Chapter Twenty-two

I never had a say or control over happenings that took over my life, let alone people coming across my out casted life.

Nakakapanibago na nga ang mga kaganapan sa pagitan namin ni Kuya Yoongi. That was something I wouldn’t ever get over, that every time I would close my eyes at night, memories of what he did to me that night kept on clouding my sleep and every time I would open my eyes, the surge of electrifying tingles exploding within me at the memory of him, of his very existence.

I knew what he did. He daringly touched me… he had made his way into such an intimate part of my body that even I was embarrassed to look at or touch. And the worst and embarrassing part was I vulnerably let him!

Pakiramdam ko, simula nang mangyari ang gabing iyon, halos lahat ng gagawin ko o ng iisipin ko, palagi siyang naroon.

I would just pick up my sketch pad and his gummy smile would appear from the back of my mind, bringing my hands to sketch his handsome face, gummy smile present and subjected. I would just accept my Mommy’s made milk for me and he would instantly invade my mind, reminiscing the time he also made me milk. I would just eat something that tasted strawberry at The Min’s restaurant, and his strawberry scent would haunt my spine, so real and very close as if he was around, dragging me back to that night!

He had seriously dominated not only my life, but my mind and my system also! Just what did he do to me? And to my body?

It felt like I didn't own my body anymore. Sometimes, I would feel my body craving for something I didn't even know, it was painful so I had again to think about him and all that he did to me that night, just so my body would get the craving it was yearning for.

Yes, my life was pretty occupied by thoughts of him, and only him for the past weeks. Ilang linggo na rin ang lumipas simula nang mangyari iyon. Had I seen him again after that? No. Hindi siya nagpapakita sa akin. It wasn’t like I wanted him to show himself to me, I meant, I wouldn’t probably take into the embarrassment once I saw him again but I just thought that what happened was supposed to be talked about.

Ganoon na lang iyon? Pagkatapos niyang gawin sa akin iyon, at sabihin ang mga sinabi niya ay hindi siya magpapakita sa akin? What about the internal turmoil his doings brought to me? What about the ache my body had been going through?

Naiintindihan ko ring busy siya sa school. Graduating na siya, surely, ang buong oras niya ay inilalaan niya sa mga home works niya. Iyan iyong pilit na pinaniniwalaan ng isipan ko kaysa ang ideyang kaya hindi siya nagpaparamdam ay baka dahil magkasama sila ni Ate Mira. That didn’t feel good, to be honest. Ni wala akong ideya kung magkasama sila sa iisang university, pero naisip kong nasa iisang university sina Ate Hannan at Kuya Yoongi kaya paniguradong kung saan si Ate Hannan, doon din si Ate Mira.

It also messed my mind thinking about him and what he must have been doing with Ate Mira. Na sa tuwing aabot sa puntong iyon ang takbo ng isipan ko ay mabilis kong ipipilig ang ulo ko para itaboy ang isipang iyon.

My head was seriously dusted with adulterated thoughts, all because of his doings! And he was nowhere to be found to take responsibility of it!

Somehow, just somehow, my thoughts of him just got distracted by Cali’s very loud personality. Ilang linggo na rin ang lumipas simula noong makilala ko iyong Kuya niya. I was even doubtful about it because her brother seemed to be the silent one, the one who didn’t talk often and a bit suplado. Napatunayan ko iyon nang hindi man lang siya ngumiti matapos ko siyang bigyan ng friendly smile noong unang pagkikita namin.

Stepping back a little, taken aback, I watched as Cali quickly advanced toward her brother and jumped him a loud smack on his head when my smile faltered because of his blank stares. Hindi ko inaasahan iyon kaya nanlalaki ang mga matang napatitig ako kay Cali na masama ang titig sa Kuya niyang nakabusangot na habang hinahaplos ang likod ng ulo nitong nasaktan.

“She smiled at you! Can’t you smile back?” Cali angrily scolded her brother in a loud voice, enough for anyone who still crowded around us to hear. May ilan pa akong narinig na suminghap dahil doon.

Hindi ko rin alam kung tama bang sawayin ko siya o makisali ako sa kanilang dalawa kaya nanahimik na lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko, bahagyang binibigyan sina Totoro ng sulyap na pare-parehong alertong nakatitig sa akin. Fine, I hated to admit it but I was expecting violence from Cali and her brother, seeing just now how she treated her brother in front of me.

I meant, he was older than her. Kung mayroon man akong Kuya, siguradong hindi ako hahayaan ng mga magulang kong itrato ito ng ganoon. Even Kuya Yexel and Kuya Yoongi, or Kuya Fern and Kuya Key, I hadn’t hurt them physically ever. Takot ko lang din naman sa kanila.

“Sht, California! Masakit iyon!” Cali’s brother, Cody de Villa as what she said, screamed angrily at her. His pair of big round eyes behind the strands of his bangs stared darkly at his sister who also stared darkly at him.

Kumalma ako ng bahagya nang mapansin kong kahit inis na inis na siya ay hindi naman siya gumagawa ng mas bayolenteng hakbang laban sa kapatid niya.

“Pinapahiya mo kaibigan ko e! Akala mo kinaguwapo mo kasungitan mo, ha Colorado?”

Eyes narrowing even more, Cody de Villa’s eyes slowly rolled to my stunned form and I felt like running for my life when his jaw moved before he flicked his neck, the sound of clicking bones reached my ears. Hindi naman sana siya mukhang nakakatakot, kung hindi lang sa dami ng mga magnet earrings sa mga tainga niya at mga itim na bracelets sa pulupulsuhan niya ay masasabi kong guwapo naman talaga.

Cali was pretty so it was only reasonable. Hawig din sila pareho sa mata. They both had big round eyes, too expressive to say the least but for Cody de Villa, it was masked with his superior aura, it made him look dark and menacing.

I just couldn’t take into this kind of guys. They were the types to intimidate girls like me without even saying a word. His all black outfit, and fairly dark hair complemented each other. Kung hindi lang din para kay Cali, hindi ko naman siya ngingitian. Isa pa, sobrang ganda ng boses niya kapag kumakanta siya kaya naisip kong baka sa hitsura lang siya nakakatakot.

Pati pala sa ugali.

Kuya Yoongi's kind of intimidating aura wasn't like this, he was impeccably cold, his face was soft but not when he talked and stared blankly. Cody de Villa's kind of superior aura was dark and menacing, the one that imposed a 'back-off' vibe so no one would even dare.

Enthusiastic naman sana si Cali pero bakit ganoon ang Kuya niya?

“Shut up now, Cali and get in the car. May gig pa ako…” he firmly said, giving me one last stern glance before turning his back and opening the door of the passenger’s seat for his sister. His stern voice made me think how it was too far different from his serenading voice when he was singing at The Min’s resto-bar.

Pouting hardly at his rude attitude, I just turned my attention back to Cali who instantly pouted also. Na-realize namin kung gaano kami ka-tangang tingnan kaya nagtawanan kami na nagpa-ungol sa kapatid niya.

Softly nodding my head at her, refraining myself from laughing when she rolled her eyes at her brother, I happily waved my head as I watched her get into the car before the door came to my sight, Cody de Villa's broad back in his black shirt seemed like a boundary not crossable, and untouchable.

“T-Take care…” I softly said when the guy started walking towards the driver’s seat without looking at me. Parang hindi niya ako kilala. Hindi naman talaga, pero sigurado naman akong naaalala niya ako lalo na at madalas ako noon sa The Min’s resto-bar kung saan tumutugtog ang grupo niya.

I sighed deeply as I turned to leave, ignoring the whispering around and deciding to not give a care about them. Sure, they just didn’t have something interesting good in their lives.

Ever since Cali had me met her brother, there wasn’t a single time she hadn’t mentioned him to me. Noon kapag nagku-kuwento siya ay tungkol sa kung anu-ano lang, madalas tungkol sa librong binabasa niya o dramang pinapanood pero ngayon ay tungkol sa Kuya na niya.

I just couldn’t ask her to stop talking about her brother because I didn’t want to be rude… most importantly, when it felt like she was trying to sell her brother to me.

Hindi ko rin alam kung saan niya nakuha ang ideyang iyon. She wasn’t directly saying it to me but I knew, with how the way she talked so nicely of her brother to me, she wanted me to somehow set an interest into knowing her brother more.

Alam kaya niyang madalas ako sa The Min’s noon at madalas ko ring makita ang Kuya niya?

Sa tuwing sinusundo siya ng Kuya niya ay palagi niya akong isinasama hanggang sa parking lot. She would make her brother talk to me, which was clearly not easy since he wasn't a talkative one. They would then only fight all the time until they both left.

“I’ve stalked your IG. Naka-private ka pala?”

From silently drinking on my fresh apple juice while lamely scrolling on my phone, I raised my head to Cali who sat across me. Dahil madalas na kaming magkasama ay napipilitan na rin siyang dito kumain sa The Min’s restaurant kahit na may ibang lugar siyang gustong puntahan. She didn’t even want the idea of how I always ate my lunch here. Diring-diri pa siya noong unang beses niyang malaman dahil hindi raw niya kakayaning kainin ng paulit-ulit ang iisang menu lang.

Hindi niya kasi naiintindihan ang lifestyle na mayroon ako. I was raised with a proper routine by my parents. Kung kinakailangang ngang halos lahat ng kakainin ko ay i-report sa kanila, baka ipinagawa rin nila iyon sa Pagoda Blue, pero dahil kampante silang sa The Min’s lang ako kakain, ay hindi na nila inutos pa. It wasn’t like Totoro would let me eat something that wasn’t in my list of meal.

Kung gusto ko namang kumain ng iba, kailangan pa ring malaman ng Pagoda Blue muna bago nila ako payagan.

“Yes, anyone’s been following me…” Pinakawalan ko ang straw na kagat-kagat ko saka tinitigan ang phone niyang nakaharap sa akin ang screen. Naroon ang IG account ko at dahil hindi niya pa ako pina-follow ay hindi niya nakikita ang feeds ko.

I had a fair share of posts and a fair amount of followers but the numbers of my following were obviously way behind. Hindi rin naman kasi ako mahilig mag-follow ng kung sinu-sino lang.

Tumigil na ang pagdami ng numbers ng followers ko, naglagay din ako ng ‘UNFOLLOW’ bio dahil hindi talaga maganda ang pakiramdam ko sa mga bagong followers ko. I meant, why would those famous people follow me? I was not an interesting person, I was sure, they wouldn’t even appreciate every single thing in my feeds. Saka, kontento na ako sa mga roses ko. I didn’t need famous people watching over my online updates.

Also, it was so hard to ignore Daniel Kang, lalo na sa tuwing naiiwan kong seen iyong mga messages niya. He would turn low-key upset about it, sending me question like what he did for me to ignore him. I was even tempted to post an explanation for my bio, also to enlighten Daniel Kang that I wasn’t mad at him but that would only cause a fire.

Mas mabuti nang manahimik at ipagpatuloy ang mga nakasanayan kong ginagawa noon na para bang walang Daniel Kang na dumating, kahit na madalas pa rin ang walang tigil na pagsi-ship ng mga roses ko sa amin.

“You don’t like it?” Cali asked confusedly, her eyes brows meeting.

“Not that I don’t like it, it just feels weird having famous people following me—“

“Ah, I know! You’ve got that hottie rapper as your admirer! What’s his name again?”

Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba akong sa wakas, may isang tao na ring hindi nakakakilala kay Daniel Kang.

Everyone in the school had been talking about him to be honest, dragging my name into a not so good judgement just because they thought I wasn’t that beautiful to get noticed by the young rapper. They were even going board, shoving into my face how Dawn Vonmorte was more beautiful than me and she deserved someone like Daniel Kang.

People’s mentality, really. Hindi ko naman sinasabing mas maganda ako kaysa kay Dawn. I would also honestly admit that she was very beautiful, she was actually the beauty of MCI but to tell me that I didn’t deserve Daniel Kang? Who were they to say that?

Did Daniel Kang even know her? I would delightfully step back and stay on my lane if the famous rapper would notice her and start giving her the same attention he was giving me. I was happy with his appreciation and recognition of me but with people being salty about it, I might just be contented with my roses.

One of the worst parts also, his fans didn't favor me for him.

“Let’s not talk about him, Cali. You still have more foods left, don’t waste them just because you can afford. Maraming taong nagugutom…” Mula sa phone niya ay malungkot kong nilipat sa plato niyang may tira pang pagkain ang mga mata ko.

It was true that I felt bad every time she would waste foods but I never got vocal about it. Gusto ko lang na ibaling sa iba ang usapan namin.

Mabilis na nalukot ang mukha niya saka inilayo sa akin ang phone niya. Leaning upsettingly on her chair, she pouted at me. “You’re seriously much designed! So proper!”

Hindi niya talaga maiintindihan. I wasn’t saying that Cali was raised improperly, maybe she was just raised freely by her parents. Nakukuha ang gusto nang walang sinusunod na rules. I wasn’t also complaining about how my parents raised me, I was actually thankful they raised me this way.

Bukod sa paminsan-minsang pananaway sa mga kinikilos ko at pananalita ko, wala naman na siyang inirereklamo sa akin. I would sometimes pick at her bluntness but never about her loudness. Kung sa normal na pagkakataon ay hahayaan ko siya pero dahil kaibigan ko siya at palagay na ang loob ko sa kaniya, ay kahit papaano binabahagian ko siya ng disiplina.

She was a messy girl to be honest. And a bully.

“Why? This is my phone…” takang-sabi ng kaklase namin habang nakatitig kay Cali. Her seatmate also stared up at us, they looked both confused and mortified at Cali’s sudden appearance.

“I said let me see! I know what’s in there!” inis na sigaw niya, akmang aagawin ang phone pero mabilis kong hinawakan ang braso niya. Rolling her eyes before turning to softly look at me, she lightly tapped my hand as if assuring me that she wouldn’t do something unlikeable. “Relaks ka lang diyan…”

Nakangusong binitawan ko ang braso niya saka bahagyang umatras. I didn’t even know why she suddenly stood up from our seat and instantly walked towards one of the seats. Bigla na lang din niyang hiningi iyong phone ng kaklase namin.

She wasn’t really nice to anyone in this school anymore, except to me.

“Now butthead, let me see your phone before I pull the living sht out of you.”

It didn’t take a second anymore before the girl quickly handed Cali her phone. Pareho naming tinitigan ni Cali ang phone niya at saka ko pa lang naintindihan kung bakit siya biglang sumugod. On the screen was the IG app with my feeds all over. The account must have been following me prior to the time I switched my account to private. Kitang-kita ang sequence ng feeds ko.

“Aside from stalking someone’s account, leaving bad comments on their posts, what else you interest to do, hm?”

It was just one of her ways of defending me that was masked in bullying. Sa sobrang tapang kasi niya, talagang kahit sinong mga estudyante, maging ang mga nasa higher grade levels ay nakakabangga niya. She would talk back whenever someone would talk badly at us, and she would fight back whenever someone would try to bully us.

Somehow with her, my school life had been so much better… than it ever did.

May mga estudyante pa rin namang umiirap sa amin, umiismid pero karamihan ay talagang tinigilan na kami. Also, some were trying to cling on Cali, bluntly asking her about her brother. She was harsher to those though. She didn’t want the idea of everyone talking about her brother, to the point that when her fetch for the day came, it wasn’t her brother anymore.

“He’s busy…” She reasoned out when I asked her where her brother was before letting her into the car after I walked her like what we always did. And that went for the next days, her brother wasn’t showing up anymore though the parking lot would still consist of girls hoping for Cody de villa.

They would always sigh in disappointment every time Cody de Villa wouldn't show up.

During the preparation for the midterm examination, I had had to always drag her to the Student’s Corner to study. She didn’t want it. Kahit nasa loob na kami ay wala siyang ginawa kung hindi ang magreklamo kung paanong sobrang bored na siya at hindi na niya kailangang mag-aral dahil may stock knowledge naman daw siya.

Good for her because I didn’t really trust my own stock knowledge, and that I needed to refresh my memory to be able to answer the questions correctly.

Truth be told, though she didn’t really take our study sessions seriously, when the results of the examination came, her name was included at the list of top ten students who aced the exam. Natuwa ako roon kahit na hindi ako kasama sa top ten dahil talagang inalala ko siya habang exam.

She was indeed smart, it somehow lifted her being such a naughty student. Kahit ang adviser namin ay talagang nagulat nang malaman ang kinalabasan ng midterm examination result. Bukod kasi sa hindi naman siya madalas na nag-pa-participate sa discussion ay madalas din siyang sawayin ng mga teachers namin dahil sa ingay niya.

Our names would be mentioned but she would get scolded alone, because I was known to be a very silent student.

“Miss De Villa, don’t talk to Miss De Asis, she’s clearly listening to what I have been saying here. Bring out your pen and take some notes, I know you’re smart but please, do something nice for your classmates.”

Cali would shortly stay silent but would go back to talking after a couple of minutes. Napapa-iling na lang ang mga teachers namin sa kaniya habang masama na ang tinging ipinupukol sa amin ng mga kaklase namin.

Of course, MCI students didn’t really like the classes being disturbed.

Ganoon kabilis dumaan ang mga araw. It was already around the second half of the school year, year-end holidays approaching so fast as the beginning of finals arrived. Things had settled down by now since Cali and I were already at ease with each other and situations with other students somehow died down. Wala na masyadong pumapansin sa amin.

Was that for good? I would say, so much.

Hindi ko sinasabing nagpapasalamat akong na-kick out siya sa previous school niya pero nagpapasalamat akong dito siya sa MCI napunta, magiging selfish din pakinggan pero masaya akong ako ang pinili niyang kaibiganin. We also both visited Dean Ong once and brought him treats to thank him. Siya naman talaga ang nagdala sa amin ni Cali sa isa’t isa…

The kind dean had to seriously gawk suspiciously at us first before he sighed and kindly let us into his office. He also warned us not to be naughty around the school because he knew what ‘Miss De Villa’ had been doing around the school.

Hindi ko nga alam kung dapat ba akong magpasalamat na hindi pa nagku-cross ang landas nina Dawn at Cali. My friend was very eager to meet Dawn since a lot of students were looking up to her. Seniors were very busy, Dawn and her her team the most because aside from they were graduating students, they were also busy recruiting students to join soccer.

“Miss Fraye, Mang Estacio texted just now. He has an emergency so he couldn’t pick you up. I’ll call Sir Yoongi to provide a driver for you…” Paglabas pa lang namin ni Cali ng classroom ay iyan agad ang ibinungad sa akin ni Totoro. As usual, his eyes were blank though his voice somehow sounded worried, and from behind him, Aquamarine and Garnet stood formally, looking so alert for whatever their head would order them.

Cali and my Pagoda Blue had seriously built a silent cold war in between or maybe, it was just really about Cali despising the very existence of Pagoda Blue in my life. She would always find the chance to roll her eyes at them, spat at them or growl at them every time Totoro would say something or they would act in their job. Though for the days that passed, I could see how she was growing used to my bodyguards.

Mostly, she was really mean to Totoro.

Softly holding Cali’s arms, I pouted when she instantly turned her head towards the direction of Pagoda Blue and quickly threw Totoro a deadly glare. Nanahimik naman siya at nakontento sa paninitig ng masama sa mga bodyguards ko.

She was a real sadist, I would sometime get subjected to her overly enthusiastic side. Madalas ay nanghahampas siya nang hindi niya namamalayan kapag na-e-excite siya sa isang bagay o kapag naiinis siya sa akin, mag-so-sorry lang siya kapag napansin niyang ngumingiwi na ako sa sakit.

I needed to calm her before she tried nearing Pagoda Blue and started kicking at them.

Hindi naman madalas magkaroon ng emergency si Mang Estacio pero sa tuwing may mga ganitong pagkakataon, kung hindi si Kuya Yoongi ang susundo sa akin ay si Mang Tadeo na siyang driver ng mga magulang ko ang sumusundo sa akin.

“Just call Mang Tadeo to pick me up, Totoro. My parents are still in the office,” I softly answered Totoro who readied his phone to call.

Nodding curtly at me, he was about to dial on his phone when Cali’s loud voice stopped him.

“No! I can give you a ride, Fraye! De Asis Land isn’t really an out of the way from our residence!” Mabilis na niyakap ni Cali ang isang braso ko saka malapad akong nginitian na para bang hindi siya tatanggap ng pagtanggi. Her big round eyes blinked hopeful at me as her ponytailed hair bounced beautifully.

Totoro cleared his throat to get my attention. “I’ll call Mang Tadeo now. Any unreported details to Sir Yoongi isn’t allowed. Hindi ka puwedeng sumabay sa kaibigan mo Miss Fraye.” Hardly and firmly, what Totoro said imposed an unbreakable tone, far harder to ignore than the sweet smile of my friend.

I knew too well that it wasn’t a decision I should be making. Kahit na gusto kong pagbigyan si Cali, alam kong tama si Totoro, hindi ako puwedeng sumabay sa kaniya lalo na at hindi alam ni Kuya Yoongi. The cold man would be expecting me to be picked up my Min Guards if not Mang Estacio or Mang Tadeo, and it wasn’t as if Pagoda Blue would seriously let me go with her.

Malalagot sila kay Kuya Yoongi kapag nalaman nito.

Smiling back at Cali, I slowly shook my head that instantly pulled her lips into a big frown. Kinabahan ako nang mas humigpit ang yakap niya sa braso ko saka marahas na umiling. She was taller so I needed to raise my head at her.

“Isang beses lang naman! Please, Fraye? Please…”

My heart melted at that.

How could I seriously refuse my one ever friend when she was like this? She looked so cute with her pouting lips and quickly blinking big round eyes so I slowly turned to Pagoda Blue and gave them a big pout.

I didn’t know if it would wok but I still tried.

“I’m sorry, Miss Fraye—“

“Please, Totoro?” I lowered my voice, pleading with a lesser octaves ranging within my voice. “You can drive behind us to make sure I’ll be home directly.”

It wasn’t easy. Pagoda Blue wasn’t really that kind of people who would fall to my disgusting pleas since they knew, it wasn’t so much like me, but maybe, they were too stunned when Cali pleaded to them that they all just nodded curtly, finally letting her give me a ride home.

Hindi malamang nila inaasahang na iyong babaeng madalas silang awayin ay mag-pi-please sa kanila.

Well, it was such a good idea, at first, because as we both stood in front of a familiar car, staring stunned at the tall guy who instantly stood straight upon seeing us, I suddenly felt uncomfortable about it.

I had always been throwing smiles to Cali’s driver every time I would send her to her car, ever since her brother stopped picking her up anymore. At inaasahan ko ring iyong parehong driver na iyon ang dadatnan namin, hindi ang Kuya niya.

I should have known since a lot of students crowded again around the parking lot. Hindi ko na iyon napansin kanina dahil pareho kaming good mood ni Cali sa ideyang isasabay niya ako pauwi. I was even thinking of inviting her to our house.

“What are you doing here?” Cali asked in a hard voice when she seemed to finally process everything.

From staring at her brother who looked like someone attending a burial ceremony because of his all black outfit, never mind his magnetic earrings and black ballers, I slowly turned to Cali. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ang sama ng tingin niya sa kapatid niya gayong noon ay tuwang-tuwa siyang palagi kapag dumadating ito. Ever since her brother stopped picking her up, she also stopped talking about him to me.

Something must have happened in between them.

“To pick you up obviously.” Cody de Villa casually opened the door of the passenger’s seat for her, not even throwing me a glance.

Bakit pakiramdam ko hate na hate ng lalaking ito ang buong pagkatao ko? Wala naman akong matandaang ginawang masama sa kaniya…

“Why you? Where’s my driver?” Cali once again asked. Hindi siya gumalaw man lang sa kinatatayuan niya.

“He’s not your driver. Dad has dealt with your kaartehan already, now get in the car so we can go.”

“But I already told him I don’t want you to pick me up ever again!”

“Then tell him again because it wasn’t me who willingly came here to fetch you. Tinawagan niya ako, pasalamat ka nga at wala pa ako sa The Min’s.” Saglit akong nilingon ni Cody de Villa. “Pasok na, may gig pa ako.” He again turned his back to us to widely open the door.

“Fraye’s riding with us.”

Mabilis muli siyang napaharap sa amin dahil sa sinabi ni Cali. And I almost swore, I felt my heart leap in fear when I saw how his thick brows furrowed and his dark eyes latched hardly to his sister who stood unaffected beside me.

Parang gusto ko na tuloy bawiin iyong desisyon ko kanina at hayaan na lang si Totoro na tawagan si Mang Tadeo para sunduin ako.

I meant, how could I be with a person who obviously didn’t like me in the same car? Nakakahiya ring ipilit ang sarili ko gayong isang tawag lang at may darating na para sunduin ako.

“Wala ba siyang driver para—“

“And if she has? Hindi siya puwedeng sumabay? She’s my friend, Kuya!”

“And I’m not your driver!”

“And I did not tell you to come here!”

Lightly stepping back, as if giving them the time and space to fight, I slowly looked at the direction of Pagoda Blue, catching how Totoro raised his hand on where his phone was as if asking me permission to let him give a call already. Dahan-dahan akong umiling saka muling ibinalik sa dalawa ang atensiyon ko.

“Let’s get in, Fraye. Wala namang magagawa iyan…” Cali inconsiderately told me before lightly pulling me towards the door of the backseat. Imbis na sa bukas na pinto ng passenger’s ay sa backseat kami pumasok at umupo.

Walang nagawa si Cody de Villa pero nakita ko pa kung paanong inis na hinilamos niya ang palad niya saka marahas na isinara ang pinto ng passenger’s seat.

“I’m sorry, Fraye. I didn’t expect him to come.” Cali apologetically told me as we both settled ourselves in the backseat, seatbelt on.

“Nakakahiya, Cali. Your brother doesn’t seem fine with this.” Yumuko ako saka pinaglaruan ang sling ng shoulder bag kong nasa kandungan ko.

“Don’t mind him. He’s just too pa-cool, you know that? Akala niya kinaguwapo niya.” Bago pa man matapos ni Cali ang sinasabi niya ay nakapasok na ang Kuya niya at narinig nito ang sinabi niya.

Starting the engine, he looked at his sister through the rear view mirror. “If I’m not guwapo, you won’t stop me from picking you up just because your schoolmates have been crushing on me. Guwapo ako, California, at alam nating pareho iyon.”

As smugly as it sounded, I couldn’t help but steal glances of him through the rear view mirror too because he was right. Hindi ko naisip na baka kaya hindi na sinusundo si Cali ng Kuya niya ay dahil sa dami ng mga estudyanteng parating nag-aabang sa pagdating niya. Maybe, she was just annoyed about the idea so she stopped him from picking her up.

Siguro nga, kung ako iyon, kung sakali mang si Kuya Yoongi ang madalas na sumusundo sa akin, baka patigilin ko na lang din siya dahil hindi ko rin naman magugustuhang pagkaguluhan siya sa school na parating nangyayari sa tuwing lumilitaw siya roon.

“Tsk, shut up, you’re so annoying!” Cali growled angrily, leaning harshly on her seat and crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“Pasuplada pa, akala mo naman kinaganda niya iyan,” Cody de Villa whispered from the driver’s seat that clearly reached us both in the backseat.

Cali was quick to reach her brother but since the seatbelt hugged her body, she failed to reach him. Nakasara ang mga kamao niya kaya alam kong balak niyang saktan ang Kuya niya.

Laughing, Cody de Villa shook his head in entertainment, seeing that he just pissed his sister off while I just stayed watching them, mortified.

I never had a brother, but seeing how they both treated each other, though I didn’t know if it was normal or not, I silently thanked my parents for not giving me one. Baka mag-away lang din kami katulad nila. Isa pa, ayaw ko na rin ng dadagdagan pa ang mga listahan ng mga lalaking sobrang protective sa buhay ko.

Kuya Yoongi was more than enough. That sounded romantic, though it was not. I was still mad at him for not showing himself to me for months.

Huwag na siyang magpapakita sa akin.