Ricci Rivero, MD

07

Sunday came,

Around 8pm umalis ako sa condo at malas ko nga naman nakasabay ko pa si Rivero. He was just wearing black shirt and a jogger shorts. May breakfast date siguro. Sumakay na kami sa elevator and none of us bothered to talk.

Strangers na pala kami. Dumiretso na ako sa sasakyan ko pagdating sa parking lot. Asa naman akong papansinin nya. Ginusto ko to' so paninindigan ko.

I was just fond of him. There were no feelings involved. Nothing at all. I'm heading to the golf club right now. That's how we spend our sundays. Maglalaro kaming lima ng golf.

Agad kong hinalikan sila the moment I saw them. Namiss ko sila.

"How are you anak?" Bungad ni mommy.

"Ang stressful, mom." tas nag pout na ako.

Ginulo ni daddy yung buhok ko. "Kaya mo yan." ahh love ko talaga to' sila.

"May sasabay pala satin." Dad announced. Tumango lang ako.

Nagsimula na kaming maglakad patungo sa golf area.

"Kuys, where's ate elliah?" Akala ko kasi pupunta siya. I mean she's always here pag may golf.

"She can't come. We'll be leaving next week kasi punta kami boracay. She's fixing something." Tumango nalang ako at binaling ko yung pansin ko sa isa ko pang kuya, Kuya Azkeil.

"Ikaw? Saan girlfriend mo, aber?" I'm the youngest siya middle and si Kuya Azkile yung eldest.

"I don't do dates." Napairap nalang ako. He's the one who's very serious. Mas babae pa to' sa babae.

"Sus."

"Ikaw? How's your heart?" pag change topic nya. I rolled my eyes.

"Matatag pa din."

"They're here." Mom announced. Tumingin kaming tatlo sa kakadating lang. Oh fuck, no no no.

"The Rivero's." Dad confirmed.

Fuck me hard, life.

Si Alliah. She's here. Naka akbay pa talaga ah. Dito din yung older version of Ricci. Yung dad nya and his mom. Ang ganda ng mom nya. No wonder he got good genes. Ngumiti si Alliah sakin and I just smiled back.

We exchanged salutations. Nagpakilala na din kami after.

"These are my children, Azkeil, Azkile and Akilia." My mom introduced.

Nag bless lang kami as a sign of respect at nag bow konti.

"Ito naman ang twins ko. Si Ricci and Alliah." Sister????? Seryoso ba to???? Well hinalikan lang naman ni Rivero si Alliah nun sa forehead eh.

And since when did you get curious over him? Agad pumunta si Alliah beside me.

"Hi! I know a lot bout you cause of Ricci." Bungad nya sakin. I wonder what Ricci told her.

"Is it good or bad?"

"Good lahat eh' seems like crush na crush ka." She chuckled.

"Hala hindi yan. Blockmates kasi kaya siguro ganyan." Pagtanggi ko.

"Oh well, there's nothing not to like you naman. We're twins and gotta compliment him for having a taste."

Flattered naman ako.

"Pinapataba mo ata puso ko eh." Tas we both laughed.

Naglaro lang kami ng ilang hours. Yung mom pala ni Ricci yung tinukoy nila na sinave nila. I'm happy for tita's recovery. Hindi din yun magagawa nila mommy kung hindi lumaban si tita kaya I'm so proud of her for fighting the battle.

"You're studying medicine din diba, iha?" Tanong ng dad ni Ricci. Tumango lang ako bilang sagot.

"Sila ding dalawa. Do you see each other ba sa school?" follow up question ni tito.

"We're actually blockmates, dad." Ricci butt in.

"You don't like each other ba? I ship you both." Alliah inserted.

I don't know what to say. Fuck.

"Siya nalang anak? I think it's time na din." Mom countered.

Oh my god. Anong ginagawa nila?

"Tita, Alliah. Chill lang kayo. Aabot din kami dyan but for now kain na muna tayo." Thanks for saving my ass, Rivero.

"He's not your type diba?" Kuya Azkeil whispered. Alam na alam nya ako. He knows what I like about a guy kaya ayan.

"No. Far from my type."

"Knew it."

Kumain lang kami while nag uusap yung parents namin about politics o kahit ano pa yan.

My phone vibrated..

Rivero:

You bored?

Tumungin ako sa kanya. He was asking me using his face. I didn't text him back. He's right when he said we have to stay away from each other.

Minutes later, my phone vibrated again.

Rivero:

Sungit mo ata.

I rolled my eyes ..

Rivero:

Don't roll your eyes infront of me. It makes me think we're having sex.

Napaubo ako sa sinabi nya. Oh fuck. Wala bang filter bibig nya? I mean his hands cause he's typing.

"Here, water" agad na bigay ni Rivero sakin. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

Rivero:

C'mon. I'll tell you something.

Me:

You can msg me. Why, personal?

Rivero:

It won't sound sincere.

Me:

Dinaan mo nga sa pizza yung thank you mo eh when you could've told me. We're just one door away.

Rivero:

Thought what happens there, stays there? I'm just following you.

Me:

What if I didn't mean it? You won't do anything pa din?

My phone vibrated pero di ko na yun pinakealaman pa. Bahala siya. Vibrate pa din ito ng vibrate. Hanggang sa tinignan ko nalang ito. He's calling me. Ano ba trip ng gagu? I ended it only to see his message.

Rivero:

Fuck it, I miss you. I can't stay away from you so I'm coming back.