabi?"You are a potential wife," I heard my voice.Kumunot yung noo ko. Eh? Potential wife? Sino naman ang pagsasabihin ko nun? I tri
It's been ten minutes past one and Lev is not here yet. Sa aming dalawa, siya talaga ang palaging hinihintay. I should be mad about his frequent tardiness but it would always remind me that he have other problems to face as well. Gaya nung nakaraan, I took consideration of the fact that he may be taking care of his mother."Wala pa ba ang batang Laurier?" My Aunt asked.May picnic nga talaga at kadalasang nandito ay yung mga kasali sa Marriage Season. May tent ang Dorchner kung saan may mesa at upuan sa ilalim nito. We also brought our van para sa ibang kakailanganin. We brought our cook para magluto sa aming kakainin. Gusto ko sanang simple lang. Okay lang naman din sa akin na ako ang magluluto. But our Aunt insisted to be grand. Ano na lang daw sasabihin ng iba kapag nakita nilang simple lang yung picnic namin. They would think that we couldn't afford such luxury. Na namumulubi na kami."Wala pa, Auntie. He must be attending his Mom," Sagot ko.Napailing siya. "Poor boy. It must hav
"Kali?" I called her name pero na kay Lev pa rin yung mga mata niya."Woah!" Lev whispered to my ear. "Magkamukha nga talaga kayo.""I failed to mention that she's my twin so," I replied."Hi... Kali, right?" Bati ni Lev. "I'm Lev Laurier."Napakurap si Kali nang mailahad ni Lev yung kamay niya sa kanya. She bit her lower lip, hesitating to shake his hand."Laurier?" Tanong niya at lumingon sa akin. "Siya ba yung hinintay natin?"I nodded. "Yes. Siya nga.""Oh," She sounded disappointed. "N-Nice to meet you, Lev. Kali nga pala. Kakambal ni Kaia."Nakipagkamayan si Kali and Lev could only smile wider. Tumaas ang magkabila kong kilay. Kali isn't usually like this. She's bubbly, even though she's an introvert. Kapag may pinakilala akong kaibigan sa kanya ay dinadaldalan niya ito. Nakakapanibago lang. "I see that you're an opposite," Komento ni Lev.Napalingon ako sa kanya habang nakakunot yung noo. "What do you mean?""Well, alam mo naman siguro yun. Your tongue is sharp while she's sof
"What's going on?" I asked Lev the moment we're left alone. Auntie and Kali went home earlier kasi sabi ko gusto ko munang kausapin si Lev. Auntie didn't like the sound of me being alone with Lev. Buti nalang tinulungan ako ni Lev at sinabing importante lang talaga ang pag-uusapan namin.As both parties bade their goodbye's, hindi nakatakas sa aking mga mata ang makahulugang tinginan nina Kali at Lev. At some point, I might have an idea why they're acting like that. Ayoko lang mag-conclude. Baka magkamali ako."What?" Tanong ni Lev."Duh. Those smiles and meaningful eye-contact," I rolled my eyes. "Seriously, Lev. Anong meron sa inyo ng kakambal ko?""Yan nga pala ang iku-kuwento ko sa'yo," He smiled. "It was Kali who helped me when I was drunk. Akala ko ikaw kasi magkamukha kayo."Tumaas ang magkabila kong kilay. "Si Kali yun?"He nodded. "She confirmed it herself after I asked.""In front of Auntie?" "Oo."Nasapo ko ang aking noo. Kaya pala. Let alone that Auntie likes Kali more t
"I-Is Lev gonna be coming over?" Tanong sa akin ni Kali.I'm in our kitchen, baking for our cake. Magb-birthday na kasi kami ni Kali bukas. It's actually my first time celebrating my birthday. Usually kasi lumalayo ako dito kapag birthday namin. Maliban sa hindi naman ako paghahandaan ni Auntie, I also don't want to remind myself how lonely I am. Wala akong mga kaibigan para i-greet ako. Not even my employees know. Si Kali lang yung nag-g-greet sa akin. It was enough though. Kahit through chats and calls lang."I didn't tell him," Sagot ko."Why not?" Nguso niya. "Isn't he like, so close to you?""I don't tell people my birthday," Iling ko. "Why not?""Because I don't celebrate," I smiled sadly. "And besides, baka busy siya bukas. He's always beside his mom.""But you should atleast invite him. Baka magtampo yun sa'yo," Sabi niya I chuckled. "Hindi na yun bata para magtampo.""Can you just invite him?" She insisted. "Madaming handa si Auntie. How are we gonna finish all of it?""Ma
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