Chapter 5

So, how’s life treating you, Aye?” It was Camille.

Pagka balik ko palang mula sa kina-uupoan namin kanina ay yan agad ang bungad na tanong niya sakin.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Glaiza.

“It’s been pretty good, actually!” I smiled at her.

“Really? Like, for real?” Si Madisson naman ngayon ang nagtanong. 

Hindi ako nagsalita at tumango lang bilang tugon.

“Yeah! So, how’s it being an Ate?” Tanong niya ulit, may kakaibang ngiti sa kanyang labi.

“Ate?!” It was them, they look surprised.

Sabay tuloy silang napatingin sakin, maging ang 7 lalaking kasama namin sa table na hindi pa pala umaalis ay napatingin rin.

“Yeah!” Madison nodded her head. “Last week, I popped over to your house to ask you something, and I bumped into this girl named Almirah…” Nangunot ang noo niya na nakatingin sakin, bakas rin sa mukha ang pagtataka. “I asked her if she was one of your new maids, and she totally flipped! She yelled at me, saying she’s your sister, not a maid!” — Madisson, laughed at that.

Jace's eyes widened. “Seriously?!”

“Do I look like a liar to you, Jace?” She then said, rolling her eyes.

 “Hindi naman…” she wants to say something but looks like she's hesitating, “pero…”

“Hoy! Lalakero lang ako pero hindi ako sinungaling.”Madisson, crossing her arms.

“Talaga ba?”Jace ask smirking, halatang gustong asarin si Madisson.

Napa buntong hininga ako.

“Stop it, Jace.” I said trying to keep the peace.

“So, is it true?” Camille asked, making me glance at her who's now leaning in.

.

“Oum, pero hindi ko siya kapatid kay papa. She’s just my step-sister. Her mom is dating my dad, and they’re living with us now…” I shrugged. “And honestly, it’s kinda annoying sometimes. At first, I was excited thinking I’d finally have a sister. The first week was chill, but now? Ugh, they’re total bullies to our maids, especially Allen…” I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Remembering what she did to Allen 

“Jusko!If I were you, I would’ve kicked them out already! They’re not even married yet! And honestly, I doubt Tito will marry her with that attitude.” Jace said, shaking her head.

“I don’t think Dad really likes Tita Ayme either.” I said, looking concerned, napa-ayos tuloy ng upo si Trivox sa sinabi ko.

“What do you mean?”Trivox looks curious, kunot ang noo.

“Well, I overheard Dad on the phone the other day. He was talking about… something with the Crimson Cartel and Raven's Claw…” I said lowering my voice, afraid that someone might hear me.

“Crimson Cartel and Raven's Claw? What’s that about?”Elton, intrigued.

Seryoso akong napatingin sa kanya. “Yeah, he was asking someone which group Tita Ayme belongs to and if she was connected to that accident from 15 years ago…” 

“Accident?” it was Camille, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah…” I stopped trailing off. “ Something that happened a long time ago…”

They all went silent, absorbing the weight of what I just said. Hindi ko alam bakit but the atmosphere suddenly changed, and I couldn't name it.

“How does that mean he doesn’t like your stepmom?” It was Gabrielle who's now holding a cup of coffee, looking puzzled.

“Well..” I stopped at bahagyang napa hawak sa baba na may inaalala. “ They don’t even sleep in the same room! And Dad has totally banned her from his office and study. Plus, when I talk back to her, Dad doesn’t even scold me, which is super weird…” I shake my head.

Walang nagsalita agad sa kanila, at ang mas lalong bumigat ang atmosphere, kinilabutan tuloy ako lalo. I even sense a very dangerous aura too. 

“Wait, Aye!” Mabuti na lang at muling nagsalita si Jace. “You have a stepsibling and you didn’t tell me? I feel so left out! You’re kinda making me feel like we’re not besties!” She pouted her lips. 

Making her look like a duck, from a Tom and Jerry movie.

“I was gonna tell you! I just needed the right moment… I wanted to introduce you all, but…” I said, looking guilty.

Na guilty naman talaga ako dahil hindi ko sinabi agad sa kanila ang tungkol ron, balak ko naman talagang sabihin pero humahanap pa ako tamang pagkakataon.

“Bakit, is she ugly? Are you scared we’ll judge her? Come on, Aye! We’re not that bad! Just look at Trivox, he might look like a kapre, but he’s a mabait!” She started, laughing, making Trivox glare at her. 

Siya lang rin ang natawa sa sinabi niya. Kami naman ay lukot ang mukha na nakatingin sa kanya.

“Hoy bansot, dinamay mo pa talaga ako… eh ikaw lang naman dito sa atin ang kamag-anak ni Pennywise! ”Si Trivox na gigil na konti na lang ay mananapak na.

“Stop that! Okay? Almirah is not ugly… Mukha naman siyang tao, di ba?” Awat ko sa dalawa sabay baling kay Madison. 

“True, pero she looks innocent yet mysterious. Yung tipong isang tingin mo palang, alam mo nang hindi mo siya mapagkakatiwalaan, kasi tutuklawin ka patalikod!” Ani Madison

“Paano mo nasabi?” Trivox na mukhang naguguluhan. 

“Base sa opinion ko, trust me, I mean it!” Sambit niya at nagtaas ng kilay na mukhang may sikreto.

“Aye?” Na agaw ni Glaiza ang atensyon ko, nakatingin siya sakin na curious at puno ng pagtataka.

“Hindi ko alam, pero masama ang ugali niya. Halos araw-araw niyang inaaway si Allen! Pinag-iinitan niya ng ulo…” Sagot ko na mukhang seryoso.

“Allen?!” — Camille, Glaiza at Trivox, sabay-sabay na nagtanong, na parang gulat sa sinabi ko.

“Oo, yung bagong personal maid ko. She's a minor, ha!” Sagot ko na may bahid na pag-aalala.

“Bakit niya naman pinag-iinitan si Allen?” Trivox na mukhang curious at nag iisip.

“Baka may crush siya kay Allen, o kaya naman may ibang agenda siya!” Si Madisson ang sumagot, na naka ngisi at tila may naiisip na kalokohan. 

“Or maybe she just wants to be the center of attention! Typical!” Si Glaiza.

“Dapat siguro kausapin mo siya. Baka may dahilan kung bakit siya ganyan.” Camille, na nagmamasid at tila nag-iisip ng solusyon.

“Siguro bored lang siya sa buhay at naghahanap ng attention.” sagot ko, nag-aangat ng kilay. 

“Jace? What's the matter?” tanong ni Madisson, na ngayon ay nakatingin kay Jace na tahimik na at mukhang nag-aalala. 

“Wala lang,” Umiling siya, “May naalala lang ako… Kapangalan kasi nung kasambahay nila Aye ‘yong babaeng kinababaliwan ng lalaking gusto ko…” 

“Lalaking gusto mo?” Camille, na mukhang na-curious. 

“Congratulations, Bansot! Nagdadalaga ka na… at marunong ka nang magkagusto sa tao!” Glaiza,na nakangisi at tila nang-aasar. 

“Natural, kasi babae ako! At hoy, ano akala mo sa akin, bata?” Pagtatanggol nito sa sarili.

“Ahh, babae ka pala? Akala ko kasi lalaki! Mukha ka kasing lalaki… at height mo pang bata, pero yung mukha mo pang matanda… mukha ka ng kwarenta anyos!” Si Trivox na halatang nag-aasar. 

Napailing na lang ako sa kanila inasta para kasi silang mga bata. Maya-maya lang ay bumalik sina Elton, kasama si Gabrielle. 

“Teka, pamilyar ka sakin ah….”Puna ni Jace kay Gabrielle, “Bakit kamukha mo ‘yong poster na lalaki sa kwarto nitong kambal ko?” Puno ng pagtataka ang mukha nito habang nakatingin kay Gabrielle. 

“Poster?” Takang tanong ni Gabrielle.

“Oo, yung naka boxer s—”

“ Jace shut-up.” Pigil ni Glaiza agad na tinakpan ang bibig ng kambal bago pa masabi ang dapat na sabihin nito.

“ Omygad! That is embarrassing!” Natatawa na sabi ni Trivox.“ Pag ito talaga si Jace kapatid mo walang sikretong hindi nabubunyag.”

“Hey Ayesha, may kapatid bang babae si Gavin?” Camille asked, raising an eyebrow.

I looked at her. 

“Ahh, wala! Dalawa lang silang magkapatid, parehong lalaki. May pinsan siyang babae, pero nasa ibang bansa siya. Bakit, anong meron?” I replied, feeling a bit curious.

“Nakita ko si Gavin kahapon sa flower shop, may kasamang babae!” She exclaimed, her eyes wide.

“Babae? Seriously?!” I gasped, leaning in closer.

“Yup! Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali, kasi nakatabi ko lang sila noon! Ang sweet pa nila!” she said, shaking her head.

“Baka naman namamalikmata ka lang?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Kahit na kinakabahan na ako sa hindi malamang dahilan.

“Girl, it can't be! I’ve seen Gavin with you a million times at events. I know what I saw!” She insisted, crossing her arms.

“That's too impossible. Ano naman ang gagawin ni Gavin ron?” I asked.

 Feeling the tension rise.

“May allergy si Aye sa bulaklak…” Jace chimed in, she look serious.

“Really? Ayesha has an allergy to a flower?” Uno added, nodding in agreement.

I glare at him, sabay pa talaga sila ng pagkakasabi ni Jace non. And how did he even know about it? That I'm allergy in into a flower?

“Wait, ano bang itsura ng babaeng kasama niya? Saka bakit nasa flower shop ka?” I pressed, my curiosity piqued.

“My cousin owns that shop, kaya pumunta ako kahapon to visit her... And to answer your question, the girl he was with was wearing a pink dress, straight black hair na hanggang balikat, payat, at hindi masyadong maputi. She looks pale, may birthmark sa batok na parang mapa…” Camille described, her eyes narrowing as she recalled the details.

“Wow, ang intriguing! Anong tingin mo, may chance na may something sila ni Gavin?” I asked, excited to hear her thoughts. 

 Napa-isip ako sa mga sinabi ni Camille! 

“Pati birthmark?” Almirah asked, looking intrigued.

“Yep! I saw her birthmark on her neck nung hinawi niya buhok niya. Ang bango pa, dior scent!” She replied, looking proud of her observation.

“Batiin ko pa nga sana, kaso nagmamadali sila…” she added, a bit disappointed. “If you want, I can show you the CCTV footage of that shop yesterday…”

“Ahh, no need for that Camille…” Agad akong umiling “.baka kamag-anak lang nila ‘yon,” I said, trying to brush it off.

Hindi ko alam bakit pero si Almirah ang pumasok sa isip ko na imahe ng babae, pareho kasi sila ng pagkaka describe ni Camille, pareho rin ng damit na suot kahapon.

“Are you sure?” Trivox asked, raising an eyebrow.

Napatingin ako sa kanya “Oum.” Tumango ako. “Nga pala, mauna na ako sa inyo… may dadaanan pa kasi ako sa library… bye!” I said, waving goodbye but still feeling the curiosity bubbling inside me.

“Anong gagawin mo sa library? May

project ka ba?” Uno called, clearly wanting to keep the convo going. 

Napatigil ako, at saglit na napatingin sa kanya na ngayon ay naka angat ang kilay na nakatingin sakin. 

Nakakapikon rin ang isang ito, bakit ba epal niya? Gwapo sana pakialamero lang…