Escaping Strings

Chapter 48: The Siblings

“Damn, couple!” I grimaced, rolling my eyes away from the sight of them. “Stop snuggling and show some respect to the single here. Goodness, my eyes, you're giving me an eyesore.”

“You, single?” my brother asks like he's not convinced that I am.

Wow, good act.

“Blame your brother,” Jazmin said before finally serving the main course she made.

Tumabi naman sa akin si kuya sa inuupuan ko mismo at inakbayan ako. Binigyan ko siya ng nagtatanong na mga tingin, mukha kasing seryoso na naman siya.

“Do you want me to get you a man?” tanong niya na nagpalaki ng mga mata ko. “I have lots of friends to offer who are more reliable and trustworthy, and good—”

“Doon ka nga!” pagtulak ko rito.

Akala ko naman kung anong drama niya, aasarin lang pala ako. Ayan tuloy, buti nga sa kaniya, muntik na siyang mahulog sa kinauupuan namin nang itulak ko siya. Tinawanan lang namin siya ni Jazmin nang dahil sa hitsura niya, puro kasi kalokohan. Akala ba niya ay ganoon kadaling mag-move on? Kahit hindi na ang pagmo-move on eh, ang pagtitiwala na lang. Hindi ganoon kadaling magtiwala ulit.

“You are so harsh, little sis, so mean,” sabi nito habang nakanguso.

You know what, I am starting to hate my brother. He is pissing me like crazy. I hate how he tease me, I hate how he talk, I hate how he's been reacting to whatever that's been happening. And do you know why? It is because of I am starting to find my brother like him, like that man who's now having fun with his family in the country of the Philippines. Bakit parang pareho sila? Bakit parang nakikita ko siya kay kuya? Kung gumalaw, kung kumilos — I don't miss him, okay? Fuck! I miss nobody but just my real family, my blood and best friends, and my job too. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Enough of that,” saway ni Jazmin sa amin. “Let's eat.”

“Damn!” I muttered upon seeing it.

It looks really good and it smells like heaven. Exactly what the baby wants.

“Paella Valenciana on the house,” nakangiting sabi niya kasabay ng paglapag nito sa harapan namin. “And no seafoods.”

I chuckle, “You remembered.”

“Of course. Dig in.”

We happily shared the meal together. It was delightful as Jazzy said earlier. Ako nga yata ang nakaubos ng kalahati eh. You can't blame me, I'm eating for two. Nagpapataba si baby para daw paglabas niya ay may lakas siya para bayagan ang ama niya. Tsk! Let's not talk about that man, ever again. Back to where it should be, Jazzy and my brother. They are taking a good care of me, never nila akong pinabayaan. Sa bawat kilos ko, nakaalalay sila, lahat ng gusto ko ay binibigay nila. We're like a real family, actually. Well, we are, but what I mean is that my brother is like my father and Jazzy serves as my mother. God, if you only knew how if feels, it's so good. Lahat naman tayo ay magiging masaya lalo na kung may nag-aalalaga sa atin, hindi ba? Not the way it's supposed to be, but it's better than that. Of course, I'll choose being taken cared of by my brother and his girlfriend who's actually my friend than being cared by the man who did not care for what could I'd be feeling because of his actions in the first place. Gosh, him again. Lahat na lang ba talaga ng bagay na maiisip ko ay maisisingit ko siya? Hindi na ba ako puwedeng gumalaw, magsalita o mag-isip nang hindi siya naiisip? Diyos ko!

“Here's your mangoes and spicy shrimp paste,” my brother said as he served me the food.

Napangiti naman ako nang maamoy ko ang bagoong at naglaway nang makita ang mangga. Baby, here we go, the kind of what we're looking for! I excitedly talk to my child inside my head. Find me crazy but the hell I care? It's my baby, my hope, and I'll talk to it whether you find me crazy or not. It's a baby! Every parents talks to their babies kahit na hindi pa ito nailalabas.