Kabanata 3
1200 Words
Keeyan
"SO YOU'RE still not done?" my twin brother Keegan asked with his thick brows nearly meeting.
We're on FaceTime while I'm resting from my workout. Araw-araw naman 'tong tumatawag gaya ni kuya Keeva at ng parents namin. I don't know. They kind of consider me as the youngest even when I only came out a few seconds after Keegan did.
So unfair. He was the bigger twin when we were babies. I could've came out first because I'm smaller so I'm pretty sure we wrestled in Mom's womb before he found the way out.
"Not yet," I said.
Keegan, being the grumpiest among us, sighed in annoyance. "I am losing my mind here, Keeyan. You gotta finish your project and save my f*****g ass."
I smirked. "You do know I love seeing you crave for my assistance, right?"
Sumimangot ang kakambal ko. "You're stalling. I knew it. Pinatatagal mo talaga ang pananatili diyan sa Cebu."
I leaned on my seat with a smirk still written on my lips. Well, that's kind of true, but for a different reason.
I watched my twin rub his palm on his face out of frustration. "God, you're more annoying than Jeff from marketing."
Natawa ako. "Leave the poor guy alone. It's not his fault you're attracted to your secretary."
Keegan grunted. "For the last f*****g time, Keeyan. I am not, and will never be, attracted to that woman!"
Nagkibit-balikat ako para mas asarin pa siya. "Sorry, I think the reception is broken or something. I think I just heard you admit that you wanna marry her and make babies with her."
Bwisit na bwisit siyang tinitigan ng kapatid. "I should've strangled you with my umbilical cord when I still had the chance. Or maybe I should've eaten you."
"You're disgusting," I said, nearly laughing.
I swear, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing my twin lose his mind because of me. Ah, what a wonderful time to be alive.
Keegan heaved a sigh. "Kuya said you're not staying at the hotel. Kaya ka natatagalan. Hindi ka sa mismong hotel nag-stay."
I licked my lower lip. Ang layo naman kasi ng hotel sa branch ng DCN. I had to pick the apartelle closer to the DCN Cebu branch so I can always get there on time.
Rachel is a small woman. Halos hanggang dibdib ko lang kahit na naka-heels na. Her body frame is no match to the large glass door so I always make sure I'm there to push it for her. Baka mamaya maipit pa. Kawawa naman. Wala na kong human keychain kung sakali.
I nearly laughed at myself because of the thought. Ako yata ang keychain sa aming dalawa. I want to stick around her all the time. Wala lang. I really love her aura. Parang . . . aura ng masarap ipakilala sa pamilya.
"What are you smiling about?" salubong ang mga kilay na tanong ng kapatid ko.
I inhaled a sharp breath. "Nothing. You know nothing brings more joy to me than seeing you in distress just because you miss me."
My brother grunted. Sa sobrang inis ay pinakitaan ako ng gitnang daliri bago niya pinatay ang tawag.
I scoffed before I grabbed my phone and went to my espresso machine. I made myself a cup of coffee before I visited Rachel's f*******: account. We're friends now. In real life and, of course, online.
I barely use f*******:. I prefer IG where I normally post the photos I take but since she only uses f*******:, I decided to revive my nearly empty account.
She posted a story. A picture of a highlighted part of her Bible. She does that everyday. Medyo natatakot tuloy ako. Baka mamaya magmadre 'to. Ngayon na lang ako nagkainteres sa babae, kaagaw ko pa yata si Lord. Kung kailan naman ramdam ko nang gusto ko pa rin ng babae . . .
Napa-sign of the cross ako sa naisip. "I didn't mean that, God. Please don't take me yet. I still have a lady to wait for five to ten years."
I was sipping on my coffee when a notification came in. Rachel shared a post about Mister Donuts. Iyong maliliit na bilog-bilog.
Ibinaba ko ang tasa ng kape sa counter. I went to Google and looked up the closest Mister Donuts in the area. Luckily, there's a 7Eleven branch nearby. Google said there are Mister Donuts products in there. I checked the time and realized I'd still have enough time to get her some munchkins if I'll start getting ready now.
I finished my cup and decided to get ready so I could drop by at the 7Eleven. Pagkapasok sa loob ay pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang store.
As embarrassing as it may sound, I went to the clerk and said I wanted to buy all of it. That he can pack everything for me.
"Self-service po tayo, Sir. Kuha na lang po kayo."
My brows furrowed. But I don't know how. Where should I put it? Am I required to bring my own box? I see no box anywhere with the Mister Donuts logo in it?
Nilingon ko ulit ang kiosk. Luckily, someone came to get himself a donut. Nakita ko kung paano niya ginawa at kung saan niya inilagay. I waited for him to finish before I went to the kiosk and copied him.
I brought everything to the counter and paid for it. Lumabas din ako kaagad pagkatapos at bumalik ng sasakyan.
I placed the paper bags on the shotgun seat before I decided to call my Dad. It only took a couple rings before he picked it up.
"Hey, son."
"Hey, Dad. Uh, do you know how I can franchise a Mister Donuts kiosk?"
"Pardon?"
"A kiosk, Dad."
My Dad sighed. "Enlighten me, son. Why do you wanna franchise a kiosk?"
"I just wanna put one at the DCN Cebu branch."
Muling bumuntonghininga si Daddy. "Are you interested in someone, Keeyan?"
My brows furrowed. "How did you know?"
"Because only a mad man who doesn't know how to court someone will do something like franchising a kiosk."
I sighed. "Well, in my defense, I just want Mister Donuts to be accessible to her in case--"
"Wait, did you say 'her'?"
"Uh, yeah. I'm sure I said 'her'."
"Am I . . . am I missing something, Keeyan?"
Nagkibit-balikat ako. "I guess I still like girls, Dad."
My Dad sighed. "Please be sure that you really do, alright? I don't want you to break someone's heart just because you're confused."
I swallowed. "I will, Dad."
"Alright," he said in a breathy way. "I'll help you get a franchise once you're sure about how you feel."
"Okay."
I bid goodbye and ended the call. I went straight to DCN and waited for Rachel but nine AM passed and there's still no sign of her.
Lumapit ako sa maintenance staff na nagma-mop sa lobby. "Hi, did Rachel come in already?"
Tiningnan niya ako. "Ay, opo kasabay po ni Architect Romeo. May pa-flowers pa nga, Sir," sagot niya na parang kinikilig.
My hold on the paper bag tightened a bit.
Oh, no no, Romeo. You have your eyes on the wrong Juliet . .
- Writer
