Chapter 3

November 7, 2017

"I'm home, Dunzen baby kooo!" Binuhat ko ang Shih Tzu pup ko nang salubungin ako nito pagkababa ko ng school bus.

Yes, I'm still riding a school bus. Bakit hindi? Eh more than an hour ang byahe. Hassle kaya magcommute.

"Awiee, how sweet," kiniskis ko ang polluted kong mukha sa mukhang bagong groom kong si Dunzen.

Amoy na amoy ko pa ang shampoo ng pet salon niya. Gupit na rin ang ilang mahabang balahibo nito sa mukha kaya sigurado akong dinala na siya ni Daddy doon.

Bitbit ko siya sa kaliwang kamay habang ang tote bag ay nakasabit sa kanang balikat ko.

I was caressing her gray back because it's soft and straight today. I love her more when she just came out of salon.

"Mommy!"

Dumadagundong na ang boses ko nasa front yard pa lang ako. Alam na alam daw nila lagi pag dumarating ako.

According to my nuknukan ng arte na brother, I have this habit of broadcasting my arrival daw. As if any of them naman daw is excited to see me home.

Ibinaba ko si Dunzen. Her ass wiggles as she runs on our yard.

Pinalipad ko ang front door namin para sa isang bonggang entrance. At gaya ng nakasanayan ko, Jat was already on the living room. He was lazily sitting on our couch, having his legs crossed while scanning the pages of an Algebra book. Nakapambahay na ito. Suot ang isang ivory cotton shorts at black shirt, halatang kabibihis lang galing sa school.

Napangiwi ako. The normal thing to do is to eat a merienda! Not to bury yourself in another book kasi come on! Iyon na nga ang ginagawa natin sa school maghapon. Why would he do this at home?!

Kaunti na lang ay iisipin kong pinaglihi talaga ito sa abacus!

"Hey, rotten!"

Umirap siya nang tawagin ko. I'm breaking his concentration, living to the reputation of the most annoying elder sister.

"My rotten baby brother!"

Itinaas niya pa lalo ang makapal na libro hanggang matabunan ang mukha niya.

It's like talk to my book, ate.

Tumawa ako ng malakas knowing he's on the verge of locking himself in the bathroom para lang hindi ko siya mabwisit.

Inilagay ko sa pang-isahang sofa ang tote bag ko. Dumiretso ako sa kusina at pinuntirya ang malaking yakult. Kalahati na lang ito. Ininom ko kaninang umaga ang kalahati at binabalikan ko ngayon. Nakita ko rin ang carton ng fresh milk sa gilid ng ref.

"Jat, yuhoo!" Sigaw ko kahit nasa kitchen. "Inuubos ko na ang fresh milk mo."

"Ate!" He warned.

"Inuubos ko na~"

Natatawa ako habang naririnig ang pagbababa niya ng libro sa coffee table at ang pagmamadali niyang pumunta ng kitchen. His footsteps were rushing towards here.

He glared at me when he saw me drinking the big bottle of Yakult. I'm laughing like a wicked lady and he was frowning to death.

Nakasimangot siyang lumapit sa ref. He opened the lower door and grabbed the carton of fresh milk.

He glared at me again bago tinungga ang buong fresh milk. This brat and his fresh milk! Kaya kulay gatas eh! So damn possessive of his fresh milk.

Binunggo ko ng hips ko ang tagiliran niya. Hindi pa nakokontento, I wiggled my eyebrows to annoy him more and he only heaved a defeated sigh.

Aww, my poor baby brother.

Binaba ko ang bote ng Yakult at lid sa lamesa at hinintay siyang matapos sa pagtungga. He was rolling his eyes when he finished. He closed the lid of the box then threw it at the nearby trash bin.

Galit niya ring kinuha ang pinag-inuman ko at itinapon iyon.

Napangiwi ako lalo looking at his organized way of living this life. Kung ako iyon, itatapon ko na lang ang box at taklob. Di ko na isasara pabalik. O baka hindi ko rin itatapon. Kaya nga sa lamesa lang umabot eh.

But since he is a certified neat freak, he wants everything in the most organized and cleanest way possible.

He frowned again before going back to the living room. Kaunti na lang ay magiging living simangot na ang isang 'to.

"Hoy! Si Mommy?"

He didn't tear his eyes off his book. He just pointed the stairs with his index finger.

"Si Daddy?"

"Garage." Tipid niyang sagot.

Tumango ako. Alam na kung saan sunod na magkakalat ng lagim.

Tinahak ko ang daan pahagdanan namin. Pero nakakaisang hakbang pa lang ako ay may reklamo na naman si boss.

"Your bag," he said, annoyed again of how 'messy' I am.

"Nyenye," I said and picked up my tote bag before sabotaging my mother's peaceful world.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng kwarto nila Mommy. I saw her in a far corner, eyes focused on her computer screen.

"Hi Mommy!"

"Hi." She replied, fingers busily typing. "Stop annoying your brother. I could hear the two of you from up here."

I only chuckled and walked near her. I planted a soft kiss on her cheek and peeked at what she was typing.

"New book?"

Umiling siya, "Sequel."

Part of the daily food I eat came from Mommy's creative writing. She's a pro writer and has been in this industry even before she married my father.

We have a study room and in there, is our special book shelf where her 78 published books were displayed.

She plays with romance and mystery genre. Sometimes it's pure of the former or sometimes pure of the latter. Most of the times, though, she incorporates both elements. Either way, her books are not the type Jat is very delighted to read. He goes with my father's items where Algebra and Trigo books reside.

"A sequel? Really?"

I am actually quite surprised to hear that. Mommy was known as the author who never wrote a book two.

She wasn't even writing with a series. Stand-alone lang lahat sa kaniya. This is going to surprise her fans.

"I can't bring myself to end it. I feel like it's my masterpiece." Mommy looked at me and smiled.

I realized not everyone is as lucky as she is. She could both earn money and pursue her passion. She has a loving husband and a very beautiful daughter. Si Jat lang siguro ang batik sa buhay niya. Nag-anak siya ng isang alagad ng kaartehan na ipinaglihi sa abacus at alcohol.

Sayang, perfect na sana lahat.

4:30 pa lang nang makapagbihis ako ng pambahay. Alas tres pareho ang labas namin ni Jat kahit Grade Six siya at senior high na ako. Madalas, nauuna umuwi si Jat dahil mas malapit ang school niya kasya sa akin. Ako, around four or five pa. Depende kung may scheduled lakwatsa. So basically, the peaceful world of Mommy was expired by around four or five.

I was in the mood to fiddle with my phone and bestow my family some kind of extended peacefulness.

Nag-open muna ako ng social media accounts. Griffie's solid activity welcomed my feed.

Griffie Astridium Saguiliana tagged Gallustine Delos Reyes in a shared post— i thought he wants to get to my panties but nah.. he just wanted to borrow it

Ang dugyot talaga nitong si Griffie. I granted them a 'haha' reaction and scrolled more.

Maya-maya ay si Gal naman ang may post.

Gallustine Delos Reyes shared a post— and if someone's greener than a cabbage, don't befriend her

Below that was my name tagged. May panawagan siya para sa akin.

Jiana Seraphine Varianza let's throw that green pig out of the group.

Napahalakhak na lang ako. Hanggang social media ang pagdedeklara ni Gal ng kababuyan ni Griffie and Griffie teases him to the irritation of his bones.

I typed a comment right under.

Gallustine Delos Reyes can't you really fall for a cabbage?

It has only been seconds when my comment received two replies. The first one that appeared was in all caps.

Griffie Astridium Saguiliana: YUCK! WON'T YOU EVEN ASK IF THE CABBAGE WANTS A PEPPER?!

Gallustine Delos Reyes: Aren't you the bigger pig here, Jiana? Who says I want a squad?! I'm throwing the both of you out!

Tawa lang ako ng tawa. Maya-maya ay may reply na naman si Gallustine.

Gallustine Delos Reyes: Who's the pepper, Griffie?!

I played with them till Gallustine's comment box became our chat box. Isang oras din siguro kaming nagbabuyan sa facebook since it's around 5:30 when I went downstairs.

Napaismid agad si Jat nang makita akong pababa ng hagdan.

"What? Ang arte nito. Wala pa nga akong ginagawa."

Tinalikuran lang niya ako. Nakadapa na siya sa sofa namin. He continued scribbling what I think were solutions on his yellow paper.

"Daddy, helloooo~" pakanta kong bati nang pumasok si Daddy ng bahay.

I guess, he's done with the car wash.

Pinaiikot niya ang car keys niya sa kamay habang naglalakad. When he reached the hook, isinabit niya doon ang susi.

"Hello, baby."

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at niyakap siya pagilid, "Daddy, I want pizza."

"True," tipid na sang-ayon ni Jat.

'Yan! Sa ganiyan niya lang ako kakampihan! Katakawan nito!

"There's this new pizza house sa kabilang street. Mukhang masarap naman. Shall we try?" Ani Daddy kong pogi.

"The one with the malicious name?" Bored na tanong ni Jat habang hindi inaalis ang mata sa libro niya.

"Malicious?"

Humalakhak si Daddy.

Jat frowned, "Yeah. PiPizza."

Natawa ako sa itsura ng kapatid. He looked so against the lame name of the pizza house.

"How did you guys know? Hindi ko yata napapansin 'yon sa daan."

"Have you ever been observant?" Masungit na balik sa akin ng kapatid. "Baka nga plate number ng sasakyan natin, hindi mo.. aww!"

Binato ko siya ng throw pillow kaya natigil siya sa paninirang-puri sa akin. Bwisit na 'to! Frontstabbing!

Jat glared at me and scowled. He pointed the ref and replied again, "There was a flyer handed to me outside. Idinikit ko sa ref magnet."

"Oh.." napatango ako sabay mabilis na tinakbo ang flyer.

It looks good. The graphical design was inviting. Mukhang masarap yung pizza sa picture. It only heightened my craving.

"Then I'll call? Daddy ha?" I said, parang nanghihingi ng paalam pero napindot na ang number sa telephone.

"Go ahead."

Hindi ko na pinansin si Daddy. I have an important transaction to make. You know, sometimes, we really have to choose pizzas over Daddies.

The telephone rang several times before someone picked it up.

"Yes?" There was a deep manly voice on the other line. "This is.."

Naubo pa siya ng kaunti. Parang naiinis siya na nahihiya na banggitin ang pangalan ng store nila.

He coughed again. I even heard a weak 'Damn it' before he continued talking, "This is.. Pipizza."

His voice was kind of familiar. Saan ko nga ba narinig 'yon?

Nevertheless, binalingan ko si Jat.

"Rotten," tawag ko. His wince was a given when he faced me.

"What?"

"Ano i-oorder ko?"

"Hawaiian."

"Yuck, ang plain mo talaga." Inirapan ko siya.

Bumwelo ako ng hininga bago sumigaw, "Daddy, ano ioorder ko?!!"

Nasa kitchen na kasi si Daddy so he'd barely hear me if it's going to be my normal volume.

"Just ask for the best-seller." Si Daddy na neutral lang lagi sa mga bagay. He's not very picky. That.. or nakasanayan na niyang ibigay kay Mommy ang choices. Sa akin o di kaya'y kay Jat. Daddy is just.. the type who gives us things the way we want it.

Hangga't kaya niya. Hangga't hindi namin nalilimutan ang boundaries. Like a real Dad who knows how to spoil his family yet knows when to implement discipline.

"Uhm, hello, sorry for the wait." I said, returning my attention to the phone.

"I-It's okay, Ma'am." His breathing was a little ragged. He even sounded kind of surprised.

Surprised ba siya sa pagsigaw ko? Medyo nilayo ko naman yung phone, ah.

"Isang Hawaiian po, family size. And.. what's your bestselling pizza?"

"Chivados," his accent was kind of elegant for a pizza man.

"Chivados?" Ano 'yun? I've never  heard it. Pauso talaga 'tong PiPizza.

"It's our specialty. Topped with shrimp, mushroom, beef, clams and mozarella cheese."

That's kind of weird but yeah, "We'll get one of that, too. Same size. Both thick crust."

He repeated my order. Lalo ko lamang nabobosesan siya. That same icy tone and sharp accent. I am even more convinced that I've heard it somewhere. Hindi ko lang talaga maalala.

"45 minutes to deliver, would that be alright?"

"Yes, thank you."

Ibinaba ko ang tawag at dinaluhan si Jat sa salas. He's finally done reading. Binuksan niya naman ang cellphone niya.

Wow, nagcecellphone pala ang kapatid ko. I doubt nga lang na may FB  account ito. Mas maniniwala pa akong nanonood siya ng porn kaysa may FB. He's definitely not the sociable type. Piling pili lang.

Humalumbaba ako sa arm rest ng single sofa. Tinitingnan ko lang ang kapatid ko. His long and slender fingers gripped his phone. Ang puti talaga ng isang ito. Sobrang tangkad din for his age. Magkasingtangkad lang kami kahit 12 years old lang siya.

"What?" Sinilip niya 'ko mula sa cellphone when he felt weird that I'm staring.

"Hehe, pogi mo beh."

"Ate, kadiri ka."

"Bakit naman? Bading ka ba?"

"No, it just feels weird coming from you and with that face on."

Napamaang ako. What's wrong with this face?

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ko katagal binwisit si Jat. Bumaba na si Mommy from her room at si Daddy sinasamahan siya sa kusina. I can hear them talking about work and how Daddy's men in the powerplant needs to work on their efficiency. Nandito pa din ako sa salas at binubwisit si Jat.

"Wala ka man lang bang homework?" Bigo niyang tanong nang hindi ko pa din siya tigilan.

"Reading and Writing, easy," ngumisi ako. Tinapos ko na iyon kanina pa sa room. Essay type. Ginagawa ko sa school habang sumisiklab ang World War nina Gallustine at Griffie.

I had more annoying stunts to pull but the door bell rang. Tumayo ako, gave my brother an annoying smile kasi wala lang. Trip ko lang.

I found my way towards our door.

Binuksan ko iyon ng laking-laki pero halos lumuwa ang mata ko sa nakita.

On our front door, standing was a pizza delivery guy, wearing a red cap with the print of PiPizza. He towered over me as two boxes of pizza were between us. Despite the biting darkness in the sky, I could see him very clearly.

I was literally dumbfounded. Nakalimutan ko bumigkas kahit isang patinig man lang. This is so damn shocking.

Parehas nanlalaki ang mata namin. His cheeks flustered. Tinanggal niya ang cap niya na para bang ang laki ng problema niya sa salitang PiPizza.

"Y-you deliver?" Ako, nakalimutang hindi ko nga pala kaclose ang taong ito.

"My sister.. damn," bumulong siya. He furrowed his brows as his cheeks burned more. Kumalat na ang pula sa leeg niya.

So he acts annoyed when he's shy?

"My sister owned this.. shit." Pabulong niyang sabi.

"Luh!" Nabibigla kong reaksyon. "You are trash talking your store!"

"I do not own some store with a ridiculous name." He countered. Pagkatapos ay bumuntong-hininga at iniaro ang boxes. "Your order."

"Jat, who's that?" Dinig ko ang sigaw ni Mommy sa kusina.

Sumungaw ng kaunti si Jat. Hindi niya makita masyado ang kausap ko but he saw the boxes and probably, saw me staring at the man.

"Mommy, Ate's flirting with the pizza guy.."

Tangina nitong kapatid ko!

Ako naman ngayon itong pulang-pula at hiyang-hiya. Didn't I say it? I hate the feeling of being teased!

I was barely able to stop myself from raising my middle finger cause he fucking deserves it!

Nang tiningan ko ang kaharap ay nakatingin siya sa akin ng diretso. Intently and with a melting power. Despite the pizza cap, black pants and plain white shirt which has black lining on his shoulders, he still looks kind of.. hot.

Huwaaat?! Jiana, hot?!

"Iabot mo itong payment sa ate mo, Jat," I heard Mommy again, stopping me from my thoughts. Narinig ko pati ang pagtayo ng kapatid ko at ang paglalakad niya dito.

This college guy, whose name I realized I never knew raised the box again, nudging me to accept it.

"Ah!"

My brother pointed his finger at this college guy when he saw him fully.

"Kuya Dice?"

Napatigil sa pag-aabot ng one thousand ang kapatid ko.

"Jatrium," tango nito.

Wait! Wait! Teka, what's happening?!

Ako lang itong parang tanga dito sa gitna nila. My brother greeted him in a very 'dude ikaw pala' way. Wala man lang sa kanilang gustong magpaliwanag ng nagaganap.

Kinuha ko yung boxes para mapansin man lang nila ako. I glared at my brother.

"You know Vance's friend?"

Nagtatakang tumingin sa'kin si Jat. "I don't know the Vance you are talking about, Ate. But I know Kuya Dice."

Tiningnan ko si Kuya Dice niya. Nagulat pa ako nang nakatiim bagang na ito. He's gritting his teeth like something's wrong again with everything that I said!

"Wait Kuya, I'll return your book. Kukunin ko lang sa room ko. Hindi ko na naibalik sa'yo." Jat said and stormed off.

Inabot niya lang yung bill kaya naiwan ako dito sa pinto at naghihintay ng sukli.

"Why was he only Vance?"

"Huh?" I said, shocked. Did I say Vance outloud? Really? Walang kuya? Damn it!

"Really, Jiana? You're not recognizing his seniority?"

Napakagat ako ng labi ko. His darksome eyes remained staring at me, waiting for my made-up lies.

"It was.. ano.. nagulat lang ako."

He arched an eyebrow.

Yung sukli! Ibigay mo na lang kuya! Ba't ba ako nito pinapakaba?!

Jat seemed to take longer than I expected or maybe I was just too tensed that I suddenly felt that his actions are slow.

"Uh.."

His intense eyes watched my actions slowly.

"Yung sukli.. Kuya Dice." I managed to blurt out, now recognizing his seniority.

Dumilim lang lalo ang mukha niya. The what seemed to be three-degree-coldness of his stare a while ago now dropped down to its freezing point.

Ano naman ba?!

Didn't he want me to recognize their seniority?!

Suplado niyang kinuha ang wallet niya at inabutan ako ng sukli.

"T-thank you."

"Bahala ka."

Ay! Inaano? Inaano ha? Inaano ka d'yan?

Mukha ba akong labasan ng bugnot at ako lagi ang pinagsusungitan niya?

In a moment, my brother was suddenly beside me. He handed him a book of something about Math. Hindi ko na binasa ang title. May nakita lang akong equal sign at mga right triangles sa pabalat.

"Thank you for this Kuya Dice. And.. sorry for saying that my Ate's flirting with you a while ago."

My lips parted. Wow.

I'm out of words. This brat is surely so fond of his Kuya Dice. Sukdulang ibaba ang uri ng kapatid niya.

"You're not his type, Ate."

Napanganga ako. "What?" Napapantastikuhan kong tanong.

"You ain't very responsible. You're not organized, either. Smart, yes. But you're younger than him and too immature so you definitely failed his standards."

Tingnan mo 'to. Sinong kapatid ng batang 'to? Someone tell me because for sure, hindi ako!

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ng Kuya Dice niya.

Umismid ako. Something about his criteria maddens me. It's too disturbing. Siguro kasi ay iniisip kong best friends sila ni Vance at baka ganoon din ang kay Vance.

If that was really the criteria, bagsak nga ako!

"Who said I'm trying to fit?!"

If that saved me my face, I'm not sure. But since then, it feels like his stares on me became colder. Kapag aksidente kaming nagkakasalubong sa mga hallways, parang lalong mas malupit ang mata niya.

O ewan, baka feeling ko lang. Kasi bakit naman siya lalong magagalit? May nasabi ba 'kong mali?