Crime In Love Line

Chapter 6

"Aprilynn gissiiiinggggg! Weekend oy!"

Irita akong umayos nang pagkakahiga nang marinig ang pangbubulabog ni Liam sa labas. I'm so tired from yesterday dahil Friday nga, ay may practicum kami. Tapos ang aga-aga pa manggising ni Liam. I hate him!

"That's the point! It's weekend and you're waking me up at..." I opened my eyes, still half asleep and checked my phone to see the time. "...at 5:30 am!? Seriously!?"

"Nandito sina mommy at kuya! Aalis tayo tapos susunduin si Daddy sa office niya! Kaya bangon na!!" Buong lakas ng boses na sabi ni Liam.

Nawala ang antok ko at napalitan iyon ng saya. This is just once in a blue moon to bond with our whole family. Lagi nalang kami ni Liam ang magkasama.

After I get dressed, I gave mommy a tight hug because three weeks din siyang hindi umuwi ng bahay. Papasyal daw kami ngayon sa Bulacan to visit our family mansion out there. I remembered the last time I visit our mansion. It was like six months ago.

"How's my twins? Liam, mukha 'kang pagod anak." Bati agad ni mommy.

"Ok lang, mommy. Naglaba po kasi ako kagabi." Sagot naman ni Liam. Tumingin pa siya sa'kin at inilabas ang dila, nang-aasar. How immature.

Tahimik lang ako sa buong biyahe. We picked up daddy on their office at Manila before driving our way to Bulacan.

"I missed my twins. How's your first week in school?" Daddy asked. "What strand did you take?"

"I took HUMSS, dad. And Liam took IC–"

"HUMSS din po kinuha ko, dad." Liam cut me off. "Since you want me to take military."

Liam lied. Our family's shitty tradition is to force each son to take military kahit na hindi nila 'yon gusto. Liam probably wanted to keep the peace today kaya hindi niya muna sinabi na ICT ang kinuha niya. Daddy would just destroy this moment.

"That's my son!" Daddy was so proud, as if Liam stated a truth. "Buti naman at hindi ka gumaya sa kuya 'mong napaka—"

"Hon!" Pagpigil sakaniya ni mommy. "Can you please forget about that? Even just for today?"

I glanced at Kuya Ethan who was sitting at the backseat, leaning against the car's window like he didn't heard something. I always feel bad for him. He was hardworking but dad always make him feel worthless and useless just because he did not obeyed our family's preference.

On behalf of me, I also felt nervous for Liam. Besides that he lied, he also didn't followed what daddy wanted. And I feel proud of him for being brave enough to make himself free from that rules and coercion. He knew that he have the rights to choose his own pathway, and to control his own life.

"Kami na po diyan, ma'am." Pagkababa namin ng sasakyan, one of our helpers offered to carry my duffel bag na may laman na mga damit ko.

"N-no I can carry them—"

"Let them, Lianne. Ang trabaho ay trabaho." Sabi naman ni Daddy.

I just let them do that. Pero hindi ako sanay nang pinagsisilbihan!

Nasanay na'ko na pabayaan. Pabayaan nila dahil sa pagiging busy sa trabaho.

Kaagad akong dumeretso sa kwarto ko at binuksan ang window sa balcony. Hamak laki ng kwarto ko dito kaysa sa kwarto ko doon sa Rizal. It has a queen size bed, personal bathroom, balcony, walk-in closet and many more—that made it looked like a fancy hotel.

I find peace in here. Pwede naman kaming dito tumira ni Liam but it feels so empty...and lonely. Masyadong malaki ang mansion para tirhan namin, ng kaming dalawa lang. Masaya sana itong tirhan kung magkakasama kami but they were too busy. Kaya mas pinili namin mag stay doon sa Rizal, hoping that the space would ease our loneliness.