Hiding
Rafaelle Liza Guevarra – Arandia's
It has been a week since Jaqueline and her fiancé arrived in the hacienda and those weeks for me are torture. Halos hindi ako lumalabas ng silid ko. I'll only go out if I needed to eat. Ayoko namang magkaroon ng suspicion si Mama, also, I didn't want to be rude to Jaqueline, ang tagal naming hindi nagkikita, hindi pwedeng maisip niyang iniiwasan ko siya. Jaqueline has no idea about what happened to me and her fiancé. I shouldn't be treating her any less.
"Hoy, may sakit ka ba?" I was a bit startled when Santi barged in my room that afternoon. I was making myself busy with my designs. Pan Vejar – Birada and I already talked, and she wants me to design for her new summer collection. Tinanggap ko naman iyon, I guess it would be a great training for me while I decide where I will pursue my masters. Also, now that I am thinking about it, it's a good distraction for me too.
"What?" I stared at Santi. He is in his cliché haciendero outfit. May hawak pa siyang cowboy hat. Napanguso na lang ako. "What are you doing in my room? Did you even knock? Hindi ko narinig."
"May sakit ka ba?" Pabalang na tanong niya sa akin. The door opened again and Kuysa Sabello entered. He was grinning like a maniac. Okay naman ako sa mga kapatid ko. I admit that at first I felt like an outcast but my brothers, Sabello and Ross, they are making me feel welcome, ganoon rin si Kuya Fonso, he's always making sure that I am feeling okay. Siguro kasi naiintindihan niya rin ang nararamdaman ko. I once heard him say that no matter what happen, no matter how good our brothers are treating him, it would never change the fact that he is the illegitimate child of Don Paeng at Tita Luisa. I feel that way sometimes, lalo na tuwing nakikita ko sila Ross, Sabello, Ate Mona at Santi na nagbibiruan kasama si Don Paeng. They were always including me, they were trying to make me feel like it's okay for me to be with them and I am thankful, kaya lang nasanay na akong nag – iisa kaya hindi ko nakakaramdam ako ng hiya na i-include ang sarili ko sa kanila. For me, every time they're inviting me, I feel like a stranger ruining the family moment – and that hurts a lot.
"What's happening?" I asked Sabello. "Bakit tinatanong niya kung may sakit ako? Kailan pa siya nagkaroon ng pakialam sa akin?" I smile but deep inside I kept on feeling that bitterness. Sa lahat sa kanila, si Santi ang walang abog na nagpaparamdam sa akin na hindi ako belong sa pamilyang ito. I am trying my best to understand him, but sometimes, I feel like he just plainly hates me because quote and unquote "I am stealing his spot."
"Sabi ko busy ka lang. Ang kulit nito eh. H'wag mong istorbohin si Yafa, marami siyang ginagawa!"
"Bwisit ka talaga eh!" Sabi ni Santi kay Kuya Sabello. "Gusto ko lang malaman kung bakit nagkukulong siya rito. Baka mamaya sisihin na naman ako ni Papa dahil hindi siya naglalabas. Sabihin inaaway ko na naman siya! Bwisit iyang mukha mo!"
"So, bwisit rin iyong mukha ni Kuya Ross kasi kambal sila ni Kuya Sab?" I teased him. Napatingin silang dalawa sa akin. As if on cue, biglang pumasok rin sa silidd na iyon si Kuya Ross. Kunot na kunot ang noo niya.
"I heard my name."
"Bwisit daw iyong mukha mo, sabi ni Santi." Bigla akong tumawa pagkasabi ko noon dahil nalukot ang mukha ng kambal. I was giggling like a little kid, napalakas pa iyon nang hampasin ni Kuya Ross si Santi sa ulo nito.
"Wala akong sinasabi and also, hindi naman kayo magkamukha! Fraternal kayong dalawa!"
"Nakaka-offend pa rin iyon!" Sigaw ni Kuya Ross. "Anyway, I'm going horseback riding, isasama ko si Ditas, sumama ka rin." Sa pagkakataong iyon ay nakatingin sa akin ang kapatid ko. Napabuntong – hininga ako. There's that feeling again. Pakiramdam ko masisira ko na naman ang family bonding nila.
