Kent's Point of View:

We just got back from Italy because we lived there for a few years! I got used to it because Mama brought us there. Valeria's entire family was there, and the five of us enjoyed it because there were many events. I wouldn't want to socialize if I wasn't afraid of Mama; in fact, I don't really socialize. I'm shy around people because I don't want anyone to be attached to me since Dhalia and I broke up.

Yep, I have one ex-girlfriend, and she is Dhalia. We've been together for a few months, and she's the only one I've taken seriously. Then, for the rest, it's just flings because I don't want to get into a relationship. Not that I don't want to, but because I'm not done moving on. She left me hanging without a word, and the next thing I knew, she was in Canada.

I came out of the gym room wearing white jogging pants. I didn't even bother to get dressed unless I could catch up with Papa in the living room. 

"Good morning po, mommy." I kissed her cheek. I looked at Daddy. "Good morning po, daddy."

He nodded his head and smiled. "Are you ready to go to your new school?"

"Yes, daddy!" Stella shouted excitedly.

Jake is our fourth, and Cruzette is our youngest. We are nineteen, and we are going to senior high here. Gustong-gusto ko dito sa Pilipinas dahil nandito ang mga kaibigan ko at ang mga pinsan ko. Gusto ko rin dito dahil hindi masyadong binabantayan ang mga kilos ko hindi kagaya sa Italy, bantay sarado kaming lima. 

"Sa iisang school lang kayo dahil 'yun ang napagkasunduan namin ng mommy niyo. Hatid-sundo mo Kent ang kapatid mong si Jake kapag wala pa ang driver," seryosong sabi ni daddy. Tumango ako habang kumakain. "Stella, please, nakikiusap ako sa 'yo, anak... ang kotse mo ay paki-ingatan. Kung hindi ka pa sinundo ni Kent ay hindi ka makakauwi at stuck ka pa rin sa puno."

"Sorry po daddy. I'm just...brokenhearted that night," sabi niya. Mommy looked at her worriedly, but she smiled. "Aayusin ko na po ulit."

"Pero kailangan mo rin mag-ingat, Stella. Baka ang buong akala mo na porque mayaman tayo ay dinadampot lang ang kotse na binibigay sa 'yo," saad ni Natasha na napailing. 

Natawa naman ako dahil sa aming magkakapatid si Natasha ang pinaka strikta at s'ya rin ang pinaka masungit sa aming magkakapatid. Minsan lang magsalita ngunit laging may laman kaya gustong-gusto s'ya ng mga tao. 

I nodded my head. "Ako mismo ang kukuha ng kotse niya kapag bumangga pa 'yan."

Stella rolled her eyes at me. "You wish, Kuya Kent." 

Napatingin naman kami kay daddy at mommy na kinakausap ang bunso naming kapatid na nakaupo sa hita ng aking ama. Napangiti kaming lahat.

"I'm okay po here daddy ko..." malambing na sabi ng bunso namin kaya napangiti ako sa ka-cute-an niya. "I want to draw and color po."

"Alright, bibilhin natin 'yan or isabay mo na lang sa kuya mo mamaya," Mommy smiled at her. "Tristan, we're late and you Kent, alagaan mo ang mga kapatid mo."

"Bye, mommy and daddy!" sabay-sabay na sigaw nila. Mommy smiled and pouted her lips.

Habang tinitingnan ko ang mga magulang namin ay hindi ko maiwasan na mapangiti. They never forget us. Lagi silang nakaalalay sa aming lima at lagi nila kaming pinaglalaanan ng oras dahilan para mas lalo akong humahanga sa kanila. Nang matapos kami sa pagkain ay tsaka namin pinag-usapan ang mga gagawin sa araw na ito. 

"Sa isang van na lang tayo dahil kasama natin sila Jake," sabi ni Natasha na nakaupo sa sofa habang nanonood. Nag-angat s'ya ng tingin sa akin. "Kung gagamit tayo ng tig-isang kotse magkakalat lang tayo sa parking lot."

"That's a good idea," sagot ko. "All right, sasabihan ko ang driver."

I just dressed in a white V-neck t-shirt and a pair of black jeans. I brought my cellphone and my aviator and went down. Cruzette was just sitting in the sofa, and Jake was focused on his tablet. I shook my head and went outside to announce that we were leaving.

"Mang Sergio," malamig na tawag ko sa driver namin. "Paki handa po ng isang van dahil pupunta kami ng mall."

"Yes, sir..." kalmadong sagot niya at agad na namili ng van para sa amin.

Bumalik ako sa loob at naabutan silang apat sa sala. As usual, bihis na bihis na naman si Stella. Si Natasha ay katulad ko, nakasuot ng jeans at itim na sando. May denim jacket na nakasuot rin sa kanya.

"Let's go." I carried Cruzette and she smiled at me and hugged my neck.

"Kuya, I want a blue bag ha?" Jake looked at me and I smiled at him.

"Sure, anything you want."

Pumunta ako sa driver seat dahil ayaw kong si Natasha ang mag-drive at baka lumipad pa ang sasakyan kasama kami. She's into car racing; that's why I'm afraid to let her drive our car. Dad told us that she inherited that from Mommy; when she walked, she was arrogant. Even when she talked the same as our mom: no emotion and just a blank face. I'm also the same as her, but it's a bit different from her because I socialize only with my cousins and friends.

"We're here."

Bumaba ako at kinuha si Cruzette na agad humawak sa kamay ko. Suot ko ang aviators ko at pumasok kami sa mall. Napalunok pa ako nang makitang lahat sila ay nakatingin sa aming lima at ang iba pa ay nagbubulong-bulungan dahilan para mapailing ako. 

"Book store tayo, dali!" Nagmamadaling sabi ni Stella habang hawak ang braso ni Jake na nakangiwi. "Oh, Goodness! Gusto ko na ng bagong libro!"

The three of us are really fond of books, especially Natasha, who has a mini library in her room, and so am I. We bought what we needed, and I even took care of my youngest sister, who was interested in shopping. She and I were going to pay; I was Cruzette's, and Stella was Jake's. While walking, I stopped because I saw that my sister was talking to someone.

"What's going on, Natasha?" tanong ko at marahang lumapit sa kapatid ko. 

"K-Kent?" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin. I looked at her, confused.

"Ate, what's going on here?" Napatingin ako kay Stella na nakataas ang kilay.

"She ruined my favorite dress! God! It's brand new!" She pointed at Natasha who was staring at her. "It's all your fault!"

"Lahat ng dumuduro sa akin nawawalan ng daliri," bigla ay nagsalita si Natasha dahilan para mapalunok ako. "At lahat ng humaharang sa daan ko ay nawawala."

The woman froze, and Natasha walked away. I shook my head and smirked, but I bumped into someone. Gulat akong napaatras at nalaglag lahat ng paper bag na dala ko.

She cleared her throat. "Pasensya ka na... h-hindi ko sinasadya!"

And she left me without looking at me.