Somewhere Between Friends

3rd Stop

Dahil pila balde po ang dedic sa story ni Nate, dito ko inilagay si Shey kasi kahit saan daw eh.  Ganda, enjoy po!  (And dito guys, maluwag haha)

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"I don't know if I am at fault in the way I raised our children, Dad,"  I looked at my mother who's about to cry.  My father just winked at me and to my twin brother, Eric.  "At ikaw!"  sabay tapik kay Daddy.  "Tatawa tawa ka lang!  Aren't you worried about these things?  Malalayo na sa atin ang mga anak mo!"  and she sat on the couch.

My father lovingly hugged her.  "Babe, they have to do this for their own good.  Para hindi laging naka-asa sa iyo.  Kulang na lang, subuan mo ang mga iyan kapag nasa tabi mo, eh.  Ultimong si Gwain, parang baby pa rin ang tingin mo hanggang ngayon."

We all giggled when we saw our elder brother scratched his nape.  Totoo naman kasi ang sinabi ni Daddy.  She's a hands-on mom.  Kahit marami kaming kasama sa bahay, mas gugustuhin niyang siya ang mag-asikaso sa amin. Lalaine Villaluz is the best mother in the whole world!   

When my twin brother and I decided to study abroad, si Kuya Gwain ang una naming nilapitan.  Alam kasi naming kapag si Mommy agad, she will definitely be against it.  Then our brother talked to Dad. Hindi man agad ito pumayag, he tried to hear our side, of course, with Kuya backing us up.  So when we told Mom about it, she said no right away.  Nagtalo pa sila ni Daddy at ilang araw na paki-usapan pa talaga ang nangyari.  

"At ang hindi ko maintindihan, bakit gusto pa ninyong maglayong dalawa?  Since the day that your father planted the two of you inside me, hanggang ngayon, hindi kayo naghihiwalay!  So will you please tell me why you,"  she pointed at my twin brother.  "Wants to go in London and you,"  at me.  "Wants to be in Manila?  Please enlighten me, mga anak at hindi maintindihan ng Mommy ninyo iyon,"  salubong ang kilay niya habang tinitignan kami.  Si Daddy naman, hindi pa rin mawala wala ang ngiti.

"Basta ako, Mom, Lolo and Lola are there in London, as well as Tita Sol so I think, you will worry about me less than her,"  sagot ni Eric sabay siko ng mahina sa akin, urging me to talk. 

 Sa akin naman bumaling ang tingin ni Mommy.  I cleared my throat.  "Mom, I have my brother with me.  Isn't that enough reason for you to let me study there?  Besides, ayoko naman pong tuwing may makakakilala sa akin, they will see me as a Villaluz.  And competing with my twin is not healthy for me.  I hate it,"  hinarap ko si Eric.  "Don't tell me, you like competing with me?"

He smiled and nod.  I almost rolled my eyes, but instead, just snorted at him.  "Ewan ko sa iyo, Eric, basta ako, sawa na maging classmate mo.  I want a new environment.  Something fresh....."

"Manila is not fresh," napatingin ako sa kanya.  "Grabe kaya ang pollution doon!  The last time I went in there, I almost cannot breathe!"

"Sabihin mo, hikain ka kasi!"  I stuck out my tongue.  Nagsisimula na naman kasi siya ng simpleng pang-iinis sa akin.  I thought he is going to support me in this pero mukhang hindi pala fully ang pag-payag niya.  

Ako naman kasi ang naka-isip na mag-hiwalay kaming dalawa.  Ayoko naman kasing lagi na lang kaming magkasama at tinatawag na 1st Villaluz Twins.  It is not that I don't love my twin brother and my family because I love them more than my life but as of this early, I want to be independent.

"That is why I love to annoy you, Sis!" sabay kurot sa pisngi ko.  "Ang bilis mong mainis,"  and he grinned.

Our mother cleared her throat kaya napatingin kami sa kanya at umayos ng pag-kakaupo.  "And Erica, your brother is living in Palawan......the school that you chose is in Manila.  So how can he take care of you, huh?"