Splendiferous (Legazpi #1)

Four

4.

"Satina, you're turning 20 on Sunday. Any plans?" Xerxes asked Aleezah in the middle of breakfast.

"Just a simple party at our clubhouse, kuya. With drinks, lights, dancing, some wild games, whatever," Aleezah shrugged. "Invite your friends if you want."

"What about yours? Sinong mga kaibigan mo ang inimbita mo?"

"Ruvey, Latrice, many more. Oh! I also invited Arlszent's sister!" Aleezah said in excitement.

Nabulunan ng bahagya si Xerxes sa sinabi ni Aleezah. Tulad ko ay natigilan ito dahil sinabi niyang imbitado ako. Mula sa ilalim ng mesa, pasimple kong sinanggi ang paa ni Aleezah gamit ang sa akin.

"You're close?" Xerxes asked.

"Very close, kuya," tumango-tango si Aleezah at humagikhik.

Dumapo naman ang tingin ni Xerxes sa akin. Akma itong may sasabihin ngunit inunahan ko na siya. "She's my girlfriend. Malamang ipapakilala ko siya sa kakambal ko," I frankly said.

"Yeah right," he tsk-ed.

After breakfast, like what happens everyday, we drove to school to attend our classes. We had this exam thing in Architecture which I completely forgot that it is scheduled today but lucky me, I passed it even without studying.

Somehow, I just thought of labelling myself as an architecturist.

I mentally slapped myself because of that joke. This was Arlszent's fault because when we talked through phone call the other day, he told me that there's this presentation of mine for one subject in PATTS, and it turned out great! Pwede na daw siyang maging piloter.

I rolled my eyes on that. And, hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano ba talaga iyong ginagawang paghandle ni Arlszent sa studies ko. He doesn't want to tell, jeez!

Medyo nagtagal pa bago kami nakauwi sa mansion dahil may tinapos na requirement si Xerxes at natagalan kahit na labasan na dapat nila noon. But on the bright side, hindi naman kami ginabi ng sobra. We arrived just in time for dinner.

When I was supposed to go to sleep, I thought of visiting Aleezah again in her room. I stopped in front of her door and knocked there.

"May pag-uusapan tayo," bungad ko dito at pumasok na kaagad ako sa loob at isinara ang pintuan.

"Spill." She gestured me to talk.

"Ano 'yong kaninang umaga? Na inimbitahan mo ako sa birthday party mo? Nasisiraan ka na ba? I can't be myself and my brother at the same time!" I hissed.

"Sino bang nagsabing magpapanggap ka pa ring si Arlszent doon sa party? You're going there as yourself."

"Hindi naman kaya magtaka ang mga bisita mo na wala ang boyfriend mo sa mismong kaarawan mo? Hmm?" I raised a brow.

"Before the party ends, aalis na ako sa clubhouse at didiretso ako sa condo mo. Then palabasin ko nalang na kaya wala si Zent sa party ay kasi may surprise siyang iba para sa akin. I'll take care of that." She winked.

"Do I really need to be there as me?"

"Yes. We'll see my brother's reaction," she giggled.

I sighed. "Okay, pagbigyan ang magbibirthday. Besides, I'm really sick of wearing my brother's clothes, parati pa akong nakasuot ng long sleeves para lang hindi mahalata ang braso ko."

"Iyon na nga, at least maging carefree ka man lang kahit sa gabi ng birthday ko," she sentenced. "Don't worry, ako na ang bahala kay Zent, hindi ka niya sisinghalan, promise."