Crash (SC, #0.5; ARTL, #1)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Sayang

"Why is he convincing Dad?" I sneered, peeking a view of my father and Kier in the living room. My mother was busy upstairs. I don't know if she knows about this, the talk that my father and Kier having.

Nanatili akong nakatago upang hindi nila mapansin. Ang kapatid ko nama'y nakanguso habang pinagmamasdan ang cellphone niya, mukhang walang pakelam sa himutok ko. Kanina pa. Simula ng dumating si Kier sa bahay.

Habang kami nasa kusina, kumakain. I mean, ako lang kasi nasa 'diet' daw si Chesca. I was internally rolling my eyes.

"Of course, lil sis, he wants to be with you—" I stopped my sister.

"What? No! This is a family's vacation! Not something like—" I rolled my eyes at my thought. No! No! No! This will be a vacation for us before my college year started. Family. No other people. I, Ches, Mommy and Daddy. We'd plan to never take someone on our trip. It is a pact. Seriously. I made that pact. "He will never convince Daddy!" My high-pitch tone caught their attention. Mabuti na lamang ay naagapan ko at umiwas.

I wish they'd imagine it, it was some animal.

Ew, Nathalie. You're not!

Erase!

I pouted.

Pinakiramdaman ko kung may yabag na papalapit sa kusina ngunit wala. My back hit the wall. Pero—pero may narinig akong pagbukas ng pintuan. Hindi na 'ko nagsayang ng oras at tinignan iyon. I was dancing inside my head when I saw HA!—Kier, leaving and saying his goodbye to my father. I almost wiggled my ass, but I interrupted myself when I thought about my sister.

"He left," I breathed, facing my sister, slowly touching my chest and bow. My lips were rising upward.

Ches slowed clap while holding her phone. "Good job. You already have superpower in your icy glare, lil sis." She was beaming.

I flipped my hair. "I know." I smirked. "No one will break the pact we made. We are like this," I added, twisting my two fingers, "this close. No one comes in between our family's trip." Ches was about to open her mouth, but I cut in. I read her mind. "Even Joss."

Ches was grinning. She gathered her hair over her right shoulder. "He'll be part of our family."

Yes, I rolled my eyes. Yes, I glowered my sister. And yes, I was about to flip her off, but I didn't. But I am internally—No!

"Too soon. Too early to predict. You don't know," I hissed, crossing my arms above my chest. "And too young, big sis."

Ngunit lalo lang lumaki ang ngiti ng kapatid ko sa akin. "You know if you found the one, you will be sure of everything." She giggled.

I breathed a sigh and shook my head.

Lumapit si Franchesca sa akin. She gripped my shoulders, lifted my chin. "And I know i'm too young, Nats. But this is what I feel—"

"Some, to those who want to carry baby too early. You know what I mean." I bit my lip.

"I'm trying to be the big sister here, Nathalie Asher!" She lifted her chin. Hindi ako nagpatalo, ganoon din ang ginawa ko. Her big eyes trying to be dominant. "I know, it is too young..." she almost whispered and looked away. "But I just know, I just felt he will be." Iirap na sana ako ngunit pinagpatuloy ng kapatid ko ang sinasabi. "Don't be jealous. I will always be here for you, Nathalie! I love you equally! I mean I don't know—" She flushed.