"Hi, Becky! Are you free today? I lost my wallet kasi. Can you pick me up?"

"Really, Sab?" Becky sarcastically replied. "You can call Ronie."

"Busy si Kuya, e."

"I doubt that."

"He is!"

"Not you bragging to us na kahit nasa Mindanao ka, kaya kang puntahan ng kuya mo once you call for his aid," she said, and that annoyed me right away. "Sab, if you did something ridiculous again, just don't call us. Dinadamay mo pa kami sa issues mo. Bye."

Fuck.

Becky dropped the call and I glared at my phone after I saw my screen.

I called Janice after that para manghingi ng kaparehong tulong.

"Hey, Jan! How are you?"

"Come on, Sab . . ." she said in a bored tone. "What is it?"

"I lost my wallet kasi."

"You always lost your wallet, girl. Pasundo ka na sa kuya mo."

"Busy si Kuya."

"Never naging busy ang kuya mo for you. Did you do something stupid again?"

My gosh. Wala ba silang ibang itatanong kundi 'yan lang?

"Nothing," I answered, annoyed. "Busy lang talaga si Kuya."

"Then call Tita Tessa. Girl, maging responsible ka naman kahit ngayon lang."

"We're friends, right?" I sarcastically asked.

"We're friends kaya nga I'm suggesting, di ba?"

"Can you be a friend right now? Pasundo ako ngayon."

"Nasa work ako, girl, hello? Kung wala kang work, can you be at least considerate sa mga meron? You always lost your wallet, napakaburara talaga. Walang development?"

"Kung ayaw mong tumulong, just don't talk." Saka ko ibinaba ang call.

Wala na ba akong reliable friends apart from those na related kay Kuya?

I was sitting on the sidewalk, waiting for a friend to pick me up, but all of my "closest friends" told me to call Kuya. And all of them have so many petty reasons! They could say no naman agad if they didn't want to help me, duh!

I was starting to wonder how Kuya got his friends na kahit yata nasa Mount Everest siya, willing siyang puntahan kapag kinailangan niya ng tulong.

I called almost everyone and none of them pick me up, three hours na ako rito sa seaside!

"Hey!" I yelled when a hand grabbed my phone, and the next thing I know a rugged man was running away from me with my phone! "Fuck!"

Tinakbo ko agad ang daan para mahabol siya. "That's my phone! Help! Kinuha ng guy ang phone ko!"

♥♥♥

"Namumukhaan n'yo ho ba siya, ma'am?"

"Long-haired, wavy na buhok na hanggang shoulder, naka-ponytail. Maybe 5'3" or 5'5"? Basta he's shorter than me. Super payat, naka-tank-top jersey na color blue with number 4 sa back print. Naka-shorts na denim, faded black. The face, not sure. I was running behind him. Then after he went sa path walk, he's gone."

"Phone lang ho ba ang nakuha sa inyo?"

"Phone lang ang meron ako, of course, wala nang iba."

I was glancing at the officer's table. He was manually writing the reports and my statements, although may girl na mukhang baranggay volunteer na nagta-type ng statement ko sa super old model nang computer.

May nagpa-patrol na baranggay sa main road when they caught me shouting and asking for help. Hindi na nila nahanap ang snatcher, and they said na "imposible" na raw mahanap, then followed by "Marami na 'tong nabiktima. Madalas talaga 'to sa seaside."

And I was like, how can you fucking say that it was impossible to see that fucking culprit when you yourself can tell me that madalas pala sa area yung snatcher! What the fuck?

"Tsip, nandiyan na raw ang guardian niyan sa labas," sabi ng matangkad na manong mula sa glass door ng police station.

I was expecting Mum's endless scolding of how stupid I was for taking my phone out in a dangerous street, but my thought suddenly shifted when I saw Tita Ali, walking toward me after his personal aide na naka-barong.

Mukhang wala siyang office today. Well, more like galing siyang golfing. Casual pink polo and white pegged pants lang din ang suot niya.

One thing I like about El Sokkary's genes is the strong Egyptian traits, and their skin is in between light cream and white. Super tangos ng ilong ni Tita, deep ang eyes, perfect angle ang kilay (na originally makapal, so she has to trim that every week), and the angle of their faces ni Mum are crafted symmetrically. Kaya kahit wala silang retoke, mukha pa rin silang bata. Because that's how their faces look even without makeup on. And well, she's just 17 years older than Kuya. Kapag nagtabi sila, although Tita's superior vibes can speak for herself that she's older, but it was a rare occasion na may nagkakamaling tita siya ni Kuya. Most of the time, older cousin talaga.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin kay Tita nang ngitian niya ako nang matipid, yet my eyes shifted to everyone inside the police station, craning their neck at Tita Ali and her overflowing presence. Even her floral perfume wandered across the room and created an alternative fragrance of sweet nectar other than the station's coffee and old paper smell.

"Good morning ho, ma'am," an officer in tucked uniform greeted Tita as she approached the table where I was sitting. The male officer offered his hand to Tita, which she gladly accepted.

"What happened?" Tita's deep female voice asked. "Ang sabi sa call, na-snatch ang phone ng pamangkin ko, tama ba?

"'Yon nga ho, ma'am," naiilang na sagot ng kausap ni Tita. "Wala hong malapit na CCTV sa area kasi along the road, talahiban pa ang kasunod pagkatapos doon sa mga puno ho ng niyog. Wala naman hong madalas na dumaraan doon kasi malayo ang sakayan. Baka sinundan lang ho ang pamangkin ninyo kaya natiyempuhan."

I was waiting for Tita's response when his aide talked to me. "Ma'am Sab, doon na raw kayo sa kotse."

Wala na akong choice. Tita Ali is a better option than Kuya and Mum right now. The aide guided me sa coach ni Tita na naka-park sa harap ng station.

Tita's coach feels like home—spacious with a round glass table in the middle and a white couch around it. Nakasara ang window curtain pero nakabukas ang interior lights. The aide gave me a lime juice from the mini ref beside the door and opened the speaker playing mellow music. It was Audrey Hepburn singing Moon River.

Wala akong phone. I could ask for Tita to buy me a new one pero kailangan ko munang ipa-lock ang device kong nakuha para hindi na ma-access ng iba.

A few minutes later, dumating na si Tita Ali. Naupo siya sa kaharap kong side ng couch saka ako tiningnan na parang nakakaawa akong bata.

"Sabrina, hija . . ." she started so I cut her off.

"I don't want to go home, Tita."

She smiled, but I couldn't see that she was happy about it.

Ayokong umuwi kasi pinagtutulungan na 'ko ng lahat.

"Ate Tessa called. May meeting siya ngayon kina Mr. Tiu, tinawagan daw ang office niya ng police station."

"Tita, itinago ni Mum ang wallet ko. Ipinasara niya ang penthouse ko pati yung boutique! Pinate-terminate pa niya ang contract ko sa Sun-Dias! Phone lang ang meron ako ngayon tapos na-snatch pa. Saan ako pupunta?" Ibinagsak ko ang likod ko sa sandalan ng couch saka pairap na umiwas ng tingin.

Mum was blocking all of my resources. Talagang sinisigurado niyang susunod ako sa kanya.

"You know what, hija, you can go wherever you want," Tita said, and I still didn't want to answer.

"Tita, if that's possible, sana nasa Japan na 'ko right now para lang lumayo kay Mum." I pointed outside the moving car. "She wants me to marry Clark, and she blocked all my sources of income para lang sundin ko siya!"

"If you're talking about Sun-Dias, hija, please spare me the rant about it."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. "Why?"

"Better ask your Mum, honey." Tita shrugged and took a red and black tumbler from beside her seat to drink. "I'm done with their issues."

In an instant, my eyes narrowed after I remembered Clark's meeting with Mum and Tita last time.

"Last time, nag-meeting kayo ni Mum with Clark, right?" I asked. I'm sure about sa wedding 'yon. Or not?

"Yes." Ibinalik din niya ang tumbler sa gilid ng couch pagkatapos uminom saka ako tiningnan. "Ate Tessa planned to build a talent agency and I'm interested on financing the business. She was asking if open ba si Clark sa management. Ongoing na naman na ang termination ng contract mo sa Sun-Dias, inaayos na niya ang paglilipatan sa 'yo."

Then I saw my face from afar with question marks above my head.

Did my mom plan to steal me from Sun-Dias?

Buong akala ko pa naman, about sa wedding kaya sila nag-meeting last time!

"So . . . yung meeting last time . . . hindi about sa wedding namin ni Clark?"

"Hahaha!" Tita laughed so hard, hindi ko na alam kung nagjo-joke lang ba siya or something. "Why are you worried about Clark marrying you?"

"Because Mum is forcing us to marry each other!"

"Talaga ba?! Oh my God, I'm not aware! And your mom did this to your Kuya Ronie and Trisha, di ba? But look at Jaesie and her two-year marriage with your brother."

"But I have no boyfriend right now!"

"Ate is not forcing you to marry Clark."

"She is, Tita, believe me."

She smiled again, but I could sense the sarcasm in it. "Sabrina, honey, Ate Tessa can drag your trunk anywhere she wants to. One call away lang siya kay Tony, ipapa-track ka at dadalhin ka niya sa simbahan while pointing a gun at your head so you can say yes. That's how 'forcing you to marry Clark' means kung ang topic ay si Ate." She shrugged at me and smiled again. "But you see? No one is forcing you, honey."

"What about my boutique? Dinamay pa niya."

"Nagger lang si Ate, but she won't stoop so low just to annoy you, hun. Closed ang boutique dahil tapos na ang leasing agreement na pinirmahan ng owner ng puwesto, and you're not the person in-charge during the time na kinuha ang mga gamit doon. Ate Tessa handled that at nasa warehouse niya ang lahat ng gamit na discarded ng management mula sa boutique."

"But no one told me about that!" I yelled, and that started to make me cry out of frustration.

Pinalayas ako nang hindi ko alam?

"A man named Ruel del Ignacio owned the lease. He should have informed you about the unpaid rent under his name. Siya dapat ang kumausap sa iyo at hindi si Ate. Basically, kinuha lang ni Ate ang mga gamit sa boutique na 'itinapon' ng management ng building. So, if you want to take those things back, kunin mo sa kanya."

"Oh fuck."

I raked my hair using my fingers and I felt like I'd already lost everything permanently. Buong akala ko talaga, ipinasara ni Mum ang boutique ko! And Ruel didn't even bother telling me na hindi pala siya nagbabayad ng upa sa building? My gosh!

I was expecting na mababawi ko pa ang shop ko basta ba magiging sunod-sunuran ako kay Mum, but it was useless now kasi wala pala kay Mum ang problema.

"Wala akong kahit ano ngayon, Tita," sabi ko, at para akong napagod kahit nakaupo lang kami. "Kay Clark ako nakatira. I bought some old clothes to make a new one para magkaroon ako ng budget. Now, I'm not sure if babalik pa 'ko sa bahay niya."

Phone na nga lang ang meron ako, na-snatch pa. Grabe, super malas ko naman today.

"I understand kung bakit gusto ni Ate Tessa kay Clark," Tita said.

"Favorite son kasi siya ni Mum," sabi ko sabay paikot ng mata.

I heard Tita chuckle. And as much as I didn't want to roll my eyes again, they did so naturally.

"Clark carries a responsibility na never ipapasa ng mommy mo sa kuya mo, Sabrina," Tita casually explained. "Head ng security service provider and consultant ng commercial investigations company si Ate. Hindi lang siya basta housewife na tambay whole day sa bahay. Alam ninyo ng kuya mo ang nature of work ng mommy n'yo at ano ang connection n'on sa work ni Clark. Never pinilit ng mom mo na gawin ni Ronerico ang ipinagagawa niya kay Clark."

"Still, favorite pa rin siya ni Mum."

"Because Clark works hard and he deserves the recognition."

My brow automatically raised as I glanced at Tita Ali. "Boto ka na rin kay Clark, Tita?"

"If I have a daughter, I'll take Clark as my son-in-law, just so you don't complain, honey." Then she started shaking her head. "Believe me, darling. You're just an option among his hundred choices. Not unless you're the top of his list of someone to marry."

Unfortunately, I'm not.

♥♥♥

Clark and I walked out in front of my mom, and how awkward it was for me to see her in our dining area sa bahay sa Dasma. I still have Tita Ali with me, and if things didn't go according to plan, I'll stay na lang kay Tita for tonight.

Mum wore her ivory and pearl corporate suit, and Tita didn't lie when she said na nasa meeting nga si Mum with some business partner.

Kadarating nga lang ni Mum, doon na agad siya naupo sa dulo ng table kung saan madalas maupo si Daddy.

I was expecting my mom to nag about me leaving with Clark earlier, and how she was right about everything because she's my "mom" and moms are always right and all, but she was just quiet and let out a sigh.

"Naghahabol si Clark ng backlogs. Ilang araw daw siyang walang reports because of Sab," Tita Ali explained to Mum.

I stole a glance at Mum, and she just rolled her eyes and signaled Yaya Beth to get her tea.

"How's the meeting?" Tita added.

"In consideration," Mum answered, and she sounded so tired about the topic. "I already told Enrico about this. Fault ng tao natin, so kailangang mag-compensate to avoid potential lawsuit."

"Kaya ba ni Rico?"

Mum widened her eyes as she took the tea in the air kahit ilalapag pa lang sana sa harapan niya. "Kailangang kayanin niya. Wala siyang choice," masungit niyang sagot kay Tita. "Sinabi na kasing huwag kukuha ng tao kapag walang approval ko, tumuloy pa rin."

"By the way, Clark walked out earlier, how true?" Tita suddenly changed the topic after Mum drank her tea.

Nahuli ni Mum ang tingin ko at pareho pa kaming ang talim ng tingin sa isa't isa.

"Haay!" she exclaimed and rolled her eyes at me. "Ayoko munang pag-usapan 'yan. Malapit na ang wedding ni Leo. Next week na ang start ng pagpapadala ng invitation pero sinabi kong unahin na tayong padalhan."

"Oh! That's great! At last, ikakasal na rin sila si Kyline."

Nagmataray na naman ang mata ni Mum habang nakatingin sa harapan. "Matagal na dapat silang ikinasal, lalo noong nabuntis ang anak ni Adrian. Hindi ko lang malaman sa mga batang 'to kung bakit pinatagal pa, e dalawa na ang anak."

"At least, they're living together."

"That's the point, Ali!" Mum yelled. "If you're living together, then marry each other na. Alangan namang hintayin mo pang pagtsismisan kayo bago magpakasal. Yung mga bata, lumalaki na hinahanapan ng documents ng mga magulang. Ano'ng ibibigay nilang certificates kapag ni-require 'yan?" Mum was waving her hands, overacting and dramatic. "Look at my Ronerico. He wants Jaenna, he married that hell-raised devil without a second thought. That's how I want it to be done. Mabuti nga't kahit mamalditahin 'yang manugang ko, hindi palamunin dito sa bahay."

I avoided laughing at her description at Jaesie. Sayang, wala ang asawa rito ni Kuya. Gusto ko sanang makita silang nag-aaway na naman.

"You're against it nga, di ba?" sabi ko kay Mum.

"I was!" she answered. "But if the man wants to marry you, he will marry you. Like what your dad did, and like what your kuya did. Buhat ang pasulti-on dili sulti ang pabuhaton. Hindi 'yong gagastos ka sa lalaki tapos iiwan ka rin dahil inaya mong magpakasal! Tonta ka talagang bata ka!" Binato niya ako ng table napkin na iniwasan ko agad.

"You want me to marry Clark, e ayaw nga niya!"

"Bakit ka niya dinala paalis kanina kung ayaw pala niya!" Dinuro niya ako. "Sana iniwan ka na lang niya rito, hinihintay ka ng daddy mo sa lunch! Ni hindi ka man lang nagpaalam sa daddy mo na aalis ka na naman!"

"Ate," Tita Ali called in her calm tone, "are you sure about Clark?"

From her nagger mode, Mum grinned and laughed, mocking Tita's question. "Ali, kilala mo 'ko. If he didn't want this, no problem. Hindi ko siya hahabulin, ang dami kong option. But that kid is playing a dangerous game. You better ask him first if he's serious about dealing with me. Mas kailangan mo 'yang malaman kaysa sa tanong mo kung seryoso ba ako sa kanya."

♥♥♥