Chapter 8

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 have been a burden to him. Ang swerte mo kasi interesado siya sa'yo."

I only smiled bitterly. She really thought a little of me. Am I not likeable?

"Ano ka ba, Auntie. Mas swerte ang Laurier na 'yan kay Kaia kasi pinansin pa. Look at her! She's drop-dead gorgeous!" Kali complimented me.

Napangiti nalang ako sa kanya. She doesn't need to flatter me. Alam ko na kung ano pa ang sasabihin niya ay hinding-hindi mag-iiba ang pananaw ni Auntie sa akin. Sanay naman ako sa ganun.

"You're only saying that because you look alike. Di hamak na ang layo ng kakambal mo sa'yo," She replied. "Stop complimenting her. Baka mag-inarte."

Magsasalita pa sana si Kali pero pinigilan ko na siya. Ayokong mag-away sila dahil sa akin. Okay na ako na sa akin lang may galit si Auntie. I wouldn't let her hate on Kali as well. I know that it's impossible for her to hate my twin.

"May pupuntahan lang ako," Sabi ko at tumayo na.

"Saan ka na naman pupunta? Are you trying to escape again?" Pagpigil nito sa akin.

I sighed. "I will not escape for I will be waiting for Lev."

"You better behave yourself, Kaia. Huwag mo akong ipahiya sa marami," May diin niyang sabi habang inilibot ang mata sa paligid.

"I won't."

"Samahan na kita," Pagpigil ni Kali.

Umiling ako. "It's okay. Just stay with Auntie para may kausap siya. I won't take long."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Positive."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya habang siya naman ay nag-alinlangang bitawan ako. She then smiled a little before letting my hand go. Bahagya akong yumuko kay Auntie bago naglakad papalayo. May nakita akong bench na nakaharap sa lake kanina kaya doon ko planong pumunta. Nasa malayo pa lang ay nakita ko na ito. Buti nalang bakante. I sat on the bench and took a deep breath.

It was suffocating at kung hindi pa man ako lumayo ay baka sumabog na ako. Buti nalang nandun si Kali. She could calm our Aunt's nerves. Kaya madaling tumatanda kasi palaging nagmamaldita. Akala niya naman ikinayaman niya yan.

"Kaia?" Someone called my name.

I turned around and saw the man who's been labeled as the President's son.

"Seb!" I smiled. "Nandito ka rin?"

He smiled shyly. "I thought that I would meet you here. Hindi naman ako nagkamali."

I know damn well that he likes me. Hindi ako retard para hindi makuha yun. He's way too obvious that the other girls started hating me for it.

"Is the seat taken?" Turo niya sa tabi ko.

"No. Please. Sit down," Sabi ko.

"Thanks," he said and sat beside me. "Are you alone?"

Umiling ako. "No. I'm actually with my sister and Aunt. Sa katunayan nandun sila o." Turo ko sa may kalayuan.

"Oh. So kayo pala yung may dalang van," Tango niya.

"I know right. Picnic lang naman sana pero parang magc-camp out na," I scoffed. "My Auntie is kinda' extra and she won't settle for less."

He nodded. "I understand. Maybe because that's her comfort zone. Hindi siguro sanay sa picnic?"

"Maybe. Wala akong narinig na lumalabas yan ng bahay para magsaya. She's usually busy for work. I can only imagine how her childhood went," Sabi ko.

"And she's the reason why you are here now," He added. "It must have took a lot of hardwork."

Napatango lang ako. I wouldn't disregard her hardwork though. Nabanggit sa akin ni Daddy noon na si Tita ang naging breadwinner simula pagkabata. Maybe that's why she's like that. Her childhood was stolen from her. They all rely on her because of the fact that she's the eldest. Pero kahit anong gawin kong pag-intindi sa kanya, it wouldn't make her right to treat me like how she's treating me. Hindi ko rin masabi na kaya niya ginagawa sa akin ito to make me stronger. It's not encouraging, it's degrading.

"Let's change the topic," I said. "So, have you found your match yet?"

"Well, I did but it's really hard getting through her," Sagot niya.

I know that she's refering to me. All I could do was to act stupid.

"Why?"

"It's because she's like building a wall in between us. Parang ayaw niyang papasukin ako," He replied shyly.

Unapproachable nga siguro ako gaya ng sabi nila. What can I say? Hindi ko alam kung paano lapitan ang tao. Heck, hindi siguro ako magsasalita kapag hindi ako lalapitan.

"Kaia!" Someone called my name.

Napalingon ako at saka ko na nakita si Lev. He's waving his hand to me while holding a bouquet on the other.

Binalik ko yung tingin ko kay Seb. He's looking sternly at Lev, confused of who the man might be.

"I have to go, Seb. Nice chatting with you!" Paalam ko.

Hindi ko na hinintay yung sagot niya at agad lumapit kay Lev. He's smiling from ear to ear as if happy to see me. Pero alam ko naman na malaki lang talaga yung ngiti niya kasi may atraso sa akin.

"Sorry," Sabi niya pagkalapit ko. "Late na naman ako and a gentleman shouldn't make a lady wait "

"As if anything would change," Sagot ko. "Besides, I understand that you have your priorities as well."

"Thank you," Nahihiya siyang ngumiti. "Nga pala. For you," He handed me the flowers.

"You don't have to," Iling ko.

"Ngumiti ka. Nakatingin sa atin ang lahat," He whispered.

Napakurap ako. Nakalimutan ko na kailangan pala naming mag-charades ngayon. I bit my lower lip and smiled at him.

"Thank you, Lev," I replied and took the flower from him. Inamoy ko pa ito and I wasn't disappointed with the smell. Roses will always be romantic.

"Shall we take a stroll?" He asked.

"We shall," I nodded.

Iginiya niya yung kamay niya na para bang sinasabing una akong maglakad. I quickly caught his message and took a step forward. We walked side by side as we felt the stares of all of the people.

"I believe ikaw lang mag-isa ngayon," I started.

"Hindi ka nagkakamali. I am alone today. My sisters are taking care of the business," He replied.

"Kumusta pala Mom mo? Is she getting better already?" I asked.

"Okay naman si Mommy. Although she's still in bed but she's getting better. Siguro dala na rin sa gamot niya," He replied. "Ikaw? I bet you're with your Aunt."

Tinuro ko yung van na nasa makayo. "Kita mo 'yan? That's my Aunt's definition of a picnic," Iling ko. "And you're right, I'm with my Aunt. Kasama rin namin kapatid ko."

"May kapatid ka pala? Hindi ko yan alam ha," he gasped. "There's a lot of things that I don't know about you. I think I really need to know you more."

"Well she just arrived from abroad noong nakaraang araw. If you want I can introduce you to her," Aya ko.

"Wow. You're introducing me to your family na?" He chuckled.

"Why not? That would be a good publicity stunt. Ayaw mo nun?" Inilibot ko ang aking mga mata. "Sa dami ng tao, I'm sure kakalat ang balita."

"Kakalat din ang balita that you were entertaining the President's son?" Taas-kilay niyang tanong.

"What?"

"I saw you earlier with Sebastian. That was risky, Kaia."

Napakurap ako. "That... Are you jealous?"

"No!" Iling niya. "I'm just worried of what the others might say."

"Siya ang lumapit sa akin. I don't wanna be rude to him kaya ko siya kinausap. It was harmless anyway. May kalayuan din kami sa isa't-isa," I explained.

"Well, I must say that you're not really rude," Tango niya.

Tumaas ang magkabila kong kilay. "How can you say so?"

"You did helped me when I was drunk the other night. Hindi ko 'yun inaasahan mula sa'yo," He said.

Eh? Tinutulungan ko raw siya? I don't even remember helping him, except for this setup that we have now.

"I never did," Iling ko. "What are you talking about?"

Napahinto siya at nilingon ako. "What? It wasn't you?"

"Hindi ako. You're probably just so drunk that you thought it was me," Sagot ko. "Teka! Baka may nakakita sa'yo?!"

"I thought it was you," Nguso niya.

"Lev!" Hinawakan ko siya sa magkabilang balikat. "Paano kung may nakakita sa'yo na may kasamang ibang babae? And you were drunk! I don't want another issue!" I shouted at him but in a whisper manner.

"If there was edi sana tayo na ang pinag-usapan ng lahat ngayon," Sabi niya.

I look around us. May kanya-kanyang mundo ang mga tao. It seems like it never did got them. Mabuti namang at walang nakaalam. I would never know what to do kung nangyari man yun.

"Alright," Sagot ko at binitawan siya. "But whoever that person is, na tumulong sa'yo, sana hindi siya magsalita. Wala naman siguro kayong ginawang masama."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Wala no! I have dignity!" Sigaw niya sabay takip sa kanyang katawan.

"I'm just making sure, Lev. We don't want a child ruining our plan," Iling ko.

"Hindi nga! Hindi ko magagawa 'yun!" Iling niya. "I respect women, okay? Kahit lasing pa ako."

I smiled in amusement. "Are you really?"

"Yes!"

I nodded. "Okay. I believe you."

Gaya ng sabi ko, Lev was raised by women. Of course he was raised right. It's also one thing why I chose him.

"Anyway, you wanna meet my family?" I asked. "O mamaya na?"

"I've met your Auntie but I not your sister. I bet she looks like you," Sabi niya.

"Of course she does. Kapatid ko nga. Alangan namang magkamukha ng kapitbahay namin," Iling ko.

"I hope she doesn't get your attitude," Ngisi niya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Are you insulting me right in front of my face?"

"Joke lang," Ngisi niya. "Ang bait mo kaya."

"Ewan ko sa'yo," Iling ko.

I guided him towards our tent where I see Kali's back facing us. Nasa loob siguro si Auntie ng van. Naiinitan siguro. Knowing her, maarte yun.

"Kali!" I called her.

Lumingon siya sa akin at ngumiti. "Kaia! What took you so long--" Napahinto siya nang makita yung kasama ko.

Gulat na gulat siya sa nakita. Napalingon ako kay Lev at ganun din ang reaksyon sa mukha niya. He's confused. Magkakakilala ba sila?