Secret Song

Track_04

SOL

Switchblade by NIKI

"Good morning!!!" screamed Winter as he burst open the door to my room, my sanctuary.

I jumped in surprise, wide-eyed and somewhat having a mini-heart attack. Clutching my chest in a futile attempt to calm my racing heartbeat, I gave my annoying brother a grumpy face. You know what Filipinos say: Biruin mo na ang lasing, 'wag lang ang bagong gising!

My brother ignored my grumpiness and dived right into my bed, groaning as if in pain, all the while hitting my ankles. "My head and body hurts big time!" the giant whined. He curled up in a ball while clutching his head with his two hands.

I rolled my eyes and checked the digital clock on my bedside table. It says 10:45 AM. We only got to sleep for six hours or so, and that's not enough for me! I slapped my brother's thigh and rolled him off my foot. "You're heavy, damulag!"

He frowned at me and unraveled himself so he could crawl to my side. "No kidding, the concert drained all my energy. I'm so tired," he furthers as he gets even more comfortable in my bed. Shaking my head, I rolled out of bed and went to my bathroom to wash my face and mouth. Winter scoffed at me as I tread to my bathroom. "Wow, thanks for the concern, sis!"

I laughed at him as I grabbed my headband. "You know, you just haven't been going to the gym lately. That's why you get tired easily," I told him as I wore the band around my head to keep my hair from getting wet and soapy.

He clicked his tongue and got up, guilty of my remark because he's been holing up in his office doing work. He went to my curtains and moved them to the side so the almost-midday sun flooded my room. I squinted a little at the bright light when I looked over at my room as I washed my face. "Aren't you gonna wash your face, too?" I asked my brother as I rub my skin gently. "You have dried saliva on your cheeks, you know," I jested. The fool rubbed his cheek to check if he does, then frowned after realizing I was kidding.

"Ha! I washed my face, just so you know," he said walking towards where I am. My evil twin smirked as he lifted his hands and placed them on my hands to rub my lathered up face. I shrieked in annoyance and kicked his shin. "Ouch! Hey, that ain't fair!" he whined, soothing his shin from my attack.

I stuck my tongue out and shooed him away. "Don't touch my face with your dirty hands, Winter! Ewww ka," I said in between rinsing my face with warm water.

"Arte mo. Dalian mo na. We haven't had breakfast because of a certain someone who decided to sleep in on a Sunday," Win said as he went back to my bed. He slumped there and waited for me to finish my morning ritual. I don't really have a long and boring routine in the morning. I just wash my face with a gentle facial wash, gargle, brush my hair, and pee. Sometimes I poo, too, but not today. I have a weird body clock for that.

Anyway, after brushing my hair, I went to Winter and pulled him up to get out of my room already. I didn't even take that long, but he's acting like it took me forever. It was just for 15 minutes, for goodness' sake!

"Good morning, mom, dad," I greeted our parents when we reached the dining room. Mom put the paperback novel that she's reading on the dining table and met my kiss on her cheek.

"You got up so late, hija," she commented before picking up her book and giving it to Ate Janice, one of our house-helps. "Paki-labas na rin ang agahan, Janice," mom asked her. She nodded and went to the kitchen.

Dad held my back and asked how my sleep was. I shrugged and told him it was so deep I slept in on a family day. He laughed and motioned me to my seat.