Chapter 5

More than a week after the audition, one morning, two letters from Duveen College of Music came to Lopez's residence when the family are eating their breakfast. The maid handed the letters to Emily.

"It's from Duveen, do you want to open it now?" Emily asked the girls when they finished eating. 

"Maybe later, I'm positive I got in." Kenna replied nonchalantly, but her eyes are all focused on the letter.

All the people in the table laughed lowly after seeing Keena acted like she didn't care. Naya looked at Keena and can't help remembering that the latter had already started packing her things and said she's excited to move to the school dormitory. Their house is more than an hour drive to school so it's convenient for them to move to dormitory. Majority of the student that occupying the dorm rooms are freshmen and sophomores, some higher years chose to stay outside near the school on their apartments. Aside from other dormitories in other buildings, Duveen have two buildings full of dorm rooms. Every room can accommodate two person so it's good to find a roommate before the classes start.

"Don't cry later." Kenneth said to Kenna.

"What?"

"Don't cry later if you see a sorry word written on the letter." Kenneth replied and smirked. 

"Mom can you shut this kid up? He's spouting dirt every time he opens his mouth." Sumbong ni Kenna sa mommy nila at inirapan ang kambal. "You know what nevermind, I'll do it. Mom can you please hand me the letter, let me slap this little brat with facts." She said and extending an arm to her mother. Her mother handed the letter and she immediately opened it and read loudly while facing Kenneth.

"Greetings Ms. Kenna Jane Briones, we are pleased to inform you that you passed--" hindi niya natuloy ang pagbasa at napatili. "OMG I got in! Mom, dad did you hear me? I passed! OMG! It's my dream school and I got in." She said to her mom and dad and continue mumbling 'omg'.

The whole family laughed at her reaction. Naya, Emily and Nathan said their congratulations.

"Yup she expected it and yet she went all tizzy."Kenneth commented and chuckled. 

"Don't ruin her mood." Emily said to Kenneth and faced Naya. "Naya how about you? You want to open it now?" She asked.

"Okay." Naya replied shortly. Emily handed the letter, Naya opened it and read silently. Her face was serious and calm while reading the letter so no one knows what exactly her result was. When Naya glanced at everyone, she almost laugh seeing their expecting eyes all gazing at her. She just chuckled and said "in". Everyone looked relieved after hearing her reply and congratulated her as well.

"We should celebrate, how about eating dinner outside when your mom and I come home after work?" Nathan suggested. 

"I think a pool party is fun." Naya responded.

"I think Naya is right, just us having a good time in the pool area sounds great!" Kenna seconded Naya's suggestion.

"A'right, we are celebrating for you two so you two are the bosses." Nathan replied and saluted earning a low laughs from everyone. 

"Then it settled, magpapabili ako mamaya ng mga ingredients para sa lulutuin mamaya." Emily said.

"Mom don't worry, I'll do it." Kenneth said to Emily. 

"Are you sure?" Emily asked.

"Oo naman, just give me a list." 

"Okay, girls you have something you want to eat later?" Emily asked the girls.

"Ahmm, can we have sweets? A cake, cinnamon puffs, cookies or macaroons, anything is fine." Naya said smiling.

"Pizza and spaghetti please." Kenna added.

"Ah these ladies have an eight year old appetite." Emily said chuckling. 

"I can make us pizza and cake." Kenneth suggested. 

"A'right!" Naya and Kenna chorused.

"Okay I'll give you a list and I'll make it home early so we can cook together." Emily said to Kenneth.

"Kenneth bring bodyguards and use the bulletproof car okay?" Nathan reminded. 

"Yes dad, don't worry I'll be fine." Kenneth replied. 

-

PAGKATAPOS magtanghalian ay umalis si Kenneth para bumili ng ingredients. Ang dalawa naman ay nasa music room nagpapatugtog ng kahit ano at nagkukwentuhan paminsan minsan.

"Hey, how about wearing Duveen hoodie later?" Kenna asked after playing a song.

"Pool party tapos maghohoodie ka?" Sarcastic na tanong ni Naya pabalik.

"Psh," Kenna pouted. "I mean papatungan natin ng hoodie and swim wear na susuotin natin mamaya." Kenna explained.

"Oh. Sounds good. Okay, we do that." Naya replied. Then Kenna looked at her for a while, from head to toe. "Kenna Jane sweetie, you are checking me out again. Am I that beautiful?" She teased.

"Ew, ew ka." Natawa si Naya sa reaction nito. "I'm just wondering why you still have a good body when you like eating sweets and I don't see you exercising or working out but lately your body seems changing?" Kenna added unsure. 

"Unfair nu?" Naya smirked and Kenna just snorted. Naya chuckled, "You not seeing me exercising or working out, doesn't mean I don't do it at all. Nasa first floor lang ang gym, recently I do heavy work out early in the morning and you? You are still in bed every time I went to the gym." Naya explained. 

"Okay, okay I surrender ikaw na nagwowork out. Lemme join you starting tomorrow."

"Hmm, I don't think so. You talk too much." Naya teased.

"Annoying. Okay, I won't talk much." Kenna said rolling her eyes.

"Call me ate first." Naya continued to teased.

"You know what nevermind." Kenna was about to stand and go out when Naya stopped her.

"Hey, I was kidding. Okay, okay." Naya tried not to laugh. "But is it really hard to call me ate? I'm two years older than you anyway." She added.

"Yeah, but you don't look older to me. You're like the same level as me."

"Don't lie, I'm not childish as you." Naya laughed.

"Tss, okay give me time." Kenna settled the matter and Naya looked satisfied hearing her answer and stopped teasing.

Pagkabalik ni Kenneth ay bumaba ang dalawa at pumunta sa kitchen. 

"Kenken!" Sigaw ni Kenna ng makapasok sila ni Naya sa kusina.

"You're too loud." Kenneth said in a calm voice.

Umirap si Kenna at kumuha ng tubig at uminom.

"We're here to help." Naya said to Kenneth.

"Are you sure?" Kenneth asked and Naya nodded. "Okay let's organize these things first." Sabi ni Kenneth habang tinuturo ang mga pinamili.

Nagtulong tulong silang tatlo sa paghahanda ng mga ingredients sa kitchen table. Maraming nakalagay sa kitchen table kaya di napansin ni Kenna ang basong pinag-inuman ng tubig. Kenna accidentally pushed the glass of water off the table and a loud sound of glass breaking echoed inside the kitchen.

"Kenna be careful!" Kenneth shouted pulling Kenna away from the shattered broken glasses. Then the twins was frozen for a second realizing something, they immediately looked at Naya who was on the other side of the kitchen table.

"Naya." Kenneth called. When Naya didn't answer, the twins walked and settled to Naya's both sides, Kenneth to the right and Kenna to her left.

"Hey, Naya okay ka lang? I'm really sorry, did I scare you? Please talk to us." Kenna said worriedly. 

Naya slowly put her hand on her chest and felt that it was calmly beating. Then she observed her arms and hands if it's paling or trembling but there's no traces of abnormalities. She glanced at the twins from her left to right.

"I...I think I'm okay." Naya herself was surprised. 

"Are you sure?" Kenna asked.

"Any pain or uncomfortable feeling? Hey answer honestly." Kenneth added.

Naya smiled at them gently. "I'm okay, I think I'm not scared of it anymore." Naya replied.

"Are you really sure? You're not hiding it or anything?" Kenna was not convinced. 

Naya chuckled and raised both her hands and ruffled the twins' hair, secretly thinking they both looked adorable standing by her sides. "Yes I'm completely fine. Thank you for being concerned. Nagulat lang ako pero di natakot." Panigurado ni Naya sa dalawa. Akmang pupulutin ang nabasag na baso pero pinigilan siya ni Kenneth. 

"No, let me baka masugatan ka." Sabi ni Kenneth at nilinis ang sahig. 

Naya glanced at Kenna who was still silently standing on her side. "I'm really okay. It's nothing. I'm fine." Naya said gently. 

"I'm really sorry." Kenna said lowering her head.

"You don't have to feel sorry, it was an accident." Naya replied. She patted Kenna's shoulder, "you little softy, c'mon let's finish these things and help Kenneth in other things."

It was nearly three when Emily came home. The girls are in the living room watching a movie while Kenneth is making a pizza dough. The girls greeted Emily and the latter handed a box of cookies before entering the kitchen.

The next hours, the pair of mother and son were busy. They made a good team cooking the foods. Working in silence and only talking when asking to hand an ingredient or kichen wares. 

Kenna interrupted the pair and shoved a small piece of cookie in Kenneth's mouth. Kenneth looked at Kenna with a grumpy face and the latter just walked out of the kitchen silently, like she did nothing. 

Almost six when Nathan came home, he went to his office room after greeting his family. He sorted some files and changed his clothes to swim wear after doing a little office work. 

Bumaba si Nathan at dumiretso sa kusina. Si Kenneth lang ang nandoon. Nilalagay ang pizza sa oven. Medyo nagulat siya ng makitang apat na pizza ang gagawin nito.

"Hey kid that's a lot of pizza." Natatawang panimula ni Nathan.

"Nirequest po ni madam Kenna, yung dalawa para daw sa mga guards na naka duty ngayon." Tugon naman ni Kenneth.

"Aww good kid. Good. Oh! I forgot something. Balik lang ako sa taas, good work buddy I'll help you with the pizza, may kukunin lang ako sa taas."

Bumalik si Nathan sa office room. Sa isang silid sa office room nakalagay ang mga wine. Kumuha siya dun ng isa at bumaba pabalik sa kitchen.

"Let the party begin!" Nathan shouted raising the wine in his hand.

"Dad you're too loud." Kenneth said killing his mood.

Natawa si Nathan. "You know buddy, you're too serious. Don't tell me you'll be like this later?" 

Kenneth sighed. "Dad we're in the kitchen, the party is in the pool. Mom and the girls are in there." Kenneth said putting two cooked pizza in a tray and handed it to Nathan. "You go first I'll finish this two."

Nathan chuckled lowly. "You can't be like this forever okay? You can't find yourself a girlfriend if you continue being like this." Nathan said and exited the kitchen. 

"Let the party begin!!" Naya heard her dad shouted. She looked at the entrance of the pool area. Her dad was raising his hand holding a wine and the other hand is holding a tray of pizza. Her dad looks young wearing a white long sleeve buttoned shirt with black swimming trunks.

Lumapit si Kenna kay Nathan at kinuha ang tray ng pizza. "Daddy you are already wearing a swim wear! You look handsome. Mom! Can we go and change na din?" Kenna said while putting the tray in the dining table.

Natawa si Emily. "Okay you two can go, tell your twin to change too. And please bring the marinated meat when you come back, I have to start grilling the meat."

The pool area is an indoor swimming pool. With built-in grill, dining table and two comfort room with showers. The entire place is covered with bulletproof glass. Glass door, window, wall and roofs. It was all Nathan's idea when they renovated the house. 

Pumasok sa loob ng bahay ang dalawang dalaga, si Naya dumiretso sa kuwarto niya habang si Kenna ay sa kitchen para kausapin si Kenneth. 

Nauna pang matapos magbihis si Kenneth kesa sa dalawa. Simpleng itim na long sleeve rash guard at swimming trunks ang suot niya. Hinintay pa ni Kenneth ang dalawa sa living room. Pagkababa ng dalawa ay kumunot ang noo niya ng makitang nakahoodie ang mga ito.

"Really? A Duveen hoodie?" Di mapigilang tanong ni Kenneth.

Natawa si Naya. "Pakulo ng kambal mo."

"Shut up kenken, we are wearing swim wear inside these hoodies. Let's go na our parents is waiting." Kenna said.

"Wait, the pizza for guards." Paalala ni Kenneth kay Kenna.

"Oh right, let's give those first and also let's give them cans of sodas na din, marami sa ref nakita ko kanina." 

Nagtulong tulong silang tatlo sa pagdala ng pizza at mga soda. Nagpasalamat naman ang mga guards at bumati sa dalawang dalaga sa pagpasa sa audition sa college na gusto nila. Pagkatapos ay bumalik sila sa loob ng bahay para kunin ang marinated na karne at dumiretso sa pool area.

Pagpasok nila ay nakita nila si Nathan at Emily na magkayakap, sumasayaw kahit walang music.

"Oh please parents. It's our day, wag sa harap namin." Reklamo ni Kenna.

Natatawang naghiwalay ang dalawa. Kukunin sana ni Emily ang karne kay Kenneth pero tumanggi ang huli.

"Ako na mom, you go change. Ikaw nalang ang di nakapagbihis." Kenneth said.

Emily smiled. "Right. Oh look at you two wearing a Duveen hoodies. Aren't you two cute? Magbibihis lang ako tas picture tayo mamaya." She said and exited the place.

Pagkabalik ni Emily ay nakasuot na siya ng one piece swimsuit na pinatungan ng sheer longline cardigan.

"Mom you look hot!" Kenna shouted.

"Thanks sweetie." Emily replied smiling. Nilapag niya ang dalang cake na sinadya niyang iwan kanina ng dalhin nilang tatlo ang mga pagkain sa dining table ng pool area.

Tinignan ni Kenna at Naya ang cake. Pareho silang natawa sa nakitang nakasulat sa cake.

"Pfft 'Pasok sa Duveen?' Really corny mom." Kenna said earning a laugh from her mother.

Nagpicture sila at pagkatapos ay nagsimulang kumain. Si Kenneth ay sandali lang sa lamesa at tumayo para ipagpatuloy ang pag grill. Kinuha ni Naya ang wine glass na may laman at isang can ng soda saka lumapit kay Kenneth.

"Hey, you need help?" Panimula ni Naya ng makalapit.

"No, okay lang baka masaktan ka. I know you don't know how to do this." Kenneth replied and chuckled. Naya also chuckled and handed the soda to Kenneth. "Thanks. You and Kenna ate a lot today, not afraid of gaining weight?"

Natawa si Naya. "No, minsan lang naman to saka Kenna said we'll work out together starting tomorrow."

"Ah planado na, kaya pala." Kenneth said chuckling. Then he became serious. "Ahm can I ask you something?" 

"Hmm, oo naman. Spill." Naya said and took a sipped of wine. She sat on a chair beside the table where the uncook meat was.

"You aren't really scared earlier?"

"I'm really not. I'm surprised too, I just realized something. But can you please not tell dad? I'll talk to him personally about this." Naya said.

"Of course. It's not my story to tell anyway." Sabi ni Kenneth at uminom. Natahimik siya pagkatapos at tinuloy ang pag grill. Narinig niya ang mahinang tawa ni Naya. Tumingin siya dito. "Bakit?"

"Wala. Narealize ko lang di pala talaga kita nakakausap ng matagal dati. Bukod sa tahimik mo ang seyoso mo pa. Did you hate me back then?" Anya ni Naya.

"Hate? No, you know, I don't really know how to talk or start a conversation with you. I'm afraid I'll say something that shouldn't be said." Kenneth explained.

"Oh. Hmm," Naya hummed and nodded. "Well now you can talk to me about anything." Naya said and smiled. "Pamilya na tayo, so you can talk to me freely."

Kenneth smiled. "Okay. So.. can I ask something again?"

Naya chuckled. "Hmm, ask away." Then she sipped a wine again.

"Did you not like mom and us before?"

"Honestly? I don't think I did disliked you and Kenna. Maybe your mom, but not dislikes as a person. Ahmm pano ba? I don't like the feeling of another woman altering the memories of my mom. Sorry if this is offending you but I didn't really like seeing mommy Emily in the past, it hurts me." Naya explained.

Kenneth smiled. "It's completely understandable. I was like that the first time I saw your dad. Tapos nakita ko kung gaano kasaya si mom sa piling ng dad mo, she was not that happy after our father's death. That's when I started to accept things. Na kaya pa pala maging masaya ni mom sa piling ng iba bukod sa dad namin. I don't know how that kind of love works, but if it makes my mother happy, who am I to meddle? It's the only thing I can do for her. But not because I accepted your dad doesn't mean I'll forget my dad and his memories. We can always keep loving our biological parents even if they're gone and then we can welcome new people who are willing to love us for who we are." Parang di ni Kenneth napansin na mahaba ang sinabi niya dahil nag gigrill siya.

"You know you should talk more." Natawa si Naya dahil parang nahiya ito ng marealize ang mahabang litantiya. "I mean you have a good way of saying your words. Pero thank you for saying that." Naya smiled. "I actually like having mommy Emily, you and your twin around. Even though Kenna always talked too much, it's still fun having her around." 

Natawa si Kenneth. "I'm actually happy seeing you having fun with her. You were gloomy and always wore a serious face, like silently saying 'stay away from me!'. Kenna even talked to me about it, she said sometimes she's scared of crossing path with you."

Natawa si Naya at uminom ng wine. "I didn't have the idea I looked like that." Nakita ni Naya ang pagsulyap ni Kenneth sa wine na hawak niya. "You want me to get you a wine instead? You didn't drink the soda after one sip." Naya teased.

"I can? But I'm a minor." Kenneth said with expectant eyes.

Naya chuckled seeing Kenneth's expectant eyes like silently telling her to get him a wine. "Easy, I can convince dad." Then she shouted at her dad who's making a mess with Kenna. Nagpapahiran ng icing ang mga ito. "Dad! Kenneth wants to drink wine. Can he drink?"

Tumingin si Nathan sa side nila. "Yeah sure, there's still a lot in here. Come and get it. Kung kulang pa pumunta ka sa office room at kumuha ng isa pang bote." Walang pakialam na tugon ni Nathan saka hinubad ang long sleeve at tumalon sa pool. Natawa si Naya dahil parang lasing na ito.

"You call that convincing?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Kenneth.

Natatawang tumayo si Naya mula sa pagkakaupo. "Kenneth Shane matagal na kayo sa bahay, di mo pa ba kilala si Nathan? Saka tayo tayo lang naman ang nandito." 

Natawa si Kenneth sa pagkakabanggit ni Naya sa pangalan niya at sa pagtawag na Nathan sa dad nila. "Okay Nayasha, then please get me wine."

Lumapit si Naya sa dining table, natawa siya ng makita niya si Kenna na parang batang pinupunasan ang sariling mukha na may icing. Kukunin na sana niya ang wine nang pigilan ni Kenna ang braso niya.

"I want wine too." Kenna said like a child asking for a candy.

"Sorry kid you're still a child." Naya teased. 

"But Kenneth can? What is this double standard?" Kenna replied in annoyed voice.

"Then, ask dad first." Paghahamon ni Naya kay Kenna.

"Dad! I want wine too." Kenna shouted at Nathan on the pool who was now with Emily.

"Kenna sweetie you're still a minor." Pagsakay ni Emily sa biro ni Naya.

"But Kenneth's not?" Kenna shouted again and pointing a finger at Kenneth accusingly. 

Natawa silang lahat. Kumuha ng wine glass si Naya at nilagyan iyun ng wine. "Ito na po yung wine madam Kenna, tama na yung pagiging tigre mo." Natatawang sabi ni Naya at tinanggap naman ni Kenna ang may lamang wine glass.

Bumalik si Naya sa grill hawak hawak ang isa pang wine glass at bote ng wine. Binigyan niya si Kenneth at uminom naman ito. Natawa si Naya dahil mukhang nagustuhan ni Kenneth ang lasa at nanghingi pa. Binigay niya dito ang bote at natatawang nagpaalam na magswimming.

"Kenna let's swim." Aya ni Naya kay Kenna. Hinubad naman agad ni Kenna ang hoodie at swimsuit na lang ang natira. Sexy ito sa suot na lace hollow floral at high waisted bikini set. Hinubad din ni Naya ang suot na hoodie at pinakita ang suot na two piece na rash guard crop top at high waisted shorts. They praised each other dumbly at sabay na tumitiling tumalon sa tubig at pagkatapos ay nagtawanan ng nasa tubig na sila.

Natatawang pinanuod ni Emily at Nathan ang dalawang dalaga. Tinignan ni Emily si Kenneth sa grill at tinawag ito para mag swimming din pero sayang saya ito sa wine na iniinum.

Kalahating oras ay nasa tubig ang apat pagkatapos ay umupo sila sa gilid ng pool at nagkuwentuhan. Lumapit si Kenneth dala ang inihaw na karne. Umupo sa tabi ni Kenna at binigay ang karne sa mga ito. Kumain sila at kumuha pa ng isang bote ng wine at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain at kwentuhan.