"Those dimwits," Kael mumbled gruffly. "But look at the brighter side. You're free to do whatever shit you wanna do now that they're finally out of your hair."
Napanguso ako. I shifted my phone from my right hand to the left and stared at the face of my cousin on the screen.
"So yeah. 'Yon nga yung nangyari."
Kael tanned a bit for always being under the sun in the past month. I saw his pictures. He'd been hopping around from one beach to the next.
"But we've expected this to happen, haven't we? They haven't really done anything we haven't expected. Predictable blokes, that's what they are." Kael narrowed his eyes. "So do you want me to fly over? I can straighten him up for you."
I shook my head, a small smile spilling on my face. "I'm doing better na so no need. Alam na rin nina Mom yung nangyari. I mean, they phoned me after Kuya Jacob moved out. I had to tell them."
He lifted a brow, asking me to continue.
"Gusto nilang kausapin si Kuya but I asked them not to. Ayokong isipin niya na pinagkakaisahan namin siya. And if we're going to make up, gusto ko out of his own will."
"It sounds like you've got it all made up in your head."
"Maybe," I said tentatively. "No, not really. I'm torn on what I should do. I want to give him time pero nag-aalala ako na baka 'pag pinatagal ko, lalong magkalamat yung relationship namin."
"Don't be daft. That's a petty thing. You don't have to do anything. It's his thick head that needs some shaping. And it's long time coming anyway. They should've seen it from miles away. They can't hide you under their skirts forever. Some time soon, you've got to go out and grow up away from them."
"I suppose you're right."
They were my world before, my entire world. Sure, I've had friends outside of the boys pero sa kanila talaga umiikot ang buhay ko. I lived by their words, by their principles. Bawat utos at hiling ay sinusunod ko. I complained, pero sa simula lang lagi 'yon. I always complied at the end.
Now, things had changed.
Kung nagbago ang relasyon ko sa boys ngayon ay dahil sa 'kin 'yon. Kasi ako ang unang nagbago sa kanila.
"Jacob will come running back to you, I promise. He's wired that way. He's a Zobel. Can't be damn stupid. Just update me from time to time, yeah? I like hearing from you."
"I will." I nodded. "How about you? Kamusta? I vibed Pierre last night. May ka-date ka daw last Tuesday."
He snorted. "Some date it was. Mom forced this girl on me. I had no choice but to deal with it."
"How was the date?"
"Total bullcrap."
Napangisi ako. "Sabi ni Alec you got splashed on daw. Binuhusan ka ng tubig?"
He scowled and didn't answer.
"So totoo nga? Damn. You must've been a real ass."
"I was being real. Told her I don't want her. I thought girls appreciate honesty. Turns out you don't, e?"
Lalo akong tumawa. "We do, but you don't have to be an ass when doing it."
"Yet girls like assholes." He rolled his eyes. "What a contradicting bullshit. Anyway, I'm off. Have you got time tomorrow? Skype me again."
"Sure. After class siguro. See you soon, Kel."
"Damn right, cuz."
The skype call disconnected. I lay back down and stared at the ceiling, absorbing every piece of advice I received over the past few days. Tama sila. I shouldn't stress so much. I should give this time and trust in my relationship with the boys. Malalim din naman ang pinagsamahan namin. Surely it couldn't just break that easily?
And besides, we're family.
Kahit anong mangyari ay sa isa't isa kami tatakbo when things take turn for the worse. I had to trust the De Villa bond our parents instilled in us.
No more sulking.
Yeah, I couldn't continue to sulk. I needed to go back and rearrange my life again.
#
Summer came so fast. I was ecstatic mostly because my parents returned home from the States and Kuya Travis and Kuya Chris were already back from Ilocos. Ang downside nga lang, napilitan ding umuwi si Kuya Jacob. He'd been staying over at Kuya Onyx's flat pala. My cousin was more than happy to kick him out and send him back here.
Medyo okay naman na kami, kind of. He was no longer treating me harshly. Paunti-unti ay kinakausap na niya ako. But nothing too long, nothing too important. All inconsequential kasi alam kong ginagawa niya 'yon para wag kaming mapagalitan. Like, kapag kakain. He would occasionally nod. Minsan ay nakakalimot siyang galit pala siya at bigla-bigla akong papansinin. But then he would remember and start scowling. He stopped walking out days ago pero nando'n pa rin yung awkward silence.
Natuloy din pala kami sa Paris kasama ang pamilya ng kambal. Kahit na hindi ako kinikibo ni Mathev, medyo pinapansin naman ako ni Kuya Paul. Buti na lang hindi napansin nina Tita Pauline at Tito Matthew ang alitan sa pagitan namin.
The only good side to all of these, I guess, was I finally got to introduce Racel to my parents as my official boyfriend. I hadn't planned it, not really. Ayoko nga kasi siyang dalhin sa bahay dahil baka magkagulo. Mom brought it up over lunch after I got home from Paris nung nag-uusap kami tungkol sa family dinner namin with the rest of the De Villa. I played with the idea but turned her down in the end.
Hassle, e. Baka lalong mainis yung boys. It was too soon.
That was, until Dad himself asked me to bring him. I couldn't say no to him.
So come the second week of summer vacation, the whole De Villa family met my boyfriend. Racel was courteous and my aunts and uncles loved him right away. Masaya din siyang maipakilala nang matino sa pamilya. It took heavy loads from his shoulders, sabi niya. Though yeah, ayun nga. My cousins were being flat out rude by completely ignoring his presence. And my brother, Kuya Jacob, he was stiff and broody the whole night. There were brief nods to acknowledge each other, but he was mostly glaring at the two of us. Like he was silently threatening Racel na 'wag niya akong lolokohin.
That cheered me up. Kasi kahit na hindi kami maayos, he was still looking out for me. Tama sina Angelo, Kael, at Lhyle. He was mad but he's still my brother.
Not everyone was an asshole though. Kuya Andrei engaged him in a rather long conversation about cars and adventures. Sina Kuya Travis at Kuya Chris naman ay kinausap din siya, pero mostly tungkol sa career at academic path na gusto niyang kunin after graduation.
It was worth it. Seeing him with my family, I couldn't help but form this tiny hope na magkakaayos din ang lahat. Na someday, matatanggap din siya ng boys kagaya ng pagtanggap ko sa kanya.
#
Another good side to going out in the open was we got permission to date anytime. Well, actually, not anytime. Dad imposed a curfew on me. Bawal daw akong umuwi ng past ten kapag si Racel ang kasama ko. Just like what any ordinary Dad would say.
Racel kept to the curfew all the time. Minsan nakakatawa na nga dahil he fretted over it much more than me. Minsan kahit eight pa lang, hinahatid na niya ako kahit na late naman kami nagkita talaga. It was endearing.
Since Dad saw how genuine he was, we were finally allowed to have a midnight roadtrip. Biglaan lang 'yon. Racel suddenly showed up at my place around eleven, bringing take-outs. My favorite. Burger and sundae. He just got home from a basketball match with his team kaya ginabi na siya. Dapat ay sa tapat lang ng bahay kami mag-uusap but Dad saw us and gave permission to go somewhere, provided we would be prudent in our decisions.
So to celebrate the newfound freedom and approval, we drove around Pampanga until morning. Literal na roadtrip. Kung saan-saan kami nagpunta, not really getting out of the car and just driving away. We ordered take-outs and ate under the midnight sky in the middle of a completely random place. We just talked. Mostly, we kissed and cuddled. But yeah, we talked a lot.
When the early traces of the morning came, we dropped by the nearest Starbucks to grab some breakfast. Then he brought me home.
Fast forward to three days after, I was walking the streets of Baguio with him in a three-days vacation. Pinayagan kami dahil kasama naman sina Ahron, Justin at Maxxie, Lhyle, and Anjo. We didn't share a room, syempre. I even had to send a proof to my Dad na si Ahron talaga ang kasama ko at hindi siya.
"Uyyy! Mga besh!" sigaw ni Anjo, a bit tipsy, as she strode into the room and jumped on our bed. Katatapos lang namin mag-inuman kanina. We've already retreated to our bedrooms pero patuloy pa rin na umiinom 'tong sina Justin, Lhyle at Anjo.
"You're smashed," natatawang sinabi ni Ahron, flicking her amused gaze to Anjo.
"Uy, 'di pa ha!" Tumawa ito. "Bakit kaya 'di sumama si Hiro sa 'tin? Sabi niya nasa Japan siya. But I saw her tagged pics. Wala naman siya do'n. Nasa bahay lang."
"Maybe something happened. Bakit 'di natin tawagan? Ayain ulit natin?" I told her.
"Tinawagan na ni Maxxie. Ayaw talaga, e." She pouted. "I don't get it. Why pass up a chance to spend three days with Justin and Racel? Huh? Whyyy?"
I laughed at her crazy antics. "Gags. Lasing ka na talaga."
"'Di pa, a. Tara, inom pa!" she said, wobbling in her feet as she tried to pull us off the bed.
Five minutes later, hinahatak na siya ni Maxxie pabalik sa shared room nila.
Humiga na ako sa tabi ni Ahron. I spun around and draped an arm around her waist, resting my head on her shoulder. Like what I usually do kapag naglalambing. She put her phone down to glance at me.
"What?" sabi niya.
I grinned at her.
"Ano nga? Say it."
"Kasi ano," I trailed off. "Racel wants to go to this cafe tomorrow."
"And?"
"And..."
"And you wanna be left alone, tama ba?"
I bit my lip, still smiling wide, and nodded.
She rolled her eyes. "Siguraduhin n'yo lang na cafe 'yan at hindi hotel. Respeto sa 'min."
"Uy, hindi, a!" I said, heat rising to my cheeks. "Grabe 'to. We're not like that."
"Yet." Tumawa siya. "Baka gusto mo na rin lumipat ng kwarto. He's alone and drunk and hot right now. Baka lang gusto mo."
I jolted up right away. "Babe!" Lalong uminit ang magkabilang pisngi ko habang pinapalo ko siya ng unan.
Umupo na rin siya at lalong tumawa. "Bakit? 'Yon naman ang gusto mo ''di ba? I'm just being the supportive friend here."
"Ewan ko sa 'yo!" I playfully pouted and lay back down, this time turning my back on her. Masyadong mainit ang mga pisngi ko dahil sa mga pinagsasasabi niya.
God knows how much I struggled to erase those nasty thoughts from my head.
#
Racel and I had our light lunch at Cafe by the Ruins. Nung una, ayaw pa ng iba na humiwalay kami but after some coaxing, they eventually let us go.
Syempre, ayaw ko naman sanang lumayo. But Racel was adamant and so I had to concede to him. Bihira lang siyang humiling sa 'kin, e.
There was an endearing, calm smile on his face as we enjoyed the tickling breeze and comfty ambiance of the place. Parang ang saya saya niya ngayon.
"Someone woke up in the right side of the bed," I teased as I sipped from my coffee. "Wala ka bang hang-over?"
"Wala naman." He squinted his eyes at me. "I waited for you all night. 'Di ka talaga lumipat ng kwarto."
All at once, warmth flooded back into my cheeks. "You wanted me to come to your room?" I said in shock.
"Yeah? So I can send you back to Ahron and prove my chastity to everyone," he said and chuckled.
My mouth hung. And then I laughed with him. That waaaas so cute! I'd never get tired of his happy smiling face.
"So why did you bring me here? May surprise ka ba or something?" biro ko sa kanya.
He blinked. "Nothing. I just want to spend some time alone with you." He rushed, "were you expecting a surprise? Sorry, this trip is so sudden I didn't -"
"Hey, hey," I cut him off, "slow down. Wala akong in-e-expect. I was joking."
I had expected to see a sigh from relief or a small smile from him. But instead, a mischievous half smirk occupied the thin shape of his lips.
"Good thing I did prepare something," sagot niya sabay kuha ng maliit na box from the pocket of his jeans.
He slid the box to me. My eyes cut between him and the box repeatedly.
I raised my brows.
"Ano na naman 'to, Gutierez?"
"Claiming what's mine, De Villa." He grinned expectantly. "Open it."
I grabbed the red box and opened it. I gasped. There, inside, was a simple lover's knot ring, little diamonds adorning them.
"Knot ring?" I breathed out.
He pulled the ring out and slid it on my finger. "A promise ring."
Ang alam ko ay ang ibig sabihin nito ay constancy, never-ending love and promise. Dahil ang mga knots ay hindi pa tied talaga but has all the intentions of being tied.
A smile broke out on my face and I stared in awe at the beautiful gift he'd just given. It meant a lot na naisip niyang ibigay sa 'kin ito. The meaning behind it was so touching, so moving, that I could feel my heart skidding fast in my chest.
"Sobra sobra na ang mga binigay mo sa 'kin," I pointed out, not taking my eyes off the ring.
"I've had that for a while now. Ang plano ko, ibibigay ko sa 'yo for when you finally agree to become mine. Kaso naiwanan ko naman." Natawa siya.
Umiling ako at ngiting-ngiti na bumaling sa kanya. "No, it's perfect. Everything's perfect."
"I'm glad," he replied tenderly. "There'll be another party sa bahay. Mom wants to see you. Pwede ka ba?"
"Hm? Kailan daw?"
"Next week. Wednesday."
I furrowed my brows, curious. "Anong meron?"
Inside my head, I thought of the date next Wednesday. Then realizing it, my eyes widened in alarm. Oh, my God!
Racel laughed, enjoying my panicked expression.
"Shit! Advanced Happy Birthday, baby!" sabi ko in a rush.
"Yeah. And I want my gift there so come with?"
"Oo naman! Oh, my God! Anong gusto mong gift?"
"You?"
Natigilan ako at napatawa. "That's so cheesy, Gutierez. 'Di nga? Ano nga?"
"'Di nga. Seryoso ako. Just be there. Nasaktan ng sinabi mo yung ego ko the last time I brought you there. You denied being my girlfriend. At least give me a chance to salvage what's left of it. I want to introduce you again."
"Grabe. Syempre, pupunta ako. Nakakahiya naman. Ikaw 'tong magbi-birthday pero ikaw 'tong nagbigay pa ng gift."
"I don't need any occasion to lavish you with gifts, baby."
"Kahit na ba, e," I said. "Nando'n din ba yung iba? Yung cousins mo?"
"I'm not sure. I think just my folks and some of my friends. But be there, okay? Please?" he pleaded.
"I will, syempre. I can't not be there. Mapapalampas ko ba 'yon?"
Ngayon pa lang ay iniisip ko na kung ano ang pwede kong iregalo sa kanya until another thought slithered into my head.
"Will Giselle be there?" I asked. Gusto ko sanang mag-sorry sa kanya dahil sa mga nangyari.
He was surprised for a moment. "Are you... Do you..." he trailed off. "Did you know?"
I watched the play of emotions that flickered across his face at the mention of her name. I could tell that he really cared a lot for her.
Tumango ako. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked in a more quiet voice.
"It wasn't relevant to our relationship. Ayokong isipin mo na ginagamit lang kita para bumawi sa kapatid mo. I'm not, baby. Nagkataon lang na kapatid mo siya," he assured, his hand reaching out to hold mine.
"I trust you." I squeezed his hand back. "But I want to meet Giselle sana. So I can personally apologize."
"I'll try to see if she can come. She'll love to meet you."
A text notification broke our conversation. Sabay naming nilingon ang cellphone namin but it wasn't mine. It was from his phone.
He checked the message, his smile suddenly falling, and his brows creased.
"What is it?" I asked. I was thinking na baka hinahanap na kami ng iba at nagte-text na sa kanya si Justin.
Agad niyang binaba ang cellphone niya without typing a reply. He looked up to me so quickly and shook his head, another smile finding its way back onto his face.
"Si Mama, nagbilin lang."
"Siya din ba yung kahapon? Kagabi ka pa check nang check ng inbox mo. May hinihintay ka bang news or something?"
"That?" He shrugged my question with a dismissal shake of his head. "Wala 'yon. Sina Marco lang 'yon, nangangamusta."
My lips formed an o. "Ano, tara na? Baka hanapin na tayo nina Lhyle."
Racel nodded and stood up to his full height. He reached out a hand to me and together, we made our way back to the sedan.
***
AUTHOR'S NOTE
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