Invisible (QuenLia ft. Daniel Padilla)

1: One Wish

France on the side.

FRANCE

Day One - Hour Nineteen

"Sino siya, kuya?" tanong ko sa kuya ko habang nakatingin sa lalaking kasama niya. Ngayon ko lang kasi siya nakita sa tanang ng buhay ko eh.

Kuya grinned at me. "Bunso, si Tony. My new friend and our new neighbor!" masayang sambit nito tapos hinila 'yung lalaki sa kwelyo tapos hinarap sa'kin. "Tony, si France. My sister."

I smiled at the guy. "Hi, new neighbor!" bati ko at nilahad ang kamay ko.

He smiled back and shook my hand. Nagulat ako kasi ang lambot ng kamay niya. Mas madalas ata siyang mag-lotion kesa sa'kin eh. "Hi din, France," aniya tapos bumitaw na sa kamay ko.

"So, may sister ka?" tanong ko sakanya. I was secretly hoping na sana meron, para naman kung meron, ako naman ang makipag-kaibigan. Para may kasama ako kahit ngayong gabi lang.

Umiling siya. "Brother lang. Pero wala siya dito, nasa abroad," sagot niya at nakita kong naiinip na si kuya kaya naman sumimangot ako.

"Uh, Tony, usap nalang tayo next time. Mukhang ayaw na akong kausap ng kuya ko," sabi ko at ngumuso. Kilala ko naman kasi si kuya, ayaw n'yang nakikihalubilo ako sa mga kaibigan niya. Masyado pa daw kasi akong bata at hindi din daw maganda na same circle of friends kami. Dapat daw, kahit papano, we still have different lives. Which was really unnecessary for him to say dahil separate naman na talaga ang buhay namin--socially speaking. He's a college freshman while I'm a high school freshman. Kahit naman anong sabihin niya, iba talaga ang circle of friends naming dalawa.

Kuya's eyes softened. "Bunso--"

"Sa loob lang ako, kuya," putol ko sa sasabihin niya. I forced a smile. "Nice meeting you, Tony."

He looked uncertain as he looked at my brother, then to me. "Ikaw din, France. Nice meeting you," sambit niya kaya ngumiti nalang ako at tumalikod na.

I made my way through the crowd at pumasok ako ng bahay tsaka ako dumiretso sa kwarto ko. I locked the door at mabilis na pumasok sa closet ko para tanggalin ang mahabang dress na pinagawa pa ni mommy. It's my Lola's 84th birthday kaya may party sa baba and I'm required to doll up. Of course, 'yun ang ginawa ko. Ayoko namang i-disappoint si mommy; although, I feel like I disappoint her already.

I'm a wallflower.

Which was a great contrast to my family--a family of socialites and party goers. Kaso, may glitch ata sa genes ko at iba ako. Instead of parties, I prefer staying at home; instead of tequila shots, I turn book pages; instead of heels, I prefer flats; jeans over skirts; books over boys. Though, I'm not the typical nerd na naka-taas lagi ang buhok, naka-jeans lang, at shirt. No, hindi. My mom won't allow me to go out like that, especially in public. Twice a week lang ako pwede mag-jeans and the rest of the week, I'm forced to wear skirts and dresses.

The reason? Dahil Gomez ako. I came from the Gomez clan.

Bumuntong-hininga nalang ako at nagsuot ng PJs, tapos mabilis na kumuha ng libro mula sa book case ko at humiga sa kama ko. I won't dwell on the possibility na hanapin ako sa baba dahil hindi naman 'yun nangyayari. I just had to make an appearance for Lola tapos pwede na akong pumanhik, that was the deal. It didn't matter dahil wala namang naghahanap sa'kin. At wala naman akong kaibigan na gusto kong idala sa gatherings na ganito. I have a friend, Ally, pero ayaw niya sa mga ganitong okasyon. Like me, she's a wallflower. Kaya mag-kaibigan kami. Because we both tend to camouflage and go invisible. At okay lang kami dun. Because the less people who pay attention to you, the less stress you gain.