Escaping Strings

Chapter 48: The Siblings

“Keep it cool, kiddos,” natatawang sabi naman ni Jazmin. “And you, Marcus, stop messing with your sister. Pregnant women are always hard to tame when they got mad.”

“What, my fault? I was just—”

“Yes, it is, right, Marcus Irem?” Jazmin said like she's convincing my brother to just agree.

I hid my laughter to what I am seeing. It's my brother, he is so funny. Alam niyo 'yung ang laki-laki ng katawan niya pero sa hitsura namin ngayon, para siyang panganay na anak pinagagalitan ng nanay naming si Jazmin kahit na ako ang bunso na may kasalanan? Hahaha, my poor big brother. He just hissed and pouted his lips before focusing on the television.

“What do you want to eat, Martina?” tanong naman sa akin ni Jaz.

Napakagat naman ako sa labi ko habang nag-iisip. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga ang gusto kong kainin pero gusto kong makaamoy ng maasim na maalat na medyo matamis na maanghang. Tapos dapat 'pag kinagat ko, matigas para damang-dama ko talaga saka malaki dapat para masaya.

“Do we have stocks of carabao mangoes here or altaulfo and a shrimp paste? Damn, I am craving for it. Just thinking how good it tastes, I feel like drooling already,” tuloy-tuloy na sabi ko na nagpatawa kay Jazmin.

“You heard your sister, Marcus, she wants that kind of mango, but it's not its season, so, good luck searching for it,” she said with a big smile on her face.

Napatayo naman si kuya sa kinauupuan niya at hinarap si Jazmin. He looks helpless and really, really funny.

“Where the hell can I find that? And it's fucking nightfall,” reklamo nito pero sumunod din naman.

Dinampot niya ang susi ng kotse sa accent table saka mahaba ang nguso na tumungo sa pinto.

“Dios! Eres imposible, Martina, (God! You are impossible, Martina),” sabi pa nito bago tuluyang lumabas ng pinto.

Napatawa na lang kami ni Jazmin bago siya nagpaalam na magluluto muna ng dinner namin. Tumayo rin muna ako para kunin ang phone ko. I will call Iris just like our brother said. It's been awhile since I've been ignoring her calls. I need her not to worry for me that much. Alam naman niyang kaya ko ang sarili ko.

Lumapit ako sa bintana at huminga nang malamin bago tuluyang tinawagan ang phone number niya. Sana lang talaga ay hindi na niya muna kulitin si kuya pagkatapos ng pag-uusap namin, at hindi na siya mag-alala pa sa akin.

“Iris,” I called.

“Martina?” she answered. “What the fuck? What happened to you? Bakit ngayon ka lang nagparamdam sa akin? Where the hell are you? I've been trying to reach you pero hindi mo pinapansin ang mga tawag ko. 'Wag mo naman akong idamay sa galit mo oh, please, tell me where the fuck are you. I am worried, mom's worried, we are all worried about you. Sana kahit si mommy lang ay inisip mo. Do you even know that she threatened her life? She scared the hell out of us by saying that she'll hang herself to death upon knowing that you're nowhere to be found. Fuck! You are making me cry, Martina. Dammit!”

“I'm sorry,” tanging salita na lumabas sa bibig ko.

I hear her sobs and it sent aches inside my chest. Napansin ko na lang din na umiiyak na pala ako nang mapasinghot ako. Goodness, what have I done?

“H–How's mom? Is she alright?”

“I'm forcing her to eat properly. Dad told me that she's been crying every night. She really is in pain to what is happening to her children. Una, si kuya ang lumayas, sumunod ka naman. You know, I am in pain too. I am hurt, Martina. I really hope that you're aware of that. Ako na nga lang ang naiwan na anak niya sa tabi niya pero parang.... God!”