SUMMER GIRLIES: THE STRING THAT BINDS US

CHAPTER 02

“Oh, iha, kumain ka nang marami ha! Masarap ‘tong paksiw, specialty ko ‘to!”

The old woman told me as she put the fish on my plate. Matagal kong tinitigan ‘yon, not knowing what to do. I don't know how to eat fish!

“Meng, englishera ‘to, kaya halatang hindi siya kumakain ng isda,” Dos suddenly said, he's sitting next to me. He stood up to take my plate so I immediately grabbed his hand to stop him.

“What are you doing?” I asked him, confused.

“Ayaw mo yata ng isda, e. Bibili na lang kita ng hotdog sa labas,” he answered. Kumunit lalo ang noo ko. What if may mga germs na ’yung ipapakain niya sa‘kin galing outside?! “Ano? Ayaw mo rin? Gusto mo pa ba ng beefsteak, madam? Sorry, pero wala budget!” Napataas ang kilay ko sa tanong niya. Nakakainis! Bakit ba he's so annoying?!

“You know what? You're so annoying,” I said rolling my eyes. “I’m eating, this... this paksiw, okay?!” Sabi ko sa kaniya kay napataas ang kilay niya.

“E, bakit mo tinititigan lang?” He asked me, raising his one brow.

“Because...” I pouted, getting shy now. “I don't know how to eat them,” awkward akong ngumiti sa kaniya before I let go of his hand.

Dahan-dahan niyang binitawan ‘yung plato bago umupo sa bangko. After that, he and his family laughed at me! Why are they laughing?! Nagsasabi naman ako ng totoo! I'm not maarten or what, I just don't know how to eat this! What if I eat the fish thorn and die in their house?! Oh no! Hindi pwede! They're strangers to me, baka pati sila ma-istress sa‘kin!

“Aba, ‘yon lang pala!” Tumawa ang isa pang lalaki na katabi ng lola niya. I think daddy ni Dos. “Nak, himayan mo nga! Para matikman niya luto ni Mameng!”

“‘Yon talaga gagawin ko, paps,” Dos laughed before taking my plate. “Ganito lang kasi ’yan, oh,” he said while teaching me how to do it properly. My brows furrowed while watching him. Does he want me to eat that food?! He f*****g removed the thorn using his bare hands! What if puno pala ng germs ‘yon?! Edi, nagkasakit lang ako!

“Your hands are dirty, I won't eat that,” I looked away. Kukuha na sana ako ng isa pang plato pero agad niya akong inawat. "What now?! I don't want to eat that, it's already dirty because you didn't wash your hands earlier! So you should just eat that food!”

“It‘s already dirty because you didn't wash your hands earlier...” He mocked me and laughed a bit. Gosh, he's handsome naman pero bakit ba ang annoying niya?! “Malinis kamay ko, ‘no! Alam kong maarte ka kaya naghugas ako para naman hindi ka magreklamo, kaya kakainin mo ‘to!”

“Are you insulting me?” I raised my brow. “Excuse me Mr. Stink, but I‘m not maarte. I just don't want to eat that food because it's already dirty-”

“Excuse me rin, Ms. maarteng tisay, pero hindi nga ‘to dirty!” He laughed. Why the f**k is he laughing at me?! Pati rin family niya! “Kakainin mo ba ‘to o ibibili na lang kita ng hotdog sa labas?” I don't know if that's a good idea or he's scaring me!

“Ayaw yata, Dos, sige bumili ka na lang sa labas,“ nilabas nung Daddy niya ‘yung wallet kaya Dos stood up, waiting for the money.

“Wait! No, I‘ll eat this! I promise!” Sabi ko kay Dos, bahagya siyang hinihila paupo.

“Buti naman,” he laughed before he sat down again.

“Finish mo na ‘yan,” tinuro ko ‘yung plato tsaka siya tinitignan. He was also staring at me as he bit his lower lip, trying to stop himself from laughing. I rolled my eyes at him so he smiled wider as if I was joking or something's funny in me!

“Oh, siya, kumain ka na tisay,” the old woman smiled at me. Kumuha ako nang kutsara para tikman ‘yon. Nilagyan pa ni Dos ng sabaw ‘yung kanin ko kaya hindi na ako nagreklamo. Inamoy ko ‘yung kanin at ulam na na sa kutsara bago ko kinain.

“Maasim ‘yan ha, pero hindi ‘yan panis!” His dad told me.

Natahimik lang ako habang ngumunguya. What the f**k?! Bakit mas masarap pa ‘yung specialty ng lola niya kaysa sa luto ng chef namin?!

“Ayaw mo?” Tanong ni Dos, nakatingin sa‘kin.

“It‘s good, uubusin ko,” I told him. Hindi ko pinahalatang nasarapan ako pero mukhang alam naman ng lola niya kasi nilagay niya pa ulit ‘yung isang fish sa empty plate para himayin ni Dos.

After we eat, bumalik ako sa kwarto ng lakaki. His room is not that big like mine. Parang cr lang sa bahay ni Daddy at ang buong bahay ay kasing laki lang ng room nila Dad. But, may plus point siya sa‘kin! Even if his room is small, it's not makalat naman. It's so clean! Hindi rin mabaho kahit mukhang mabaho si Dos. Malinis siya magkwarto, naka-organize rin ang mga gamit niya. His bed is not makalat naman, It looks presentable.

“Dreiven Symon Suarez...” I read his certificate. “Oh, his name...” Napatango ako habang tinititigan lahat ng mga certificate niya galing school. What the f**k! Ang talino niya! Palagi siyang top 1 and magaling pa sa math!

Dahan-dahan kong nilapit sa graduation pic niya ‘yung daliri ko. I think, highschool siya here. Parang magka-edad lang kami or matanda siya sa‘kin ng ilang taon, I don't know. He looks attractive... But, kapag naalala ko pang aasar niya, naiinis lang ako!

“Poging-pogi ka ba sa‘kin?” Halos mapatalon ak9 sa gulat nang marinig ang boses niya sa likod ko. I immediately faced him, raising my brow.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him which made him laugh! Nakakainis, bakit ba palagi siyang natatawa sa‘kin?! “Ano?!”

“Kita mo ‘yan?” Lumapit siya sa‘kin at tinuro pa ‘yung wall na puro picture at certificate niya. I gave him a nod like a child. “Nandito ako, kasi kwarto ko ‘to. Gets mo?” Napairap lang ako, ang tino niya talaga kausap!

“I know!” I exclaimed, irritated. “But, I mean, why are you still here? Your lola said you have work, so what are you doing here, dumbass.” I told him, rolling my eyes.

“Malamang, ihahatid kita sa inyo,” he rolled his eyes then he walked towards my things! Before he could get my hand bag, I immediately pulled him away.

“I told you, I can't go home!” I reminded him of what I said last night. “Dad kicked me out, duh?!”

“Alangang dito ka tumira, duh?!” He even imitated me! Inis ko siyang binitawan before I crossed my arms.

“Look, you can't take me home, but you can take me to my car,” I told him. “Where's my car? Did we bring it here or did you leave my car at the bar?!”

Natahimik siya, not knowing what to say. What the f**k?!

Napanganga agad ako, hindi makapaniwalang iniwan niya nga! “Hoy, bago ka mag-react, hindi ko alam kung na saan ‘yung susi ng kotse mo, ha! Tsaka malay ko bang may kotse ka?! Wala ka namang sinabi! Puro ka lang, “take me somewhere please” kaya paano ko malalaman?! Ang higpit pa nang yakap-”

“Shh! I'm drunk, ‘no! Hindi kita gusto kaya kita niyakap! I'm scared, okay?! So don't assume na I like you, you're not that handsome and attractive naman,” mahabang sabi ko, umirap pa.

Tsaka lang ako nakaramdam ng hiya noong natawa siya. What the f**k, baka mamaya, iniisip niyang napopogian ako sa kaniya! I mean, he's handsome naman talaga, but ayokong malaman niya! Mamaya ay magyabang lang siya ‘no!

“Okay, sabi mo, e,” he said, laughing.

“Good, buti naman alam mo!” Matapang na sabi ko.

“Alam ko talagang pogi ako,” he told me which made me rolled my eyes again.

“Can you just take a shower? Let's get my car!” Inis na sabi ko sa kaniya bago ako padabog na umupo sa kama niya. “Ah!” Sigaw ko nang may tumunog sa kama niya kaya hindi agad ako nakagalaw, sinusubukan kong magpagaang para hindi tuluyang masira. Wait... what?!

Omg, did I break his bed?!

“Dos... oh my God! I'm so sorry...” Halos magmakaawa na ako sa kaniya. He's just In front of me, massaging his head looking so stressed.

“Tumayo ka na riyan,” dahan-dahan siyang lumapit para alalayan ako.

“Are you mad?” Mahinang tanong ko. “Please, I'm sorry! I don't know naman na bulok-” Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang saaman niya ako ng tingin. I cleared my throat. “I mean, masisira ‘yung bed mo!” Palusot ko.

Napakamot siya sa ulo, looking so stressed. Para siyang tatay na hindi alam kung magagalit sa anak or what. “Sige na sige na, doon ka umupo,” he pointed the chair so I sat down there like a kid.

“Hey, are you mad at me or what?” I asked him because he's so quiet na! Natigil siya sa pag-angat ng pom para tignan ulit ako. “What?” Mataray kong tanong.

“Whatdog,” paepal na sabi niya.

“God, you're so mature talaga!” I rolled my eyes again.

“Mamaya na nga lang ‘to,” halata sa hitsura niya ang irita habang ibinabalik ‘yung pom sa deck. “Sige na tisay, ayusin mo na gamit mo nang maihatid na kita roon sa “car” mo,” he told me. I can't stop myself from rolling my eyes, he always imitates me!