Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Guess Our Guest

Victoria Abbel's Point of View

I don't wanna eat in the dining area again. Kaya naman ay nagpadeliver na lang ako ng pizza at kinain ito sa kwarto ko. I don't want to see Cainn today and I know he doesn't want to see me as well. I guess we don't really like each other. Kahit kami na lagi ang magkasamang dalawa ay madalas kaming mag-away. They say that it's normal to fight but both of us are not really on good terms. Maybe my parents are to blame for which they name us after the famous story in the bible which is the story of Cain and Abel. The only difference was, that I am a girl. Actually, Cainn was my favorite brother, but we grew up apart since that day.

Morning came and I started cooking breakfast for two. Natutunan ko magluto simula nang magstay kami dito. We only have two maids, one for the laundry and one for cleaning the house. May specific na araw lang sila pumupunta dito. And I don't usually see them because I'm not at home always. I prefer going outside. This place is suffocating.

Nilagay ko sa isang tray ng breakfast na ginawa ko para kay Mama. My mom... I sighed. Umakyat ako sa taas at dahan-dahan pumunta sa kanyang kwarto. I knocked four times and entered. I saw her looking at the window while rocking the chair she's sitting at.

"Here's your breakfast," I said in a modulated voice. Ibinaba ko ang tray ng pagkain at tsaka pinagmasdan siya. My mom never left this room since Dad left us 2 years ago. My mother looked so miserable. Sa araw na lumilipas ay mas nakikita ko ang pagod sa kanyang mukha. Gone the pretty face, gone the happiness around her, she looked dead to me. And I hate her. When dad left us, she abandoned the role of being a mother. Look at her, she isolates herself inside these four walls.

I saw different bottles of medicine placed at the top of the table. I bit my lips. Since she doesn't acknowledge my presence and was so lost in her thoughts, I grabbed the bottle and took four pills. Agad naman akong umalis at dumiretso sa kwarto ko.

Nilagay ko ang nakuha kong pills sa sarili kong lagayan ng gamot. This become a hobby of mine. Every time na pumupunta ako sa kwarto ni mama ay kumukuha ako ng pills. I don't know why but sometimes I feel like using them too, pero di pa naman ako dumadating sa punto na 'yon. Now I have 30 pieces of pills in total.

"Oh, hey." Bati sa akin ni Clevon nang makita niya akong pababa ng hagdan. Clevon works in our company here as well as Damien. I rarely see them. And I'm not used to their presence. Ginagawa lang naman nila ang gusto nilang gawin.

"There's a guy standing outside of our house." He mumbled while looking at the window. Kaya napatingin din ako kung saan niya nakatingin at totoo nga ang sinabi niya. There's a guy waiting outside. Hindi ko ito makita nang maayos dahil nakatalikod ito at may hawak na phone at mukhang may tinatawagan.

"Let me check." I went outside the house to check who is it. He doesn't look American though. His build is the same as my brothers.

"Who ar—," hindi ko pa natatapos ang sasabihin ko nang bigla itong lumingon. He turn around in a slow motion and imagine my shock when I saw his face. It was Trevor! What the angel is he doing in front of our house! Oh no! Dahil sa gulat ay napaupo ako at tumago sa sasakyan ni Clevon. Habang nakaupo at nakasandal sa may gulong ay pinapakinggan ko ang lakas nang tibok ng aking puso. Hindi ako makapag isip nang maayos. I'm panicking inside. His eyes are so unique with a shade of amber, they are the first thing to stand out. And his built is so manly. Kahit ang kanyang pananamit ay napaka ayos tingnan.

I get my phone in my pocket and dial my cousin's number.

"Nikos!" I whispered his name.

"Bakit ka bumubulong?" Tanong niya sa kabilang linya. Why is he asking suck a stupid question.

"What is he doing here?" Medyo lumalakas ang boses ko.

"He? Ah, you mean Trevor?" Prenteng sabi nito na para bang hindi ito big deal!

"Yes! Why is he here? And where the hell are you now?" My heart is still beating inside my chest like crazy.

"He will stay there for a while. Nakausap na nito ang mga kapatid mo. Hindi ka ba nila sinabihan? Wait for me witch, I am almost there." We rarely talk to each other. Paano ko ito malalaman kung wala man lang gustong kumausap sa akin dito sa bahay!

"What are you doing there, Tori?" Unti-unti kong itinaas ang ulo ko, doon ko nakita si Clevon na nakatingin sa akin at nakapwesto sa kanyang likuran si Trevor. This is so embarrassing! Bakit ba ako tumago at umupo? Lagi ko na lang pinapahiya ang sarili ko sa tuwing nasa harapan ko si Trevor.

I stood up and face them.

"Nothing," I muttered and entered the house without glancing at my back. Geez. I always make fool out of myself when Trevor is around.

"You don't mind if Trevor lives with us, right?" Clevon asked. We are now seated on the L-shaped Victorian couch. I'm at the edge and Trevor is seated on the other side. Goodness gracious, grabe ang pagpipgil ko sa sarili ko na huwag tumitig sa kanya. It's been years since the last time I saw him. And I cursed the hell out of him when he said those words that there's no chance that he will like me.

"Bakit hindi ka nagsasalita? Diba ilang beses mo nang sinasabi na wala ka nang gusto sa kanya? You said that you are already moved on." I closed my eyes and glare at Clevon. Kailangan pa ba niyang sabihin iyon sa harapan ni Trevor.

"Trevor will live with us in the meantime. He will use Damien's room. Damien is not always here anyway. Umuuwi lang iyon kapag kailangan niyang maligo." I face palm. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagsasalita si Trevor at nagmamasid lang sa kanyang paligid. He looked adorable while making himself comfortable in our house. Oh my! Did I say adorable? Snap out of it Tori! Trevor is not good for your health.

"As if I have a choice. Anyway, pwede naman siyang kumuha ng hotel dito, bakit satin pa?" I asked. Hindi ko talaga mapigilan ang sarili kong magsalita. I always tend to speak what's on my mind.

"You don't need to know, okay?" I bit my lips and refrain myself to punch Clevon on his face. This is my house too! Dapat alam ko din kung anong nangyayari dito. Tumayo si Clevon at akmang aalis na nang bigla siyang magsalita ulit habang nakatingin sa akin.

"And please Victoria, don't do anything stupid and don't harass him." What? Bakit ko pa naman haharassin itong si Trevor?

"Make yourself at home, Trevor." I thought they hate Trevor? Dahil sa kanya ko iginugol ang buhay ko. And now, why they are letting him stay in our house? I just don't get it. Tumayo ako at akmang aalis na nang magsalita si Trevor.

"Tori," Wow! Music to my ears, his voice is really something good to the ears. And he calls me by my nickname. Oh no! My heart is beating so fast again! Will he say that he missed me? Or does he likes me? And he's been hell for 3 years since I left him?

"Where's Damien's room?" Bigla akong natauhan sa sinabi niya. I was back in reality. Mukhang hindi talaga siya interesado sa akin. He didn't even bother to ask me how I have been these past years. And I will tell him that my life had been hard. But forget it. Nobody wants to hear my story, anyway. All of them have a different life and different struggles, they don't have time to listen for they are busy dealing with their own dilemma.

"C'mon, I'll show you where." Hindi na siya ulit nagsalita, kaya habang pataas kami ng hadgdan ay may binubulong ako.

I like him

I like him not

I like him

I like him not

I mumbled why taking every step.

"I like him?"

I whispered. I stopped when we reached the last step. Hindi ako makapaniwala na hanggang ngayon ay gusto ko siya. Do I really like him that much?

"Keep going." I heard his baritone voice and I was back in reverie.

"Sorry." I said. Agad naman akong naglakad at lumiko sa kanan.

"You'll be using this room," I said and I was about to open the door for him when he grabbed the doorknob first.

"Thanks." He said and entered the room as he shut the door in front of my face. Bigla ako napasandal sa pader. I shouldn't agree to this setup! Alam kong kami lang ni Trevor ang madalas nandito sa bahay, of course my mom, pero hindi naman siya lumalabas sa kwarto niya. So basically, kamin lang dalawa dahil hindi naman madalas umuwi ang aking mga kapatid. They have life of their own and I don't have any idea what the hell they are doing.

Agad akong bumaba at hinanap si Clevon. Pagkababa ko ay agad kong may kausap na iba si Clevon.

"How bad?" He asked.

"Too bad to the point that it needed counseling," I butted in.

"Who needs counseling?" I asked, full of curiosity.

"Wow witch, your physical appearance changed a bit. Parang mas lalo ka yatang pumanget ngayon." I give Nikos a middle finger and face Clevon.

"It's nothing Tori, don't mind it." I sighed. Ano ba tingin nila sa akin, bata? Like I don't have any right to know what's happening in my surrounding.

"I am tired, where should I rest?" Nikos said while yawning.

"In hell," I rolled my eyes at them. They are treating me like a fucking child and I hate it!

"See you there, witch." Nikos teased back.

"Anyway, why are you here Nikos?" Clevon asked and looked at Nikos. Meanwhile, Nikos is looking at me. Nobody dares to talk. Kinain kaming tatlo nang katahimikan.

"Oh? The video thingy," Clevon answered his own question. Napatingin tuloy ako kay Clevon.

"You know that? At wala ka man lang ginawa? You didn't even react to it." Clevon shrugged his shoulders like it isn't a big deal at all.

"Why should I? It's your own problem and I shouldn't butt in and everyone does that, I mean filming while having sex." I almost cry from what he said. Ganon na ba talaga ang tingin nila sa akin.

"We are in New York; it's not a big deal." He added. Of course, it's a big deal!

"You are an asshole. I am not the girl in the video. How many times should I tell you that?" I am tired of explaining things. Wala din naman naniniwala sa akin.

"Bakit ka sa akin nagagalit? I didn't even know if you are really in the video, I didn't watch it. I'm not a pervert to watch such gibberish video." Well, that statement even made me want to cry.

"Calm down, okay? We will take legal action to that." Nikos said. I looked at him with teary eyes.

"Are you sure?" I almost cry. Nikos smiled at me as if he were saying that everything is gonna be alright. I hope so.

"She's not the one in the video." My heart almost jumped outside my chest when Trevor says those words. I was beyond happy when finally, someone is taking my side. And here I am, thinking that if Trevor saw the video, baka isipin niya na ang baba ng value ko pero look at him taking my side. Those words made me wanna cry again. Lumingon ako sa kanyang likuran at nilagay ang aking kamay sa aking bibig.

"The girl's breast is bigger than Tori's." His logic is somehow not that good but he's right. I'll just pretend that he didn't say that.

***