Trouble. Hindi na ata bago saakin ang salitang trouble. Dahil kung may ibabansag man saakin ang ibang tao yun ay ang 'Queen of Troubles'.
Sakit sa ulo, pasaway, brat at kung ano ano pa. Madalas ko ng naririnig yan mula sa mga taong nakapaligid saakin. Simula pagkabata ko, lahat ng mata ay naka tuon na saakin. Mukhang nauubusan na nga sila ng rason at paliwanag dahil sa ugali ko. I am twenty six already, no longer a precious child or a rebelious daughter but I'm still the Reign Ellissa Patterson, the Queen of every bad things you can ever think.
"Kailangan may gawin tayo kay Diana. Hindi na to biro Ellissa." Gusto ko siyang patayan ng cellphone dahil tinawag niya nanaman akong Ellissa. Hay Thelma, hindi ko na kung ilang beses ko pang sasabihin sayo na Reign ang pangalan ko.
"Uh-huh." I uttered to make her think that I'am interested on whatever she is saying. Inilagay ko sa loudspeaker ang cellphone ko at ibinalik sa keyboard ng laptop ko ang mga daliri ko at nag simulang mag type.
"Nag ta-type ka ba?" She asked from the other line.
"Deadlines." I told her. "Look Thelma, can we discuss this later or next week? I really have a lot of things to do and -"
"Next week? I don't think you are taking this seriously Ellissa. Pick up the phone, stop whatever you are doing, and pick up the phone. Jusko! Saan ka ba natuto ng ganyang manners? Hindi naman sa yumaong nanay mo, dahil ubod ng bait nun. Rest her soul, pero hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko sayo Elissa!"
I stopped typing. I lifted my phone and gripped it between my shoulder and ear at nagsimula ulit mag type ng mahina para hindi niya marinig.
"Okay. Tungkol saan?"
"Tungkol sa kapatid mo." Aniya. Hindi na ako na gulat pa. Kung hindi ako, ay ang kapatid ko ang problema niya.
"Ano nanaman ang ginawa niya?" I asked. Inabot ko ang folder ng report this month, sa tanda ko ay nabasa ko na ito noong nakaraan pero may kailangan akong ma recall na file.
"About sa school. You know Gina, right? Gina Pastoral, the Governor's wife came to school this morning and she was mad. Mad at your sister for telling or rather for teaching her daughter Savanna to put MSG to their classmates food! Elissa, your sister can kill those poor kids!"
"Uh-huh." Tuloy pa din ako sa pag hahanap ng files. "Then what?"
"Anong ibig mong sabihin sa 'then what'? Are you really listening to me Ellissa? Your sister made her classmates sick!"
"Thelma, she's twelve. Alam mo noong kasing bata niya lang ako, ginusto ko din gawin yan sa mga kaklase ko noon lalo na sa mga maldita kong classmates." I told her.
"Pero hindi mo ginawa dahil alam mong mali!"
"Nope. Hindi ko ginawa, dahil wala akong oras noon. You know I'vee been to a lot of lessons every single day before, like Piano lessons, swimming. Etc. Etc. And etc. So let her. ."
"See? That's the problem Elissa! Yang ugali mo kasi -"
"Akala ko ba si Diana ang pinag uusapan natin dito?" Putol ko sakanya dahil nagsisimula na akong mairita.
"Exactly. I'am trying to bring out a serious matter but you are just brushing it off. Kung hindi ka magbabago, hindi ka magiging matagumpay at magaling na -"
"Stop right there Thelma. Listen, I know my responsibility and I know what to do with my sister."
"At sana alam mo ang nakaka buti para sa kapatid mo -"
I took a deep breath. "You know what is the only thing that I'am scared of Diana? It is she's growing so fast. She told that Savana kid to put an MSG to their classmates food, ten to one I bet there is a reason. She's just showing of Thelma. .loose a grip for once."
