D'Beasts Series #4: Ceasing the Rivalry

IKA-LABING PITO

Sabay kaming nakauwi ni Jonas mula sa magkaibang sasakyan. I just got showered, and now I’m preparing the ingredients for some of the dishes that I’ll be making. This is going to be our dinner for tonight since my parents aren’t home yet. Magluluto na rin ako ng medyo marami para matikman din pati nila Nanay Rosita. To be honest, I’m a bit nervous today. Knowing Jonas, he’s bluntly honest, and I’m afraid the food won’t taste as good as it should.

“I’ll watch you cook.”

Napalingon ako sa aking likuran nang marinig ko si Jonas pati na rin ang pag-upo niya sa counter habang pinapanood ang ginagawa ko. Mukhang katatapos lang niyang maligo dahil nakasuot na siya ng madalas niyang isuot sa tuwing nandito lang sa bahay. Wala yata talaga siyang ibang planong gawin ngayon. Puwede namang bumaba na lang siya kapag tapos na akong magluto. Mas lalo tuloy akong kakabahan dahil may nanonood sa mga galaw ko.

“Hintayin mo na lang akong matapos doon sa living room. O kaya ay umakyat ka muna sa kwarto mo. I’m sure you still have to do or read something.”

“You told me to cancel everything that’s planned. So, here I am, very much free,” tamad niyang sagot. “And I’m making sure that you won’t put something bad on my food.”

I laughed and continued cutting the veggies. “Binigyan mo pa ako ng idea. At saka, kung gagawin ko iyon, noon pa sana. Matagal ka na sanang patay ngayon.”

“But you didn’t because?”

“Well, I care about Emilia, ayaw kong mawalan siya ng kapatid,” I laughed harder this time without looking at him. Nang wala akong marinig na kahit ano sa kaniya, palihim ko siyang nilingon. Nakatulala lang siya at nakatitig sa isang baso ng tubig na nasa table. “Okay ka lang? I didn’t put anything in your water.”

“Mila and I… We’re not on good terms right now. I think she’s still mad at me.”

“A-Ano bang nangyari?” mahinang tanong ko.

Jonas has a younger sister named Emilia Maeve. I think she’s at my age or a year younger. We’re not really close either, but if I were to choose between the two, I’d choose Mila because she’s fun to be with and not like his brother, who’s anti-social. Though she never had a chance to stay here in our house since their parents prefer to bring her anywhere they go. Pakiramdaman ko nga noon ay paboritong anak si Mila kaya palagi siyang kasama sa tuwing umaalis ang parents nila, habang naiiwan naman sa amin itong si Jonas. Sabi naman ni Nay Rosita, ganoon daw talaga kapag bunso at babae pa. Hindi naman ako maka-relate kasi wala akong kapatid.

“I don’t get her. She’s being too obsessed with some random guy she just met at school. That’s why I’m against that she chose to study in SLA, which is damn far away from home. Now, she’s in her condo, living alone. But who knows? Baka magkasama sila noong kinuwento niya sa aking lalaki,” hinaing niya.

Wait, what? Sa Saint Lucas nag-aaral si Mila?

“SLA? Saint Lucas Academy?” paninigurado ko.

He nodded as an answer. “She transferred last year.”

What a small world indeed. Hindi ko alam na sa SLA na pala nag-aaral ang kapatid niya. Matagal ko nang hindi nakikita si Mila, and I hope to see her during sports fest to catch up a bit. Kumusta na kaya siya?

“Ano bang ginawa mo at nagalit si Mila?”

“I told her to just focus on her study and stay the fuck away from that guy she’s talking to. And if I saw them together, I’d cut that boy’s throat in front of her.”

What the hell?

“Talagang magagalit iyon! Ikaw ba namang sabihan na gigilitan sa leeg iyong boyfriend mo. Sinong matutuwa roon? Mag-isip ka nga,” naiiling kong sagot habang patuloy sa pagluluto.