A Levelheaded Lass

ALL - Five

We’re having our dinner right now at tinanong naman ni Kuya kung kamusta kami ni Phillip dito kasi madalas silang wala ni Ate Alex.

“Okay lang naman Kuya. Nagsi-swimming lang ako, pahangin gano’n.” Phillip said and Kuya nodded.

“And you young lady?”

I smiled. “Madalas akong wala dito Kuya, nagpapaalam naman ako sa’yo ‘di ba? Grabe ang daming magagandang puntahan dito sa Ilocos. Nakita niyo na ba ‘yung windmills? OMG, like OMG talaga super ganda!”

Ate Alex laughed. “Yeah, I’ve seen your photos in facebook. Kung hindi si Phillip ang kasama mo mamasyal eh sino?”

“Si Dada.” I smiled at the thought of him. Ilang araw na kasi niya akong tinu-tour dito and swear kahit nakaka-bwisit siya kasama eh ang ganda naman ng pinagdadalhan niya sa’kin. Usapan nga namin mag-e-ATV ride kami bukas and sand boarding eh. Omg adventure to the fullest! “He’s my tour guide and he works here.”

Tumaas ang kilay ni Kuya. “Hindi mo boyfriend ‘yan?” Here goes my over protective brother again.

“Of course not! Kay Gavin lang ako ‘no! And I don’t like Dada,” I emphasized.

“Bakit naman ‘di mo siya gusto?” Ate Alex asked.

“Hmm, kasi nakaka-irita siya, sungit pa and hindi sa nagmamalaki pero… he’s a trabahador.”

Kuya Casimir almost choked. “Ano naman kung trabahador? May masama ba do’n.”

I rolled my eyes. “Ah basta. As long as he’s not Gavin I won’t like him.”

“Eh bakit ka pa sumasama kung hindi mo gusto?” nakakairitang sabat ng kakambal ko.

“Eh anong pakialam mo? Tss. If I know naiinggit ka lang kasi ako nasusulit ko ang bakasyon, ‘di tulad mo, napaka-tamad. Why don’t you pull your ass off the bed?”

“Why don’t you twist your fuckin’ tongue para hindi ka na makapagsalita?”

I gasped. My goodness! How could he! “Kuya oh!”

“Tama na ‘yan nasa harap kayo ng pagkain eh.”

Narinig na lang namin na biglang umiyak ang bunsong anak nila Kuya. Agad na tumayo ang mag-asawa at pinuntahan ang bunsong anak nila na kasama ng yaya na nagpapahangin. Naiwan naman dito sa amin habang kumakain si Ace, panganay na anak nila Kuya.

“Hey Ace, ubusin mo ‘yang food mo ah?” I said.

“Yeah. Tita, does Kuya Gavin have a girlfriend?”

I smiled. “Yes. It’s me, why?”

He pouted, look confused. “I saw him on TV a while ago and there’s a girl beside him nakakahawak pa sa arms niya eh.”

My jaw dropped. “What the hell?!”

Agad naman akong nakatanggap ng batok galing kay kambal na kinasusuklaman ko. “Don’t cuss in front of the kid.” I looked at him in disbelief. Si Gavin, may girlfriend? “Idiot,” he whispered.

After dinner ay agad akong nag-shower. Pabagsak akong naupo sa kama at in-on ang TV. Ugh, tapos na ang news. Hindi ako mapakali. Si Gavin, may girlfriend na? Hindi ko nga nabalitaan na may nililigawan siya eh! This can’t be!

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa table at tinawagan siya.

“Hey pretty,” he greeted. “Kamusta Ilocos?” Malamang Ilocos pa rin. But I didn’t respond. “Hey, may problema ba?”

I sighed. “Do you… do you have a girlfriend?”

I am pretty sure that I heard him chuckle. “Is it about the news? Hindi kami ni Macey, swear. Nasabi lang ‘yon ng media kasi magkakaroon kami ng project, I guess.”