Damage On You (COMPLETED)

15: Yellow

#DamageOnYouYellow

"You know what to do."

Parang napapantig ang tenga ko habang tahimik na umaakyat. What I just heard is... gah. That is too much. Why do I have to hear it? Exactly from Mother's mouth?

Nakahiga na si Zein sa kama niya nang pumasok ako. I thought she's asleep before me but she jumps pagkakita sa akin. "Saan ka galing, kuya?"

Her room is always pink; I suppose it's typical for a daughter of a family to give her a pink room. Bawat kanto ay pintado ng kulay pink o violet; even her cabinets, sheets, curtains are draped with gender-based color of hers; may iilan pa rin siyang laruan tulad ng Barbie, doll-house, and dress-up thingy. I've been the one taking care of her simula nang maging busy ang dalawa pero hindi pa ako nasanay.

Right in front of her bed, may malaking salamin doon at sobra akong nagalak nang makita na punong-puno ng pawis ang mukha ko. "You okay, kuya?"

Gusto kong malaman kung bakit sobrang baba ng boses niya, na para bang sadya para hindi ko marinig masyado pero nanaig ang nakita at narinig ko kanina. "Wala. Galing ako sa labas, ang init lang."

"Kuya, gabi na."

Hindi ko siya narinig at inayos na lang ang sarili. Kinuha ko ang iilang libro na iniiwan ko sa ilalim ng side table niya at pinahiga na siya. "What do you want me to read?" sinubukan kong ngumiti.

Her brown locks hair are tied in pig-tails, o kung ano mang tawag sa dalawang braid na 'yan. She probably asked some of our maids to do it for her. God knows how many times she's been asking Logan and I to learn how to braid like one but ni isa sa amin ay wala talagang kakayahan matuto. Still, I read her accustomed tales before she sleeps.

"Ikaw na bahala, kuya." She said, under her blanket.

Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga at inayos ang puwesto niya. "Once upon a time..." I began. "There was once a gir---"

"Nag-aaway ba si Kuya Logan at Mommy, kuya?"

"Hindi ko alam."

"Narinig ko kasi sila kanina," she whispers. "Noong hahanapin kita."

I immediately stopped reading. The memories of what I've overhead came rushing like bolt of lightnings. "I... think... it's not our business to meddle with, Zein."

"Pero kapatid natin si Kuya Logan..." aniya.

"Of course, I know that."

"Mommy natin si mommy."

I scowled. Kinunutan niya ako ng noo at mabilis kong ini-straight ang mukha. "Siyempre." Tanging nasabi ko. But I know she knows why I made that noise: neither of us three resemblances our very own Mother. Logan knows that; I, specifically, know that; Zein is fully aware she's got almost her father's features. And kahit nandoon na lahat ng hindi naming pagshare ng maliit na parte sa babaeng nagluwal sa amin, Mother likes it better.

She loves it than hates it; she would sometimes come up to Logan and tell him he should take another citizenship in America; Mother sometimes insisting on telling me before to let everyone know I'm a Miguel; Zein always telling me that every time she's out alone with Mother, Zein must act like a proper heiress of Carriegos. You see, she loves the power the three men has bestowed upon us, their kids, that the mere thought of her beauty not fully shown on our faces is not a problem anymore.

"May narinig ako kay Kuya Logan n---"

"I think you're sleepy already, Zein." Binaba ko ang libro. "Come on now, position yourself. Maaga ka pa bukas para sunduin."