Plethora: ABUNDANCE

chapter one.

he looked at me
as if i were
something special,

the feeling of being
special is so foreign,

it almost hurt to be
looked at like that.

CHAPTER ONE

I glared at Livi, hindi mapuksi ang nakakalokong ngiti sa kanyang labi habang kami ay kumakain ng meryenda sa kanilang veranda, sa di kalayuan ay nakatayo ang lalakeng muntikan ng masilip ang buong kaluluwa ko.

"never funny Livi, that man came rushing inside the guestroom while I was naked, santisima!" i dramatically retorted at her reaction.

pero ang magaling kong kaibigan, "theo! Theodore!" tawag nito.

siyang pag dapo nito ng tingin sa direksyon namin, tinitigan ko rin ito, at nang magkasalubong ang mata namin ay binawi ko ang tingin ko.

"this! Is mi amiga, Felicia Andrea de Marco, mi primo (my cousin), Theodore Felipe Ignacio" pakilala nito.

He nodded at me, he. Just. Nodded. At. Me! Por favor, walang manners, or even a bit of being a gentleman! Hindi din naman siya humingi ng dispensa tungkol sa nangyari kanina.

"Livi, the more I wanted to stay, i'll get going, Abuela might be waiting for some time already" i said, disregarding the very awkward introductions helped by Olivia.

"bueno, magkita nalang tayo ulit sa parating na sabado, kailangan na nating mamili ng mga bagong libro para sa pasukan" paalala nito.

Tumango ako, well aware of the stare grazing all through out my body from someone beside Olivia.

Bumeso ako sa kaibigan at tumungo palabas ng kanilang mansyon, mabuti at sa labas ay naghihintay na si Mang Carlos upang sunduin ako.

"Dia! Ate Dia, how was Iloilo?" tanong ko ng bumungad sa hapagkainan si Ate Dianna, her long curly hair is now mid-length and a bit straight.

"Iloilo is still Iloilo, feli, how are you? I've heard you threw tantrums nang ginamit ni Fonso si Pablo" sabi nito at tinapunan ako ng ngisi.

"bakit niyo ba kasi palaging pinapaalala kung paano ninakaw ni Kuya alfonso si Pablo, naiinis ako" reklamo ko.

"now, watch your mouth, Felicia, i borrowed Pablo" sabat ni Kuya Alfonso habang papasok ng Dining.

I rolled my eyes, "no consent is stealing, Kuya Alfonso"

"papasok na ang Abuela ninyo" anunsiyo ni Nana Linda.

Nagsimula na kaming kumain ng hapunan, Kuya Alfonso and Ate Dia shared some news from Iloilo to Abuela, my two other brothers are in Manila with Papa, Kuya Ignacio (Igo)  and Kuya Damian. My Mama on the other hand stays in Madrid for our winery, she's with our eldest, Ate Ashley.

The dinner went dragging as they discuss business technicalities, while I silently eat my dinner, hindi ko namalayang lumipad ang isip ko sa nangyari kanina, naiinis parin ako ngunit hindi ko maiwasang hindi isipin ang nangyari, that fine man stood there in front of my naked self, so fine.

He had a very defined jawline and noseline, he had lazy hazel eyes, mapupula din ang mga labi nito, he was sexy. Dios mio!

Anong iniisip ko?!

"yes? Feli?" tanong ni Abuela.

"uh, wala po, I'll go ahead, Im done eating dinner" paalam ko.

Tumango si Abuela, "do you have plans on a saturday?" tanong nito bago ako pakawalan sa Dining.

"yes abuela, magkikita kami ni Livi, bibili ng school materials at libro" paliwanag ko.

"sige, but reserve the morning, we will visit your Abuela Hermosa's grave with the Ignacios"

Tumango ako at nagpaalam na din sa mga kapatid ko.

On a saturday morning, maaga kaming nagkumpulan sa gazebo, doon napagdesisyunan ni Abuela na mag umagahan, sa harap ko ay si Ate Dianna, katabi ko si Kuya Fonso na may kung anong ginagawa sa kanyang telepono.

"I am selling Phoenix" anunsyo nito.

Bumaling ako sa kanya, "he's been very sick lately, kuya"

"oo, sobrang hina na, kung hindi ko maibenta ay ibibigay ko nalang sa pangangalaga nila Callisto, mas matutukan siya doon dahil babalik din naman ako ng Iloilo"

I pressed my lips, sana naman ay hindi din ganoong manghina si Pablo, i love that horse so much.

"how many years has it been?" tanong ni Ate Dianna.

"since Abuela Hermosa's passing..." she trailed.

"almost ten years" sabat ni Abuela.

"Abuela Hermosa was never an easy Abuela to please" Kuya Alfonso, chuckled.

"no one was ever pleased at you, kuya" i remarked, biting on my garlic bread.

"and if she was alive, you will never be able to roll those eyes at me!" sagot nito sakin.

I never had the memory of Abuela Hermosa, I just remembered that she passed away when I was nine, that night, at the party. That was all of it. Hindi din naman naging usapan iyon sa pamilya namin, it was a tragic death, kaya siguro hindi magandang palaging pag usapan lalo na't siya ang pinakabatang kapatid nina Abuelo.

That same morning, we met with the Ignacios, and never did I expect to see Theo.

"Feli, i am with mi primo" Livi noted at totoo ngang nakasunod si Theo sa likod nito.

The way he just stares, naiilang ako. Siguro dahil sa insidenteng iyon, na muntikan na niya akong makitang hubad.

Nabaling naman ang usapan sa aking hermana Dia, who is oddly quiet today.

"Dia, how are you?"

They were all asking how Ate Dia's doing, she has been staying in Iloilo for almost two years bago siya bumalik dito sa Casa, she's diabetic, hereditary. Doon niya kinukuha ang treatment niya sa Iloilo.

From the corner, I stood silently, at nagulat akong katabi ko si Theo.

"uh, can I pass?" saad ko.

Si Olivia, tinitignan kaming dalawa, patay malisya ko siyang tinignan pabalik at itinapon muli ang tingin ko kay Theo.

He nodded again, giving me a space to cross towards Olivia.

"iyang pinsan mo, nakakapagsalita ba iyan? Puros tango ng tango" tumikhim ako.

"leave him be, he's a man of few words!" Livi chirped.

Umismid ako sa sinabi niya at pinagpatuloy ang pagdasal sa puntod ni Abuela Hermosa, pagkatapos ng umagang iyon ay nagpunta kami ni Olivia sa malapit na bookstore sa munisipyo.

"I'm not excited for a new semester, gusto ko pang gumala! Go out of the mansion" reklamo ni Olivia habang panay halungkat sa isang tray ng mga construction papers.

I hoarded my pens ofcourse, "i dont know, i just want Kuya Alfonso out of my sight" komento ko.

"Callisto is equally annoying, why are brothers like that noh?" she tsked.

We proceeded to talking about random stuffs hanggang sa naubos ang oras namin sa loob ng bookstore, doon sa novel section.

"your primo, will he stay here?"