The Pristine

Ang Pang-Limampu't Dalawa

Sa eksaktong segundong iyon ay pumasok sa eksena ang aking kapatid. Maligalig na tumayo si Mama para salubungin si Yllana na ngayo'y nakadilaw na maxi dress. I squinted my eyes at the beachwear to really see if our dressed were alike. 

Napatikhim si Rhettz nang naipakitang wala ring tabing ng saplot ang likod ni Yllana. Its a maxi dress like mine, with only a criss-cross back like mine!

Oh, fuck me!

Nobody can seem to tell since I was already sitting down. However, it started an inner turmoil in me. Lalo pa nang mandatory, I don't know, na tumayo si Ram para saluhin naman ang pagsalubong kay Yllana.

My eyes burned when his large hand touched a portion of her bare back to guide her here. Everybody was complimenting how the dress looked good on her. How it was better than the conservative one earlier. How perfect the couple were...

Nilingon ko si Ram. Matindi ang pag-aabang sa kaniyang mga mata. Like a predator waiting for its prey to run. Like I was gonna collapse anytime soon.

Naghila ito ng upuan para kay Yllana ngunit ang kaniyang mga matang puno ng galit at banyagang mga emosyon ay nakadirektang lahat sa akin.

"Oh! Hi, Chrissy!" Yllana beamed at me once she was seated. Her whole face was flushed and she sported a full blown smile. 

Dumako ang kaniyang mga mata sa aking damit. Nawala ang kaniyang ngiti at nanumbalik muli. Mas makintab at mas masaya naman.

"Where did you bought that dress? I bought mine last week here in Manila! I think we actually have the same dress!" palakpak niya sa tuwa. 

"Oh, really, honey? What a coincidence! The dresses look good on you both! Sisters and best-friends!" segunda naman ni Mama.

Pinuri kami ng iba pang mga Alejandre dahil sa pangununa ni Mama. Si Yllana ang may pinakamaraming nakuha ngunit pakiramdam ko ay nawawalan ng kulay ang aking mukha. Para akong kinikilabutan. Para akong ginagapangan ng ahas ang aking balat. 

 Hindi ba niya ito nakita kanina? Didn't she made me twirl and admire my dress earlier?

Nilingon ko si Ram na mukhang nakatingin kay Yllana. Hindi umaaliwalas ang kaniyang mukha. Still fuming mad, and looking all too authoritative. I happen to squint my eyes and watched more closely, that he wasn't looking at my sister. But to me. Only to me still.

"Hindi ko na napansin, ha, Chrissy. I hope you don't mind. The dress looks too beautiful not to wear. And...I don't mind, if you ask me! Parang ang gandang parehas tayo!" Kumapit si Yllana sa akin habang patingin-tingin kay Ram. 

Suddenly her breathing changed. Bahagya itong nilingon ni Ram, ang mga mata'y nanlalamig. In just a snap, she was already acting prim and proper.

Lunch started. 

"Ram, dear," Evangel Alejandre spoke in elegance. Napatingin ang lahat sa kaniya na nasa kabilang kabisera. "How's married life with my granddaughter? Is she making a good wife?"

Si Ram na kanina pa nananahimik ay itinuon ang atensyon sa matanda. Samantala, kay Yllana ako napatingin at sa kaniyang reaksyon.

"Your granddaughter is a fine woman, madame..." 

Napainom kaagad ng red wine si Yllana. Nasamid din ito ngunit matalino niya itong naitago sa iba. Bakas ang pagkabalisa sa kaniyang mukha. Napainom na rin ako ngunit ng champagne.

"A very fine woman, indeed. Pero hindi iyon ang tinatanong ko. I asked you what type of wife Yllana is, not what type of woman. Ikaw talaga, hijo..." halakhak ni Grandma na sinegundahan nang aking mga tito at tita.