Reese

Bumalik siya sa pag-upo at inumpisahang mag-strum sa hawak niyang gitara. Nakatingin siya sa akin ng seryoso.

If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today?
If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way?
If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call?
If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all?

Ang paborito kong kanta sa lahat ng love song na napakinggan ko. Ito ang natatanging kanta na tumatak sa aking isipan. Tugma sa lahat ng nararamdaman ko para sa aking asawa.

I never know what the future brings,
But I know you are here with me now,
We'll make it through,
And I hope you are
the one I share my life with

I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand,
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

Unti-unti kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata habang nakikinig ang aking mga taenga sa kanya.

If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed?
If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head?
If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life?
If you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife?

I don't know why you're so far away,
But I know that this much is true,
We'll make it through,
And I hope you are the one I share my life with,
And I wish that you could be the one I die with,
And I pray in you're the one I build my home with,
I hope I love you all my life

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at lumapit sa cellphone ko.

I don't want to run away but I can't take it , I don't understand,
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

'Cause I miss you body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away,
And I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today,
'Cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right,
And though I can't be with you tonight,
You know my heart is by your side

I whispered I love you to him and I know he saw it. Ngumiti siya ng malapad at pumikit na ulit ako.

I don't want to run away but I can't take it,
I don't understand,
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way I can stay in your arms?

Hanggang sa makatulog ako ay mukha niya ang aking nakikita. All I see is him, nothing more and nothing less.

*******

Cindy Love

"So Gemma, how's work?" Tinignan ako ni kuya Vhien ng nakataas ang kilay, "What? Masama na ba ang magtanong ngayon?"

We're currently having our dinner. I like Gemma, honestly. Gusto ko lang talagang asarin ang kapatid ko. Haha! I feel somewhat jealous of her, kasi nawawalan na ng oras sa akin ang kuya ko.

When we were still those kids Mom and Dad used to babysit, sobrang close kami. But then, nothing's permanent. Lahat nagbabago, even me.

"Tsk." Kuya

"Okay lang naman, ikaw? Ang pag-aaral mo?" Medyo mahiyain siya, pero jolly 'to eh.

Got her investigated. Haha! Just making sure that my kuya's love for her is worth it, yah know.

"Fine, still on top." Pagmamayabang ko. Of course, accelerated kaya ako.

"Yabang." kuya

"May ipagyayabang naman." Balik ko sa kanya. Binelatan ko pa siya at ang baliw, inikutan ba naman ako ng mga mata? Haha!

Napatingin ako kay sister-in-law na tahimik lang, kumakain na parang walang pakialam sa mundo.

I'm so excited tomorrow night! Lalabas kami and I will take her to my favorite club! Club for the elites. Underage ako but because of my family's power over different states and countries in the underground business ay kaya kong gawin ang lahat ng gusto ko, pwera na lang kapag pinagbawalan ako ni Joseo. O kapag malaman ni kuya Vhon, na paniguradong malilintikan ako kapag nalaman niya ang tungkol bukas.

Well, I promised my sister-in-law na ipapaalam ko siya kay kuya. But c'mon, kilala ko si kuya. I'm very sure na banggitin ko pa lang na lalabas kami ay aayaw na kaagad 'yon. Talking about that possessive brother of mine.

"Sis, are you okay?" Untag ko sa kanya.

"Oo, bakit?" Blanko niyang sagot.

Err. I admit, even if I already knew what kind of person she is. She's still giving me the creeps! Nakikita ko lang na nagkaka-ekspresyon ang mukha niya kapag si kuya na ang kaharap niya. Kay kuya Vhon lang siya nagkaka-emosyon.

"Wala naman! So Gemma, kelan ka mag-aaral ulit?" Baling ko ulit sa katabi ni kuya Vhien.

"Kapag pwede na." Nakangiti niyang sagot.

"Kaya kang paaralin niyang katabi mo, you know." It's true that we can't depend on someone too much, pero pangit din naman yung sobrang independence.

Masakit din naman sa ego ng kapatid ko na ilang beses niya ng inalok ng tulong si Gemma pero hindi pa din ang sagot nito.

"Naku, nakakahiya." Gemma

"A little help won't bring down your dignity, yah know."

"Cindy." Banta ni kuya.

"Mamaya na kayo magbangayan kapag wala na kayo sa hapag at nakauwi na si Gemma." sister Reese.

"Okay!" Siniringan ko si kuya.

Too much formality in this house makes it so boring!

Hindi ko tuloy lubos maisip kung paano natitiis ng kuya Vhon ko ang manirahan kasama ang isang human weapon na katulad ng sister-in-law ko. Like seriously? In my own opinion, maayos ngang kausap si sister pero tahimik lang siya madalas, which I find so BORING.

She smiles, rarely at nakakatakot pa! Yung tipong parang pilit? Though her smile looks natural kapag si kuya na ang kaharap niya. She never ever, laugh. As in! Well, that's how love works for the both of them. Give and take. But in their situation? Mas nasusunod talaga si kuya. Kulang na nga lang itali niya si sister-in-law ko sa tabi niya.

Nang matapos na kaming kumain ay nagtungo kaming lahat sa sala at dito nagpahinga. Panay kwento si Gemma at naaaliw niya naman kaming tatlo. Really. She's so funny! At ang cute niyang tumawa.

Though, parang natatakot siya kapag napapasulyap siya kay sister-in-law na nakatingin at nakatitig lang sa kanya all the time.

"Why don't you tell us how you two met?" sister Reese.

Bigla namang namula si Gemma. Tumaas ang kilay ko na napalingon kay kuya. Tinirikan niya na naman ako ng mga mata. Duh! Halata namang kinikilig siya. Haha!

"Kasi ano eh. Haha. Ang totoo niyan, childhood friends kami ng lalaking 'to." Umpisa niya.

What?

"Wait. You're that dugyot girl na tinatawag niyang pato, am I right?" Kuya Vhien used to have a vacation sa isang province, every year. At tuwing uuwi siya ay nagkukwento siya ng tungkol sa batang babae na parang pato ang pwet kapag naglalakad.

Napatakip naman siya ng mukha at humagikgik.

"Tsk. Para kang bata." Kuya

"Hayaan mo nga siya." Suway ko sa kanya.

"Maganda 'yan, at least kilala niyo na ang isa't isa." sister Reese

"Ah. Hehe." Gemma

"Don't be shy, makapal naman ang mukha niyang katabi mo. Haha!" Biglang may tumamang unan sa mukha ko, "Aww! Ikaw?! Isusumbong talaga kita kay Mommy!" Hinimas ko ang matangos kong ilong.

"Sige at isusumbong din kita."

"Whatever!" Pakli ko.

"My husband can help you if you want, Gemma. Pwede kang maging working student sa kompanya niya." Nice idea, sister!

"Talaga po?" Gemma

"I can hire you as my personal secretary, Gemma." Kuya Vhien.

"Personal sex-tary, you mean?" Haha!

"What the?! Isa pa talaga, tatawagan ko kaagad sina Mommy." Nilabas niya ang kanyang cellphone at ipinakita sa akin ang numero ni Mom na naka-flash sa screen.

Oops. I crossed the limits! Haha!

"Pwede kang mamili, Gemma. Kung gusto mo ay dito ka na lang sa bahay namin, tutal sinabi sa akin ni Ashton​ na mag-hire ng house maid. Wala ka din namang masyadong gagawin dito at ako lang madalas ang makakasama mo. Plus, you can go back to school while working with us." sister Reese

Oh my. So she's fine with Gemma? Well then, tanggap na siya sa pamilya.

*******

And this is it! Tonight is the night!

"Sis! You need to prepare now, we will leave at exact 8. Okay?" Kinatok ko siya sa pinto ng kwarto nila at sumagot naman siya kaagad.

Hmm. What about... I won't ask for permission to Mom, Dad, kuya Vhien and kuya Vhon. And... Joseo? Haha! It would be fun!

Yeah yeah. As I have planned, I will take my sister-in-law to a very classy club and we will enjoy the night!

Tumakbo ako papasok sa tinutulugan kong kwarto at naligo, maghahanda ako ng bonggang bonga!

Wait, what if I'll call my friends too? Or our friends? Like ate Pierre, ate Maria, ate Clarice, and my close friends in Academy? Woah! This will be so cool! And Gemma! Haha!

Bago ako magbihis ay tinawagan ko na silang lahat at binilinan ko na din na huwag ipapaalam sa mga asawa nila and boyfriends. Oh my! Can't help but jump up in my bed because of too much excitement! Haha! Aww. Sadly, Gemma won't make it.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto at sumingit ang ulo ni sister Reese.

"What is it, sis? Ready?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Malapit na. Tinignan lang kita at tama nga ang hinala ko. Magbihis ka na, bababa na ako pagkatapos kong maisuot ang aking sapatos." At saka niya isinara ang pinto.

Tumalon ako pababa ng kama at nagbihis. I chose to wear my high waist short shorts, black boots and a spaghetti strapped top. Halos ubusin ko na din ang laman ng cologne ko dahil parang naligo ulit ako.

Yiee!

Tumakbo na ako palabas ng kwarto at bumungad sa akin si sister-in-law ko na nakaupo sa couch, "You're wearing that? Seriously, sis?" Tanong ko sa hitsura niya.

She's wearing a ripped jeans, white v-neck shirt. Her hair style is still the same, she's wearing flat sandals​ and no make-ups.

Plain, simple, but she looks good in it.

Geez. Bagay sa kanya ang simple niyang suot pero? Club ang pupuntahan namin at hindi Mall!

"And I thought I heard you say shoes, not sandals?" Dagdag ko.

"Baka magalit ang kuya mo kapag nalaman niyang nagsuot ako ng masikip na dress. I'm better off with this, Cindy. Saan ba tayo pupunta?"

I want to roll my eyes, really. Tsk. Why does she have to be so good? I know that they're having some misunderstanding sometimes, it's normal. But they're​ arguing because of kuya's nonsense jealousy and possessiveness. What I mean is, can't she decide on her own?

She's a human weapon, yes. She doesn't have to ask for kuya's permission of whatever she wants to do, wear or off to go. She's not a robot! Tsk.

"Girls night out, remember? That means pupunta tayo sa isang club! Sister, can't your wear a dress? Any dress, huwag ka lang magsusuot ng pantalon, okay? Baka pagtawanan ka lang dun, change now!" Pumalakpak pa ako sa harap niya.

Tinignan niya muna ako ng ilang segundo at umakyat din pagkatapos sa itaas. Nang makabalik siya ay nakasuot na siya ng black sleeveless dress, I think it's her favorite type of clothing. Bagay na bagay sa kanya, paniguradong mag-iinit ang mga kalalakihan kapag nakita siya.

Well, babantayan ko siya. I'm sure, I will kick some balls later!

"Let's go? Nandun na ang mga kaibigan ko, we are a bit late now." Wala nang may nagtanong at kaagad kaming nakaalis ng bahay.

Sorry for my lovely brothers but I will take sister Reese for this night! We will enjoy this while they have no clue about it! Ladies and gentlemen! The gorgeous, sexy and very appealing women of the Black Mafia is on the way!

See yah!