It was odd for me to act like I didn’t hear a single thing. Both Alex and Cara act like their usual self, eating and laughing with our family as if they are not plotting something terrible in this household.

Alex doesn’t do anything stupid unless he has a reason for it. He even said that he would infiltrate the LIVE Corporation. What for? That Corporation has been studying the ‘Genesis’ for years, and still they couldn’t succeed as if they are waiting for the right ingredients for their formula.

“Amira?” My mother called. A small smile curled into my lips as I sip my tea, “Yes, Ma?” I asked.

Takha siyang tumingin sa ‘kin saka nagkibit balikat, “Are you half asleep?” she asked.

Malumanay akong lumingon sa kanya at umarte na tila walang bumabagabag sa aking isipan. Napuyat ako kakaisip sa pinag usapan nina Cara at Alex, alam ko ang plano nila ngunit hindi ko tukoy kung kailan nila gagawin iyon. Batid ko rin na hindi iyon sasabihin sa akin nina Alex, pakiramdam ko’y masusurpresa na lamang ako sa magiging pasog nila.

At bago pa man nila magawa ang plano nila. I needed to know what’s hidden beneath this house, even if it’s one of my family’s dirtiest secrets. I looked around saw my father and brother exchanging thoughts about the Philippines’ current GDP, but that doesn’t look interesting to me, so I drifted my attention somewhere else.

I saw Cara and my mother talking about the cheerleading squad. Cara keeps on blubbering shits about me being the next cheer captain because of my indescribable talent. And for a while, I felt the dining table become spacious, and for some reason, I felt that this genuine happiness would soon disappear.

“Amira, kumain ka d’yan,” Cara hissed. I looked at my plate and saw a spoonful of rice. To be honest, I have no appetite right now, and all I wanted was to know what lies within this house.

Isang maliit na ngiti lamang ang binigay ko sa kanya bago dagdagan ang aking pagkain. Ayokong magduda sila sa kilos ko lalo na’t aalamin ko ang dahilan kung bakit nais ni Alex na itakas ako sa sarili kong pamamahay, sa sarili naming pamilya. Lahat kami ay napalingon nang magbukas ang pinto, naroroon ang emplayado ng LIVE Corporation at kasabay niyon ang pagtayo ng ama ko sa hapag-kainan. Parehas n’ya kaming hinalikan ng aking ina sa noo bago s’ya nagpaalam sa amin na kailangan n’ya nang umalis.

Kung kanina ay may kaunting ingay pa, ngayo’y nabalot na kami nang nakabibibinging ingay. Tila kahit ang patak ng tubig o ang ingay ng kutsara at tinidor ay nakakasakit na sa tainga.

“Tita, nga pala, uuwi na po ako bukas,” I quizzically looked at Cara. As far as I know, she will remain here for the whole semester break, “Nagkaroon daw ng emergency sabi ng kapatid ko,” she added.

I’m not that stupid not to know that their plan will begin tomorrow. Alex intently looked at her and then drifted his attention to me.

“I will be busy tomorrow. Can you accompany her to the train station?” Alex asked. I wryly smile. It is really hard to act like you know nothing.

I slowly nodded, “Okay, wala rin naman akong masyadong gagawin,”

My attention drifted away when my phone suddenly got a notification. My mother even glared at me, merely telling me that I’m doing something wrong against the household rules, “No cellphones while eating, Amira,” she brooded. I smiled and immediately finish my food before bidding goodbye.

Nang makarating ako sa kwarto ko ay agad kong binuksan ang notification, agad na nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ko nang makita na walang kwenta lamang ito. Isanv friend request lamang ito galing sa isang baseball player sa Laodicea High na nag ngangalang Parker Chase Gesmundo.

Well, he is well-known, especially that he is the ace player of Laodicea High. He is in the spotlight, it only means that he is cocky, and just like other guys, he is an asshole.

Won’t you accept my friend request?

My eyes squinted when I saw his message on the message request section. This guy must be nuts. I don’t want to be one of his pastimes, so I totally ignore his message and went to my social media account to surf.

Nang maramdaman ko na tumahimik sila sa ibaba ay agad akong lumabas sa ‘king kwarto nang tahimik. Sinigurado ko muna na magkasama sina Alex at Cara sa kwarto, at ang nanay ko naman ay nasa kwarto nila bago ako tuluyan na bumaba.

Napamura na lamang ako sa sarili ko nang hindi ko makita ang susi patungo sa basement, muli akong umakyat sa itaas upang silipin ang kwarto ng nanay at tatay ko bago kumatok do’n.

“Ma,”

“Hmm?”

“Saan ka pupunta?”

Saglit n’ya akong nilingon saka mabilisan na sinarado ang drawer n’ya. Napansin ko ang saglit na pamumuo ng kaba sa kaniyang mga mata bago niya binaling sa iba ang atensyon n’ya, “Pupuntahan ko ang kuya mo. Nasaan ba s’ya?”

I quizzically looked at her before I pouted Alex’s room.

“Tara na sa kuya mo,” Mas lalo akong nagdududa sa kanya. Wala naman akong kailangan kay Alex pero tila nais niyang lumabas kami sa kwartong ito.

“Wait, Ma. Kukuhanin ko lang ‘yong choker na kinuha mo noong nakaraan. Magseselfie ako tas—”

“At kanino mo naman isesend ang selfie mo para magpaganda ka?”

Saglit akong napangiwi sa tanong niya. Kailangan ko mag-isip ng panibagong palusot bago ako mabuko, “S—sa soon-to-be-boyfriend ko!” pinanliitan niya ako ng mata tila hindi kumbinsido.

I panicky, pulled my cellphone out of my pocket, and swipe through my account. I don’t have any guy friends, so this makes me crazy, and then I realize that guy. And before I could even react, I clicked accept and stalk his profile.

“Him,” I mumbled.

Her eyes brooded to his profile picture, and then looked at me carefully, “Parker Chase Gesmundo? He looks okay, fine, go get your things,”

Nang lumabas ang nanay ko ay halos kumabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba. Salamat sa taong ito na walang kaalamalam na manliligaw ko pala siya. Tinago kong muli ang cellphone ko sa bulsa at tinungo ang drawer, katulad nang inaasahan ko ay naroroon ang susi sa basement.

The keys in this house are pretty much alike. So, I exchanged its keys from the basement with the main door to not look suspicious. I even get my choker for a clean act. As soon as I got the primary objective; I silently went to the back of our house, in which the door for the basement is located.

At nang makarting ako sa hagdan patungo sa basement ay hindi ko maiwasan ang mapatakip sa ‘king ilong dahil kahit hindi ganoon ito katapang ay may nakakasulasok na amoy na nang gagaling sa loob ng basement. Saglit kong hinanda ang sarili ko sa mga bagay na maaari kong makita sa loob nang makuha ng ingay sa labas ang atensyon ko, tila ay maraming sasakyan ang pumarada sa aming garahe dahil sa iba’t-ibang ingay ng makina.

Wala akong balak magpatinag ngunit may umagaw ng kamay ko dahilan upang itago ko ang susi sa aking bulsa. Gulat akong lumingon kay Cara dahil mabilis niya akong hinila papunta sa kwarto ng aking kapatid at do’n ay nakita namin si Alex kasama ang aming ina.

“Please, take care of my daughter, Cara…” And now, my mind is its a chaotic state. It was not just Alex’s plan to take me away from this family, and my mother was also part of it. I glanced at Cara and saw frustration from her eyes, but even though she was hesitant as her lips trembled, she still nodded to my mother, “I… will,” Cara answered.

Alex immediately opened the window, but before Cara and I escaped through it. They handed us a bunch of ATM cards. Cara frustratingly pulled me without looking back to my brother, and while we are running through the roof. We saw many military men entering our house, and saw how Cara’s tear dropped slowly.

Yet, I was still confused about what is really happening.

Why do they want me to escape?

Cara and I were filled with deafening silence until we were able to land at the Besodeiah, and until then, she frustratingly looked at me as her hands trembled. And I was in shock when she suddenly slaps me across my face.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Amira. I’m just frustrated that I have to pick you over your brother. I’m sorry…”

And after that chaotic day, I lost both my so-called sister and my best friend.

#