Chapter 35: Them

[Airish Laxamana]

"Okay! 1,2,3 CANDID!" Napatingin ako kay Kaijin at biglang natawa ng bahagya. He's making funny faces! Pfft!

"That's it! That's it! Now Fierce!" Napabuntong hininga ako bago tumingin sa camera. As the camera flashes, I became more and more confident when I'm posing. Walang pasok ngayon dahil sa paghahanda sa gaganaping Christmas ball.

"Okay Pair up!" A random guy smiles at me as he goes in my place. "Please take care of me." I smiles as I nod.

"Ganito, Dylan, aakbayan mo si Airish habang nakangiti and then Airish you'll look at him with a smile got it? Second shot will be Fierce, 3rd shot will be more like a closeness in each other. Got it?" Inakbayan ako ni Dylan at ngumiti kaya gano'n din ang ginawa ko. But then, I feel a crazy aura from my back. "Okay, 1,2,3 SHOT!" Camera flashes as we do different poses. All of them claps their hands as we finished the shooting. Aaminin ko, this guy is so good at doing his poses. I can sense his professionalism. Ilang years na kaya siyang model?

Lumapit ang photographer sa pwesto namin ni Dylan tsaka kami pinalakpakan. "That's great! You two are per—"

"Continue." Kita ko ang paglunok ng photographer nang dumating si Kaijin. "They're what?" A dark aura surrounds Kaijin as he looks at the photographer.

"A perfect sister and brother type!" This photographer's face is PRICELESS! Based on his reactions, masasabi kong takot siya kay Kaijin.

"Is that so?" Inakbayan ako ni Kaijin bago tumingin sa partner ko. "You're her partner? I'm Kaijin Del Mundo. Airish's HUSBAND." I thought that he's courting me... Why so possessive? Pfft...

"I'm Dylan Astrania." I stop for a while to think. Saan ko ba narinig ang apelyidong 'yon? It seems very familiar to me. Narinig ko na ang apelyidong 'yon pero sa'n nga ba?

"So sad that your wife doesn't remember me." Dylan... Dylan Astrania... Astrania... UGH... I can't remember him...

"I didn't really recall your name just your surname." He nods as he smiles. Bakit ibang pakiramdam ko sa taong ito? He seems gentle yet my inner instinct's telling me that he's a troublesome...

"Hindi mo nga talaga ako naaalala. But I know one day you will. Mauuna na ako. Take care." His surname is really familiar. Bakit ba nakakalimutan ko na? Am I that old enough?

"What's your connection with each other? May dapat ba akong malaman?" I knew it. He's jealous.

"You don't need to be so territorial Captain." I pinch his cheeks but he just get my hand and kissed it. Ramdam ko nanaman ang init na umaakyat sa pisngi ko.

Agad kong binawi ang kamay ko at tsaka asar na umalis. Why can't he control himself? This is a public place. Tsk.

But I admit, he's getting sweet as each day passed by.

Dinig ko naman ang sigaw ni Kaijin. "Sandali!" Napahinto ako nang makita ang kotse sa harapan ko. Kaijin stops as he looks at the car. "Is that yours?" Umiling naman ako. I didn't even recall that my family brought such car— Bumukas ang tinted window at hindi ko inaasahang makikita ko ang mga mukha nila. For some reasons... Nag-init bigla ang dugo ko.

"Long time no see!" My eyes widened as I see them. "Kilala mo?" Tanong ni Kaijin. Who would ever thought na makikita ko ang dalawang magkapatid na ito? Kung minamalas ka nga naman...

"Ohh who's that?" Tinakpan ko ang mata ni Kaijin habang matalim kong tinignan si Herra. "Is he yours?" Mapang-asar niyang tanong.

"LEAVE." Maotoridad kong utos. Inalis ni Kaijin ang kamay ko sa mata niya at tumingin kay Herra. She lay her hands as she speaks. "I'm Herra Wang. Half Chinese." Bago pa tanggapin ni Kaijin ang kamay ni Herra ay ako na ang tumanggap. Mahigpit ko itong pinisil habang ngumingiti. Who said that she can touch him? Did I allow it? It's like disobeying my own rules.

Hinigit ni Kaijin ang kamay ko kay Herra bago ito hinawakan. "Kaijin Del Mundo. Airish's suitor." PAGDATING SA LALAKI HUSBAND? PAGDATING SA BABAE SUITOR?! Is this jerk KIDDING ME?!

"Ohh, I didn't know that our PERFECT SISTER LAXAMANA HAS A SUITOR." Sister? When? I didn't even recall myself having a GOLD DIGGER SISTER.

"What are you doing in here?" Mahinahon at kalmado kong tanong. "Ohh I forgot." Sumarado ang bintana at lumabas ang isang lalaki. Binuksan niya ang pintuan ng kotse at lumabas ang dalawang magkapatid na Herra at Helvetica.

"Helvetica and I are models in this corporations from now on." Helvetica smiles as she hugs me. "Airish I missed you!"

"I didn't." Tsaka ako kumalas sa yakap niya. She stares at me while having this 'innocent look' oh come on! STOP BEING SO INNOCENT!

"Why so cold? We treat each other like family right?" I never see you two as my family. FOR ME, YOU'RE TOXIC BITCHES.

"Barbie suits you so well." Made out of COSMETICS. PURE PLASTICS. Tumalikod ako bago naglakad papaalis. Ayokong makita ang pagmumukha nilang dalawa.

"Wait up!" Hinarap ko si Kaijin tsaka siya nginisian. "If I see you talking to any of them. I'll put your name in my BLOCKLIST." Bitches like them should die a long time ago. I DESPISED them.  Kasabay naman nito ang pagsalubong namin nina Venice, Pey, Asylum, at Caden.

"Tamang-tama papunta kami sa inyo!" Asylum said while smiling. "Yeah, kabawian narin sa naudlot na picnic." Sambit naman ni Venice.

"Airish, ayos kalang ba?" I smile at Pey as she looks worried on me. Sa kanilang lahat napapansin kong mabilis makahalata si Pey. And it's not something common... But I guess I shouldn't suspect her too much. She's just an innocent childish girl after all. "Gutom lang ito." Ngiti ko sa kanya.

"Let's go." Nauna na si Caden kaya sumunod naman na kami. Naghanda ng Mat sina Pey habang kami naman ang nagtaboy ng mga damo.

Inayos na namin ang pagkain at nagsimula nang kumain. Kasabay nito ang pagtunog ng cellphone ko.

"I'll answer this." Sabay tayo ko.

*Ate Asumi Calling*

Agad ko namang sinagot ito. "AIRISH! ARE YOU OKAY?!" Inilayo ko ang cellphone ko sa tenga dahil sa sigaw niya. Bakit naman niya natanong ang bagay na 'yon?

"Did Wang sisters do anything to you?" So she knew that Wang sister is already here. After many years of hiding, they're finally here to ruin my life AGAIN.

"I just see them. Bad thing, I'm with Kaijin." Dahil kung wala si Kaijin... I'll definitely burn them.

"I'm worried. What if papuntahin ko si Euwan—" I clenched my fist. I don't need him. I DON'T NEED THAT JERK. Alam naman niyang konektado si Euwan sa Herra na iyon.

"Wag mokong lokohin Asumi. Hindi ko kailangan ang taong katulad niya." I really don't want to see him.

"Airish! Walang alam si Euwan!" So what if he didn't know it? It doesn't hide that his girlfriend tried to kill me and he just stay quiet like nothing is happening to me. Hinding-hindi ko mapapatawad si Euwan lalo na sa karupukan niya!

"I already abandoned him Asumi. Katulad ng pag-abandona niya SATIN. I don't need him. Kahit magsama pa sila nina Herra, Wala na akong paki." The thought of accepting their relationship is making me sick!

Kahit na alam kong walang kasalanan si Euwan... But the fact na mas kinampihan niya si Herra kaysa sakin ay isang malaking pagkakamali. That time... It's just too miserable...

"They broke up Airish. Please give him a chance..." Chance?

"I already give him many chances Ate Asumi. Pero sinayang niya. He even go to states with her! So don't ever tell me to give him a CHANCE AGAIN. Kung nagbreak man sila ni Herra then I'll make them pay individually." Pinatayan ko na siya ng tawag dahil tuwing naririnig ko ang pangalang Euwan, parang gusto kong maduwal.

"Who's the caller?" Bungad na tanong ni Caden pagkaupong-pagkaupo ko.

"Ate Asumi." Bagot kong sagot tsaka ako kumain. Hindi naman na sila nagtangkang magtanong. Ramdam siguro nila na ayaw kong pag-usapan ang bagay na ito.

"So... 5 days nalang pala Christmas ball na!" Looks like this lady has a partner for the upcoming ball. "Tuwang-tuwa ka naman." Pang-aasar ni Caden.

"Malamang! FYI may boyfriend na po ako." Is it that man on the fieldtrip? Bakit ang bilis naman ata?

"Yung nasa fieldtrip? Ano ulit pangalan niya?" Confident naman na sumagot si Pey sa tanong ni Asylum.

"HAISE VANDERSON!" Do I need to investigate this Haise Vanderson for her sake? I guess I should.

"Biruin mo, may tatagal pa pala sa childish na katulad mo." Sinamaan ni Pey ng tingin si Caden.

"Pag sinigaw ko 'yang babaeng mahal mo MADEDEPRESS ka!" Caden stunned as he stops teasing Pey. His cheeks turns red as he covers it.

"Uyy~ Nagbublush si Caden~"

"Shut up!" Ako naman ang bahagyang natawa. "I think mas bagay kayo." Pang-aasar naman ni Venice kina Pey at Caden.

"Nako Venice, that'll never happen. May ibang mahal 'yan. Pag 'yon talaga sinabi ko? Madedepress si Caden. Malamang sa malamang hindi 'yan papasok dahil sa hiya hahahaha can't wait! Sigaw ko na kaya?" Caden covered Pey's mouth as he sigh.

"You won Childish freak." Ngumisi si Pey habang ininom ang C2 niya. We decided to play cards since we're out of topics. "We have, King,5,4,3,2, and an Ace. So, whoever gets the King mamimili siya ng number and then gagawin nila yung dare ng King." Tumango kaming lahat sa pagpapaunawa ni Pey. What? It looks interesting for me.

"Game! Bunot!" Luckily, I'm the first one who gets the King. "5 and 3 twerk." Parang nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang mukha nina Kaijin at Asylum. Looks like they're out of luck.

"Chief, you're too cruel!"

"Airish ano ba naman 'yan? Wala bang matinong dare diyan?"

"You two are opposing me now?" I said with an evil smile on my face.

"NO CHIEF!" Sabay nilang sambit kaya sinenyasan ko na sila. Nahihiya man ay talagang nagtwerk silang dalawa sa gitna.

"Take that as an exercise." Sabay kindat ko na ikinasama nila ng tingin sakin. The rest of us laugh as they feel so embarrassed towards us. Sa totoo lang ay ayoko nang magising kung sila lagi ang kasama ko.

"I HAVE THE KING!" Malakas na sigaw ni Asylum na akala mong nanalo sa lotto. "4 and 2 Kiss each other!" Ang bilis naman ng karma ko.... -,-

"4" Sabay pakita ko ng card. Kita ko naman ang pamumula ng mukha ni Pey. "2..." Do I really need to do this? I mean she looks so innocent after all.

"I WON'T ALLOW IT!" Sigaw ni Venice. "Bakit? Walang malisya parehas silang babae." I guess he's kinda right about that.

"AHHH! AYAW KO! HUHUHUHU!" Pey cover her face as she stamps her feet like a child. "Edi wag! 4 and 3 magkiss kayo!" What did you expect from a fuckboy like Asylum? Malamang talagang Kiss and Sex ang maririnig mo sa bibig niyan.

Caden show his card as he looks at me. Bakit ganyan siya makatingin? "I object!" Sinamaan ng tingin ni Kaijin si Asylum.

"Change the dare fucking jerk!" Inis niyang sambit. "What? Are you scared of losing your precious wife over him?"

"Basta! Ayoko ng kiss! Ehh kung patayin kaya kita? Ngayon na ora mismo?!" It's just a fucking kiss. Hindi naman sinabing sa lips. How annoying!

I grab Caden's collar as I kissed him on his forehead. Kita ko ang gulat sa mata nila at ang pagpalakpak ni Venice. "See? She already do the dare Jeez!" Kaijin looks at me with his 'DISAPPOINTING' face. I can guess that he's mad.

"Calm down it's just a Dare." Bulong ko sa tenga niya. Malalim siyang tumingin sakin na para bang ang laki ng kasalanan ko sa kanya.

Ang akala ko ay galit siya pero bigla nalang siyang tumawa na para bang first time niyang matuwa sa buong buhay niya.

"Hala. Nasiraan na." Sambit ni Venice habang tinitignan si Kaijin. "I'm calling an ambulance." Sabay labas ni Asylum ng cellphone niya.

"Hello? Is this the mental hospital?" Tumigil si Kaijin at kinuha ang cellphone ni Asylum. "Gago ka ahh! Hindi pa ako baliw!" Then why is he laughing?

"Ang mga baliw, hindi inaamin na baliw sila." Natatawang sambit ni Venice. "You know what? Isang dahilan lang naman kung bakit ako nababaliw ng ganito." He gets my chin as he sweetly looks at me.

"It's because of this woman in front of me."