Along The Way

A sister's love

THEZZA

I was watching my cousin Darlene putting some make up on her face. Napailing ako. What the h is so special about this day.

"Whoah, whoah, whoah" asik ko sa kanya. Napatingin siya sa 'kin. "What?!" And she's annoyed, again..for the hundredth time. "Your lipstick is too red, what's gotten into you, Dar?" But she just rolled her eyes.

"It's an art of seduction, Thez. At teka, ah. Kanina ka pa satsat nang satsat diyan, ba't 'di ka nalang kasi sumama sa akin?" I immediately laughed at her. "Parang 'di mo 'ko kilala, ah." She also laughed at me. Umupo siya sa maliit na mesa paharap sa akin at saglit akong tinitigan sa mga mata. My face quickly turned blank. Not this again.

"Stop this, Thez. Heck, you know what I mean." seryosong sambit ng pinsan ko. "What do you mean, I know what you mean." Sarkastiko kong tanong.

She just sighed and turned back. Tinapos ang kanyang one final retouch at sa wakas, kinuha na ang kanyang purse. Oh great, she's now leaving. I'll be left alone here..for the hundredth time.

Nang paalis na siya at nasa pintuan na talaga, tinawag ko siya. "Hey, Dar. I can't stop this. It's within me. You know that. Anyways, be careful. If you'll not come back here at 10:30, I'll surely call the cops."

My cousin smiled at me, so I did the same thing to her. Then she just..left.

You may not know me at all, but I know that you may know me now. The thing is.. I've never been in love. Totoo 'yan. Darlene knows that. She knows every single thing about me.

My dad and mom are..let's just say, nowhere to be found.

They were both missing after shopping in the mall. That was 12 years ago. I was just 5 years old that time. Kung nasaan man sila ngayon, I hope they're happy and at peace.

Me not being in love ever since isn't a 'really-serious' thing. You know what I mean, right? I am now 17 pero swear I never had any crush in my entire existence. At first I found it 'weird' pero nang makita kong umiiyak si Darlene dito sa apartment just because her ex-boyfriend cheated on her, hah! I realized that it's actually good for me.

Many say that a person who doesn't have a crush is abnormal. Abnormal their ass! Hindi siguro nila kinokonsedera ang mga posibilidad. Naalala ko pa ang sinabi ni Dar na 'baka' hindi ko pa nakikita si 'the one'-which is disgusting, 'the one', really?-at baka raw may problema ako sa utak.

Maybe she's right, maybe she's not. No one will know, only God. But right now, I swear that I am enjoying my not-so-boring days. Just me, no boys, no romantic love, no heartbreaks..in short, PEACEFUL LIFE.

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Tinignan ko ang oras sa cellphone ko. It's already 10:15 PM. Nasan naman kaya si Dar? Maybe I should go after her? -which would be impossible kasi hindi ko naman alam kung saan siya pumunta. I guess I just have to wait then.

15 minutes later...

Anlaki na siguro ng eyebags ko. Ilang minuto na ako dito sa kama, higa tapos tayo ulit. I glanced at my cellphone's clock, it's already 10:30 PM-WHOAH EXACTLY 10:30 PM.

I started to feel nervous. Maybe I should call the police? Maybe I should just continue to wait for her? Argh! Nanginginig na ako! Damn you, Darlene! Where are y-

Agad akong napahiga sa kama at nagkunwaring tulog. Baka naman kasi isipin ni Dar na praning nga ako at sobrang overprotective. Dar is here pero teka...why am I hearing some moans?

"Shh...baka marinig niya tayo." It was Dar's voice. She's not here alone, she's with someone..some guy! Damn it! Ano ang nangyayari?

"Tulog na 'yan, eh. Let me do it for you. Ohh. " I was facing their direction so if I open my eyes or move even just a little, they would know that I'm still awake. And that would be awkward. Honestly, ngayon ko lang 'to na-experience. Goodness gracious, I know what they're trying to do! No way! No effing way! Baka kung ano pa ang kinalabasan!