Family

Chapter 28. Family

"MY DEAR cousin, I know it's your last day in the US. I suggest you to go back here. I already solved your problem."

Nakangising bulalas ni Lexin nang mag-long distance call siya sa pinsan niyang si JD. Halos dalawang buwan na rin mula nang umalis ito ng bansa para magpatuloy sa promotions ng Eclipse sa mga Western Countries. Iisa lang naman ang problemang kinahaharap nito at panigurado'y nagtataka kung paanong mareresolba niya iyon.

"What do you mean?" tanong nito. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay nasa Detroit ang pinsan at pauwi na dahil tapos na ang promotional tours.

"I got you a woman," kaswal na sagot niya.

"Kumuha ka ng bayaran na babae?" She could picture him scowling.

"Well, you could say that."

"Mahahalata nila iyan!"

"I doubt it. Basta, huwag kang mag-alala. Even your ex-girlfriend won't notice."

"Bakit nasama si Reina sa usapan?"

"Because she met our abuela and told her that you two are still getting married," siwalat niya. Ex-fiancée nito ang tinutukoy niyang si Reina. "Tuwang-tuwa nga si Lola."

"What the fuck!?"

"Yes, my dear cousin. Kaya kung ako sa iyo, I'd take a break and focus on it."

Saglit silang natahimik. "Nasaan ang babae?" basag nito sa katahimikan.

Napangisi ulit siya. She was so certain that he had something to that woman he brought to her condo few months ago. At mukhang ganoon din ang babae.

Kaya nga lang, nang magising ang huli ay wala na si JD at hinabilin sa kanya ng pinsan niya na huwag na huwag itong babanggitin sa babae. There she thought of her plan. Paglalapitin niya ang dalawa. But the woman refused and coincidentally, they met at the hospital where she was working as a Physician.

"You sure you want that woman? Bakit hindi na lang si Reina? Mukhang handang-handa na siyang magpakasal sa iyo."

She knew she hit the right spot

Uuwi at uuwi si JD para kilalanin ang babaeng "kinontrata" niya.

Baka magalit siya sa akin kapag nalaman niya kung ano ang pinirmahan niyang kontrata, Aniya sa isipan. She pretended to offer her a job. Yes, that was partly true. A job. She signed the contract but didn't know that what's inside was the woman should be her cousin's pretend fiancée until he'd get what he needed to get.

"Are you still there?" she called his attention on the other line. Mukhang naalala na naman nito ang kabalbalan ng ex-fiancee nito. "Ano na? Si Reina na ba—"

"That will never happen, Lexin. Hindi ako laruan na iniiwan kapag pinagsawaan at babalikan na lamang kung kailan nais balikan."

Preach.

"Why? I think Reina is the perfect candidate for you. May past kayo. At mukhang divorced na siya." Lexin perfectly knew about her cousin's past.

"Don't bring that bullshit!" Tinutukoy nito ay ang usapin tungkol sa totoong dahilan ng hindi pagpapakasal ni Reina rito.

Hindi na siya nito hinayaan pang magsalita nang pinatayan na siya ng tawag.

"You can thank me later, my dearest cousin," she mouthed, looking on her cellphone screen.

"Why are you smirking?"

Kaagad na napaangat siya ng tingin at bumungad sa kanya ang nagtu-toothbrush na si Kieffer. And he's naked.

Napanguso siya dahil agad na na-distract siya nito. "Bumalik ka na nga sa banyo."

"I heard you talking to someone. Was that JD?"

Tumango siya. The two met during their shotgun wedding. Hindi makapaniwala si JD na ikakasal nga siya noon.

(Two Months Ago...)

"WHAT do you mean you're getting married tomorrow?" bulalas kay Lexin ni JD.

"I'm getting married," ulit niya. Nasa bahay sila at magdi-dinner. Mahuhuli lang ng bahagya si Kieffer dahil nagka-emergency ito sa hotel.

"And you didn't tell me?"

She licked her lips. "May church wedding pa naman."

"That's not my point, Lex, ikaw lang ang pinsan ko, tapos hindi mo man lang ako sinabihan?"

"Because I know how busy you are."

"But I would never neglect my cousin's wedding!"

Napanguso siya. JD was really the brother she never had before—well, she had Nikolaj, but he was never a brother to her. Mas pasok sa pagiging partner in crime si Niko kaysa kuya niya.

Si JD ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit naging mabilis ang paggaling niya noon. She overcame her traumas, thanks to his love and support. At sa palagiang pagpapatawa at pagpapangiti nito sa kanya. She even mistook she had romantic feelings for him before, as a teenager, but immediately forgotten about it because of the realizations that she didn't like him romantically.

He was a real brother and she got it, why he's sulking a bit on why didn't she let him meet Kieffer.

"Siya pala iyong Sandoval, ha?"

Napanguso lalo siya.

"Tama na ang bangayan, baka mag-iyakan pa kayo," saway ng mommy niya.

Funny how her mom was right because JD and her were both teary-eyed with the mention of that.

"I'm glad you found your true love, cous." He spread his arms amd she threw herself to him.

"Ikaw rin naman, ah? Hindi nga lang niya alam."

Pabirong tinampal siya ni JD.

"Kahit hindi mo aminim, type mo si—"

"Lexin, your fiancé is here. Salubungin mo."

Ngumuso siya at kumalas na sa yakap ni JD.

"Papanain ko talaga kayong dalawa. Bagay pa naman kayo."

JD only took that as a joke but she was serious at that time.

Sinalubong niya si Kieffer at nagulat siya nang kasama nito ang mga magulang. Hindi pa rin siya sanay pero sinasanay naman na niya ang kanyang sarili.

Naunang pumasok ang mga magulang ni Kieffer, naiwan sila ng huli sa garahe.

"I miss you," bulong nito.

"Heh, magkasama tayo araw-araw. 'Tsaka bakit hindi ka nagsabing kasama mo ang mga magulang mo?"

"I didn't know either. Nasa meeting sila kanina, at nabanggit kong may dinner tayo. The meeting was immediately adjourned so we could join you."

"Bakit kasi biglaan ang meeting kanina?"

Kieffer just sighed heavily and embraced her. "Someone tampered the hotel renovations' budget in one of the branches of the hotel."

She was taken aback because he answered too fast. Hindi katulad noon na iniiwas nito ang usapin.

"And it's affecting us because that was supposed to be done next month. But we're back from the scratch. Ipagigiba ulit ang nagawa na dahil hindi de-kalidad ang mga ginamit sa construction."

Humigpit lang ang yakap niya rito. Hindi sana marinig ni Kieffer ang malakas na tibok ng kanyang puso.

That someone was her. Not directly, but she had a part in that job.

"I... Uh, don't know what to say," amin niya.

Kumalas naman ito sa yakap. "Silly me, I shouldn't have told you that."

Umaliwalas na ang mukha nito. Napalunok siya. She tiptoed and gave her a peck on his soft lips. Nang hihiwalay na siya ay hindi siya nito hinayaan. Hinabol nito ang labi niya't hinalikan siya sa mas malalim na paraan. But those kisses were like... punishing. O baka akala lang niya?

Isang tikhim ang nagpatapos sa halikan nila. Si JD.

"Pinapatawag na kayo sa loob, kakain na raw."

Pulang-pula siya at hindi makatingin ng diretso sa pinsan niyang nanunukso na ang mga titig ngayon.

That night was one of her blissful nights because she got to know more about the Sandovals, and she wasn't as timid as she expected. In fact, they made her feel loved and welcomed to the family. Same went with Kieffer.

Kinabukasan ay alas onse ng umaga ang seremonya ng kasal nila ni Kieffer. They wouldn't get married in the church yet. Since both came from big families, that'd took long preparations. Kaya ang kasal ngayon ay para pagtibayin ang pagsasama nila sa batas bilang mag-asawa. 'Tsaka para iwas issue na rin na kaya siya pakakasalan ni Kieffer ay dahil buntis siya't pinikot niya ito. Baliktad nga, eh, dahil siya ang napikot—kung pikot nga bang maitatawag iyon.

Matindi ang kabang nadama niya dahil na rin sa kasabikan. Sana'y hindi na matapos ang mga oras na iyon.