The Opposite of Hate (Upper Crust #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1
"Meddle"

On Saturdays, I wake up earlier than usual. I have to laundry my own clothes kahit may katulong namang pumupunta para maglaba. That is my mother's rule. She is the government in this house so we must follow accordingly.

After hanging my clothes, I went back inside the house and went to my room to take a bath. I didn't have to dry my hair dahil sa bahay lang naman ako. Pinunasang mabuti ng towel at sinuklay ko lang ang mahaba kong buhok. I put on a cotton sleeveless shirt and cotton shorts, and I am done. Bumaba na ako para sa breakfast.

"Where's Aris?" Tanong ko nang hindi siya nakita sa dining. Nandito na silang lahat maliban sa kanya.

"He left early," sagot ni Mama.

Ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lang at naupo na. I and my sisters am silently eating while my parents are talking a bit. Simultaneously, mama's feeding Ludrig, my younger brother. He is still two years old. Papa loves him so much too, maybe because he is a boy. His junior perhaps. But I have no problem with it because he is my real brother. We are all drawn to him because he is the baby and he gives us joy.

"Do you have something in mind for your upcoming birthday, Laviña? It's in two months," Papa asked.

I gladly lift my face. "Nothing really, Papa. Why?"

"Well, your grandma has been asking about it."

"Uhm... Is she throwing another party?"

I love parties but I am not fond when it's centered on me. I just love socializing that's it.

"Surely."

I looked at mama. She is smiling at me. "Maybe we should start planning now? It will be your sweet sixteenth birthday."

Napangiwi ako, thinking about those sweet sixteen birthday parties I have attended, dancing, roses and all that. Hindi ko gusto ang ganun pero kung nainis nilang magkaroon, ayos lang din naman.

"Hindi iyon palalagpasin ng Lola mo."

"I... will think about it."

I haven't given much thought to it. Now that they brought it up siguro nga ay kailangan kong magisip kahit papaano. I am preoccupied more with our research this days. We are trying to furnish it for NSTW. Me, Ham and Aris have been working on it for months now. Iyon lang hindi na lang ipipilit kung hindi kakayanin dahil may pinaghahandaan din akong qualification for Oxford study. That is if I make it.

Hindi payag si Papa pero nagkasundo kami na kung papasa ako hindi na siya tututol. I understand his concern. Ayaw niyang mag-isa ka roon kung sakali kaya naman pati si Aris pinaghahanda niya. And Aris, said yes. Masyado talagang pa-impress! Don't he have a mind of his own?

My weekend was fine. We bond in the pool on Saturday and went to Church on Sunday. Pagkatapos noon ay naglunch sa bahay ng grandparents ko. Doon nga ay nasabi na ni Lola ang ilang plano para sa kaarawan ko. I guess, I have nothing much to do then. It's better. I trust her choices.

Hinanap ng grandparents ko si Aris. Ang sabi ni Papa sumama raw siya kay Tito Ruiz. Hindi na ako nagbigay pa ng atensyon sa ibang detalye. I don't really care on his whereabouts if it doesn't concern our competition. Mas mabuti ngang madalas siyang wala. Kung nandito naman siya he will just annoy me.

Lunes ng umaga pumasok ako, earlier than my classmates. Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at nagpasalamat sa driver namin. Mag-isa akong hinahatid dahil si Papa ang naghahatid kay Laverne at Lavigne sa school nila. He used to send me to school when I was in elementary. Now I am actually planning to ask Papa to let me drive myself to school when I start in college. Ngayong vacation ay mag-aaral akong mag-drive. I just hope he will agree. He is so strict kaya nagpapatulong pa ako kay Mama para makumbinse siya.