The Accountant

"As always, this is good as it's gonna get, mapaklang sabi niya, habang nakaingin sa salamin. Disappointed siya, iyon ang lagi niyang nararamdaman sa tuwing makikita niya ang sarili sa anumang bagay na reflective. Pero ano ang magagawa niya.? The reflection is what God has given her. The only thing that could change it was some plastic surgery and mega extreme liposuction, which she wasn't willing to do. Bukod sa wala na siyang pera, ayaw rin niya ng sakit. Takot nga sa injection pa lamang. Kaya nga hindi siya mahilig mag - exercise Lifting weights hurt like hell. But the saying no pain, no gain isn't lost on her. Kaya alam niyang wala siyang karapatan na magreklamo. Wala lang siya talagang motivator, kaya hindi siya nag- e- exercise o nagda- diet man lang. And right on cue, there was a huge flash of lightning, matapos ay bumulahaw ang malakas na ingay ng kulog. It had been raining since she woke up. Pati panahon, nakikisalo sa kanya. As Maya Gomez stared at the huge sad eyes looking back at her, parang gusto niyang sumimangot at umiyak. "Stop the self- pity", aniya nang malakas. It wasn't in her nature to be like that. She had always been the glass - is- half- full kind of person, kaya maraming nagsasabi na bagay sa kanya ang palayaw na "Merry" She decided to focus on the positive. First on the list was her peaches and cream complexion. It was unmarred by any blemish. No visible pores, nor unsightly hair. Atleast, in that department, pinagbigayan siya ng langit. Second, she stared at her round eyes frame by thick and long lashes. It was her best asset. Sumunod na roon ang matangos niyag ilong at ang labi na maganda ang hugis. Everything was framed by her mop of curly dark brown hair with natural reddish highlights. Pero sa totoo lang, hate niya ang buhok niya. Pakiwari niya, mas lalo lamang nagmumukhang siopao ang kanyang mukha dahil sa kulot. If she was going to be honest, alam naman niya na hindi niya kailangan ng facelift. Mayroon na siyang magandang mukha, sigurado siya roon. Sa malas, hindi masyado napupuna iyon ninuman kasi nauuna palaging mapansin ang mga bilbil niya. And her pretty- ness was concealed by a layer of fat. Ilang beses na ba niyang narinig ito: " Alam mo; ang ganda sana ng mukha mo. Now, if you'd only lose a little weight, you'd be perfect." Sa kasamaang- palad, God gifted her with a perfect set of tastebuds. She just loves to eat, but her metabolism just can't keep up. Hindi naman siya sobrang taba. Malayo siya kina Dona Buding, Buddha at Dabiana. She was just chubby. Siguro, mga fifteen pounds overweight siya. At dahil petite lamang siya, ang excess baggage na iyon ay nagmumukhang malaki. Actually, she'd like to think of herself as curvy. That was the nicest way of putting it. "Bakit naman kasi nauso ang mga waif at mga models na mukhang may anorexia.?" q tanong- pahayag niya sa kalawakan. Perhaps, she was born in the wrong era. Kung sa fifties siya ipinanganak, sa panahon nina Margie Monroe at Darla Montinegro, malamang patok ang kanyang beauty. Habang pinaparaan niya ang hairbrush sa ulo, biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kanyang silid. Napatingin siya sa direksyon niyon, and she saw her cousin Bhel storming in, ceremoniously banging the door, and heading straight for the bed. Just as she always did as if she owned it. Maya winced when she saw her perfectly arranged bed, slowly being rumpled by Bhel's abrupt movements. Ganoon kasi ito, parang kiti- kiti. Hindi pa man niya ito nakakausap, alam na niyang may kailangan ito. Bumutong- hininga siya at hinarap ang pinsang itinuturing na rin niyang kapatid. Limang taon siya nang mamatay ang mga magulang niya, at kinupkop siya ng kapatid ng kanyang ina, ang nanay nito. Kahit may pagka brat si Bhel, pinagpapasensyahan lang niya. In her mind, she was forever indebted to them for taking her in, putting a roof over her head, feeding her, and sending to school. "What's the problem again, Bhel?" usisa niya. "Mukha kang namatayan diyan." "Well, look at the weather," anito, sabay muwestra sa bintana. Nakahiga ito sa kama niya, with her hands entwined on her head, while staring absently at the ceiling. Her one leg was bent, and the other was on top of it forming a number 4. At ang paa na nasa kama ay pinapadyak nito " Just look." Gusto niyang kutusan ito sa pagiging exaggerated. Para kaunting ulan lang, "I don't need to look, I can hear the pitter- patter," aniya. "Payong lang ang katapat niyan. Besides, de- kotse ka palagi, so I don't see what the problem is " Bhel Santillan had been gifted a brand- new car on her twenty- fifth birthday, which she was too lazy to drive. Pero hindi iyon ang problema dahil may family driver ang mga Santillan. But according to Bhel, there were so many all too willing boys who wanted to drive her around. She just has to choose which one. Ah, the sweet benefits of beauty. Bhel was gorgeous with her long straight hair, almond eyes, and cute button nose. She had honey- colored skin that glowed. She was also gifted with the body and a little height, but not enough to pass to be a model, na sinubukan nitong pasukan. Hence, the brattiness. Actually, sa tingin niya, hindi naman nito kasalanan kung bakit lumaki itong bratinella. She was just used to getting what she wanted, dahil iyon ang pagpapalaki rito ng Uncle Ted at Auntie Tess niya. As for her, she was used to getting Bhel's cast- offs. And she didn't mind at all. It was better than having nothing, which is what she would have had, anyway, kung hindi siya kinupkop ng pamilya nito. "You've got to be kidding me!" she said in mock horror. Umupo sa kama, thereby crushing the pillows that she had already plumped and fixed, at hinarap siya. "You know how I think wa- poise ang payong." Tumango lang si Maya. They silently gazed at one another for the next few seconds. "Actually, the reason why I came here is that I have a favor to ask.." She bit back a smirk. Why wasn't the surprised? "Ano yun cuz?" "May outreach program ang company today," simula nito," and I said I would go. But I think it's a waste of a perfectly good Saturday." "Dapat hindi ka nag-commit, Bhel." She already had a sinking feeling kung ano ang gusto nitong gawin niya, pero ayaw na muna niyang pangunahan. She was hoping she was wrong. "Iyon na nga. I did, because the company hunk, who is incidentally a VP, was supposed to be there," kuwento nito. " Pero ang sabi sa akin ni Pia....." Huminto ito, gazing at her intently. "Si Pia, you met at my birthday party, remember?" Tumango siya. Pia who loved pink. How could she forget.? "Anyway, she said Mr. Hunk isn't coming. So, why bother going, hindi ba?" anito. "Hindi ko naman pala siya ma-i-impress. At ayoko talaga magpunta sa bahay- ampunan. I'm not good with kids." "Eh, di tumawag ka to cancel," payak niyang tugon. Ito na, here's the favor, aniya sa sarili. It's coming. "But you are," malambing nitong sabi, at the same time flashing her that one- hundred- kilowatt smile that no guy was immune to. "I need you to come in my place. Naroon rin kasi ang manager ko. I wouldn't want her to think of me as thoughtless." But you are. Pero syempre, hindi niya sinabi iyon. "Eh, di mag- call in sick ka or something." "I will do that," anito. " But I want to send you, para hindi ako mukhang super thoughtless. Somebody has to deliver all the goods na ipina- sponsors sa company ni Dad anyway." Ang negosyo ng mga Santillan ay food packing ng mga chichiria. It makes sense nga naman na mag- donate ang mga ito. And the only reason Bhel wasn't working for the family business, was that her Uncle Ted wanted her to learn the concept of hard work elsewhere. But so far, mukhang hindi pa iyon natututunan ni Bhel. "Hindi ako puwede," tanggi niya. She tried to be firm and tough this time. " Manonood kani ni Gina ng sine." and that was the truth. And her refusal had nothing to do with the fact na may tampo siya rito. Actually, kaya siya nag-e-emote, three days ago ay inihatid siya ni Dave, ang kaopisinang matagal na niyang crush. Tinulungan kasi niya itong tapusin ang isa nitong proyekto. She worked for a CPA firm. And even at twenty- five, she was already a senior team member. Magaling kasi siya sa numero. I came easy to her like breathing. Kaya nang hindi nito ma- reconcile ang isa sa mga ledgers nito para sa isa nilang kliyente, she had volunteered to help. Throughout the car ride, she noticed that his attitude toward her has changed. Parang napansin siya nito for the first time. They even talked about watching a movie together. Nang marating nila ang bahay, she made a big mistake of inviting him in. At doon, nakita nito si Bhel. And she was intantly forgotten. Hanggan ngayon, kinukulit pa rin siya nito upang magpalakad sa pinsan niya. The nerve! Although Bhel had done nothing to encourange him,other than to smile and bait her eyelashes when she introduced them, hindi parin niya mapigilan ang mainis sa pinsan niya. This wasn't the first time in her life na nahuli nito ang atensyon ng lalaking gusto niya. When they were in grade one at Colegio De San Jose, nakilala niya si Jake sa first day of school..Sila ang magkaklase and they were inseparable. A week.after, nagkasabay silang umuwi dahil nasiraan ang school bus nito. Nakilala nito noon si Bhel. Magbuhat noon, hindi na nito binuhat ang kanyang lunchbox. And Maya was afraid that incident had a set a precedent. Up until now, she was nothing but a shadow to Bhel. It's not her fault, sabi ng konsyensya niya. It was true. Hindi kasalanan ni Bhel that people gravitated toward her because of her beauty. Maya had to admit that she was just in a self- pity mode kaya bitter siya ngayon. She has to snap out of it, like she always does. "But you have to help me," pagmamakaawa nito, that dragged her back to reality. Lumapit pa ito sa kanya, at hinawakan ang braso niya. "Please, please, please. Someone has to deliver the donation. At imagine the kids, kawawa naman sila. Think of all those poor orphans". Lumabi ito at ginawang matinis ang boses. " They're just like you, somehow. Pero ikaw, masuwerte ka, kasi you have us." Ouch! Bhel really did not know how to throw silent punches. Her cousin knew her so well, she knew just what buttons to press. But this time, she told herself to not back down. She must be resilient and stick to her guns. "But, Bhel, may lakad din ako. Padala mo na lang kay Yaya Belen. Please, hinihintay ako ni Dave," sagot niya. But to her ears, even her own voice sounded unconvinced. May movie date sila ni Gina, ang best friend niya mula high school. Iti - treat siya nito kasi alam nitong depressed siya tungkol kay Dave. Bhel didn't say anything but stared at her with downcast eyes and that very sad face of hers. " Fine, fine, fine," sa wakas ay sabi niya. Hindi na nito kailangan pang magsalita. Patuloy- tuloy ume- echo sa kanyang pandinig ang sinabi nito.... " Think of those poor orphans. They're just like you, somehow." "You're the best, Tubby, " anito, sabay yakap sa kanya. "For good measure, I'll even let you take my car and the family driver. That means I can now go on with my date with this new guy I met last night..." Habang nakayukyok ang ulo nito sa kanyang balikat, hindi niya mapigilan ang mapasimangot. Tinatawag siya nitong, " Tubby", kapag tuwang tuwang ito sa kanya. Bakit ba iyon pa rin ang palayaw nito sa kanya? Noteworthy, though, it was a term of endearment and not used to embarrass her. It had been her family nickname for so long. But must she be reminded that she once liked eating a tub of margarine like ice cream and that she still possessed the thunder thighs as evidence? Mas hinigpitan pa nito ang pagkakayakap sa kanya, at muling sinabi, " You're really the best, Tubby." That brought Maya back to her senses. She winced as she felt her jiggly stomach being crushed by Bhel's rock- hard, toned abs. Nope, she didn't feel like the best at all. In fact, she felt like the complete opposite. Nauto na naman siya ng bratinella niyang pinsan.