Catastrophically Inlove

Chapter 1

"Iha, are you sure na nagbawas ka talaga ng timbang? You're getting fatter and fatter everytime we meet."

When Divina showed me my waistline circumference, I can't help myself but feel disappointed.

It's been five months since I started losing weight and people around me keep saying that they haven't seen any improvement in my body. Well, I tried, ok? I even hired a gym instructor for this. Hindi ko naman kasalanan na masarap kumain ng kumain.

I sighed and sat infront of my vanity mirror. My step-mother hired Divina, one of the famous designers here in the Philippines to make a formal gown for the both of us. Magb-birthday na kasi ito kaya naman andito sila ng team nya at aligagang kinuhaan ako ng sukat.

"Sabi mo, nag-ggym ka? Parang hindi naman." he said and laughed. Nagsitawanan din ang mga staffs nya.

I can't imagine na mayroong tao na kayang sabihin sayo ng harap-harapan kung anong mali sayo. Hindi man lang sya nagsugar-coat ng sasabihin.

"Anyways, I'll just make some adjustments for your gown. Onti lang naman yung tinaba mo." he said and gathered his stuff. Kinausap nya pa ang assistant nya bago sila lumabas ng kwarto ng hindi man lang nag-abalang mag-paalam sakin.

Feeling entitled. Kung hindi naman dahil sa pamilya ko, di naman sya sikat ngayon. Chakang baklang 'to.

I looked myself at the mirror. Mukha akong payat pero na namamaga yung tiyan (not admitting that I'm fat). My belly feels swolen because I just ate one dozen of honey garlic chicken from Frankies. Kakatapos lang kasi ng midterm exam namin kaya nag-stress eating ako. Wrong timing lang dahil ngayon pa talaga nagpapunta si Tita Evelyn ng bisita.

I sighed as I remembered that she will surely scold me once she noticed that I gained weight. Wala ng bago.

"Rina?" I looked at the door when I heard Manang called my name. Nakasilip ito sa pinto at pinapalapit ako.

"Yes, Manang?"

"Pinapababa ka ng Tita mo. Dinner na daw."

"Kakakain ko lang po eh. Buso---"

"Andiyan ang Daddy mo sa baba. Tara na kahit kaunti lang ang kainin mo." I pursed my lips when he mentioned my Dad. Hindi ako pwedeng humindi kapag si Daddy na ang usapan.

Nauna na si Manang bumaba at agad akong sumunod dito para hindi ako mapagalitan. Hindi ko napigilang mapa-buntong hininga nang makitang kumpleto kami ngayon. Even my two half-siblings are here.

"Good evening, po." I just bowed to them and sat at my chair. Nahagip pa ng mata ko ang pag-irap na ginawa sakin ni Kylie, my half-sister. She has the same age with mine pero hindi na namin ito kasama sa bahay dahil sumasakit daw ang mga mata nito kapag nakikita ako. When her 18th birthday arrived, she had her own condo unit bought by our Dad. We have the same birthday at nakakatawa kasi condo din ang hiniling ko nun sa tatay namin, pero hindi nya ko pinagbigyan. Immature at inosente pa daw ako where in fact, yung binilhan nya ng condo ay spoiled brat. Ayaw ko na lang talaga magtalo kami kaya naman hindi ko na yun pinilit pa.