One Too Many

“What were you doing in the garden with your boss?” tanong ni Santino sa kapatid.

Ainara left Andres and went with her brother. Hindi s’ya nakaligtas sa mga mapanuring tingin at tanong ng bunsong kapatid niya. It’s probably the guilt clawing in the surface that made her look down and continued walking.

“There were too many people and the noise was giving me a headache so I went for a walk. The flight was long and I’m tired. Hindi pa ako nakaka-adjust sa oras dito. Bakit ba nagmamadali si Mama sa engagement party na ‘to?” Tumingin s’ya kay Santino.

“Pwede ka namang umuwi ng maaga. Bakit ‘yong petsa ng engagement party ang sinisilip mo?” balik tanong nito sa kanya.

He’s got a point. Pero hindi ba naisip ni Santino ‘yong pangako ng Mama nila noon?

“Why are you okay with Mama remarrying?” Tumigil sa paglalakad si Ainara.

Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Santino at nagkatinginan sila.

“I want Mama to be happy. Papa’s gone for long time and she deserves someone who will take care of her. Ayaw mo ba kay Tito Jaime? He’s really nice.”

Rumolyo ang mga mata ni Ainara. “Mama promised not to get married again. I should have known she won’t be able to keep it.”

“Ate, hindi mo sinasagot ang tanong ko. Ayaw mo ba kay Tito Jaime? Mabait naman s’ya sa atin. And he even vouched for you at their company in New York after graduation. S’ya ang reference mo ‘di ba?”

Ainara took a deep breath. “He helped me— yes. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na okay ako na mag-asawa si Mama at s’ya ang pakakasalan.” Napahagod s’ya sa batok. “I mean, I didn’t even know they were dating?!”

Umilap ang mga mata ni Santino.

“Did you know about it?”

“Mama asked me not to tell you.”

“WHAT?!”

“Probably because she knew you were going to react this way. Besides, bago pa lang ang relasyon nila. If I counted correctly, I think they started dating six months ago—“

“Six mo— Itinago n’yo sa akin ng anim na buwan?”

Napahilot sa sentido si Santino. “Ate, as much as I wanted to tell you— it’s not my secret to tell. Nakiusap si Mama, pinagbigyan ko. Besides, it’s her life. Hindi naman masamang tao si Tito Jaime. They are both widows. He has a son— which is your boss. Ayaw mo bang magkaroon ng kuya—“

“NO!”

She felt horrified just thinking about Andres that way. Ayaw niyang maging stepbrother ang lalaking laman ng maiinit na panaginip niya.

Nabigla si Santino sa reaction ng kanyang ate.

“Everyone would be happy to have an older brother, pero bakit ayaw mo? I think it’s cool having him. Marami akong matututunan sa business. He’s got a double degree right? Business and Architecture. He’s so smart.”

Bakas ang paghanga ni Santino kay Andres. Well, kahanga-hanga naman ang boss niya. Ubod ito ng talino, pero ubod din ng hambog. Kahit nilalandi s’ya ni Andres kanina ay hindi niya nakakalimutan ang pagreject nito sa proposal niya sa project.

“I don’t care if he’s smart. He’s my boss and that’s it.”

“He’s going to be our stepbrother whether you like it or not. And I think you need to start calling him Kuya because that’s what I’m going to do.”

“Never,” mahinang bulong niya sa hangin pagkatapos umingos kay Santino at nagpatiunang maglakad pabalik sa party.

The next day…

Hindi na matandaan ni Ainara kung paano natapos ang party dahil hindi niya tinapos ‘yon. She told her Mama that she’s going to rest. And to help her sleep, she made a stop at their mini-bar and took a bottle of red wine along with a wine glass. Bitbit niya ‘yon papunta sa kwarto at nang ma-lock ang pinto ay nagsimulang uminom.

She’s not an alcholic and she only drink on occasion pero ngayong gabi, gusto niyang ipahinga ang isip at gumising kinabukasan na isang panaginip lang ang lahat ng ito.

But she woke up with the worst headache and her brother came to gloat and behind him was their maid.

“Go away,” taboy niya sa mga ito. Nang magpilit s’yang bumangon ay biglang sumigid ang sakit ng kanyang ulo. Hangover’s a bitch.

“Akala ko ba hindi ka dinadapuan ng hangover?” nakangising tukso ni Santino sa kanya.

Kapag tinatanong s’ya nito noon ay sinasabi niyang hindi s’ya nagkakaroon ng hangover kapag umiinom ng alak. Hindi naman talaga dahil palagi s’yang may limit. Hanggang dalawang baso ng wine lang s’ya o kaya naman ay dalawang tequila shots kapag kasama ang mga kaibigan sa New York. But she drank the whole bottle this time and this is the price she has to pay.

“Shut up and leave.”

Humalakhak si Santino. “And the princess is not invincible after all— ouch!”

Binato ito ni Ainara ng throw pillow at tinama sa mukha pero patuloy pa rin sa pagtawa.

“Lumayas ka nga sa harap ko! Nakakabwisit ka.” Sumimangot si Ainara na mabuway na tumayo at naglakad papunta sa banyo. She felt like puking.

While she was in the bathroom, she decided to take a shower hoping to relieve her headache. She got dressed and chose a green sleeveless tank top then paired it with a distresed jeans that hung low on her hips. Basa pa ang buhok niya at hinayaan n’ya ‘yong nakalugay. She went downstairs barefoot.

Na-miss n’ya ang marmol na sahig ng bahay nila. Her father imported them from Spain to make their house look authentic. Kilala niya ang kanyang Papa— only the best for his family.

“Manang, can I get some orange juice? Thank you.”

Manang Sita has been with their family since she was a baby. Hindi na nakapag-asawa ang matanda dahil sa pag-aalaga sa kanilang pamilya. In return, they treated Manang Sita like family.

“Heto ang orange juice mo.” Inilapag niya ang inumin ko pati na ang maliit na plastic cup na may lamang dalawang tabletang kulay pula. “Nag-toast din ako para mainom mo ‘tong gamot d’yan sa sakit ng ulo mo. Ikaw na bata ka talaga. Hay naku.”

Napanguso si Ainara. “Hindi naman masakit ang ulo ko, Manang.”

“Asus! Kaya pala kay aga n’yong magbangayang magkapatid. Saka sinabi na sa akin ni Delia na nag-inom ka kagabi. S’yang ‘yong umakyat at kumuha ng bote ng wine at kopita mo sa kwarto kanina.”

Ainara drank the juice then took a bite of her toast after.

“Nasaan po sina Mama?”

“Umalis na sila ni Jaime kanina at may lakad sila. Dito nagpalipas ng gabi ‘yong mag-ama.”

“Dito po natulog si Andres?”

Napatingin si Manang sa kanya. “Oo. Doon sa guest room sa west wing. S’ya ang nagbigay sa akin ng gamot na ‘yan at sigurado daw na sasakit ang ulo mo paggising dahil marami kang nainom kagabi sa party.”

Napalunok si Ainara. What is Andres doing? Imposible namang nag-aalala ito na sumakit ang ulo niya dahil sa alak?

“Nasaan po s’ya?” wala sa loob na tanong niya.

“Aba’y umalis na, Hindi nga nagkape e. Nauna pa ‘yong umalis sa mga Mama mo. Tinanong ko pa nga kung anong gustong kainin sa agahan e wala raw.”

That was typical of Andres. Kahit sa New York ay hindi raw ito kumakain ng agahan sabi ng personal assistant nito simula nang magtrabaho. But when he was back in the swimming team, she saw him eating fruit for breakfast.

“Saan pala ang lakad mo ngayon? Aalis ka ba? Ang kapatid mo ay umalis na. Susunduin daw si Julie.”

“I don’t know yet, Manang. I’m about to call Marge and asks if she’s free.”

“Ah, si Margaret. Naalala ko s’ya. Hindi ba at may asawa na ‘yon at isang anak. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay nakita ko s’ya sa daycare center noong isang linggo.”

“Yes, Manang. Four years old na po si Katie kaya nasa daycare na.”

She has been friends with Marge since high school. Marge got married five years ago at buntis na ang bruha niyang kaibigan. Luckily, pinanagutan ito ni Brad kahit na hindi pa sila matagal na magkarelasyon. Sino ba ang nagpapakasal na tatlong buwan pa lang magkakilala?

After eating her toast and finishing her orange juice, ininom n’ya ang iniwang gamot ni Andres. Tinawagan n’ya si Marge at pagkatapos ng tatlong ring ay sumagot ito.

Halos mabingi s’ya nang tumili si Marge.

“Oh my goodness! Akala ko ay nakalimutan mo na ako,” kunwa’y nagtatampong wika nito.

“I was waiting for you last night but you did not show up.”

“Katie was not feeling well e ‘di ko maiwan. Sabi nga ni Brad s’ya na lang ang magpapaiwan pero ‘di kaya ng puso ko. But she’s feeling better now and I just dropped her off at the daycare center. Are we going out?”

“Yep. Meet me at Spencer’s.”

“Okay. Is your hot stepbrother joining us?” Marge chuckled. Ukit pa rin ito.

“Shut up. I’ll see you there.”