Palawan Strangers (CharDawn)

Nine

"Can you be proper?" Dawn tells her through gritted teeth.

"What's wrong? I was just asking." She looks at Richard again, "Do you like my sister?"

"Yes, of course. Yes," Richard says with a smile.

"Welcome to the family then!"

Dawn gapes. Bright blush has run up her fair cheeks and her eyes filled with embarrassment.

Surprise cracked Richard's cool control, "Well –uhm –'' he cleared his throat, "Dawn and I are still getting to know each other. Uhm –we just met and ... uhm–" flattered, he was lost for words "Everything will be up to Dawn, I will not force her"

"Oh! Come on, Ach!!!" Iya looks at Dawn with wide eyes, "Are you still undecided with this man? 'di mo 'to i-bo-boyfriend? husband? It's time for you to have a husband!"

"I will still think about it," Dawn says looking at Richard, meeting his gaze.

The smile on his face gives away his gratification.

Iya scratches her forehead and sighs her impatience, "Achi, if you like a person, you will know it. You don't think about it because you will just know it. Alam mo yung feeling na 'yon? Di mo pa ba na feel 'yun?"

I did, I felt it already.

Dawn rolls her eyes. Despite her resolve to feel nothing and be composed, proper, a whole mess of butterflies takes flight in the pit of her stomach. "I know that Iya, hindi mo na ako kailangan pang pagsabihan"

"Then– what?" Iya asks, raising a brow.

"Can you stop it? Huwag mo akong madaliin. I don't do impromptu decisions. I am nothing like you"

Lea is always outspoken, she usually says whatever she has in her mind –in her own polite way. She's a smart talker, always has a point, and is always reflective. Though she approaches things aggressively, she's wise and accurate when she does that.

"This isn't impromptu, c'mon!!! What are you? A minor? Take this man, grab him!" Iya tells Dawn, her voice is smooth but its effect is like the crack of a whip.

Hindi pa siya lasing nyan ha.

"Ba't mo ako pine-pressure? Eh si Richard nga, di ako fino-force!"

Richard was now caught in the middle of a catfight. To note, they were sisters. The cause –him.

"Okay, uhm–" Richard cuts in, "Okay lang naman sa akin Doc Lea na wala pang decision si Dawn. We'll take it slow. I'll prefer whatever Dawn wants."

Dawn smiles in victory, "Thank you."

Iya scoffs, "Ano ba 'yan? 20's lang?"

"Teka–" Dawn crossed her arms as she look at her sister, "Ba't mo ako pinu-push? Sige, ikaw na lang maging ako. Take Richard, grab him! Ikaw may gusto eh"

Iya narrows her eyes at Dawn, "Ew– I don't– Ew– what the fuck? I don't take what's not mine–" 

"What the fuck. What the fuck. What the fuck" Sienna says, mimicking her Mom. Their conversation comes to a sudden halt. The little girl unexpectedly appeared from nowhere, "What the fuck!"