Moonage Daydream (Ciudad de Escalante #4)

Phase 17

Sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Kuya na magbihis at magpalit ng damit. I wore my usual outfit; I picked one of my overall dresses to look thinner. It took me fifteen minutes to prepare because I didn't realize that I was staring at myself in the mirror for I don't know how many minutes.

Zachariel is right.

Mirrors only show what doesn't matter. My fat arms don't matter. My double chin doesn't matter. My huge thighs don't matter. I touched my stomach. This belly doesn't matter, right? Everything I see in front of the mirror won't define me as a person.

But... I always see my reflection in other people's eyes. Is there a way to stop that?

"Baby, are you done?"

I smiled at the mirror before removing my vision in my reflection. Tumayo na ako para salubungin si Kuya na kanina pa naghihintay sa akin. Sabay kaming bumaba hanggang sa makarating sa sala. Mommy is not yet home. She is busy with our food business and Daddy, along with my Prado la Silvestre's uncles, they manage our businesses outside the country. So they barely goes home.

Ganoon lagi magmula bata pa kami. The wives will take care of all of the businesses here in Ciudad De Escalante and the other companies around the country while the husbands are sometimes abroad.

I should text them later that I'm with Kuya. Hindi naman sila mahigpit especially if I went out with my brothers.

"He's upstairs. Studio as always," Greshawn stated while writing something on his notes. He looked stress based on his disheveled hair and furrowed thick eyebrows.

Siya ang nakita namin ni Kuya Zeren kapasok namin sa kanilang bahay. He's in the living room with a lot of papers on the table. Nakabukas ang dalawang laptop na nasa mesa at mukhang abala sa pag-aaral.

"Wait me here, Riah..." pagpapaalam ni Kuya at naglakad papunta sa elevator ng bahay nina Greshawn para siguro puntahan si Graxsen dahil sabi ni Kuya, kasama raw namin siya na aalis ngayon.

"Ang dami mo yatang gagawin? Ayan! Pachill-chill ka kasi last week," I tottered to tease Greshawn. Paano ba naman kasi laging ganito. Ang hilig mag-cram.

"Tsk. Hindi naman lahat sa akin ang mga narito," nayayamot niyang sabi at nasa laptop pa rin ang atensyon. Pinasadahan niya ang buhok gamit ng daliri at nag-type muli sa laptop.

"Huh?" I asked in confusion and peek at the piles of paper scattering on the table. Hindi lahat sa kanya?

"Half of them are mine, Riah. You know, I'm not that studious person, and I forgot the deadlines, so he'll help me tonight," nakangiting sabi ni Iris na naglalakad palapit sa amin habang bitbit ang isang tray na may clubhouse sandwiches at juice.

Oh, so they will finished everything tonight? Ang dami ng mga papel na nasa gilid pa. It is all about aircrafts and principles of flight as what the titles stated. Mukhang hindi pa nababasa ang mga iyon.  Cairistiona and Greshawn entered aviation school for college. Matanda silang dalawa ng isang taon sa akin at parehas silang nasa unang taon na ng kolehiyo. The two of them wanted to be a pilot so they took the same course.

"Here, I made a super delicious merienda," sambit ni Iris at umupo na sa tabi ni Greshawn.

"Buti naman naisipan mo," Greshawn sarcastically stated, and Iris only laughed at him.

"Syempre! I need to serve you. You're my life savior, kaya!" Iris exclaimed and looked at me.

"By the way pala. Aalis kayo tonight? Saan naman?" kuryosong tanong niya at nagsisimula na ring samahan si Greshawn sa kung anong inaayos na file sa laptop.

"Hindi ko pa alam kung saan. Kasama ko si Kuya Zeren," sagot ko at tumingin sa elevator. Baka hinihintay pa ni Kuya si Graxsen sa itaas.

"Pinayagan ka ni Zelan na lumabas ng ganitong oras?" Greshawn affirmed and Iris complained right away because of his strict tone.