two

dalawa

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My shoulders sunk when I saw a suitor of mine rather than Vortigern. Not gonna lie, I was extremely disappointed. I stared at the bouquet in his arms. Looking up at him and then looking behind him to search for the man I was expecting.

The burning feeling of jealousy bloomed within my chest as I saw him sit down next to a girl from the lower grade. The girl looked like a tomato. Ba't siya nasa tabi n'yan? Dapat dito siya sa'kin! Ako may crush sa kanya!

"Uh He-Hekate, para sa'yo..." nauutal na sabi nung lalaki. "'Di 'ko kasi alam kung ano gusto mong bulaklak kaya, 'eto nanghula nalang ako." Na-ilang ako nang tawagin niya ako sa second name ko.

My closest friends and family are the only ones who have the privilege in calling me by my name and not my nickname. Call me maarte, pero mas maganda kasi pakinggan ang pangalan ko pag kakilala ko ang nagsasabi no'n. It's the name of a goddess, it's not meant to be said by mere mortals. Saglit ko itong tinignan bago bumalik ang atensyon ko sa haliparot na humaharot sa bebe ko.

What is she doing? Why is she touching his arm? Ba't niya 'ko tinitignan kanina kung 'di naman pala dito punta niya? Mas maganda ako do'n! Irap ko sa kawalan. Paasa ka, Vortigern!

Kinalabit ako ni Maeve, "Pst! Huy! Kunin mo na nakakahiya kang gaga ka!" bulong ni Maeve sa'kin.

Agad na lumipat ang tingin 'ko sa lalaki, tinanggap 'ko ang bulaklak at nagpasalamat. Mamula-mula pa ang pisngi nito bago bumalik sa lamesa nilang magkakaibigan, rinig 'ko rin hanggang dito ang asar sa kanya. 'Di 'ko binigyan pansin iyon ngunit hindi 'ko na rin tinignan pa sina Vortigern at ang babaeng katabi niya.

"Hate, girl, anyare sa'yo sis?" Tanong ni Maeve.

"Huh?"

"Huh-tdog!" Binatukan n'ya 'ko, "Kanina ka pa namin tinatawag ni Costales pero 'di ka naman sumasagot!" 'Eto namang si Helios ay tumango-tango rin habang nakahalukipkip.

Kahit na parang aso't pusa 'tong dalawa, pag dating sa'kin ay nagkakasundo sila. I scratch my head in embarassment. "Sorry, hehe. Ano ba 'yon?"

"Kung nakikinig ka sana kanina," Inirapan ako ni Maeve. "Helios and I were talking about our sembreak plans! Balak 'ko sana we could go to Bali and..." Blah, blah, blah.

I drowned out Maeve's list of activities. Oo nga pala 'no, malapit na mag-sembreak. Ba't kaya ngayon 'ko lang nakita si Vortigern? Keilan ba siya nag-transfer? Then again, this school's humongous. Maybe that's why.

An idea lit up my mind, "Guys!" I call out to Maeve and Helios who were animatedly talking in front of me.

"Ano?!"

"What?!" sabay nilang sabi.

"Why not host a pool party?" I suggest. "Let's invite the whole grade! Do'n tayo kina Helios. Your pool is so unused."

Nilagay ni Helios ang hinalalaki niya sa baba niya, a thoughtful look on his face before agreeing. "Yeah, I guess we could host one. I'll ask Mama first,"

"Mama's boy," Umubo si Maeve para itago ang asar niya kay Helios.

We hollered in laughter. Isa lang naman ang pakay ko sa pool party na 'to, and that's to lure Vortigern. I'll make sure to wear the sexiest bikini I own. Humanda ka, Zacarías. I'll have you begging on your knees by the end of the break.

School ended quickly, "Bye!" paalam ko sa dalawa kong kaibigan bago sumakay sa loob ng SUV. Maeve lowered her window, leaning forward to honk on the horn as her middle finger saluted at me.

"Tangina ka, H!" I laugh as her vehicle rolls away. Bumungad sa'kin si Kuya Ford.

"Oh, Kuya. Wala si Daddy?" I reach for my seatbelt, buckling myself in.

"Wala." Tipid na sagot nito sa'kin.

Unlike my older sister, Demeter; Kuya Ford and I were close. Though minsan, he's a bit too much. Mainly because of his overprotective nature when it comes to his sisters. He always kept to himself, barely talked during dinners. Although may pagka-cold ang kuya ko, he's soft when it comes to me sometimes. I told him everything, he's my very own diary.

When I got my first heartbreak by my first boyfriend, I cried to him. He comforted me, cared for me and he beat the living shit out of my ex. Wala na masyadong lumapit sa'kin simula no'n. Takot silang magkamali at baka masumbong 'ko sila kay kuya Ford. Mga duwag.

"How's your day," tanong sa'kin ni kuya. "May nang-away ba sa'yo?" He glanced at me for a moment before returning his gaze to the road.

Palaro akong umirap sa kanya. "No, kuya. 'Di na nga 'ko nalalapitan ng mga kaklase ko dahil sa'yo eh."

"H'wag ka kasi nilang ginagago." He cooly said.

Nakakapagtaka na siya ang sumundo sa'kin ngayon dahil alam 'ko busy siya sa pag-aaral niya. May kilala kaya siya'ng future in-law ko? It wouldn't hurt to ask since my kuya's quite popular.

"Kuya, may kilala ka bang Zacarías ang apelyido?" I silently hoped he did. Baka p'wede niya kong ilakad.

His brows furrow, "Oo, meron. Bakit?"

Shit, tawag na ba 'ko ng mananahi ng wedding gown ko? Ipapahanda ko na ang simbahan!

"Vortigern Zacarías, kilala mo?" I pushed. "Crush 'ko kasi 'yon, eh. Inform lang kita, baka may kakilala ka palang future in-law ko. 'Wag mo'ng aawayin 'yong mga 'yon, ha? Keilangan kasama sila sa kasa— Aray!" Daing ko ng batukan ako ni kuya.

"What the fuck are you saying, okht sghira? In-laws ka d'yan, sapakin kaya kita?"

"Ikaw naman, 'di mabiro!" I cross my arms across my chest, "Pero, 'di nga, kuya. May kilala ka? Kilala mo ba s'ya?"

He clicked his tongue, "Kulit mo, Hekate. Oo, kilala 'ko yang si VK." he manoeuvres the steering wheel around, "His brother is one of my closest friends, Valerian Zacarías."

So his nickname is VK? Ang cute. I urged kuya to tell me more of his knowledge about Vortigern. So far, ang nakuha ko kay kuya ay: He's not born here. Pinanganak siya sa Petersburg, Russia; Dalawa lang sila ng kuya niya sa bahay nila, his parents aren't home as much because of their businesses in Russia; Ayon din kay Kuya, he knows MMA and has won multiple times in the junior league. Marunong din daw ito sa football.

Excitement overflowing in my young heart, I can't wait to see him sa tryouts! I could already envision him wearing our school jersey. Oh how the colors of green, white and gold would suit him. Boys often look disgusting when they're drenched in sweat but I bet he won't!

"Hekate, you're drooling." Kuya Ford points out as he parks the car in our garage. I quickly wipe a sleeve over my mouth. The loud laughter of my brother echoed throughout the space as I hit him with my book bag.

Epal!