"Halina kayo at tayo'y kakain na."
Rinig kong sigaw ni Mama galing sa baba habang nagbabasa ako dito sa aking silid. Niligpit ko na muna ang aking librong binabasa at bumaba na rin.
Sa hapag, naabutan ko si Mama na nag-aayos ng mesa. Si Papa naman ay nakaupo na sa kanyang silya habang may tinitignan sa kanyang tablet. Parehong professor si Mama at Papa sa isang private school, ang Florence University.
"Wow! Adobo, my favorite." saad naman ng isang lalaki mula sa aking likuran na agad namang dumulog sa hapag. That's Kuya Gavin, ang panganay naming kapatid. Mag 3rd year college na siya ngayong pasukan. He's taking up HRM at Florence University.
"Of course, for my future chef." -Ma
"Thanks, Ma."
Mama just smiled at him as a reply.
"Oh, ba't nakatayo ka lang dyan? Ayaw mo kumain?"
Tanong naman sa akin ni Timothy or Tim for short. At noon lang din ako napansin nila Papa.
Tim is my twin brother. And we're both on our last year in highschool this coming school year.
And ako? I am Aeris. That's all. There's nothing much about me except sa pagiging mahiyain ko.
"Oo nga, Ae. Halika na dito." -Pa
"Why are you always like this, huh? T'wing kakain tayo, hinihintay mo muna dumulog kaming apat sa mesa bago ka dudulog." -Ma
"Nakasanayan ko na po kase, Ma."
"Ae, pamilya tayo. Ba't naman pati sa amin napakamahiyain mo?" -Kuya Gavin
"Tama ang Kuya Gav mo. And I think, dapat baguhin mo na 'yang ugali mong 'yan. You're on your senior year already. Hindi na pwedeng hanggang ngayon eh mahiyain ka pa din. Last year mo na ito, you should enjoy it to the fullest kase once na nag college ka na, I'm afraid you won't have the time to do it. It's the right time to enjoy your teenage life. And 'Nak, subukan mo na ring mag ayos ayos, dalaga ka na eh. You'll be 18 in no time." -Pa
"Your Papa is right, sweetie. You should get out of your comfort zone. You should start making friends since it's your last year in highschool. Make the most of it. By the way, have you two plan already where to study college? Dapat ngayon pa lang pinaplano niyo na iyan para kapag nandyan na, ready na kayo. Look at your Kuya Gavin, 3rd year highschool pa lang before, planado agad kung saan mag-aaral, kung anong kurso ang kukunin. You should learn from your Kuya. Both of you."-Ma
"Oh, about that Ma, I forgot to tell you na sabi ni Coach Ry, pagbutihin ko lang daw po 'yung mga laro ko and i-maintain 'yung grades ko, sigurado na daw pong makakakuha ako ng scholarship sa RW University." -Tim
"Wow! That's good to hear, dear. Just do what Coach Ry told you. Okay?" -Ma
"Yes, Ma." -Tim
Then, nag-usap usap pa ulit sila. Habang ako tahimik lang na nakikinig at kumakain.
Kuya Gav and Tim, they're always this active when it comes to activities, inside or outside the school. Samantalang ako, wala. I am so anti-social.
Kami na nga siguro ni Tim ang best example ng 'No twins are alike'.
Tim is always active most especially on sports. He's been a varsity player of our school since our sophomore years. He's just too good in any sports but basketball is his forte.
Si Kuya Gav naman, he's more into public service. Naging Student Council president sya nung highschool. And ngayong nasa college na siya, he's earning lot of attention and praises from professors, his classmates and schoolmates because of his talent in cooking.
Of course, Mama and Papa were always so proud of them.
Samantalang ako, there's nothing to be proud of about me. I am way too different from Kuya Gav and Tim. Sa school nga eh, kung di ako pinapakilala ni Tim as his twin sister, walang makakahalata na kambal kami. Physical appearance pa lang, 'di na kami papasang kambal.
Between me and him, Tim is always the popular one mostly among girls. And me? I'm most popular among bullies. Let's say, I'm a nerd one that's why mainit ako sa mata ng mga bullies.
"How about you, Ae? Have you decided where to study? May plano ka na ba, 'Nak?" -Pa
Nahinto ang pag mumuni-muni ko dahil sa tanong ni Papa. Napatigil naman ako sa pag kain ko at tinignan sila isa-isa. Lahat sila, nasa akin ang atensyon which made me nervous. And pati na din sa fact na hindi ko pa talaga iniisip 'yun.
"Ah... Eh... Kase Pa"
"Let me guess, you still haven't think about it. Right?" -Pa
"Hindi naman po sa ganun Pa eh. Mag exams naman po ako... gaya po nang napag-usapan."
"Eh paano kung doon sa mga gusto mong pasukang universities ay 'di ka.makapasa? What's next? Let me remind you, Aeris na ang mga binanggit mong universities sa amin ay top universities dito sa lugar natin. You should know they have a high qualifications. And you should also know na kahit maging top one ka sa kanilang exams, kung di ka matututo makipag socialize sa iba eh, you'll never reach their requirements. Hindi lahat ng school talino lang hanap, mayroong pinagbabasehan din kung paano ka makitungo sa ibang tao sa paligid mo. Eh kung palagi kang ganyan, baka walang tumanggap na university sa'yo." -Pa
"Kase naman Ae, ano ba ang kinakatakot mo? Okay naman makipag interact sa ibang tao eh. There's nothing to worry about. Give it a try. Make friends. -Kuya Gav
Napakadali lang sabihin para sa kanila kase hindi naman nila naranasang maliitin, pandirihan at insultuhin. Hindi nila kailanman naranasang mabully kase they always have the spotlight.
Yes, kahit nag-aral kaming tatlo sa iisang eskwelahan ay kailanman ay 'di nila nalamang binubully ako sa school.
Napaka-plastic ng mga tao sa school. Kapag nandyan si Kuya Gav at Tim, they treat me so nice pero kapag wala sila it's the opposite. Minsan ako pa nga 'yung lumalabas na mali eh. Magsabi man ako ng totoo, wala namang maniniwala sa akin. So, I decided to isolate myself from others even from them, my family.
"I'm sorry, Kuya but it's just so uncomfortable for me to interact with others. Tsaka usapan naman namin nina Mama at Papa na kung sa huli hindi ako makapasa sa mga gusto kong pasukang universities, eh sa Florence na lang ako mag-aaral."
"I thought you don't want to be in the same school either with me or Kuya Gav?" -Tim
"When did I told you that? Okay lang kaya sa akin."
Sa totoo lang, tama si Tim,ayoko sana mag-aral kung nasaan si Kuya or siya. Ever since elementary, palagi na kaming kinukumpara. Lalo na kami ni Tim. Kaya ang gusto ko sana sa college eh, hindi na ako makumpara sa kahit na sino sa kanilang dalawa. But I guess, doon pa din naman ang ending eh.
"No." -Pa
"Po? A..ano pong... ibig niyong sabihin?"
"Hindi kita papayagang mag enroll sa Florence." -Pa
"Then, saan mo balak ienroll si Aeris, Hon? Is there any other school in your mind?" -Ma
"Pa?"
Ewan ko kung ako lang ba ito or talagang 'di ko magugustuhan ang anumang sasabihin pa ni Papa. Mas lalo tuloy akong kinakabahan. Pakiramdam ko hindi maganda ang kalalabasan nito.
"Actually, matagal ko na itong pinag-iisipan eh. Ngayon pa lang dapat ihanda na natin si Aeris for college. I've decided and it's final, I'll transfer you to Bangtan High this school year."
