JEWEL
Chapter One
"Babe, alam mo ba kung anong oras dumating kanina yang dalaga mo?"
"Hindi ko na namalayan. I tried to wait for her last night pero hindi ko na kinaya ang antok. I tried to call her several times pero naka-off ang phone niya. I don't know what to do with our princess anymore. Babe, I'm scared.. What if she gets in trouble? Aatakihin ako sa puso kung malalaman kong nasa presinto siya.."
I closed my eyes as tight as I could like my eyeballs gonna be squeezed. My God! Bakit ba dito pa nila naisipang mag-usap? I want to sleep the whole day away. And how will I be able to do that kung two hours pa lang ako nakakatulog pero nambubulabog na agad sila ngayon.
"Shh. Hindi mangyayari yun, babe. Magtiwala ka na lang sa anak mo. She's smart. I'm sure she'll never involve herself into such trouble." My father said.
"I hope so. Ayakong may mapahamak sa mga anak natin.. Dalawa lang sila at ayokong may nasasaktan sa kanila." Kahit hindi ko nakikita dahil nakadapa ako sa kama ko, sigurado akong naiiyak na si Mama.
"Just trust our children, Kelly. They know what to do and what's not do. If I were you, magpunta ka na lang sa spa. Magpa-massage ka para ma-relax ka naman. I love you so much.."
Napangiwi ako sa sinabi ni Papa. Hanggang ngayon, sweet-sweetan pa din sila.
"I love you too, babe. Hindi magbabago yun."
At bago pa ako tuluyang mairita sa ka-sweetan ng parents ko, umayos na ako ng pagkakahiga at hinarap sila.
"Pa, Ma, why don't you go to your room now? Can't you see? I'm trying to get some sleep here."
"Woah. Hey, young lady. Is that the proper way of greeting your parents in a beautiful Sunday morning? Why don't you get up at sabay sabay na tayong mag-breakfast."
Oh Lord, why is my mother so nosy?
"I'm still full. Mas gusto ko lang matulog maghapon. Puyat ako at kailangan ko ng mahabang pahinga." Sabi ko at ibinaon na uli ang mukha ko sa unan ko.
"Saan ka na naman nanggaling kagabi Jewel Kaye? I waited for you till midnight."
"Nagkape lang kami nina Meg."
"Nagkape lang. Oh bakit ka inumaga na ng uwi?" Pangungulit ni mama na hinihila pa ang comforter ko.
"Sa Singapore kami na nag-coffee. Pa, can you bring your wife outside my room? I need some rest, please."
"Babe, pagpahingahin mo muna ang dalaga mo. Tayo na lang ang mag-breakfast together." I heard my Papa said.
"But, Johann.. Sumosobra na ang anak mo. She shouldn't act that way." I automatically rolled my eyes. Here we go. Mag-uumpisa na namang mag-OA si Mama.
"Ganyan talaga ang mga kabataan ngayon. Wag mo na lang siyang intindihin, okay. Let's go."
When I heard the door of my room closes, bumalik na ako sa pwesto ko ng paghiga kanina at nagbulangot ng comforter ko.
Don't get me wrong. I love my parents. It's just that I really need some sleep.
--
"So, my favorite girl is home at last.." napalabi ako ng madinig ko si Jigger habang papasok siya ng kitchen. It's already 3 p.m at ngayon pa lang ako kakain ng lunch.
"Grabe naman, Jigs. As if ang tagal kong hindi umuuwi. I'm always here. Hindi lang talaga tayo nagkikita." Katwiran ko habang patuloy sa pagkain.
"Umayos ka nga ng upo mo, Jewel. Where are your manners? Ibaba mo yang paa mo. Pag nakita ka nina Mama.." saway niya sa akin at bahagya pang hinampas ang tuhod ko.
"Jigger, kaya nga dito ako sa kitchen kumakain eh para komportable ako. Pag dun sa dining table, feeling ko dapat proper ang kilos ko."
"Ewan ko sayo. Nasa theatre room lang kami ni Blue. If you want to bond with me, andun lang ako. Kuya misses you so much, baby." sabi ni Jigs at hinalikan pa ako sa pisngi.
"Oo na. Susunod na lang ako!" Iritableng sagot ko. Nakakainis kasi. Ayoko ng bine-baby pa!
"Ouch. Wala man lang 'I miss you too, Kuya?'"
"Ang drama mo, Jigger Keith!" Natatawang sabi habang inilalagay ang kinainan ko sa sink.
"Madrama na ako ngayon? Nakakapagtampo naman. Ayaw mo ng nilalambing ka ng kuya mo. May boyfriend ka na ba ha?"
"Dhuh. As if I'll be having a boyfriend. Tara na dun sa theatre room." Sabi ko na lang at ako na ang humila sa kanya.
"Tss.. Iba ka na talaga ngayon, Jewel." Napapailing na sabi niya sa akin.
I stopped dragging my brother and seriously faced him.
"Oo na. I missed you, Jigs.. ikaw kasi, lagi kang wala. You're always busy with the corporation. We barely see each other. I have to go out with my friends pa tuloy so I can have some fun. Sina Mama at Papa, nakaka-stress naman kasama. They're always talking about future plans. You see, I just want to have some fun. Unlike when you're always here, we play wii, we watch movies together.. I feel so lonely dito sa bahay pag wala ka."
"I'm sorry, baby. Kuya needs to work hard. Jewel, you're already 22. At that age, may hinahawakan na akong posisyon sa corporation. I didn't enjoy my teenage years because Papa has been preparing me for business already. And besides, I have to sacrifice for you. I know how much you hate business. At this point, dapat may contribution ka na sa company. Dapat magkatulong tayo. You know unstable the stocks have been these past few weeks.. Kaya kailangan doble ang effort ko lara lagi kang may pang- shopping at panggala abroad."
Medyo nakonsensiya naman ako sa sinabi ni Jigs. Pero, hindi pa rin magbabago ang isip ko. I still don't like anything to do with business.
"I'm sorry, Jigger.. But I still don't like business.." I apologetically said.
"Alam ko.. Kaya nga andito si Kuya eh." He said.
I hugged him tight as if that hug can lessen the burden I have incured in him.
"Thank you, Jigger. I love you. Please, don't get married soon.. Ouch! Why did you do that?!" sabi ko habang minamasahe pa ang part ng ulo ko na kinonyatan niya.
"Hindi pa ako maga-asawa hanggang hindi ka pa settled down."
"Well, unfortunately, Jigger Keith. Mukhang tatanda kang binata." I grinned and ran my way to the theatre room. I know he's just right behind me.
He is really one hell of a brother.
