She's My Cousin Xyleen

Chapter 44

Tumayo na ako at nakita kong alas sais na ng hapon. Argh. Bakit pakiramdam ko, hindi na ako papayagan ni Jasper mag-horse back riding? Tsk.

Pagpasok ko, naabutan ko sina Leeya, Jennica and Kristen sa sala. Nanonood sila ng KDrama. Kinuha na pala ni Leeya sa bag ko 'yung hard drive. Well, mas mabuti na 'yun kesa naman ako ang kinukulit nila. Oo, model ako but I'm still not used to all of the attention I'm getting. Lalo na my hot issue tungkol samin ni Voldemort.

"Xyleen!," Jennica called me as she saw me getting in. I just smiled. From now on, I will try to be at least, civil with everyone. Feeling ko kasi naitaboy ko lahat lalo na nung nangyari 'yon.

"Hi there, Jen, Leeya," bati ko sa kanila. Kristen's with her own world. Nakaharap na naman kasi sa cellphone niya. Napailing ako. Ang bata pa niya pero mukhang sobrang dami na niyang alam sa mundo. "What are you doing, Kristen?"

She looked at me for a while and then shrugged. "See it for yourself, Auntie."

Medyo natawa ako sa sagot niya kasi nakikita ko sa kanya si Kuya Cayle. Gosh, I miss him already!

So, I did what I was told. Tinignan ko kung anong pinagkakaabalahan niya and to my surprise, she was playing Criminal Case! Oh, my God. She's still so young for this! Ano bang ginawa ni Kuya dito at minumulat na niya ang isip niya sa murang edad niya? Aish, I know I should be amused but why am I being curious? Anong meron? Kristen's always a mystery for me!

"Why are you playing that?," I asked her. Hindi ko ma-contain ang curiosity ko e. Kailangan mapunan agad-agad 'to, kasi baka hindi ako makatulog 'pag gano'n. At tsaka, of all the game apps in Play Store, bakit 'yun pa?

She shrugged again. "I am interested with cases. I think I want to be a detective someday. I might take Criminology or Law, not yet sure. But, I like both. I love investigating. I love cases."

My brows furrowed. Kahit nga sina Leeya na nanonood lang, natigilan sandali e. Super advanced naman ni Kristen. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang pagalitan si Kuya or dapat ko siyang pasalamatan kasi sobrang talino ng pamangkin ko. Napailing ako sa sagot niya. "Is that all?"

And then she looked at me, in the eye. "I want justice."

As soon as she said that, para bang nagkaroon ng invicible sign sa noo niya na No more disturbances. F-ck with your curiosity.

This kid is seriously giving me creeps! Mukhang mas gugustuhin kong mag-horse back riding kesa makausap ang batang 'to. Honestly, I became curious with her answer but if she doesn't want to tell her story, then I'll back off. Kahit bata pa si Kristen, alam kong alam na niya ang mga karapatan na dapat tinatamasa ng batang tulad niya. Aba malay ko ba kung sa sobrang bookworm niya e, alam niya na 'yung mga batas na pwedeng iparusa sa akin kapag pinilit ko siyang pagsalitain! This might sound crazy but I know it's possible. Namulat siya sa mga libro e. I can't blame her though. Si Cayle Dominguez ba naman ang tatay niya e. Ewan ko nalang kung hindi pa siya tumalino do'n. Super strict kaya ni Kuya!

Binalingan ko si Leeya. "Lee, asan naman si Jas?"

Nginitian niya naman ako ng nakakaloko. "Uy, the witch is looking for the monster!"

Inirapan ko siya. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong ibato ang cellphone ko sa kanya. No, that won't do any good. Lalo na kung mentally unstable 'yung kausap mo, kagaya nila ni Jen. See? Tawanan daw ba ako? Bad cousins. "Just answer me."

Jennica told me the worst plan ever! It was disgusting, really. Feeling ko na-invade na nila ang kainosentehan ng utak ko.

"Nasa kwarto niya, baka natutulog. Mag-strip tease ka sa harap niya or kaya gapangin mo habang tulog! Mulat agad mata no'n, tignan mo!"

Humahalakhak pa rin sila ni Leeya at parang nakalimutan nilang nandito lang sa sala si Kristen so she asked curiously, "what's strip tease?"

And that made them shut up as I let out my victory laugh.

***

Nagpasama ako kay Jas sa farm and like what he said, bawal na mag-horse back riding dahil madilim na sa labas and apparently, wala pa akong experience and we might get doomed if something happens. So, ayun nga. Bumalik kami sa rest house, nasa kwarto nga lang ako.

Sobrang na-a-appreciate ko ang sariwang hangin mula sa probinsiya. It was really refreshing and it calms me everytime it touches my skin. I am really being used to the cold breeze of the wind, and it's good because there are no ac rooms here.

It was 7pm when Joshua came inside my room. I thought something's up, so I let him in.

"Anong meron, Josh?," ngayon lang naman ako naging curious sa kaniya since hindi kami masyadong close talaga. Kay Jen, pwede pa. Kay Josh? Nope, medyo malabo. But look, he's risking every chance he could get just to talk to me. Balita ko kasi, nahihiya sakin ang mga pinsan kong lalaki. I can't blame them. I have my Mr. Sy that time. Pero ngayon? No need to be so uncomfortable.

Umiling siya. "Wala naman. Nasa baba sina Jen, a."

Tumango ako. That was pretty obvious. "Alam ko. Kagagaling ko lang do'n. Nanonood nga silang Missing Nine diba?"

He shrugged. "Malay ko ba sa pinapanood nila."

Natawa nalang ako. Right. Boys and their issues with Korean actors. Napailing ako. I seriously think it was just their man ego talking. Bakit ba threatened sila sa mga Korean guys? Layo ng Philippines sa SoKor e. Makasabi ng bading sa mga koreano, akala mo walang bading sa Pinas e. Mas malala nga dito kasi, bading na nga, jeje pa. E, doon? Kahit bakla, pogi.

Ugh. Nasaan ang hustisya!?

"You should stop sulking and join them outside."

Napalingon siya sakin. "Tell that to yourself, Xyleen," then he smirked.

Inirapan ko siya. This is a rare chance to talk with me and yet he's pissing me! "Don't rub it off my face, Josh."

Pero lalo siyang ngumisi. "Yeah, sure."

Argh. Asan ba sina Jas? Bakit nila iniwan 'to dito? Masasakal ko 'to e. "Do'n ka kila Jas."

He shrugged. "They're just hitting girls, and I believe it's a pain the ass."

I nod. "But that's better because you'll be someone's pain in the ass, not my pain in the ass. It's torture." 

And he loled. Lol