Memories with the Sorin

CHAPTER 3

Warning⚠️: violence and suicide

"Oh my God! That girl really has no respect
for the Hidalgo clan!" My mother ranted while talking to tita Diane and Tito Steve, Dos' parents. "She should've just stayed in Australia. Bat pa kase yan umuwi dito?"

"I heard from a friend na si Donya Mersitas yung nagpa-uwi jan. Apparently, she the favorite grandchild." Tita Diane chuckled.

"Anak nga yan sa labas e." Mother replied. "Maka-asta naman parang kung sino. And could you even believe that girl is in college already? And she took architecture kase raw puro drawing yung inaatupag. I heard she smokes, drinks and goes to parties, black sheep nga talaga. She has no sophistication."

Nasa Mansion parin kami ng mga Hidalgo, kanina pa umalis si Maevis dahil sa away nila ng step-sister niyang si Michelle. At kahit kanina pa nangyari yung gulo dito, hindi parin tumigil ang mga tao sa pagchismis sa kanila, more especially on Maeve. I felt sorry for her pero ayoko naman makisali sa gulo kaya tinikom ko nalang ang bibig ko.

"See what happens to girls who don't respect their parents, Ail." My mother's gaze turned into me. "They get humiliated."

Tumango nalang ako at pinaglagpas yung sinabe niya. Gusto kong ipagtanggol ang sarili ko dahil sa mga pagaakusa niya sakin, but I remained to keep my mouth shut to stop myself from being the disrespectful child again. Till my breathing hitched when felt a warm harm touch my waist.

"Ail is a good kid, tita. I can assure you." Dos said in a proud tone. My heart skipped a beat when he said that. Alam ko namang he's just trying convince my mom kase he knows my situation, but something inside hoped that it was a little bit more than that.

"Ikaw talaga Demitri, ang bata mo pa pero ang landi mo na!" Tita Diane glared at her at akmang kukurutin sana.

"Ma naman-"

"Dos is just being protective to Ail, mahal. Alam naman natin ganyan talaga yang dalawa. Since kids they were inseparable." Tito Steve laughed.

"Tell me nga, hijo? Are you somehow... Courting my daughter?" Mom asked out of nowhere. I wanted to roll my eyes at her. I hate how she always asks for these kinds of stupid questions to Dos.

"Tita-"

"Mom, Dos and I are just friends. It has always been that way, and it will always stay that way." I said firmly with no pause. My breathing got rough because of that.

"Y-yeah, Ail is right po." I felt Dos remove his hand from my waist kaya napatingin ako sa kamay niyang nilagay niya sa bulsa niya. He look stiff for a moment but regain his posture again. He looked a bit weird but I didn't bother to ask. I don't want to make the situation more awkward. Baka di ko pa mapigilan ang sarili ko at kung ano pa ang masabi.

After that night we became more busy since part ako ng school council and Dos was also the president to the music club, marami kaseng nag-audition for new members kaya madalan nalang kami nagkakasama. Malapit na kase yung intrams and we have to do a lot of preparations pa.

"Ail, did you check on the arts club for the stage props for tomorrow's event?" One of the council's asked. Vince ata pangalan nun. Nasa council's office kami ngayon para asikasohin yung intrams.

"Uh yes, but they really haven't told the the exact time na matatapos nila yun. Maybe tomorrow morning pa raw." Ani ko. Pinuntahan ko na sila kaninang lunch and half of it isn't finished pa dahil konti lang yung members nila this year.

"They really can't finish it today?"

Umiling ako. "Konti lang sila this year e kaya mabagal. But tomorrow they will help naman daw in arranging the stage and the in the gym narin."