I really hate Kuya Ronie every time he's being an a-hole to me. Binugbog na nila si Ivo, he let him escape(or maybe I did), and now what? Nagsumbong pa siya kay Mum!
Mat and I were supposed to go to a party, yet we went to our parents' house sa Dasma. Mum should be in Cebu right now, pero mas inuna pa niya ang pakikipagtsismisan sa wedding nina Patrick and Melanie. Lahat na lang sinasawsawan.
Our house in Dasma is a huge mansion with different halls and mini houses. As usual, nasa may pool area si Mum kasi doon malamig ang simoy ng hangin. She was wearing her black and gold satin night robe and drinking her tea in her favorite contemporary round chair.
Mat and Clark went home kasi family affairs ang pag-uusapan namin kaya buwisit na buwisit ako kasi wala akong kakampi.
Kuya was holding me around my shoulders, and every time I attempted to run, lagi niya akong pinipigilan, and worst, binubuhat pa niya ako saka ibinabagsak sa sahig.
I really didn't get how Jaesie managed to marry and be with this monster every day! Ang sama ng ugali!
"Mum, buwag na sila ni Ivo! (Mum, break na sila ni Ivo!)" Kuya's opening news to Mum.
"Kuyaaaa!" I repeatedly slapped his arms to stop him from talking.
"Ha?" Mom didn't continue sipping her tea and automatically frowned.
"Dili man gud siya mutuo nga palakiro ang hinampak! (Ayaw maniwala sa amin na babaero ang gagong 'yon.)"
"I hate you!" Tinadyakan ko na si Kuya pero ayaw patinag.
Mum glared at me with bored eyes. "Tuo nako'g di gihapon ka magmatngon hangtud karon. (Akala ko, hindi ka pa rin magtatanda hanggang ngayon.)"
"Sus, igo ra gyud na siya nag-usik-usik sa iyang kwarta ana iyang laki. Wa man gani siya nakapahimulos. (Nag-ubos lang 'yan ng pera doon sa boyfriend niya. Wala naman siyang napakinabangan.)"
"Si Jaesie rin naman, gumagastos ng pera mo, a!" reklamo ko.
"Jaesie knows how to repay my money. Alam ni Mum 'yan! Don't you dare compare my wife to your jerk ex na walang silbi!"
Nakakainis!
Kuya threw me on the round chair in front of Mum, and all I did was glare at the table as I crossed my arms.
"Where's Ivo?" Mum asked, seriously, and I already knew what was gonna happen.
"Binugbog ni Kuya!" sumbong ko.
"Binugbog mo?" sermon ni Mum pagtingala kay Kuya. She crossed her arms too and raised her eyebrow. "Gusto mong ikaw ang bugbugin ko, Ronerico?"
"He should be thankful!"
"Da!" a shout inside the hall of the house. "Ate Dory, si Rico?"
"Jae's already here," sabi ni Kuya sa amin.
"May meeting sila ng daddy mo. Puntahan mo muna," utos ni Mum.
Kuya and I were exchanging sharp glares before he went to his wife.
Silence enveloped us, and I could feel Mum's deadly stares at me. Wala na. Wala na akong takas.
Mum would use this opportunity to tell me that I should be looking for a man na pakakasalan ako as soon as possible because I'm getting older at niloloko lang ako ng kung sino-sino.
"Mabuti naman at break na kayo ni Ivo."
Mum didn't sound so offended by it kahit pa brokenhearted ako. Compared kay Kuya na talagang inis na inis.
"Mum—"
"It's already end of September, Sabrina. Ikakasal na si Patrick sa January. And he's marrying a Vizcarra."
Oh my God, eto na naman kami . . .
"I already forgave your kuya for marrying someone below our class kasi kahit paano, hindi pabigat sa pamilya ang pinakasalan niya."
"Magastos si Jaesie!" I complained. "She even borrowed five million to Kuya last July, di ba?"
"She returned that with interest a few weeks ago. I don't see a clear comparison between Jaena and Ivo because you always spend your money on your boy toy na wala man lang bumabalik sa 'yo!"
"But I love him!"
Dinuro na agad ako ni Mum. "Don't you give me that stupid reason na mahal mo ang tarantadong 'yon. Gastos ka lang nang gastos!"
My brow furrowed, and I avoided Mum's gaze. I did those things because I loved Ivo!
Kuya loved Jaesie too, and he even spent hundreds of millions for her, tapos ako, hindi puwede?
"Sino'ng kasama mo kagabi?" Mum asked. "The guard called, pumunta raw sa penthouse si Ivo pero umalis din agad."
"E di sana tinanong n'yo na rin ang guard kung sino, tsk!"
"Uhmp!" Nagulat ako kasi bigla akong pinalo ni Mum sa braso. "Tinatanong kang bata ka!"
"Mum! Grabe kayo ni Kuya!" Hinimas ko ang braso kong pinalo niya. "Clark's with me last night! Pinatawag daw ako ni Kuya para sa tux ni Patrick!"
"Si Clark?"
"Yeah." I was irritated with my Mum's handprint on my arm. Ang bigat talaga ng kamay!
"Good!"
I glanced at Mum. She favored Clark, of course, matutuwa siya.
"I will talk to Fernando by tomorrow. Sasabihin kong ready ka nang ikasal."
Napaurong ako sa upuan saka pinandilatan si Mum. "I'll marry Tito Ferdz? Mum, what the fuck!"
"Tonta!" Mum slapped me again and I managed to run a bit away from her deadly hand. "Huwag kang aalis dito sa mansiyon, bantay ka sa amin ng daddy mo."
♥♥♥
Mum wanted her children to marry the best of the best people in the world, probably because it was really a bragging achievement to have a daughter or son-in-law na hindi basta-basta. Yet, Kuya married a girl na galing sa middle class family at walang sariling pangalan ang angkan.
Jaesie's dad was Filipino-German. Puro Filipino naman ang mom niya. Unfortunately, they both died before they met my family. I guess lucky for Jaesie. She worked hard for herself, and Dad was so fond of her day by day kasi grabe siyang magpabibo.
Or maybe she wasn't really that showy sa parents ko. She's terrorizing Mum, and Dad has no plan to stop them from declaring war every day because of money. At hindi 'yon dahil mahilig gumastos si Jaesie para sa luxury things or luho niya. She's showing Mum that she can handle money better than how Mum manages it, and now, pataas nang pataas ang net worth niya, so she could compete with Mum for being the best lady in the house.
Sobrang favored na nga ni Dad si Jaesie more than he favored Kuya. Ibang level ang greed ni Jaesie, nakikipagsabayan sa parents ko. Lagi tuloy busy sa mansiyon.
Ang room ko sa mansion, nasa third floor, one hall ang layo kay Kuya and ten steps lang ang layo kina Daddy.
When I was a kid, I didn't have a yaya apart from Inday Sita. She's handling the whole family. Sa province, sobrang rare lang naming mabantayan ng nannies kasi hindi kami basta-basta pinalalabas. Sa school, walang nanny, pero may nagbabantay pa rin sa akin; either si Clark o si Mat. Si Kuya kasi, wala talagang silbi 'yan maliban sa i-bully ako every day. Magpapakita lang siya ng affection (na labas pa sa ilong) kapag pinagagalitan na siya ng parents namin.
Marami kaming properties, marami akong mauuwian. But what I liked about my room in my parents' house, hindi nila ginagalaw ang mga bagay na may sentimental value sa akin.
My whole room has a pink and white theme. It has a white, rounded bed in the middle and some cute stuff around it. May mini library, may vanity dresser, and walk-in closet. Parang room ng five-year-old spoiled kid. Walang nagpabago ng interior nito ever since I was ten. Probably because most of the time, kahit nabubuwisit ako kay Kuya Ronie, doon din ako nakikitulog sa kuwarto niya.
Mum was so excited to fix dinners and meetups basta usapang pakilala na ng ikakasal sa amin ni Kuya. She was so fond of bragging us sa mga kumare niya, and she should be thankful na award-winning ang asawa ni Kuya bilang milyonarya for three consecutive years.
Kahit pa inis na inis siya kay Jaesie, kapag kausap na ang mga kumare niya, all I could hear from her was "My Ronerico married a successful woman. And she's recognized by the business circle for three years! Hindi basta-basta ang manugang ko."
Pero pagdating dito sa bahay, kung puwede lang niyang sunugin si Jaesie gamit ang tingin, for sure, matagal nang nasa columbary ang ashes ni Jaesie.
And Jae's the strong one, she always let Mum feel that "Nanay ka lang, asawa ako. Matuto kang lumugar."
Now, Mum wanted a son-in-law na favorite niya. Kaya nga umagang-umaga, gusto kong magulat na gusto kong matawa because I saw Tito Ferdz and Tita Pia talking to Mum and Dad outside the house.
Tito Ferdz is a retired surgeon, a former military doctor, a professor of social science, a former undersecretary of a government agency, and a juris doctor. But for now, professor siya sa isang state college sa Quezon City as his part-time "activity" and enjoying his retirement days as a doctor.
Tita Pia is a retired law professor and is currently the principal of a famous private school in Quezon City as well.
Kung ang basis ko ay social class, I could tell na mayaman sina Tito Ferdz. Former government head si Tito, and ang laki ng budget before for them. Although, mataas naman ang rate ng COA sa agency nila and walang napabalitang anomaly under his term, pero hindi rin joke ang sahod nila.
But that shouldn't be my concern right now. Ipinatawag ako ni Mum for a meryenda with them. They were sitting on the garden table na good for four lang dapat pero pinagkasya sa anim, and I was puzzled because Clark was munching a cupcake as he stared at his phone and casually scrolling.
"Mum?" I asked as I sat in the lone, blank chair in the middle of my parents.
"Amiga . . ." Mum started and softly tapped my shoulder. "It's been long overdue."
And really, diring-diri ako habang nakatingin kay Mum. Inutusan niya ako kaninang magsuot ng formal dress, so I wore my red and white V-neck sheath dress with a knee-length variant. Not that I was gonna accept her plan to fix me up with someone else, but because kakausapin nga raw namin si Tito Ferdz, and I didn't want a bad impression.
Tito Ferdz is really, really nice. Para na siyang second daddy ko, and when I was seven years old, laging siya ang nagbibigay sa akin ng cute paper dolls kapag binibisita niya kami. Mum and Dad didn't like paper dolls because they were so cheap nga raw, so I had to hide those from them at patago akong naglalaro. Para talaga namin siyang daddy ni Kuya mula pa noon, sa totoo lang.
Sobrang close ni Tito sa family. Strict si Tita Pia saka intimidating kaya hindi kami masyadong close. Pero compared kay Mum, mabait pa siya nang one thousand percent. Same vibe sila ni Tita Ali.
I was watching Clark na busy sa phone. Malamang nambababae na naman. What's new?
"Hindi maganda ang sukob," Mum started. "Four months pa lang after ikasal nina Ronerico. So maybe by next year, puwede nang ikasal ang mga bata."
"Mum?" I could imagine my scowl with a hint of dismay written all over my face.
Anong kasal? Kanino?
"Clark, darling," Mum calmly said and reached for Clark's hand. "Thank you for being here."
Clark smiled at Mum and he didn't look like he knew what was happening. "Of course, Tita! Ako pa ba?"
"Final na ba ito, Amiga?" tanong ni Tita Pia. "Hindi ba masyadong magastos ito para sa inyo?"
"Of course, not! Ano ka ba naman, Amiga!" Mum slapped the air as a joke and grinned at Tita Pia. "Kailan kami nahirapan sa gastos? Matagal na natin 'tong pinaghandaan!"
Tita heaved a sigh, and she looked as if she didn't like my Mum's annoying and so-fake happy tone—well, same. I glanced at Dad; he looked uninterested in my Mum's game today. Nasa phone lang siya at bored na bored na nakatutok doon.
"Clark, darling, handa ka na bang ikasal?" nakangiting tanong ni Mum.
Shit.
Shit!
"Ha?" Clark asked, as innocent as he could be. "Ano po?"
"Single na si Sabrina."
Clark giggled, and suddenly, the fun left his eyes and his smile remained but was forced. "I know po, and . . . ?"
"Puwede na nating ayusin ang kasal ninyong dalawa," Mum continued.
I was agape, and Clark was confused.
"Kasal?" tanong pa ni Clark.
"Amiga, can we . . ." Mum rolled her hands in front of her chest and asked Tita Pia to help her explain what it was that she couldn't spill.
Tita Pia clapped once and sighed. "Matagal nang plano ito at nakapag-usap na rin kami ni Tessa."
Wait, what did they mean sa matagal nang plano? Gaano katagal? Last week? Last month? Noong kasal ni Kuya last May?
Clark was just there, wondering, palipat-lipat ang tingin niya kay Tita Pia at kay Mum.
"Clark, anak, nag-usap na kasi kami ng Tita Tess mo," paliwanag ni Tita Pia habang tinatapik ang kamay ni Clark na nasa table.
"Okay, then?" Clark replied.
"Ikakasal ka kay Sab."
And Clark's reaction screamed, "Weeeeh? Talaga baaaa?" in a sarcastic manner as if he just heard a failed joke.
"Mami, na-appreciate ko ang effort ng joke, really." Tumango-tango pa siya at tinapik si Tito Ferdz na busy rin sa phone gaya ni Dad. "Dadi! Tawa ka naman!"
I was a bit shocked when Tita Pia slapped Clark's arm na parang naiinis sa anak niya. "Clark. Take this seriously."
"Mami, nandito ako kasi ang sabi mo, important meeting. Nag-formal suit pa nga ako, o! Look! Ang init, ha."
And Clark pointed to his sleek maroon suit and white button-down shirt underneath.
"It is! Planning na tayo ng wedding n'yo ni Sabrina."
"Yuck, allergies!"
"Hoy, yuck ka rin!" sigaw ko sa kanya. How dare he shouted that in front of me, ang kapal, ha!
"Tita Tess, with all due respect po, pero eww! Sabrina? Eww again!"
"Clark, where's your manners!" Pinalo na naman tuloy siya ni Tita Pia. Kung ako si Tita, pinalo pa siya ng upuan!
"Mami, let me clarify this, okay?" Clark was agitated, and I could feel his refusal of this unexpected plan and meeting. "Tita, listen."
The elders shut their mouths to listen to Clark. Our daddies really had no plan to listen; I could see Dad signaling Tito Ferdz na umalis na sila sa table. Tito nodded and they stood up without making a sound para makaalis. Gusto kong sumama kay Daddy kaya hinatak ko ang kamay niya para sumama ako, but he pointed to my Mum and inaudibly said, "Listen, anak."
Oh my God, what the fuck is happening right now?
"Alam kong single ako, pero wala pa akong balak magpakasal," paliwanag ni Clark.
"But you're already 32," Mum said.
"Tita, that's not the point."
"Anak . . ." Tita Pia was begging for Clark, so I had no idea what to do.
"Tita, alam kong maganda ang lahi ninyo, pero wala pa sa plano ko ang magpakasal. And besides, barkada ko si Rico. Parang kapatid ko na si Sab. Ang awkward naman kung pakakasalan ko 'to out of the blue. Ew!"
My hands instinctively threw a table napkin at Clark kasi kanina pa siya eww nang eww diyan! Wala rin naman akong balak pakasalan siya! Kaka-break nga lang namin ni Ivo!
"Sorry, Mi. Sorry, Tita Tess, pero no." He shook his head. "Makakahanap pa kayo ng best option for Sabrina. At hindi ako 'yon."
"Clark, hijo, ngayon lang kami makakabawi sa 'yo," Mum explained.
"Babawi saan? Tita, lagi na ako ritong kumakain sa inyo, kulang pa ba 'yon?"
"Alam kong matagal mo nang inaalagaan si Sabrina, and it's time for us to return the favor."
"Tita . . ." Clark definitely sounded annoyed right now, and he seldom raised his voice at my mom. "Inalagaan ko si Sab kasi barkada ko si Rico. Sobrang awkward talaga na bigla-bigla mo na lang akong ipakakasal kay Sabrina, e puwede na nga akong pumalit bilang kuya niyan."
"Clark . . ." Mum's voice was pleading, and I couldn't even! Don't tell me, talagang magmamakaawa siya kay Clark na pakasalan ako?
Tumayo na si Clark at umiling sa aming tatlo. Hinakawan pa niya ang dibdib niya at malungkot na tumingin kay Mum. "Tita Tess, I love you and respect you with all my heart and balunbalunan, pero nope. Hahanapan ko na lang si Sab ng pakakasalan niya if you like. Pero ako? Nada. I should go, may important meeting din ako. Sorry, Mami. Maybe next time."
We were all looking at Clark as he walked out.
I seldom see him turn his back on my mom, but this deserved the act.
"It won't work, Mum, believe me," I said, and followed Clark. Well, not really him. Gusto ko lang ding mag-walk out like him.
Ang weird ng morning ko.
Mum wanted me to marry Clark. Hindi ko masabing shocking because it was Clark, but it left me puzzled for real kung bakit siya.
Mum has a point when she said na kasi inalagaan ako ni Clark before, pero gaya rin ng sinabi ni Clark kay Mum, parang kuya ko na siya. Because he really is a kuya to me. Para tuloy incest sa imagination ko, nakakadiri. Sana si Mat na lang! 'Kainis.
And speaking of Mat, siya agad ang pinuntahan ko before lunch.
Mat is a wedding organizer, unfortunately, hindi siya ang organizer nina Patrick at Melanie since galing si Mel sa family ng mga chef and event organizer.
Mat's office was located on the busy street of Araullo. It was a small office sa second floor ng 6th Bldg. sa San Juan. May office table sa gitna, at ang daming photo na naka-display sa wall. May TV sa upper corner near the sliding door kung saan nire-replay ang ilang events na na-handle na ng office niya. Ang dami ring stack ng papel sa dulo na masisilip dahil nakabukas ang pinto roon sa likod ng receiving area.
Naabutan ko siyang busy sa napakaraming paperwork kaya nahiya akong mang-abala.
"Mat, are you busy?"
"Sab?"
She went out of the occupied room and closed the door immediately. Ang dami niyang bitbit na folders na ibinagsak niya sa office table sa harapan ko.
"Busy day, sorry," she apologized.
I scanned her and she looked so amazing in her cute pastel blue low-neck dress. "Wow, this is so nice!" I pinched her waist. "Love the dress, Mat."
"I know. Thank you, darling." She combed her long black hair and posed to show off her curves.
"Ang ganda mo, Mat! Feeling ko, bisexual ako. Ikaw na lang magpakasal sa 'kin!"
"Hahaha! I love you, baby girl, pero baby sister kita. I don't marry someone close to my heart like a family."
"Grabeee! Sige na, Mat! Ikaw na lang!" Niyakap ko siya sa braso habang nagpapa-cute. "Promise, I'll be a good girl!"
"Sabrina, baby, listen . . ." She cupped my face and looked at me intently. "I know break na kayo ni Ivo, but marriage is not a joke. And besides, you're my baby sister. You know that naman, di ba?"
"Pero gusto ni Mum na ikasal kami ni Clark!"
Her face turned sour after what I said. "Si Clark? As in Kuya Clark?"
I pouted and nodded at him.
"Fuck it. Bakit si Clark?"
"I don't know!"
"Eww."
"Exactly, di ba?"
Now, Mat and I looked distressed upon thinking about me marrying Clark. I hugged her and pinched her oh-so-slim waist.
"Why Clark?" she asked again, and we both stared at the broad sky outside her office.
"Mum said inalagaan naman daw kasi ako ni Clark," I explained.
"Well, Tita has a point on that, though."
"Pero parang kuya ko na si Clark."
"I know right." Tumingin siya sa akin kaya napatingala rin ako sa kanya. "Gusto ba ni Clark na pakasalan ka?"
Umiling ako nang mabilis. "He walked out kanina kay Mum. First time, gulat nga ako."
"Well, I doubt na gusto niya. But hmm . . ."
We both sighed and contemplated that marriage thing again.
"Clark . . . hmm . . . ano'ng opinyon dito ni Ronie?"
"I don't want to talk to Kuya about this, but I'm so sure, ayaw niya nito."
"For sure. Anyway, I'll talk to Clark first, ha?" She tapped my back and kissed my forehead. "Then we'll talk again. Baka nabibigla lang si Tita Tessa."
"Okay." I nodded.
Dad and Tito Ferdz didn't look interested sa wedding namin ni Clark, but I doubt na magiging interested si Dad basta sa akin kasi hindi naman na Dardenne ang magiging apelyido ko once ikasal ako. Si Mum ang kating-kati rito, ewan ko ba.
Not that I hate Clark, pero hindi ko talaga ma-imagine na ikakasal kami. Nakakadiri talaga ang idea, paano 'to naaatim ni Mum planuhin? Eww!
♥♥♥