Switched

Chapter One: Stupid Questions

"ARE YOU ready to meet him?"

Violet raised an eyebrow at her mother. The cold feeling of the stair railings on her hand didn't stop her from a fiery response. "Haven't I already turned him down, 'Ma?" Marahan siyang bumaba sa hagdan, tanaw ang mas mataray na pagtaas ng kilay ng ina niyang nasa hapag.

The feast table was already full early in the morning: full of food and full of fools. The clacking of her heels with their marbled floor were heard in between the silence. Marangya ang umaga kumpara sa normal na araw, marahil ay dahil kumpleto ang pamilya niya. Hindi magkadaaligaga ang mga kasambahay sa pag-serve ng pagkain. The smell of her oldest sister's favorite tapa was filling the dining area. Amoy rin ang buttered rice mula pa sa puno ng hagdan. Their youngest brother must've requested it again.

"Stop being silly and come eat here," her mother dismissed her.

Sinenyasan siya nitong makisalo sa kanila sa hapag. Her usual seat at the family table was occupied by her seven-year old niece, anak ng bunso nilang kapatid. Ngumiti siya rito saka bahagyang inabot ang bangs niya, tukoy na nagpagupit din pala ito at pareho sila ngayon ng hairstyle. The little girl giggled then continued eating her bacons

Umupo siya sa tabi ng Ate Lavender niya. "Good morning, Ate," she smiled but of course, a judging stare from head to toe was the only thing she received in return.

"Ano na naman 'yang suot mo, Violet?" mataray na tanong nito.

"Tank top? Low-rise jeans? That's a weird question coming from a woman whose family is in retail and fashion, Ate." She shrugged at her and called one of the helpers which served her at a snap of a finger.

"Why do you always wear such provocative clothes? Kaya ka napagkakamalang–"

"Lavender!" Their mother's voice echoed in the room. Sumenyas ito sa mga kasambahay na magsialisan muna na agad namang sinunod ng mga ito. "Pwede bang 'wag kayong mag-usap nang ganyan lalo pa't nandito si Pepper. Mahiya naman kayo."

She winked at her niece. Pepper's father who's sitting across from her stuck his tongue out to her which she rolled her eyes back to. Hindi niya pa rin lubos maisip na ang ganito ka-immature na lalaki ay may anak na.

Umabot siya ng tapa at buttered rice saka sumubo. "Nandito ba kayong lahat para lang bully-hin ako?" Tanong niya sa mga ito mayamaya. "Parang may pa-meeting para lang punahin at pagalitan ako, eh."

"To be honest, you brought that to yourself, Ate Violet," Jay finally voiced out his opinion.

Itinuro niya ng tinidor na gamit si Pepper na hotdogs naman ang pinapapak ngayon. "To be honest, you brought that to yourself, too, Jay. Baka gusto mong maging conference 'to at ikaw ang punahin at pagalitan ko tungkol teenage pregnancy scandal na dinala mo sa pamilyang 'to?"

Binagsak ng ina nila ang kubyertos na hawak nito. Umugong ang mesang gawa sa salamin, it was a surprise it didn't break yet. Ilang eksenang ganon na ang nasaksihan no'n. It really pays to buy expensive things, matatag even for a family feud so early in the morning.

"Jay, dalhin mo nga muna si Pepper sa labas. Ipabitbit mo sa maids ang almusal niyo," ani ina nila.

Mabilis na sumunod si Jay at niyakag si Pepper paalis sa hapag. Pepper wasn't new to this mess, alam niyang nasanay na lang ang bata sa ganitong usapan na nauuwi madalas sa sigawan. Aware ang bata kung gaano kagulo ang pamilya nila. She only saw the tip of the iceberg. Santa pa sa lagay na 'to ang Mama nila.

"'Ma, Violet should be married off already. Hayaan mo na siyang makapangasawa na lang ng kung sino, makaalis lang siya at matahimik na tayo rito sa bahay," Lavender commented, still snacking on her tapa.