REGINA'S POV
Para maiwasan ko si Blair nagpa-book agad ako ng flight pabalik sa Pilipinas. This is better than being in the same place as her.
Hindi ko nagugustuhan itong inaasta nitong pamangkin ko. She's becoming a little version of me.
Custodio really thought na lasing ako kagabi. That's good to know.
"Ninang, I saw Tito Ruru's Post. Kasama niyo si Ninang Blair?"
"Yeah."
"How is she?"
"Okay lang."
"How long did you talk?"
"Long enough."
Hindi na siya ulit nagtanong. She should notice na ayokong pag-usapan si Blair.
"Let's have dinner. I'm starving."
"Ate Jane, doon na lang. Malapit lang 'yan, right?" Reign excitedly pointed at the fastfood's signage.
"Sige po, ma'am."
McAndEat, Reign's favorite fastfood chain. Custodio seems not enjoying the place. Katapat lang ito ng Jollyfoods. Probably that's her go-to-place.
"Ninang order ka nang marami. Pasalubong natin."
So, I did what she requested. I ordered good for twenty people. Make it 21 dahil kasama na rin pala si Custodio.
Reign chose the seat nearest the exit door. Nakaupo na kami at lahat nakatayo pa rin si Custodio.
"Ate Jane, maupo ka po. Sobra itong seats para sa atin."
"Po?"
"Ah,I remember, pakuha po n'ong niluto natin."
"Sige po, Ma'am."
Custodio goes out hurriedly. Saka ko lang nabigyan ng pansin itong pamangkin ko.
"What's the meaning of this, Reign? I told you, huwag kang gagaya sa akin."
"I am not, Ninang. Parang angsaya po kasi sa kanila. Angbait ni Lola Dearest. You should try to visit them too."
"Empleyado natin sila. Hindi kaibigan. You better not get too attached to her. Papaalisin ko rin siya, soon."
"De kukunin ko po siyang bodyguard. Easy!" nagtaas-baba pa siya ng kilay. I really hate her when she's imitating me!
Dumating na rin si Custodio. May dala siyang dalawang food tubs. Pinatong niya ito sa mesa.
"She made the palitaw for you, Ninang. Peace offering sa haha-react sa profile picture mo." Nang-aasar pang sabi ni Reign. But I doubt. Parang napilitan lang itong is Custodio. Nakayuko pa nga siya. "Ate Jane, huwag ka nang mahiya. For sure masarap naman 'yan."
Nakamot pa niya ang gilid ng kilay niya. "Hindi ako sigurado, Ma'am Reign. First time ko gumawa niyan."
Baka manakit pa ang tiyan ko nito.
"See, Ninang? A for effort po si Ate Jane. I think you should forgive her and be a less masungit na."
Pinaningkitan ko itong pamangkin ko. She's near to being annoying tonight.
Good thing dumating na ang order namin. Nandoon na ang attention ni Reign. Spaghetti lang ang binuksan ni Custodio.
"Ate Jane, masarap itong burger. Try mo. Para sa lahat naman 'to. Diet ka po ba?" pansin sa kanya ulit ni Reign. She's fond of her. "Huwag mo na lang tingnan si Ninang para hindi ka mawalan ng gana! Haha!"
The heck with my niece?
"Ha? Hindi po iyon. Huwag po kayong maniwala kay Ma'am Reign." I was stunned when Custodio held on my right arm. Na-realize yata niya agad kaya biglang bawi siya. "Sorry po. Hindi ko sinasadya."
"Which one? 'Yong haha-react or you holding me?"
"Pareho po." Napayuko siya.
"Kumain ka na." utos ko dito. "Mukhang inistorbo kayong maigi ni Reign. I say, we're even."
---
Late night. Hindi ako makatulog. Buti na lang ganoon din si Cindy. She's having problems with her boyfriend. We've been on video call like about thirty minutes.
"Girl, ne hindi nagagalit sa akin kapag sinasabi kong may night out ako with our boy friends. Boring!"
"Ginusto mo naman ang good boy 'di ba? Anong iniinarte mo diyan?"
"Ewan ko! Too good to be true. Baka tino-two-time na ako n'on kaya sobrang bait."
"Thinkers doers, Cinds."
"Gagawa na ako ng paraan, Frenny para hiwalayan niya ako. haha! Anyway, maiba tayo ng usapan. I saw Rudolf's post. Kumusta ang reunion with the Great Blair? Haha! Musta ang best natin na 'yon?"
"I don't want to talk about her."
"Come on, Frenny! Angtagal na n'on. Dapat nang pag-usapan."
"I think she's okay."
"Let me guess, nagwalk out ka?"
"Yeah."
"Girl naman! Kaka-walk out mo isipin n'ong you're still into her."
Naisuklay ko ang buhok ko. "Five years na akong straight, Cinds. Impossible 'yan."
Damn her. She laughs so hard at me. "Baliw! E di happy five years na straight ka! Haha! You're really something, Frenny. Mind you, ang spaghetti na nainitan hindi na kailanman nagiging straight! Haha!"
"Never will I be attracted to a woman again."
"If you say so. Pero heto ha? Nakailang date ka na ng lalaki? Angbilis mong mawalan ng interest sa kanila. Grabe!"
"We're just the same, Cinds."
"Gaga! Hindi! Ako kasi mabilis magsawa dahil flirty ako. haha! Ikaw, sadyang napipilitan ka lang maki-date sa boyz! Kasi nga..."
"Damn! Kasalanan ni Blair ito! If she didn't seduce me."
"Normalized blaming other people for your preference. Ah straight ka na nga pala. I don't like Blair din for you, medyo toxic na siya, Girl. I heard lots of rumors about her. You know..."
"I don't want to hear anything about her. Please."
Nag-shut down ang phone ko. Tsk. Hindi ko na napansin ang battery pala nito. Hindi pa rin ako dalawin ng antok. Nagbukas pa ako ng wine saka lumabas sa balcony.
Malaki ang kasalanan ni Blair sa akin. Hinding-hindi ko siya mapapatawad sa pag-confused niya sa pagkatao ko. I can still remember how annoying she is whenever she says, "Straight ka nga, malandi naman ako."
Damn her! She succeeded but she left. Awful right?
I noticed someone in the poolside. It's Custodio. She's checking on her phone after planking. Why is she working out in the middle of the night?
She then started doing push-ups. Twenty repeats. Not bad. She wipes her arms and forehead. Next thing is unexpected. She removes her shirt, revealing her toned upper body in racerback sports bra. She then started doing side planks. She checks on her abs after doing so.
Just like how Blair loves doing planks. Kaya daw siya may abs dahil routine niyang 'yon. God! This ain't right! Pumasok na ako sa kwarto. Stop it, Regina! Non-sense things won't do any good to you.
