THE UNLOVED

CHAPTER TWO

I GUESS SHE was right when she says I'm an asshole -- kami ng kakambal niya actually. Namumula na naman ang tungki ng ilong nito at pisngi. That only means she's angry.

"How could you do that to him? Walang ginagawang masama si Augusto sa'yo?" She's almost yelling his brother habang sumusunod papuntang parking lot kung saan naghihintay ang driver. Samantalang ako naman ay sinasabayan si Queen sa paglalakad.

"You think, I will punch him with no reason? Of course, he did something terrible to me that's why I'm angry like hell!" Sagot naman ni King rito.

"Pero hindi mo naman kailangan manakit ng ganun. You almost left him lifeless." Naiiyak na sabi nito kay King.

"I won't say sorry, Queen. So better stop crying because I am not sorry for punching that boy." Matigas na sabi nito before walking out on us.

For sure, hindi na naman ito sasabay sa pag-uwi sa amin. He's like that everytime the two of them are fighting. King Joseph and Queen are praternal twins. And they are my only friends, my only real friends.

King and Queen are fighting because King punched Augusto to death, a guy from lower section who is wooing his twin sister. We overheard that Augusto guy and his friends yesterday talking about making Queen fall for him, in short pinagpupustahan nila ang reyna. And that makes the king so furious. I pity that boy because I know King beaten him so bad. Hindi ko lang alam kung saang hospital dinala ang sira-ulong iyon.

"Why don't you go with your best bud too? Why are you still following me?" Masama ang tingin na ipinupukol ni Queen sa akin. Kung nakamamatay iyon, I'll be dead on the spot.

I knew it, ako na naman ang sasalo ng galit nito kay King. She's like that, she is seeing his brother in me. As if he can hurt her twin brother through me.

"I'm tired and I want to go home." Derecho kong sagot rito.

"You're unbelievable! Your bestfriend is so unbelievable! The two of you is sooo nakakainis!" Nagpapadyak na sa sabi nito habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kotse. Dumistansya ako ng kaunti mula rito. The last time we are like this, napuno ng kalmot ang leeg ko.

"Quit crying, will you? Your face is already swollen all over." Binuksan ko ang pinto ng kotse para makapasok na ito.

"Come on, get inside the car now." Ulit ko ng ilang minuto na itong nakatayo pa rin sa pintuan ng sasakyan. Ang sama pa rin talaga ng tingin sa akin. The driver just smiled at us ng makasakay kami sa likuran ng sasakyan. Napapa-iling na naman ito sa itsura ni Queen.

"I hate you!" Binato niya sa akin ang hawak nitong libro and damn, it hurts for real. Huminga ako ng malalim bago ito binalingan ng tingin.

"What have I done? Bwisit naman talaga!" I cursed in pain. Nasapol niya yata ang bumbunan ko. This little bratty is capable of killing me and she is absolutely aware of that. She's not like like that naman kapag walang sumpong. Actually, she's as sweet as a honey to me.

"You said I'm ugly." She's crying again now. Tears are flowing in her eyes. And it sickens me.

"I didn't say anything like that!" I am feeling frustrated now. Kanina lang si 'Augusto' ang iniiyak nito, and now she's accusing me of telling her ugly. Wala naman akong sinabing panget siya. In fact, she's stunningly beautiful at the age of fifteen. Bulag lang ang magsasabing panget ito.

"You even cursed me. You said, bwisit to me." Patuloy ito sa pag-iyak habang itinutulak ako sa kabilang dulo ng sasakyan. Kahit wala naman talaga itong lakas ay nagpapadala na lamang ako. I don't want her to get angry with me more.I sighed. Wala na akong panalo, taas kamay na ako. Ako na naman ang may mali. Kaya ako na naman ang mang-aalo. I drag her to me and hug her tight. Lumamlam ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Okay, okay. I am sorry. I didn't curse on you. I cursed because you throw a book on me and it hurts. Stop crying na, namamaga na ang ilong at mga mata mo." I handed her my handkerchief. She took it from me and started to cry again.

"See? You said I am ugly." Pang-aakusa nito sa aking muli. What on earth am I going to do with this woman?

"I didn't." I need more patience with this little brat. Dinaig ko pa yata ang nagpapatahan ng three years old kid.

"You just told me I'm swollen all over my face and that makes me ugly." Humihikbi nitong sabi. Basa na yata ang panyo na ibinigay ko rito kaya ang damit ko na ang ipinangpupunas nito. She looks cuter while wiping her tears on the sleeve of my shirt.

I chuckled when I realized what she's trying to imply. I see. She always jumped into conclusions. Mga babae nga naman talaga!

"Yes, your face is swollen but you're still beautiful." I caressed her face and pinch the tip of his nose. I smiled at her and she smiled back.

"Really?!" Sa wakas tumigil din ito sa pag-iyak. Tumingin sa akin at unti-unting ngumiti. I felt relieved knowing she is calmer now.

"Yeah, would it make you feel better if I tell you that you're the most beautiful girl in the campus?" And she smiled widely. She opened her arms and hugged me again. She leaned her head on my shoulder. At last, the storm is finally over.

"How can you say that? I am new in the campus. Mas madami ka ng nakilala sa campus bago pa ako pinayagan nina mom and dad na pumasok sa regular school." Nakanguso nitong sagot sa akin. Queen has been home-schooled since pre-school. This school year lang kasi siya pinayagan mag-regular schooling kasama namin ni King. Baguhan lamang siya sa kalakaran dito sa labas. Hindi niya alam ang likaw ng bituka ng mga taong nakakasalamuha niya. The reason why we are so protective to Queen and the people surrounding her.

We're both in Grade 10 now – King, Queen and me. Araw-araw ay magkakasama kaming pumasok sa school kung kaya naman sanay na sanay na ako sa ugali ni Queen at King – especially into a situation like this. Plus, the fact that I am almost living in the same house with them. I am still living with Nanay Lyn since I was born because my mother got so busy with her amigas.

"I always see you naman, di ba? So there's no need for comparison. And you know that there's no doubt with that because you are the daughter of the most beautiful woman in the world." I am implying to Tita Snow, her mother.

"Yeah right, but I am still mad at you." She pouted. Sinasabi niyang galit siya sa akin pero sumisiksik naman sa dibdib ko. She's been doing that everytime after she cried a lot. She's going to sleep in my arms again. It becomes her habit. I guess, she's that comfortable with me because we're friends since babies.

I laughed at her. Tinampal niya naman ang dibdib ko. "Mad again? Why?" Sinilip ko siya sa dibdib ko. Nakapikit na ito. I bet she's tired and exhausted from crying.

"You didn't stop King from punching Augusto. You know that what King's deed is not right but you didn't stop him. Augusto is my friend. King should befriend him, too." Nagulat pa ako ng marinig itong nagsalitang muli. She keeps on blaming me. Kasalanan ko ba kung siraulo yun Agusto na yun.

"Boys don't befriend girls without intentions, sweetheart. He has the hots for you. And if I were King, I'll do the same thing to protect you." I said while combing her smooth silky hair.

Believe me, If I were King. I'd kill him.

"Do you like that Augusto guy?" I asked her trying to figure out something. I am combing her hair with my bare hand to make her fall to sleep. But she opened her eyes and looked at me.

"Nope. Or maybe a little but I like you more." Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti sa sinabi nito. Queen has been very vocal about liking me. Pero hindi ko naman sineseryoso kasi nga kami lang naman ni King ang lalaking nakikita nito maliban sa lolo at daddy nito. And aside from still being young, we are almost siblings by heart.

"Okay, go to sleep now, sleepyhead. And dream of me."

"I always dream of you." In her sleepy tone, she murmured.