Loosen Us (Loose Trilogy #3)

Chapter 4

Kapag lumipas kaya ang taon at nakapagtapos na sa kolehiyo sa kursong gusto ko. Am I gonna be successful? Be contented perhaps?

I sigh. I hope so.

I gawk at myself in my body-size mirror in my room. Will there be changes someday?

Napabalik ako sa wisyo nang makarinig ako tatlong sunod-sunod na katok sa aking pintuan. Lumapit ako para tignan kung sino ito.

"Ma'am, pinapatawag po kayo ng Mommy mo."

Gumuhit ang pagtataka sa sistema ko sa sinambit ng maid. Despite the confusion I felt, I smiled at her and went downstairs to feed my confusion.

Hindi ako madalas pinapatawag ni Mommy. She would just call me on some important matter. Umawang ang labi ko pagkahakbang sa hagdanan at makita ang ilang hindi pamilyar na tao sa akin; they're three gays. May mga gamit na bitbit, and I assumed it was gowns and some make-ups.

Napalingon ako kay Mommy na nakasuot ng silky bathrobe. She also has makeup on, which is unusual for her. Umangat ang paningin niya sa akin, pagkarating niya sa salas. Napatingin na rin tuloy sa akin ang iba na nandoon.

She looks at me from head to toe. "Bakit hindi ka pa nakabihis? It's Rafa's birthday. Have you forgotten?" I blink thrice.

Gosh. Masyado akong distracted these past few days! And I even forgot Kuya Rafa's special day! For sure, if he's in front of me, I will hear his nonstop nagging.

"It will be a grand birthday party, as he turned 21. We're going to meet high-profile people, so you must prepare, Kiara."

I followed my Mom's command.

Dinala ng ilang maids ang mga gamit sa baba sa kuwarto ko. Upang dito na ako makapagbihis, may kinuha ring sariling make-up artist si Mommy. I'm the one who decides the style of the make-up. Wala naman kasi akong ibang pinagkakatiwalaan na gagalaw sa mukha ko, maliban kay Isaiah.

The dress that I wore is a color beige dress; it has a slit on my thigh and a deep cut to show my cleavage. It hugs my body perfectly and shows my body curved. My hair is also in a bun to make me look cleaner.

After a while, I stared at my reflection to reflect on my body side mirror.

"You looked so beautiful. Truly, your Mom's younger version," sambit ng head make-up artist sa likod ko, introduced himself as Mhiema Khina.

Ang kwento niya sa akin, kaibigan siya ni Mommy noong nasa edad ako nito. He's actually approachable and made me entertained all throughout the session. I didn't know that my Mom has a friend like him.

Hindi naman kasi halatang sociable si Mommy unlike kay Dad.

Speaking to Dad, as soon as I went downstairs with the artists. I saw him wearing a gray tuxedo matching Mom's gray silky dress. I can't deny the fact that they're a perfect match. Tinukso tuloy sila ni Mhiema Khina.

I saw Mom being irritated. Dad smirked, his dimple showing. Sanay na sanay na talaga siya kay Mommy for being a maldita.

Nauna na tuloy lumabas si Mommy.

That day became spontaneous for me. I used to meet a lot of people during gathering events and also talk to them 'cause I couldn't just stand to hide myself on the corner.

Just like my Dad that was nowhere to be found. Si Mommy naman nakabuntot sa kapatid niyang Mommy ni Kuya Rafa na takbuhan ko sa tuwing ayaw ko munang umuwi sa bahay, dahil may nagawa akong kasalanan si Tita Aurelia.

"Huy, may imamatch ako sa 'yo." Nagulat ako nang hatakin ako ni Kuya Rafa papasama sa kaniya.

"What? I'm not here to flirt." I whispered when I got closer to him.