"Goodmorning Olivia" mom greeted while reading a newspaper.
I didn't bother to reply at tumungo nalang sa dining area. Umupo ako at nagsimula ng kumain. Our chef served us bacon and eggs, eggs benedict, pancakes and maple syrup, griddlecakes, sausage and egg sandwich, quiche, croissant, and smoothie.
Nakita kong patungo na si Oliver dito. He's still wearing an eyeglasses even though he can always buy a contact lens. Minsan hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan. He didn't even want Sid to know that we're siblings. Walang ni isang estudyanteng nakakaalam na magkapatid kami.
"What are you looking at?" masungit niyang sabi.
I rolled my eyes and continued to eat.
"Goodmorning Oliver, I can't drive you to school today. I have an urgent meeting." sabi ni mom at hinalikan kami sa pisngi.
Tumango lang kaming dalawa. Palihim akong sumulyap kay Oliver na nagsimula ng kumain.
I also don't get why he always insist to have mom drive him to school. Mas matanda pa siya sakin ng one year. Magkaiba talaga kami ng ugali, magkaibang magkaiba. His likes is my dislike tapos hindi kami magkasundo sa lahat ng bagay. He's very picky and snob daig pa ang mga babae.
"Yesterday, you made an eye contact with me. I already told you not to, right?" he coldly said.
Here we go again with the scolding.
"Hindi ko naman siguro kasalanan na may mga mata ako." I sarcastically said.
He gasped at napailing sa sinabi ko.
"Well, we should probably do something with your eyes and brain. Your brain can't even understand, so what's the use?" he fired back.
Napairap nalang ako at hindi na nagsalita. Hindi talaga ako mananalo sa kaniya. Kung sarcastic ako, mas sarcastic pa siya kesa sakin. And he's also frank, kapag di niya gusto, hindi talaga. I'm the one who'll always wave the white flag everytime we fight.
After eating, hindi ko na hinintay pang matapos si Oliver na kumain because that's our everyday routine. Maybe he'll ride the school bus, like the usual kapag hindi siya mahatid ni mom which is actually strange.
I've always thought before na baka ayaw niyang malaman ng ibang estudyante na anak siya ng isang Gallegos? Our family is quite wealthy and popular because we own a few buildings. Pero nang ginawa niyang taga hatid sundo si mom ay mas lalong hindi ko siya naintindihan. I mean gusto niyang ihatid siya ni mom but hindi siya nagpapahatid sa driver namin kapag wala si mom. Sumasakay lang siya sa school bus. Ayaw niya pang ipaalam sa iba na magkapatid kami.
Didn't he know na anak rin ako ni mom at malalaman din ng ibang mga estudyante iyon? or maybe he's just being humble?
Well, whatever.
Ilang minuto rin bago ako nakarating sa school.
Salire University is one of the prestigious schools here in the Philippines. Masyadong malaki ang paaralan na ito. We even have our own McDonald's and other fastfood chains. But we also have a big cafeteria. Hindi muna gugustuhing pumunta pa sa mga mall because we also have shopping stores.
What I like about this school ay ang napakalaking library and how the students doesn't give a damn about you. Masyadong malaki ang school para magkapaki din sila sa iyo. We have our own lives here and thank goodness walang bullies and other form of groups.
Atleast, wala pa ngayon...I hope wala talaga.
"Oly! Goodmorning!" rinig kong bati ni Sid sa malayo habang kumakaway.
I smiled at her as she run towards me. She clung into my arms at hinila ako. Hindi talaga ako magsasawa sa pagiging nagger ni Sid. Being nagged is annoying but she is an exception. Her nags are so cute, although maganda si Sid. She's half Indian-half Filipino. She looks like Kelly Gale from Victoria's Secret model. Maypagkamorena kasi si Sid.
"What are your plans this weekend? Let's go to baguio?"
One thing na pinakagusto ni Sid? Iyon ay ang pamamasyal. Not just stroll to near places kundi gusto niyang magtravel talaga. She's very rich though. Mas mayaman pa siya kesa sa amin. But she didn't tell me about her family. Pareho kaming nagchachange topic basta pamilya na ang pag-uusapan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.
Okay lang din naman sakin dahil wala din naman akong maikwekwento sa kaniya because I can't tell him about Oliver. So I find it fine not to talk about our family backgrounds.
"Let's just go there kapag natapos na ang exam. Next week na exam natin baka nakakalimutan mo." I reminded her.
She frowned.
"Oo nga pala."
I tapped her back.
Pagkapasok namin sa room may iilang estudyanteng bumati sa amin ng 'goodmorning' at iyong iba naman ay panay nag-uusap lang. I really like the students here, they are well disciplined pati nadin ang mga lalaki.
Nasa gilid ng bintana ang upuan ko, fifth row tapos sa third row si Sid. Pagkatapos ilagay ni Sid ang mga gamit niya ay pumunta siya sa bakanteng upuan sa gilid ko. This is our routine tuwing wala pa ang teacher namin.
"Olivia, Sid, at Mandy pinapatawag kayo ni Sir Cruz sa faculty." rinig kong tawag ng kaklase namin.
Nagkatitigan kami ni Sid at bumaling ako kay Mandy na nagbabasa ng libro. She glanced at us tapos ay tumayo at umunang lumabas sa room.
She's the top of our class and she's not really friendly. Wala din akong nakikitang kaibigan niya. Palagi siyang kumakain at naglalakad mag-isa. She has her own world, iyon ang masasabi ko sa kaniya. Ayaw niyang makipag-interact sa ibang tao.
Tumayo din kami at tumungo sa faculty.
Bakit kami pinatawag ni Sir Cruz?
"Goodmorning girls, have a seat." bati ni Sir.
Sumunod kami sa sinabi niya at umupo. Tahimik lang kaming tatlo at hinihintay sa kung ano ang sasabihin ni Sir sa amin.
"As we all know September is the science and math month. We want you three to participate the Quiz Bee event. You will be the representative of Class A." aniya.
We both nodded as a response. Kitang kita ko naman na parang excited si Mandy. Well, she really likes everything that involves studying.
"Since you are the top students. Don't worry I'll give you the reviewer. Some of the questions are not covered in our subjects, so you have to be ready for that." dagdag niya.
Kinuha niya ang tatlong folder na nakalagay sa lamesa niya at isa-isang binigay iyon sa amin.
"You'll compete against the other sections, grade levels, and the seniors."
Wait—don't tell me I'll be competing against my brother? He's a senior and he belongs to Class A. Oliver is also a top student sa pagkakaalam ko dahil nabanggit iyon ni mom sakin.
Paano kami mananalo nito? Isang bagay na alam kong pareho kami ni Oliver ay we both excel in academics and sports kaso I admit na mas matalino at mas magaling siya sakin.
"This will be an interesting event since the participants' families are the sponsors. Your families will be there too." he paused and grasped his hands. Ipinatong ang kaniyang baba sa mga kamay niya.
"It will become the biggest family meet." he grinned.
Kumunot ang noo naming tatlo sa sinabi ni Sir. What does he mean about family meet? I don't understand.
We heard Sir Cruz chuckled.
By the way, Sir Cruz is gay.
