About Me and Seven

O1

There are lots of things I want to say about me and Seven.

"Closer Sev! There's a space pa between you two." Tito Woo called as the cameras continued to take shots of me and Seven.

Nasa studio kami ngayon ni Tito para sa photoshoot ng bago niyang collection. Woo & Wears have come a very long way simula noong una itong nagbukas at kinuha kaming modelo. This brand basically saw me and Seven grew up from small kids to teenagers. Marami na itong branches sa buong bansa at may collection na rin ng mga damit for all ages.

I am eighteen now. Ilang linggo matapos ang successful kong birthday party ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang legal na. Eighteen is a dream age for girls like me, ang sabi nina Papa. Daddy naman would always say being eighteen doesn't mean I am readily an adult that can do anything I want. May mga limitations pa rin and rules na dapat sundin.

And I don't really mind following them still. Just sometimes, I kinda want to live freely.

"Does your feet hurt?" tanong ni Sev pagkatapos ng isa pang series of shots. Nakaupo na kami ngayon sa isang pastel pink na bench with a few supplies around. High Teen and concept ng shoot kaya't may mga bags and other school equipments kaming katabi.

"Slight. The boots are killing me." sagot ko bago hinimas ang paa habang kausap pa ni Tito Woo ang photographer.

"You can wear my slippers later. I have extra." aniya bago muling bumaling sa camera nang magsimulang muli ang shoot.
I smiled and nodded before doing a pose.

He's seventeen now and turning legal soon. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit busy na naman sina Papa sa pag-aasikaso ng birthday party niya.

Their friendship never changed. Every time may okasyon ang bawat pamilya ay lagi silang excited sa paghahanda. Even Tito Win who's miles away from us takes time to do a video call with them.

I always admired that. The strong bond they managed to protect over the years. Ang sabi nga ni Daddy, kulang na lang tumira kaming lahat sa iisang bahay dahil napaka clingy nina Papa sa isa't-isa.

"Perfect! Thank you so much sweeties. Always doing a fantastic job!" ani Tito Woo at nilapitan kami. He managed to sneak a pat on my hair habang kinurot niya naman ang pisngi ni Seven.

Tito Woo is a beam of light. He's very sweet and caring kahit noong bata pa kami. Minsan kapag napapagalitan kami nina Papa at Tito Ten ay tumatakbo kami sa kaniya para magpa kampi.

Him and Tito Win are the youngest of their barkada kaya't madalas may immunity sila sa galit ng mga Papa namin. Tito Yong naman would be the middle ground of all and would sometimes dismiss the issue hanggang sa sina Papa at Tito Ten na lang ang magbangayan.
It's a typical day with the gals.

"By the way, nag text ang Daddy mo Jiji, he'll pick you two up dahil sa bahay nina Sev daw tayo magdi-dinner. I have things to do pa kaya susunod na lang ako." bilin ni Tito bago kami iginiya pabalik sa dressing room.

Seven sighed while walking behind me. Natawa naman ako at nilingon siya.
"It's your turn to get stressed out." biro ko. Kumunot lang ang noo niya at umiling.

After dressing back to our casual clothes, we went down the parking lot. Tulad ng sabi niya, suot ko ang isang pair niya ng tsinelas. It's colored blue and kind of big pero sanay na ako dahil minsan nasusuot ko ang mga pajamas niya kapag may biglaang sleep over sa bahay nila.

Tito Ten even suggested having my own closet in their house na agad namang tinutulan ni Daddy.

"Hey princess!" I saw Dad leaning on his car habang palapit kami sa kanila. I smiled and ran to hug him. He's still wearing corporate so I'm guessing kakatapos lang ng meeting niya with important clients.

Our businesses are doing good domestically and overseas. Although may kaunting naging problema lang sa hotels namin sa boracay kaya't lumipad si Daddy doon the other day. He looks tired but he's always smiling whenever he's home.

My Dad is cool.

"Hungry?" he asked and I nodded before slipping my bags inside the car. I saw Dad looking at my slippers pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. Then he turned and talked to Seven.

"Musta Sev?"

"Okay lang Tito. Medyo pagod." I heard him answer with that cute little accent. He always has that every time he speaks Tagalog. Ang sabi nga ni Ali, cute daw at tunog mamahalin. I don't even know what she means by that.

Seven is famous in school. Isa sa mga obvious na rason ay ang istura niya. I actually cannot count the number of girls who confessed to him anymore and I also do not know why he showed no interest in any of them.

I'd like to think it's because we're still young.

"Dad, I have this overnight plans with Ali next week. Gagawa lang kami ng project. Can I go?" I started when we are all inside the car.

Nakaupo ako sa tabi ni Daddy habang si Sev naman ay nasa likod. Sitting handsomely with our bags and Daddy's other stuff. I glanced at him after asking permission and he had that teasing look again.

Alam na alam niya talagang kinakabahan ako kapag nagpapaalam kay Daddy ng overnight or outing. Lagi niya akong inaasar sa bagay na 'yan.

"Really? You're coming with them, Sev?" tanong ni Daddy. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Seven.

"No Tito, we're not in the same group po." sagot niya. I looked at Dad and waited. He's thinking and weighing things inside his head again.

"Then how about sa bahay na lang kayo mag-overnight? Your Papa won't mind for sure."

I knew it! Alam kong ganiyan ang isasagot niya. He is quite protective of me since I was a child. Although kadalasan naman pumapayag siya kapag si Papa na ang nagsasabi but often times, he's strict.

"But we already agreed na sa bahay nila Ali kami gagawa ng project, Dad." I insisted kahit pa ako lang naman talaga ang nagpumilit na kina Aleyna nalang kami.

Ali loves going to our house dahil fan siya ni Papa but I know for sure the real reason she wants to be there every chance she gets is because of this one instance na biglang dumalaw sina Tito Yong sa bahay kasama sina Tito Mark.

Ali, being his biggest fan almost passed out.

"You can tell Ali na sa bahay na lang. I'm sure she won't mind. May iba pa ba kayong kasama sa overnight?"

"Well...there's Aera and Danny."

"M'kay sa bahay na lang nga kayo." sabi ni Dad. I sighed knowing di ko siya mapipilit.

My phone beeped from a text.

Sev:
It's Danny's name, I guess.

Ako:
You think papayag siya kapag nagpaalam ulit ako next week?

Sev:
Maybe.
You can try but Danny's still going to be there.

Ako:
Sama ka na lang kaya para sure.

Sev:
Are you kidding?
We'll do our project din next week.

Ako:
🥹🥹🥹

Sev:
Tss! Fine.
I'll try talking to Tito if there's a chance.

Ako:
Ahh!!
Thanks Sev!!!

I grinned and pocketed my phone. Tumingin sa bintana habang bumabiyahe kami papunta sa bahay nila.

There are lots of things I want to say about me and Seven.

First, we grew up together and got each other's backs all the time.

We are partners in crime.

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A/N: first chapter is up! hope you like it!
Comments are highly appreciated. Thank you so much! 🫡