My sisters won't stop pestering me. They keep on calling me from time to time. Why? Because they are all dying to know my plan so for my own peace of mind, I hurried to our favourite restaurant. At di pa man ako nakakababa sa sasakyan, I already saw them waving their hands. Haisst.. Hindi naman sila masyadong excited ah.
“What took you so long?” Ate Maegan asked me. And I can tell that she’s been here for a long time base on her tone of voice. For someone who's always late, she's really early today.
“I had an urgent meeting.” Umupo na ako katabi ni ate Marionne na mukhang nainip din sa paghihintay sa akin.
“So what’s the plan?” this time, it’s ate Mhyca who keeps on scrolling her phone. Among the four of us, she's the one who's always busy and worked up.
“Yeah. So, what’s the plan? And since you made us wait for an hour, that better work or else I’m gonna kick your ass.” Eto na naman po ang katarayan ni Ate Marionne.
Di ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi nila. Sanay nadin naman ako na ganyan sila.
“Sis, nakakalimutan nyo ata. Sa ating apat, I’m the best when it comes to planning. Especially, when planning an evil one.” Ok I'll admit, when it comes to kuya’s love story, ako na ang villain. But the hell I care. I will do everything just to get rid of his monster girlfriend from our lives. From his life.
“OK fine. Just tell us about it?” Ate Maegan said impatiently.
“Well, we can never fix anything unbroken right?” Umpisa ko.
“Ashley, stop speaking metaphors. Just go straight to the point.” Nagsisimula nang uminit ang ulo ni ate Mhyca but it doesn't surprise me at all. Mainitin namn kasi talaga ang ulo nito- lalo na pag hindi nakukuha ang gusto nya.
“Hay naku, ang slow nyo talaga. And I’m not speaking metaphors. Sinisimulan ko pa lang magpaliwanag ok?” Atat talaga. Di kasi marunong maghintay, gusto climax agad.
“Just spill it. Pinaghihintay mo pa kasi kami.” Masungit na saad ni Ate Marionne, nagme-menopause na ata. Tsk, kaya di nagkaka-boyfriend eh.
“Di ka din excited no? Chill, patience is a virtue, remember?” Wala lang, trip kong inisin pa sina ate.
“Ashley!” They all said in unison.
I burst out of laughter. “You all look hilarious. Calm down, ok. Sasabihin ko na." Though it has always been my role in our family-the playful one, I also know when to get serious. Baka kasi makalbo na ako ng mga kapatid ko kung magpapatumpik- tumpik pa ako. "What I’m saying is that, hanggat wala syang nakikitang mali, hindi nya hihiwalayan ang babaeng yon. So, why not find something that she will never let us know.”
“Such as...?” si ate Mhyca.
“Such as.... flings.”
“Flings? Eh pano kung wala tayong mahanap?” mukhang hindi convinced na tanong ni ate Maegan.
“Then, let’s move to plan B.” Syempre may back-up plan ako in case di mag-work ang unang plano ko.
“And what’s plan B?” Kunot ang noong tanong ni Ate Marionne.
“Find a replacement.” I smiled wickedly. “That’s plan B.”
“Hmm.. I think I like plan B better.” Pagsang-ayon ni Ate Maegan.
“I agree. So, you have any idea who could be the replacement?” Ate Mhyca asked.
“But of course.” A good planner is always strict and attentive even in the smallest details. “Sino pa bang the best replacement maliban sa taong gusto sya at nagustuhan nya.” I added.
“I guess I know that girl.” Ate Marionne said with a satisfied smile.
“I think you got it right.” At nag-high five kaming apat.
And yes, you’re right. We’re talking about JC. Sa totoo lang, kahit hindi aminin ni kuya, alam ko na may gusto siya sa bestfriend ko. I can still clearly remember his reaction when I introduced her to him. Bahagyang napaawang ang bibig nya. Ibig sabihin, nganga! And I believe that he’s still somehow attracted to her. Well, I’d better be right. Dahil pag nagkataon, patay ako sa BFF ko.
“Have you told her about your plan?” I was puzzled by ate Mhyca’s question. Patay! Oo nga no?
I already told her about Project Break Up but not the real plan. Wala pa syang alam sa plano ko and honestly, I don’t know how to brought this topic to her. For sure, magagalit ‘yon. Masyado kasing mabait. Sabi nga nya, 'she doesn’t want to wreck somebody else’s home'. Oo na, sya nang mabuting nilalang. At ako- syempre mabuting nilalang din no. After all, I’m just trying to help.
Napakamot ako sa ulo ko. “Actually,” I paused, “not yet.”
Ate Maegan laughed. “Well then, good luck to you lil' sis. You’re one dead meat.”
At nang-asar pa talaga.
“Yeah, right. I’ll bet she’ll peel you alive.” Ate Marionne laughed too.
“Excuse me, sa tingin nyo hindi kayo damay? Duh! You will help me convince her. Ako na nga nakaisip ng plano, ako pa rin ba ang gagawa ng lahat. Mga sis, kilos kilos din pag may time. ”
Napasimangot ang tatlo. “Oo na!” They said in unison.
“Great.” Sabi ko na nga ba, I was born to win.
“Kelan tayo magsisimula?” Mukhang eager na eager na si Ate Mhyca na simulan ang plano. Well, I can't blame her. We are all itching to get rid of Bernadette.
“How about we start tomorrow?” I winked. “Bukas ang launching ng bago nyang designs. And she needed someone to accompany her. How about I say, I am busy. You think we can send someone else?” Kahit di ako magbanggit ng pangalan, alam kong kilala nila ang tinutukoy ko.
“Brilliant!” Kuminang ang mga mata ni ate Marionne.
“I know right.” Sorry naman. Di ko kasi alam ang salitang humble.
