If someone were to ask me what my favorite book in the world is, I would answer the book of Ecclesiastes. And I think that would sum up what kind of person I am.
A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
I smiled subtly as I read the passage using my eyes, the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, a book in the Old Testament. The verses were flashed on the projector while Pastor Lim was preaching at the pulpit. Indeed, it's true. There's always a time for everything under the sun.
Alam niya ang mangyayari sa hinaharap, at nakatala na sa bituin ang mga nangyari at mangyayari pa lang.
Yet this is what our family always does. All of us would always go to church together.
Predictable. Never ending, no spice. Routines, and chained by the rules. Chained by the expectations. Upholding legacy and reputations.
And right now we are not complete kasi nasa España ang dalawa ko pang kapatid. Ngayong ang araw ng uwi nila.
"Vamonos, Noella Graciela. Fetch your siblings at the airport." utos ni Mama habang nagmamadali at dahilan na rin nang mabilis na tunog ng sapatos niya sa pathway ng simbahan.
Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Ni hindi pa nga nakakalapag ang eroplano na sinasakyan nila kuya pero nagmamadali na si Mama. Abuela and Papa are still inside the church. Talking with Don Hiñago. Abuela's friend. Lian, my youngest sibling is being held by Abuela.
Like most families, we also had unspoken rules before going to church or any other events.
First, whatever color Abuela wears, we must follow. And she only wore white, so... we always wear white. Hindi lang sa simbahan siya nakaputi, maging sa bahay, sa social events, gatherings, foundation day ng kompanya, at maging sa birthday at libing. Nakaputi.
Dumiretso kami sa Airport ni Manong Rudy. Mom and Dad were in the other car together with Lian, my youngest sibling, and Abuela. They were off to buy the ingredients for dinner.
Second, unspoken rule? We must walk together as a family. As one.
It was a long ride to the airport. And I didn't get tired of watching the green landscapes of Aramac, until it showed the vast sea as we descended down a hill. It indicated that we are nearing Laguindingan.
Halos dalawang oras rin ang biyahe namin papunta rito para lang sunduin ang dalawa kong kapatid. Si Rahim at Natalia Cecilia.
I looked at on my wristwatch and got confused. Bakit wala pang nagte-text sa kanilang dalawa kung nakalapag na ba yung eroplano? May traffic ba sa langit?
I think we'll just wait there, I think.
My sister, Natalia Cecilia, co-runs our company in Manila with our Abuela. Lately, due to Abuela's soft retirement, she is handling it all. Papa is assisting her as her lawyer.
She's the ultimate lady boss, and she's eight years older. Almost in her thirties right now, and single.
Ligawin naman siya at maganda. Mayayaman ang mga manliligaw, mga binatang galing sa mga kilalang pamilya. Pero sa lahat ng sumubok, wala siyang gusto sa kanila. Parehas kami.
Nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa kanya. It's like seeing yourself and what you will become in the next eight years. She will probably get old alone because of being a conservative and workaholic female alpha. That's not bad, but I'm getting worried.
Well, all of us are taught that way. All of us were raised in that manner, all thanks to our Abuela. The Great Senyora Gracianna Mondiego.
Pagdating namin sa waiting area ng airport ay bigla akong nakaramdam na I needed to go to the comfort room. Kaya nagpaalam muna ako na si Manong muna ang maghihintay sa kanila ate.
When I returned to waiting area, wala na roon si Manong Rudy. I looked at the seats he was in earlier, but the seats were empty. I tried to crane my neck to look around but they are not here yet.
My phone buzzed. Napangiti ako sa message na natanggap ko galing kay Rahim.
Rahim: We're here, Noella. Nasa Parking lot na kami.
I was about to reply when biglang nahulog ang phone ko, nadulas sa kamay ko iyon nang may biglang yumakap sa akin ng mahigpit. Akala ko ay kapatid ko.
But then I heard an unfamiliar voice close to my ear. The guy hugging me was whispering. "You came..."
Wait. This is not Rahim. I touched the head, and yup, it's not my brother's hair. The hair I'm feeling right now is a bit wavy. And the perfume is also not the same.
Hindi ako makagalaw kasi sobrang higpit na ng yakap niya. Kahit kailan hindi pa ako nayayakap ng kahit sinong lalaki maliban sa pamilya ko. This is the first time, and my heart leaped at that thought.
His face nuzzled on my neck, I could feel the tip of his nose on my neck. I tried to peek in to see who it was. Sabay naming nilingon ang isa't isa.
The first to greet me were his brown eyes... close to hazel. He had long lashes and masculine, brooding brows. It made me forget... something.
What is it again?
Someone accidentally collided with his back, and before I knew it. Unintentionally, he got pushed to me. Soft lips... pressed on my cheek.
My mind can't process what happened. I'm too stunned to speak. Napatakip ako ng bibig. I broke free from his hug ng naramdaman ko na lumuwag iyon dahil sa pagkabigla rin niya. Sobrang bilis nangyari.
"W-Who are you?" tanong ko dahil sa bigla. Well, he looked like a foreigner. At nung nagsalita siya kanina? It was British accent.
"What a freaking dimwit!" napalingon ako sa kasama niya dahil sa reaksyon nito. Magkahawig sila. Pero kung itatabi silang dalawa ay mas halata ang pagiging moreno nitong isa at kayumanggi itong nangyakap sa akin. Naningkit ang mata ko dahil pamilyar sila. Hindi ko lang maalala kung saan ko siya nakita.
Bumalik ang tingin ko sa nangyakap at tinanong ko ulit.
"You're not answering me. Who are you? Bakit ka nangyakap?"
"I-Im..." I saw his Adam's apple bob. For a second there, I thought that he would introduce himself, but no, he didn't.
He grabbed the other guy's arm and walked away fast. Yung kasama niya ay lumilingon sa akin. At kunot noo ko naman silang tiningnan na papalayo.
I ran my fingers through my hair irritably. Is that how it goes now? You make a mistake, and go? Hindi man lang nag-sorry?!
Mas lalo pang uminit ang ulo ko ng maalala ang mabilis na dampi ng... labi niya sa akin.
BINABASA MO ANG
Cursed Kiss (Curse #1)
RomansaI have always been obedient. Morals, manners, etiquette, class, and intelligence. I've done it. I abided on it like it's a law. But you came, starting with a kiss. All of that didn't matter anymore. Then, there is this curse between us. A long hist...
