Keeping Up With Vince

Chapter 1 - Fateful Encounter

"What?!" bulalas ni Zeke. "And I'm telling you, Dad. I'm not going anywhere!"

Mr. Nieves sighed out of desperation. "But, you just got the result of your scholarship, and you passed. We can't just let go of that opportunity. And it's good, dahil kung malayo ka, matututunan mong mag-isa."

Zeke raised her eyebrows. "But--"

"No buts. Stop acting childish, Zeke. You're already seventeen," malamig na saad ni Mr. Nieves saka tiningnan sa mga mata ang anak. He then smiled. "Just do this for us."

Zeke sighed heavily. Dapat ba talagang sa pagka-college niya, malayo na siya sa pamilya niya? Manila is too far! Isa pa, how the hell will she make any friends? May makikipag-usap ba sa kanya doon?

Ginulo ng kanyang ama ang kanyang buhok.

"We'll surely miss you, Zeke," sabat naman ni Mrs. Nieves saka nakangiting niyakap ang anak.

Zeke also hugged her Mom back while her sister, Xina was watching them.

It was May. Three weeks before classes. He's not excited. He's turning FOURTEEN, at magti-third year highschool pa lang. He wanted to go old at this very instant! Sa makalawa, kaarawan na niya.

He lazily put his hands on his head while lying down on his bed. He's raging inside. The knowledge that his brother and sister were all planning for his birthday is just enough for him not to get excited.

"I mean, I'm already a man!" inis na saad ni Vince sa sarili. Hindi na niya kailangan ng mga pambatang party!

"Ok ka na ba dito, hija?" saad ng Tita Queenie niya, kapatid ng Papa niya. Kararating lang nila galing airport sapagkat sinundo siya ng Tita at Tito niya.

Nakangiting tumango si Zeke. "Yes, Tita."

She then looked around her. It's like seeing her old room while she was still in their house. She felt lonely and nostalgic.

Nakakaintinding hinawakan siya sa mga kamay ng Tita niya.

"Alam ko 'yang nararamdaman mo, Zeke," anang Tita niya saka inilapit sa tenga niya ang bibig nito. "But, you know... we're so excited to have you here. You can consider us as your parents."

Napangiti si Zeke buhat sa narinig. Maya-maya nakarinig sila ng buntung-hininga mula sa likod.

"Alright, just stop the drama, Zeke's got to rest. And ako din, Mama," pahayag naman ng Tito Troy niya. He then winked at Zeke. "Consider this your home."

Zeke smiled. "Thank you, Tito."

"Huh?" taas ang kilay na tanong ni Vince. "Sino ba 'yong Zeke na pinagsasabi ni Kuya Bryden, Ate Dee?"

Dee sat on a sofa and looked at her younger brother who's six years younger than her. "Bagong lipat d'yan kina Tito Troy."

Ngumisi si Vince. "Ayos, ha? May bago na akong ka-tropa!"

Dee raised her eyebrows. "The question is: makakatagal kaya sa'yo ang lalakeng 'yon?"

Napakunot-noo si Vince. "What do you mean?"

Nakarinig sila ng mahinang pagtawa. Nilingon ito ni Vince.

"What?" annoyed na tanong ni Vince.

"Hindi siya makakatagal sa'yo, pustahan pa," ani Bryden na nakangisi na rin at tumabi kay Dee.

"What are you--"

"A childish brat like you won't even make a minute of conversation with him. 'Wag ka nang umasa. You're not good in making friends, I know," kibit-balikat na saad naman ni Dee.