Taste Of Solitude

II

On the way na kami sa party. Kay Kuya Lexus ako sumabay. Ayoko kila Daddy. For sure he's going to give me an earful about choosing whom to marry sa mga anak na lalaki sa pupuntahan namin.

We're going on a social gathering with the country's finest families. A lot of social climbing happen in these types of parties. Lalo na ang mga baguhan pa lang sa industry.

You'll see a family of doctors, lawyers, businessmen, engineers and architects. These type of party is also the place where arranged marriages between childs happens. So me and my brothers rarely go in these kind of events.

"Lalim ng iniisip natin ah." Natigil ako sa pagmu-muni muni sa sinabi ni Kuya Lexus. He's a fine Psychologist in my dad's hospital. "Look, I just thought na I should have been studying for an exam tomorrow night. Pero nandito ako, papunta sa isang party."Pagsisimula ko ng vent sakanya.

Kuya Lexus is that type of person na you can vent to, because of his calming aura. Maybe because of the fact that he's a psychologist.

" I'm in my last year. I want to excel. Why can't he understand that? He'll just want to marry me off with some dude in that party." Sabi ko at tumingin sa bintana. Out of the corner in my eye, nakita ko na tumingin sa akin si Kuya.

He held my hand making me face him.

"You have our back okay? Just this once, thus is important to them. Bigay na natin sakanila okay?" Sabi niya and smiled. I smiled back at tumango na lang.

"By the way, nasaan nga pala si Kuya Lyle and Kuya Leo? Akala ko ba lahat tayo nandoon?" Tanong ko about sa mga kapatid ko pa.

" Sabay na ata sila. They're on their way na rin. Baka kasunod na lang din natin sila." Sagot naman niya na tinanguan ko na lang at hindi na nagsalita ulit.

Kuya Lyle is the first born son. He's not married, he's almost 30. Isa siyang Neurosurgeon like my dad, he works in one of the hospital that my family own sa may Cavite.

Kuya Lexus comes after him. Making Kuya Leo, the third son. He's a Cardiothoracic naman, like my mom. He works naman sa hospital din namin, pero sa Pampanga naman siya.

Kami lang ni Kuya Lexus ang nandito sa Manila.

We arrived at the party, and there's this red carpet. May lumapit na chaperone, at pinagbuksan kami ni Kuya ng pinto.

We were greeted by camera flashes. Seems like bigatin nga ang event na ito, to even include paparazzi.

Kuya Lexus grabbed my waist, para alalayan ako. Kasi nasisilaw ako talaga sa mga flash.

"Lauren Acosta. Nandito si Lauren Acosta!"

"Ms.Acosta, bakit ngayon ka lang nagpakita after 4 years ng hindi mo pagdalo sa ganitong event."

"Totoo bang may namamagitan sainyo ng anak ng mga Espinoza?"

Espinoza? I don't remember being with one. Kahit si Kuya nagtataka sa tanong ng reporter na 'yon.

Pero pumasok na kami, kasi ang hirap. Wala na ata akong makita.

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag, pagkapasok namin.

Pero nagulat ako sa nakita ko. Sobrang daming tao. Very unusual, kasi hindi naman nataas ng 20 families ang napunta dito. But, iba ngayon. Buti malaki ang venue, kundi magsisiksikan kami dito na parang mga sardinas.

I saw Kuya Lexus, took his phone out. Para tawagan siguro sila Mommy.

"C'mon. They're waiting for us sa isang room." Sabi niya and lead the way. " Baka nagkakalimutan tayo Lauren Yzabelle. Mind explaining what was that earlier?" Tanong niya na nagpa kunot ng noo ko.

" What was what?" Wait, is he pertaining sa sinabi nung reporter kanina? " The one with you having something with one of the Espinoza?" He amswered. I sighed, sabi na ayon 'yon eh.

"Not true. I was studying the whole week. Sa tingin mo may time ako para makipagdate with some dude?" Tumango na lang siya. As if he believes me. Umirap na lang ako sa hangin at hindi na nagsalita pa ulit.

We arrived in a room. Kuya knocked, and it was Kuya Lyle who answered the door. I jumped in excitement kasi ngayon ko lang ulit siya nakita.

"Kuya!" I said and hugged him. He laughed and hugged me back. Nag fist bump naman sila ni Kuya Lexus.

"Hey there princess." Sabi ni Kuya Lyle. "Hoy hoy ano 'yan. Napakadaya niyo talagang magkapatid oh. Hindi niyo ako sinasali." Rinig kong may nagsalita sa likod ni Kuya Lyle. And I saw Kuya Leo with a pout face.

"Kuya Leo!" Bumitaw ako kay Kuya Lyle and ran to him. God. I missed them.

"Ayan ang gusto ko. Kaya kapatid kita eh. Nagmana ka sa akin. Gwapo ako, maganda ka." Nagtawanan naman kami sa sinabi niya.

"Shut up Leo. You don't fit un this family. Tignan mo na lang kami. Mas gwapo kaming dalawa ni Lexus. Your looks are just tolerable." Pang o-okray ni Kuya Lyle sakanya.

"Alam mo? Ayan siguro ang dahilan kung bakit hanggang ngayon single ka pa rin." Sabi ni Kuya Leo at lumapit sakanya. Hinawakan niya ito sa balikat. " You need to get laid Kuya. I reckon you're still a virgin. Right? " Tumawa kami sa sinabi ni Kuya Leo. Habang hindi naman maipinta sa hiya ang mukha ni Kuya Lyle. Tinanggal niya ang kamay ni Kuya Leo.

"Gwapo nga, wala namang girlfriend." Sabat ni Kuya Lexus. At nag fist bump ang dalawang magkakampi. I just laughed at the sight.

"Aww, I missed these. Minsan na lang kasi kayo umuwi eh. Kahit si Lauren. I rarely see you na anak." Sabi ni mommy na nagpatigil sa amin. She was teary eyed. Kaya naman niyakap ko siya agad.

"I promise mom. Sainyo ulit ako titira after I graduate. Para naman may kasama kayo" Sabi ko, kaya hinaplos ni mommy ang pisngi ko. Making me melt in her touch.

"Plastik talaga oh. Ganyan mo ba sabihin na ayaw namin kasama sila mommy ha? Lauren? Is that your agenda? Ang pasamain ang tingin sa amin nila mommy?" The dramatic brother comes in. I faced my brothers. All having the same expressions.

'Yung mga pose ng matataray. Nakakunot na noo at nakataas ng isang kilay habang naka crossarms. Pero si Kuya Leo. being the dramatic one he is. Naka pamewang pa talaga siya.

"Oo bakit?" Sabi ko at ginaya ang pose niya na nagpatawa sa dalawa ko pang kapatid. Inirapan naman ako ni Kuya Leo.

"Stop that. Mags-start na daw ang event. I miss you boys. And ofcourse my unica ija. I miss you all." Dad stopped us. We all smile at him. And made our way outside the room para pumunta na sa event hall mismo.