Blog Twenty Five: Fortuitous Episode
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“You’re not cursed,” umiirap na sabi ni Mama sa akin.
Dumating siya kahapon from Singapore, pero ngayon lang siya nagpakita sa aming magkapatid. After niyang parusahan si Kuya Cielo—no basketball for a month and deduction in allowance—rumampa naman siya sa kuwarto ko.
Siyempre wala akong choice kundi sabihin sa kanya ang mga happenings sa akin lately, right? And of course, hindi ko palalagpasin ang tungkol sa sinasabi nilang sumpa ni Serenity.
“I’m not?” kumukurap kong tanong.
“Yes. It’s just a part of growing up. Actually, you should have encountered that when you’re in high school, but apparently, you’re a late bloomer.”
“What are you talking about, Mama?”
“You’ve been staying inside the four corners of your room when you reached puberty, Celeste. It’s good that you’ve been a happy and positive girl, but I’m afraid that is only because you haven’t seen the world yet. Now that you’re starting to see it in college, maybe your outlook in life will be challenged. We have yet to see how you’re going to turn out.”
Kumurap ako ng mga sampung beses dahil… “Mama?”
“What?”
“Nosebleed.”
“Huh?”
“Saan mo naman nakuha ‘yang pinagsasabi mo?” I complained.
“Why? What’s wrong with my words, except that I just took a leaf out of Yumi Diaz’s book.”
“Yumi Diaz? Parang familiar the name.”
“Never mind.”
“Mama, are you sure I’m not cursed?”
“I’m sure,” umiirap niyang sabi. “But you will be if you don’t get up and dress properly. Male-late na tayo sa party ng lolo mo at kung ayaw mong mawalan ng mana, bilis-bilisan mo nang kumilos!”
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“Wow, in fairness, Celeste, you’re here early,” natatawang komento ni Cadmus.
Ngumiti ako nang malapad. “Of course! Alangang magpa-late ako, right? Eh ‘di nasumpa na naman ako ni Lolo?”
“Si Cassiopeia nga, muntik nang matanggalan ng mana eh,” natatawang sabi ni Bubbles.
“Ay, ako lang? Ikaw rin kaya,” umiirap na sabi ni Cassiopeia.
“Kaka-fan girl niyo sa Zeus ‘yan,” sabi ni Cadmus.
“Wow, nagsalita ang hindi muntik maitakwil dahil sa kakahabol kay Wyatt,” maarteng sabi ni Bubbles.
“Hindi siya bet ni Wyatt!” maarteng sabi naman ni Cassiopeia.
“Arte niyo. Ang papangit niyo na nga, ang aarte niyo pa. Like, hello, hindi ba kayo marunong umasta nang naaayon sa hitsura? I mean, you’re so ugly, so bakit ang aarte niyo?” tanong ni Cadmus kina Bubbles at Cassiopeia.
“OMG, you just called me pangit?” tili ni Bubbles.
“Don’t mind him, Bubbles. You know, hindi niya kasi matanggap sa sarili niyang siya lang nag-iisang Cheng na hindi kabilang sa Kingdom Animalia,” sabi ni Cassiopeia while flipping her hair na may mga strawberry hair accessories.
“Right! A talking fungus!” natatawang sabi ni Bubbles.
I shook my head and was about to ignore them bago pa matuon sa akin ang pambu-bully nila, pero bago pa ako nakaalis ay sabay-sabay na nagsilapit sina Kuya Cielo, Kuya Boom, Kuya Box, Kuya Clynn, at Kuya Czar sa amin.
