Making You Mine (SHS Series 1)

CHAPTER 2

I looked at the handkerchief in front of me contemplating if what would I do with it. I think of returning it to it's owner but then what's the possibility that he will want it still? I mean, he's rich and he can just buy a new handkerchief.

I pouted. Nakapangalumbaba ako sa study table ko at sa harap ay ang panyo niya. I badly want to return it to him because I'm pretty sure it's his. For all I know siya lang ang kilala kong may gano'ng intials sa campus.

Can I just hand this to Anais and ask her to return this to him? Ah, that bitch wont do me that favor for sure. I can't also ask Adi because he might just told him unnecessary things. Madalas pa naman 'yong dinadagdagan ang pag kwe-kwento.

However, didn't I ask for this sign? To finally be able to talk to him? Why am I slipping off this opportunity?

I jump up from thinking too much when I heard a knock on my door. I waited for whoever that is to come inside.

“Zeph,”

Humarap ako kay Mommy nang marinig ang boses niya. Nakasilip siya sa akin sa bahagyang nakabukas na pinto. She always do that kapag maghahapunan na kami kaya hindi na ako nagtaka na iyon ang sinabi niya.

“Baba na, Zeph. Dinner’s ready, your Dad is waiting.”

I nodded, “Okay, Mom,”

Ngumiti si Mommy at sinarado na ulit ang pinto. Nung naging kompleto na kami ay hindi nagkaroon ng araw na hindi kami sabay-sabay na kumakain ng hapunan dahil iyon na lang ang pwedeng magkaka-sabay kaming kumain.

Sa umaga ay may mga pagkakataon na sabay-sabay pa rin kaming nag-aagahan pero hindi ‘yon madalas dahil minsan ay maagang umaalis si Mom o kaya ay si Dad papunta sa company niya. Kami naman ni Zach ay may klase.

Kaya naman kapag hapunan kailangang sabay-sabay kami. Though, every sunday is our family day. Dapat ay hindi pag-uusapan ang trabaho o school works sa araw ng linggo dahil rest day namin iyon. We sometimes just go somewhere, road trip if well planned, but sometimes we’ll just go out or stay at home—doing some fun games or watch a movie. Minsan din ay nag pi-picnic kami kung hindi sa garden namin ay sa mga park.

Nandoon na silang tatlo nang makababa ako mula sa kwarto, hindi pa nagsisimulang kumain. Well, that's also our family thing. Hanggat kulang ng isa sa amin sa hapag kainan ay hindi pwedeng magsimulang kumain, kailangan ay sabay-sabay kami.

I kissed both my Dad and Mom’s cheek before sitting on my seat, sa tabi ni Zach. Si Daddy sa kabisera na naka-suot pa ng usual attire niya kapag pumapasok sa trabaho, medyo magulo pa nga ang buhok niya, siguro ay kararating niya lang. Si Mommy naman sa kabilang gilid ni Dad na mas maagang umuuwi dahil siya ang nagluluto ng hapunan namin, she loves cooking our food.

Ako naman ay katapat si Mommy sa kabilang gilid ni Dad and beside me is Zach. Hindi pa rin niya ako pinapansin. I pouted. Ganyan ‘yan, kapag may atraso ako ay hindi niya ako pinapansin. Pero hindi naman nagtatagal ang tampo niya dahil hinding-hindi niya ako matitiis.

Gosh! I almost forgot. I must thank him for not telling to our parents about what I did at the party. Sinundo niya kasi no’n dahil hindi ako umuwi sa exact time na gusto niya. My parents didn't scold me about it so I’m pretty sure they didn't know. I’m too wasted that night that I almost forgot why I drink too much.

Nagtinginan si Mommy at Daddy ng mapansin na hindi ako pinansin ni Zach, usually kasi ay inaasar niya ako kapag ako ang huling dumadating sa dining table and to see him this quiet is not normal for our parents. Nanatili ang seryosong mga mata ni Zach sa pagkain ng mapatingin ako sa kaniya.

“Lead the prayer, Zeph.” Dad said.

I nodded, close my eyes and prayed the prayer kapag dinner na namin. After that, we started eating. Si Mommy at Daddy lang ang nag-uusap the whole time we're eating. Minsan ay tinatanong nila kaming dalawa ni Zach na sinasagot naman namin. Only that Zach answered every question with only one word answer.

“We’ll talk in my office in fifteen minutes,” Daddy said softly and glance at me and Zach before he stood up and kissed my forehead and tap Zach’s back.

Mommy asked Ate Myrna for our dishes. We only have two house helpers at home and one driver for me and Zach. We have Nanay Matilda who have been my Mom’s Nanay when she was still young reason why she's now kind of old but she's still with us, Ate Myrna is her daughter who’s now in her late thirties. Gusto ng patigilin ng pamilya nina Ate Myrna si Nanay Matilda pero hindi pumayag ang matanda kaya sinamahan na siya ni ate Myrna dito.

Si Tatay Noel naman ay dating driver ni Daddy, he’s very close to my Dad that he wants to drive both me and Zach to school or anywhere as long as it doesn't involve other things that are not yet allowed for me and Zach. Daddy trusts Tatay Noel so much with our safety.

So the three of them are very close to our family. They’re like our family too. Hindi pa lang din naman gano’n katagal na tumitira kaming pamilya sa iisang bahay.

“What’s our problem, Zach and Zeph?” Iyon agad ang tanong ni Daddy nang makapasok si Zach sa office niya.

Naka-upo kaming dalawa ni Zach sa pahabang sofa dito sa office ni Daddy. Si Mommy naman ay naka-upo sa isang single sofa sa isang gilid habang si Daddy ay nakatayo sa harap namin, arms crossed.

“Zach, you’re unusually quiet back in the dining table.” Daddy pointed out.

The thing about our parents is that they are so observant. Kaunting tampuhan lang namin ni Zach, gaya ngayon, ay hindi pwedeng hindi naaayos ngayon. Well, it's one of our rules though. No one should prolong the misunderstanding we have. We should fixed it as soon as possible.

“It’s nothing, Dad, you shouldn't worry.” Zach answered.

“Zachariah.” Saway ni Mom.

Dad shook his head, “Zach, you know very well the rules in our family. There's a reason why we have those… and that's to discipline not just you and your sister but also me and your Mom.” He glanced at Mommy. “Did we miss a day to tell you that a problem should be fixed immediately? That prolonging some misunderstanding can lead to hatred and mistrust?”

“No, Dad.”

“Then, what it is that's—”

“It’s my fault, Dad… Mom,” I am sorry for cutting Daddy’s words but I need to interfere, I don't want Zach to take all the blame like what he always do.

“Zeph.” Zach said warningly at me.

I smiled at him. Kahit mag-tampo ‘yan ay nag-aalala pa rin siya sa akin.

“I did something that he doesn't like… and I am very sorry for it,” I said with all honesty.

Dad massaged his temple while Mom sighed. It's like they already expected this. Palagi namang ako ang nagdadala ng gulo sa aming magkapatid.

“What did you do this time, Zeph?” Mom’s voice is a bit strict but amusement dance in her eyes, it's like she wants to know what I did and judge if it's appropriate to her likings. Of course, she also brings trouble in their family before.

“Ava,” Dad looked so done dahil alam niyang hahayaan na naman ako ni Mom sa mga kalokohan ko.

“What?” Mom asked innocently.

Zach heaved a sigh, “Let’s get back to the topic, please. For the record, Zeph really did something that I wont tell you because I already scold her, she might throw tantrums if I expose her.” He rolled his eyes. My smile grew bigger. “But, we're okay now, alright?”

“Ah! I love you so much, twinny!” I hugged my brother who tried to avoid my hugs but can't because I wont let him.

Mom and Dad just watch us, smiling. Pinaalalahan pa nila kami ng mga bagay na madalas naman nilang sinasabi. We also did our school works inside Dad's office. Both me and Zach are sitting on the floor. Mommy's in the sofa doing some work in her laptop so as Dad who’s in his study table.

The next day, it was almost 12:00 noon, when I decided to give back the handkerchief to him. I am standing one meter away from the office of the student council. I heaved a sigh.

C'mon, Zeph, you can do this.

I was close to walking there when the door suddenly opened, nanlaki ang mata ko dahil nagtama ang paningin namin ng lalaki bago iyon lumagpas sa akin. Saka ko lang na-realize ng marinig ang boses ng isang babae.

“Gav!”

♡