Chapter 9

"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 soft-spoken," Sagot niya.

"True," Tango ko.

I'm not gonna lie. Kali and I are contradicting. If I am black, she's white. If she's the day, I am the night. Ganun lang. Gaya ng sabi ni Lev, soft-spoken si Kali. Yung tipong parang mama mo na kung makipagkwento ka sa kanya. She makes sure that no one gets hurt with her choice of words. I, on the other hand, could be very blunt and rude.

"Nasa loob ba si Auntie?" I asked.

"Oo. Papalabasin ko ba?"

I nodded at her where she nodded back. Sinulyapan niya muna si Lev bago kami tinalikuran. She then went inside the van to get our Auntie.

"Why does she feels familiar?" Biglang tanong sa akin ni Lev.

"Kasi magkamukha kami?" Iling ko.

"No. Hindi. The way she speaks. Magkatunog nga yung boses niyo pero magkaiba naman sa paraan niyong magsalita. Have we met before?" Kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"Now that you mentioned, Kali did seemed off," Sagot ko.

"Ano?" He asked. "What's off about her?"

Have they really met before? Sa lahat ng tao, ako ang mas nakakakilala kay Kali. Alam kong nab-bother siya sa presensya ni Lev. With all these questions im my head, I'd rather ask Kali about it.

"Wala," Iling ko. "Baka nagkakamali lang ako."

"Oh come on, Kaia. Tell me!" Nguso niya.

"Ew! What's with those lips," I stared at him weirdly.

"It's pouting, in case you didn't know," Irap niya.

"Stop that. Para kang bakla," Irap ko pabalik.

"Bakla raw. Sa gwapo kong ito," Kontra niya.

"Kaya nga. Stop it," May diin kong sabi. "If you're doing that just to make yourself cute, huminto ka na. Those things doesn't work on me."

"Halikan kita d'yan e!" He threatened.

Tumaas ang magkabila kong kilay. "Oh, would you? Kaya mo?" Hamon ko.

He scoffed. "You think I can't do it?"

Nagulat nalang ako nang bigla niya akong hapitin sa hawak. Ipinagdikit niya yung katawan niya sa akin. Nang dahil sa gulat, nabitawan ko yung bulaklak na binigay niya sa akin. He's smirking while slowly inching our gap. I stared at his eyes, not knowing what to do. Sobrang bilis nang tibok ng aking puso. Ayokong marinig niya ito.

"Jusmiyo, Laurier. Not here!" Rinig kong sigaw ni Auntie.

Halos magkasabay kaming napalingon kay Auntie. She's smiling from ear to ear, amused of what she's seeing. Si Kali naman ay nagulat pero agad ding nag-iwas ng tingin. I look around and everyone was watching us, some were taking our photos. I gently pushed Lev away as he did the same. I cleared my throat and so does he.

"I'm sorry po," Yuko niya.

"I know that you like my niece so much. I mean, I'm not hindering you what you want to do," She laughed. "Just do it somewhere else, okay? Yung walang makakakita."

"Auntie!" Sita ko sa kanya.

"What? You badly want to do it now?" She asked.

Nasapo ko ang aking noo. Si Auntie talaga. Siguro sa kanya ko nakuha ang pagiging prangka ko. Sometimes, my mouth don't have filter. Well... Hindi sometimes. Siguro mostly.

"We were just teasing each other, Tita. It wasn't what you thought it was," Paumanhin ni Lev.

Napairap nalang ako. Him and his tricks.

"Well then, kung ganun, edi I believe you," Ngiti ni Auntie. "Oh and by the way, have you met Kali?"

Napatingin si Lev kay Kali and the latter just avoided eye contact.

"Opo. Pinakilala na ni Kaia," Ngiti ni Lev.

"Kali over here is actually an architect. Kakauwi lang niya lang dito sa bansa. She's really good, Laurier. If you're planning to build a house, you can ask Kali for help," sabi ni Tita. "She graduated with flying colors and you can say that she really never disappoints me."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Lev bago niya binalik yung tingin kay Auntie.

"That's good to hear!" Sambit ni Lev. "You must be really good."

Napangiti si Kali and started playing with her hair. "Thanks."

"You have a very talented girls, Tita," Manghang sabi ni Lev. "You must have raised them well."

"Girls?" Taas-kilay na tanong ni Auntie at nilingon ako.

I felt belittled. Para sa kanya, si Kali lang ang successful. I, on the other hand, parang palamunin lang para sa kanya. Even though I can manage to live on my own, ayaw niya akong pakawalan. Siguro para may maisumbat siya na kailan ako aangat sa buhay.

"Kaia owns a food place. She's really good at baking," Turo ni Lev sa akin. "I tried one of hers and I was so stunned that I couldn't believe she could make such masterpiece. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about."

"Oh," Auntie nodded. "That shitty place she called Casa de los Desiertos? It wasn't that grand."

"But it is!" Lev insisted. "It was the best that I tasted."

Siniko ko si Lev, trying to signal him to not continue what he's about to say. Kumunot yung noo niya kaya umiling lang ako.

"We have different definition of success, hijo. Maybe para sa'yo, success na yun. But in our family, that's just the bare minimum," She said.

Again, a stab in the heart. Kali can't even go against Auntie. Siguro dahil takot din siya dito. I tried to swallow the lump on my throat. My hardwork being invalidated again.

"So, have you eaten yet?" Auntie changed the topic. "We brought our chef. Anong gusto mong kainin?"

"I can eat anything, Tita," Sagot ni Lev.

"Madali ka naman palang kausap," Ngiti niya. "Kaia, can you get the chef and tell him to start cooking?"

Nagkatinginan muna kami ni Lev bago ako humayo. Gusto ko sanang umayaw kasi ayoko namang iwan si Lev but I don't want to quarrel with Auntie in front of Lev.

Pumasok ako sa caravan para sabihan yung chef namin sa bahay. I saw him with his back facing me. Kumunot ang aking noo. He's whimpering.

"Chef Arnold?" I called. "Okay lang po ba kayo?"

"Po?" Natataranta niyamg sagot. "Okay lang, Ma'am. Konting sunog lang."

When he finally faced me, nagulat ako nang makita yung kamay niya. It's burnt and I don't think he can make us food.

"Good heavens! Hindi po yan konti!" Natataranta kong sigaw at nilapitan siya. "We need first aid."

"No. Hindi na po. Kaya ko pa namang magluto. Ano yung gusto niyo?" He asked, ignoring my concern. Pero kahit nakangiti pa rin siya, alam kong masakit ito.

"Hindi na. I'll go get the medicine kit."

Hindi ko hinintay yung sagot niya at agad hinanap yung medicine kit. Ginamot ko yung burn niya saka nilagyan ng petroleum jelly. I can really say na hindi niya kayang magluto.

"Ako na po ang magluto. Pahinga nalang muna kayo," I suggested.

"Nako! Okay lang Ma'am. Kaya ko pa naman," Iling niya.

"Chef anong gusto niyo? Uupo ka lang o mawawalan ka ng trabaho," I threatened him. "I can fire you if you don't do as I say."

Nagdadalawang-isip pa siya bago bumuntong-hininga. I took that sign as a yes.

"Ano yung menu for today?" I asked.

"Madami Ma'am. But your Auntie wanted the chicken tortilla wrap, sandwich and the chicken drumsticks," Sagot niya.

It's indeed Auntie's choice. Gustong-gusto niya talaga yung chicken. Kahit anong klaseng putahe pa 'yan basta chicken.

"Madali lang pala," I nodded. "Ako na bahala."

I took all the ingredients that I'll be needing for the recipe. I did mis en place para organized yung pagluluto ko. I first seasoned the chicken meat that I'll be cooking with. Pinakagusto ni Auntie yung well-seasoned na chicken. Mapili siya sa pagkain kaya medyo kinakabahan ako.

As I was doing my job, bigla nalang may pumasok.

"Lev!" I exclaimed.

"Kaia. What are you doing?" He asked. "Woah! Are you cooking?" Mangha niyang tanong.

"Don't tell Auntie na ako ang nagluto," Iling kong sabi.

"Why not?"

"Baka hindi niya kakainin," I replied. "Nakita mo naman siguro kung paano niya akong tratuhin, diba?"

He nodded. "I'm sorry for that."

"Why sorry?" I chuckled. "It's not your doing."

"Wala lang. Now I understand why you're like that," Malungkot niyang sabi.

"Now you understand why I badly want to be free. Kung bakit gusto ko nang makasal," Malungkot akong ngumiti habang ginagawa ang pagluto.

"Don't worry, Kaia. I'm here. Tutulungan kitang makawala," He smiled assuringly.

"Thanks, Lev."

Noon ko ba gustong makawala kay Auntie ngunit hindi ko magawa. Sa estranghero na ito ko pa pala ito magagawa? I'm happy that he's here.

"Saan yung chef nga pala? Why are you doing all of this?" He asked.

Tinuri ko si Chef Arnold na nakatulog na pala. Maaga kasi siyang gumigising araw-araw para paglutuan si Auntie. Let's say he's deprived from sleep.

"Our chef had an accident at hindi niya magawang magluto so I volunteered," Sagot ko.

"Poor guy. Sobrang sakit siguro niyan," Iling niya.

"Sige na. Baka maghinala sina Auntie kung bakit antagal mo dito. Sabihin mo nalang na mag-assist ako kay Chef," taboy ko sa kanya.

"Nga pala, I came here to tell you something," He said.

"Ano yun?"

"Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit pamilyar kakambal mo," He smiled.

"Ano?"

"Mamaya ko nalang iku-kuwento sa iyo. Tapusin mo muna yang niluto mo," kumaway na siya sa akin kaya tumango lang ako.

May sasabihin daw pero pabitin naman. Napailing nalang ako at pinagpatuloy yung pagluto. Isang oras mahigit ang lumipas at natapos ko na din yung pagluto. Lumabas na ako at nilapag sa mesa yung mga pagkain. Napangiti si Auntie nang maamoy yung pagkain.

"Nasaan si Chef Arnold?" She asked.

Napakurap ako. "Nasa loob, Auntie. Nagpapahinga."

"Hindi talaga ako binibigo ni Chef Arnold. Amoy pa lang nakakatakam na," She praised.

Pilit kong tinago yung mga ngiti ko sa labi. Kung alam mo lang na ako ang nagluto, hinding-hindi mo 'yan masasabi sa akin ng harapan.

"Let's dig in!"

Everyone took a plate at kumuha ng pagkain sa mesa. They are all excited to eat it. Yung kabilang tent nga ay napalingon sa amin. Naamoy siguro nila yung pagkain.

"Ang sarap!" Auntie exclaimed. "Is this a new recipe? I got to ask Chef Arnold later."

"Tama ka, Tita. Masarap nga!" Lev complimented and eyed me.

Napailing nalang ako at kumain na din para mawala yung ngiti ko sa labi.

"Kali, ito," Rinig kong sabi ni Lev.

Napalingon ako dito and he's putting chicken drumsticks into Kali's plate. Nahihiyang ngumiti si Kali sa kanya at tinanggap yung pagkain.

"Thank you, Lev," Sagot niya.

Ngumiti lang si Lev sa kanya habang nakatitig dito. Kagaya ko ay nakatingin lang din si Auntie sa dalawa, except that her smiles were wider than those she showed earlier when Lev was with me. Kumunot yung noo ko at lumingon kay Lev.

What is going on?