Chapter 5: Help
I was awakened by the loud thuds banging on the door. Umupo ako mula sa pagkakahiga at pinasadahan ng palad ang aking mukha. Napangiwi pa ako nang may kumalabog na naman sa pinto. Hindi nito kailangang magsalita para malaman ko kung sino siya dahil isa lang naman ang makakagawa nito.
"Good morning," Arch greeted me with a wide grin. He seemed just got out of the shower room, basa pa ang buhok nito na hindi pa napasadahan ng suklay. The shower gel he used lingered on my nose and god knows how manly that scent is. Nakasandal pa ito sa gilid habang nakahalukipkip.
I yawned. "Yeah," I lazily responded.
He winced as he moved one step backwards. "Don't open your mouth when you haven't brushed your teeth yet," maarteng sabi pa nito bago umayos ng tayo. "Anyway, mag-ayos ka na. Cook breakfast for us," aniya pa bago tumalikod at umalis na.
Ilang segundo matapos niyang umalis ay hindi pa rin naalis ang amoy niya. I waited for his scent to subside before I closed the door. I didn't intend to, it was just too much just to be wasted.
Kumuha ako ng damit sa closet bago lumabas. Naabutan ko sa sala si Arch, as usual ay tutok na naman ito sa TV. Mukhang wala na rin siyang panahon para magsuklay.
"Hey!" Rich greeted me as soon as I stepped my feet in the kitchen. "Good morning."
Bumagsak ang tingin ko sa hubad niyang katawan na tinatakpan ng kulang asul na apron. Lumunok ako bago inangat uli ang tingin sa kanyang mukha. Those eyes covered with glasses were smiling at me. Ganito ba talaga sila tuwing umaga?
"Ah! I was about to cook breakfast for us," he held that brought me back to sanity.
"You know how to cook?" I almost rolled my eyes. He wouldn't say that if he couldn't, right?
He chuckled. "Basic," he arrogantly responded with a slight wink.
"Gusto mo bang tulungan kita?" alok ko, handa nang bitawan ang mga damit na hawak ko.
"Sure!" Binitawan niya ang kasangkapan na hawak. "Mag-ayos ka muna ng sarili. I'll just wait."
Tumango ako bago dumiretso sa bathroom. Nang maayos ko ang mga damit ko ay agad na hinagilap ng aking mata ang shower gel na ginamit ni Arch. Halos ibaliktad ko na ang mga gamit dito pero wala akong makita. Saan niya kaya tinago 'yon?
Why am I even bothering?
I just shrugged it away. He keeps it away and that means he doesn't want anyone using it.
Maghihilamos lang sana ako pero nang maalala ko kung gaano ka-fresh ang kambal ay napagpasyahan ko na ring maligo. Nakakahiya naman na amoy bulaklak sila tapos ako ay amoy basurang matagal ng nakaimbak sa gilid.
Nang matapos ay lumabas na rin ako ng CR. Naabutan ko si Rich na nagbabasa ng libro. Nakatalikod ito sa akin, nakasandal siya sa lababo. Mula rito ay kitang-kita ko ang porma ng kanyang likod na hubad. I immediately looked away when he turned his gaze at me.
"Buti naman 'di ka inabot nang matagal?" biro niya.
"I'll just dry my hair," I said as I skedaddled the kitchen. Muntik pa nga kaming magkabunggo ni Arch na papunta palang kusina. Ako ang gumilid at mabilis na dumaan. Masyadong maaga para makipagtalo sa kanya.
It took me five minutes to completely dry my hair. Pagkabalik ko sa kusina ay inuumpisahan na pala nila Arch at Rich ang pagluluto. Rich even asked me if I still wanted to help but Arch answered for me, "Ako na. Mukha namang walang alam sa kusina 'yan kung hindi ang kumain."
"Kuya," Rich warned his brother.
I gave no fuck when I just sat down and watched them. I was amazed that Rich could cook but even more amazed that Arch could cook, too. I mean... he was the type of guy who would rather stay outside and play basketball than study to cook.
"Actually, Arch was the cook. He just taught me," ani Rich nang mapansin na nahihiwagaan ako.
Namilog ang mga mata ko bago mahinang napatango.
"And... I have no time to teach others anymore," Arch gave me a smirk as if I wanted him to teach me.
I refused to say anything. Baka kapag sinabi kong marunong ako ay baka magtanong pa sila at kung saan-saan pa mapunta ang usapan. I need to be careful with my words that Arch is now curious about me. It's too soon to say goodbye.
I noticed that everything they cook is listed on the note posted on the ref. It seemed like a schedule of foods they need to prepare each time. Not shocking though. Probably for the sake of Rich. He needs to be careful with what he eats. Fish? Brown rice? Vegetables? Fruits? Whatever. I eat everything.
"Sayang hindi ka nakasama sa jogging namin," ani Rich nang umupo siya sa tabi ko.
"I'm not interested though," I mumbled.
Napalingon sa akin si Arch. Kinabahan ako sa tingin nito.
"I was so tired to do jogging, maybe next time?" I smiled, hiding away the fact that Arch's stare could affect me this much.
Napangiti naman si Rich. "Gusto mo bang gisingin kita?" alok niya.
No. What the fuck? You would ruin my day! That's what I hate the most, people who interrupt my sleep.
But instead of saying that, "Your choice."
I should get ready myself for tomorrow. He will surely bang my door just like Arch did.
Sabay-sabay kaming kumain nang matapos. I just watched them prepare everything on the table. Tahimik lang din kami hanggang sa kumain. Napansin kong malalim ang iniisip ni Arch. He's probably thinking about what happened last night.
To break the silence I asked, "What will happen to Cams now?"
Natigilan sa pagsubo si Arch at kinunutan ako ng noo. "What?"
Uminom ako ng tubig para pababain ang nginunguya ko. "You know what happened last night? You pushed her away. She's probably with Trev right now. You know?"
"Why the fuck do you care?" Arch furrowed his brows. "Ano naman ngayon sa 'yo?" Now, I could feel how mad he was.
Hindi ko na naman napigilan ang bibig ko. I should have just sat here and eaten my food instead.
"I-I just want to ask-" I tried to sound apologetic but Arch didn't let me when he cut me out.
"We let you stay here with us but that doesn't mean you can talk to us like we are family here," Arch said and that hit me. Wala akong sasabihin at kung meron man ay parang nalunok ko 'yon. "Know your place, Amira."
I... am not one of them. They are not my family. He's right. Gusto kong matawa. Hindi rin naman pamilya ang turing ko sa kanila. He's right. And that is something I should work for. I need them to accept me. I need them to acknowledge me as one of them.
"What's going on between Cams and I has nothing to do with you," madiing na sambit ni Arch.
"Enough, Kuya." Even Rich seemed disappointed with me.
I gulped the lump in my throat as I responded, "I thought I could help you. I am a girl and I know how it feels to be pushed away by someone I love. At alam ko rin kung ano ang gusto ko kapag nangyari sa akin 'yon. Sorry."
"Help?" I could feel how mocking his question was. "I don't need your help."
Damn this jerk.
"Cams is probably mad at you right now," I said. "I can help you win her again."
Nagtaas uli ng kilay si Arch na parang hinahamon ako. "At ano naman ang kapalit ng tulong na inaalok mo?"
Umiling ako. "I-I just want to help. That's it."
"Well, good news, baby. Don't bother because I don't fucking need it." Ngumisi ito at pabagsak na ibinaba ang hawak na baso. "I lost my appetite."
Wala akong nagawa kung hindi pagmasdan si Arch na umalis ng kainan. I knew he wasn't easy to fool and that was the reason why I didn't want to try in the first place, but now damn it. I like how he gives me thrills. People who are hard to get are the harder to lose when you get.
If I need someone to be on my side, that should be Archeon. Once I get him, I shouldn't worry anymore.
Nilingon ko si Rich na naiiling na lang. "Kain ka lang," aniya.
Malungkot na ngumiti ako. "I'm sorry for that. I thought I could at least help him."
"You tried and it's not your lost that he declined," he encouraged me. "Don't think about it and just eat."
Habang kumakain ay nag-iisip ako ng pwedeng pambawi kay Arch. I learned a lesson today. That's not to say something ridiculous when Arch is around, even if I have to set aside who I really am. Who am I? I am the result of a horrendous conspiracy between earth and heaven. I love my life... but life never showed me love.
I volunteered to clean the dishes. Nang matapos ay pumunta ako sa likod ng bahay kung saan ko nakita si Rich. Just like the first time I saw him, he was sitting under the shadow of that huge tree. Nagbabasa na naman ito at base sa book cover ay ibang story na naman 'yon. Ilang libro na kaya ang nabasa na nito?
Umangat ang tingin ko sa itaas ng puno kung nasaan ang maliit na bahay. Nakasilip sa bintana si Arch, diretso ang tingin sa akin. Malakas ang hangin sa taas dahil nagagalaw nito ang kanyang buhok. I watched how he mouthed, "Come up here."
Bahagya akong nagulat at napaturo sa sarili. "Me?" I mouthed, too.
He rolled his eyes and screamed, "Come up here, Amira!"
Sa sobrang lakas no'n ay napatalon sa gulat maging si Rich. Napatingin ito sa akin bago umangat ang tingin sa Kuya niya.
"Hindi mo pa ba ako narinig?" pasigaw na tanong na naman ni Arch nang hindi ako kumilos.
I hate how bossy he is but then again... what can I do?
Naglakad ako papunta sa kinauupuan ni Rich na nakangiti naman sa akin. I wonder if will I ever see him glaring at me? That would be definitely hot.
"I think he will ask for your help now. Tame his stubborn head, Amira," biro ni Rich.
"He still seems mad. Hindi naman niya ako itutulak pababa, 'di ba?" I asked, a bit nervous.
He chuckled softly. "Trust me when I say, Arch is not that kind of guy."
Napangiti ako at lumuwag ang paghinga.
"What's taking you so long?!" I heard him again.
Agh! What a short-tempered ass.
Umikot ako sa puno at tinahak ang hagdan pataas. Nang makaakyat ay tumambad sa akin ang asar na asar na lalaki. Nakaupo na ito sa kawayan na upuan, sinasakop niya ang buong upuan dahil sa lawak ng pagitan sa hita niya. Humalukipkip ito.
"So, Miss Amira. How to tame a girl?"
"Own her heart," I responded quickly.
"Done it," he responded.
"Then, that's it." I shrugged my shoulders. "Ask for forgiveness and admit your fault. Don't use to me the argument, 'What is sorry when the damage has been done because no matter how huge the damage you've caused to someone is, owning your fault means you regret it. And that's the first step, Arch. Time heals the wound but a simple 'sorry' makes it faster."
Umayos ng pagkakaupo si Arch. "What? Sorry?"
I knew it!
"That should be easy but knowing boys - the size of their egos is bigger than the size of their balls." I mentally rolled my eyes,.
"Don't generalize, Miss. You haven't seen mine yet."
I don't usually get affected by dirty words because neither am dirty, too, but – here I am, blushing like a high school kid who just talked to her crush.
I faked a cough. "Just apologize, Arch."
"What if I don't want to? I mean... it's not my fault though. Why would I apologize?"
"M-May I know why?"
I have no idea what happened. It felt like I skipped an episode of the drama. Why did he push her?
"No," tipid na sagot niya.
I mentally rolled my eyes. This is harder than I thought. Mukhang mabait naman si Cams at mukha ring mahal niya si Arch kaya malamang na hinihintay niya lang na lumapit uli sa kanya si Arch. It is either Arch will approach first or ... that's it!
"I have an idea," I grinned.
Bahagyang bumali ang leeg ni Arch. "What if I don't like that idea?"
"Kahit na hindi mo na kailangang humingi ng sorry?" Nagtaas ako ng kilay.
Naguluhan ang kanyang titig. That's it. I caught his interest.
Tumikhim ako at naglakad papunta sa kanya. Umupo ako sa tabi niya.
"Let's go out tonight," I whispered.
Mas lalong naguluhan ang kanyang tingin. "Why are you whispering? You're creeping me out."
"Because it's a secret," I whispered again.
Mukhang nakuha naman niya ang sinasabi ko.
"You want me to leave Rich here, alone?" He furrowed his brows. "I can't do that. I have never done it before and I have no plan to. We are not called Cheon Bothers for nothing, Miss Newbie."
"Just for an hour!" madiin kong sabi. I never expected him to be this dramatic, too. Magkapatid nga. "Sandali lang naman tayo. Saka mas makakabuti sa kanyang maiwan dito dahil may sakit siya. You don't need to bring him with you wherever you go. That would be better for him..." knowing you always cause trouble.
Natigilan si Arch. Nakita ko ang pagbabagong timpla ng kanyang mukha. Hindi ko mawari kung nasaktan ko ba siya dahil sa sinabi ko o nagalit. I think it's the combination of both. I mean... I'm just trying to change their ways.
"Fine!"
Napangiti ako. Easy.
"Bakit kayo nagbubulungan?"
Napaayos kami ng upo nang biglang umakyat din si Rich. Tumawa ito sa reaksyon namin.
"I-It's just the help, you know?" I made an alibi.
Tumango naman si Rich. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o maaawa na ang bilis niyang kumagat sa pain. He is a cute but vulnerable boy. Too bad he is living in this kind of world. Sooner or later... life will break him, too.
"Mom is here," Rich announced.
"Talaga?!" gulat kong tanong, napatayo pa. Habang si Arch ay wala man lang reaksyon.
Mas natawa si Rich. "Mas mukha ka pang excited makita siya kaysa kay Kuya, ah? Tara na. May dala siyang pagkain."
Ako ang naunang bumaba ng tree house at patakbong pumasok sa loob. Naabutan ko si Tita Minerva na nag-aayos ng mga pagkain sa kusina. Nang makita niya ako ay agad na ngumiti ito. Sa tingin ko ay alam ko na kung kanino nagmana si Rich.
"Maupo ka na, Amira," aya niya sa akin na ginawa ko naman.
Mayamaya ay dumating na ang kambal. Tumabi sa akin si Arch habang si Rich naman kay Tita Minerva. I couldn't help but to feel curious why Arch's acting this way to his Mom. Hindi ko makitaan ng mali si Tita. In fact, she's been so good to me... to them. O baka wala kay Tita ang mali.
"How's your sleep, Amira?" Tita suddenly asked me.
Napatingin ako kay Arch. "Mahimbing."
"Mabuti naman. Sige kain lang kayo, magpapalit lang ako ng damit," ani Tita bago umalis.
"Thank you, Mom." I didn't expect that from Arch.
Saka ko lang napagtanto na okay naman si Arch kay Tita kapag umuuwi siya, nag-iiba lang kapag aalis na. He clearly doesn't want his Mom leaving them. At ang pag 'di niya pansin dito kapag aalis na para magtrabaho ay ang pagsasabi nito na ayaw niya itong umalis.
"She looks tired," I suddenly mumbled.
Parehong natigilan ang kambal dahil sa sinabi ko.
"Salamat sa pag-aalala," ani Rich.
"Hindi pa ba siya natulog sa gabi rito kahit na minsan magmula nung lumipat kayo?" tanong ko pa.
"A-Ah..." Nahirapang sumagot si Rich. "Ito pa. Kain ka lang," aniya na lang.
Napatingin ako kay Arch nang bigla itong tumayo at lumabas.
"Kain lang," ani Rich. Mukhang sanay na ito sa biglaang pag-alis ni Arch.
Ano na naman kayang nangyari sa lalaking 'yon?
Gaya ng ipinangako ni Tita ay binilhan niya ako ng bagong phone. At gaya rin ng babala niya ay walang signal sa lugar na ito. I couldn't even detect even just one bar of signal. What is this place? Agh! Anyway, she also bought me clothes.
"Thank you." Those are the only words that came out of my mouth.
Ngumiti lang ito sa akin. Andito kami ngayon sa kwarto niya dahil ipinakita niya sa akin ang kanyang mga pinamili. Sinukat ko ang mga binili niya sa aking damit. I was amazed that we really have the same taste when it comes to clothes.
"W-What happened last night?" biglang tanong niya at doon naputol ang pagsusukat ko.
Humarap ako sa kanya. "L-Lumabas kami para pumunta sa downtown," pagsasabi ko ng totoo.
Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya. "I knew it. Alam kong pumupunta sila ro'n kapag wala ako. Ano'ng ginawa niyo roon?"
I may be an honest person but I know when to stop.
"We just roamed around. Nagpalipas lang ng oras."
Tumango siya uli. "That's it?'
I nodded.
"C-Can you do me another favor?"
"To take care of them when they go there? Especially, Rich?"
Muli siyang tumango.
"Sure," sagot ko.
Iniwan ko muna si Tita dahil gusto niya raw muna umidlip. Naabutan ko si Rich sa sala, as usual ay nagbabasa na naman ng libro. Hindi niya ako napansin. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Napatingin ako sa hagdan paitaas.
Muli kong binalingan ng tingin si Rich. Nang 'di niya pa rin ako pansin ay dahan-dahan akong umakyat. May dalawang kwarto rito at hindi ko masabi kung kanino ang kay Rich at ang kay Arch. Pero ang napansin ko ay ang isa pang pinto. Nang buksan ko ito ay napaikot na lang ang mga mata ko. May CR naman pala sa taas! Tapos binulabog pa ako ni Arch.
Napagpasyahan kong pumasok sa kanan na kwarto. Nang makita pa lang ang mga libro ay alam ko na kung kanino ito. Sa dami ng pwedeng tingnan, natulala ako sa labas ng bintanang nakabukas. Kitang-kita rito ang ilog. Hindi ko namalayan na lumapit na pala ako ro'n.
Kinuha ko ang cell phone ko sa bulsa at kinunan ng litrato ang ilog. It felt like it would be a sin to add a filter on the picture I captured. It was raw... and enchanting. I think I understand Rich now why he loves that lake.
"New phone?"
Napatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang sumulpot si Arch.
"What are you doing here?" gulat kong tanong.
Isinara niya ang pinto bago lumapit sa akin. "This is my room."
"What?"
"You are in my territory."
Hindi ko maiwasang tingnan ang mga libro.
Mahina siyang tumawa nang mapansin na roon ako nakatingin. "Just because you don't see me holding a book doesn't mean I don't read. I just prefer to read books in my room."
Namula ang mukha ko sa hiya.
"S-Sorry..."
I was about to walk out when he grabbed my hand and pulled me back. "I can't just let you get out of here. You can go in here without my permission but you can't get out without it."
I swallowed hard. My hands started to tremble. May mga imaheng nabubuo sa isipan ko, mga imaheng matagal ko nang binaon. It happened to me before. The feeling... the voices... the scene... it's all coming back. And before I even knew... I punched Archeon on his face.
Tila nabalik ako sa huwisyo nang makitang dumugo ang ilong niya.
Napaatras ako at tatakbo na sana nang mahawakan niya ang braso ko. Sa pagkakataong ito ay mas mahigpit.
I expected him to punch me but I froze when he asked, "You okay? You looked pale."
I need to get him... but he got me first.