PART 5
1023 Words
"EIIIIHHHHHHH!" tili ni Charisse na nagpatigil sa paglakad ni Kael.
Kael felt abruptly nervous for his little sister. He immediately thought that something had happened.
Ura-uradang napapunta siya sa living room na kinaroroonan ng dalagita. "Charisse, why?! What's wrong?!" and he asked, full of concern.
"Nothing, kuya," Charisse said, her eyebrow raised automatically in wonder. Tila ay ito pa ang kanyang naabala.
"Then why did you squealed all of a sudden?"
"Coz I'm reading." She showed him a book. "And I was just very excited about the scene I was reading, kuya."
His mouth twisted wryly. Akala niya kung ano na. Tss.
"It's a love story kasi of a rich guy and poor girl, kuya. A poor girl accepted one million pesos but in exchange the rich guy had to love her. She needs to do anything just to make him fall in love with her. It's cliche but it's still well written. The author of this book is awesome. She's my idol na, kuya."
Ang ganda ng pagkakasabi niyon ng kapatid, proud na proud, kaso hindi siya natuwa. Umasim pa nga lalo ang kanyang mukha. Pagkatapos ay pahablot niyang kinuha ang maliit na libro sa kamay ni Charisse.
"Hey! Give that to me, kuya!" Charisse groused sternly. Pilit na inaagaw ang book sa kanya. She was mad as hell automatically.
Pero wala 'yon sa kanya. He knew that Charisse really loves reading books and he did not have any opposition to it. What he does not want is when she's reading a romance genre story. For a reason that he is aware that most writers now have a bed scenes of their romantic stories, to attract readers. Some writers now do not care much about who their readers are. The only thing that matters to them is that they have to gain many readers to buy their books. And that's made him disappointed now in terms of Philippine Literature. Nowadays, published lang nang published ang mga publisher, hindi na pinag-iisipan ang mga pina-publish. Nakakalungkot lang.
"Next time I see you reading such books like this, you'll be grounded!" he warned and he's serious. He loved his little sister very much but he didn't allow it to be spoiled. And his main reason is, he didn't want to plant with Charisse's mind that she can love a poor man. Because if ever happened, he will never ever allow it, over his dead body!
It's a big fool, that in real life, poor and rich had a happy ending. It's just a myth of a novel writers that which bored in their lives kaya kung anu-ano na lang ang ginagawang kwento.
Okay, kasalanan na naman ng mga writers. Ugh! Anyway hindi naman niya nilalahat. Over protected lang talaga siya sa kapatid upang hindi na magaya sa kapatid niyang isa.
"And why?! Si mommy nga hinahayaan lang ako!" pagrarason ni Charisse.
"Basta!" he insisted, eyes widened to emphasise of what he ordered.
But in just a split second Charisse recovered the book from him. Mabilis nito iyong nahablot sa kanya. At saka mahaba ang nguso nitong itinago iyon sa likuran nito.
He drew a deep breath and searched for control. Paano ba niya ipapaliwanag sa bunsong kapatid ang nais niyang ipasok sa isipan nito? Ang hirap!
"Kapag nagawa mong paibigin ang aking anak, I'll give you a big reward. I assure you hindi ka na mamomoblema sa pera. Babayaran kita ng malaki. Dagdag ni Madam Amelia sa--" Malakas ang boses ni Charisse na binasa ang libro para lalong asarin siya.
"Charisse, stop it!" he snorted annoyingly sa makulit at pasaway niyang kapatid. "That's not happening in real life! It happened to novels only! Keep that in your stubborn skull!"
The little girl was suddenly stuck and nonplussed.
"Kaya siguraduhin mong mayaman na lalaki ang mapupusuan mo kundi lagot ka sa akin!" he last said before he decided to go away so that their argument would not be able to go further.
May importante pa silang pupuntahan ni Arthuro. Pupunta sila sa bahay ng babaeng umutak sa kanya. Sisingilin na niya ng mahal ang babaeng 'yon.
He can't be mistaken. He saw the woman yesterday. Siya 'yon! He is so sure!
•••
"May problema ba, insan?" tanong ni Jessy nang makita si Alleah na nakapangalumbaba sa may bintana.
Napakamot-batok si Alleah na humarap sa kanyang pinsan. "Insan, may pera ka ba riyan kung sakali?"
"Bakit?"
"Kasi parang may darating na problema, eh," nakagiwing sagot niya. Kagabi halos hindi na siya nakatulog kakaisip sa sinasabi niyang problema. Lagot talaga siya nito kung nakilala siya ni Kael.
"Problema?"
Tumango siya nang sunod-sunod habang nakakagat-labi.
"Ay naku, saka mo na lang problemahin 'yan kasi 'andito yata ang boyfriend mong mayaman," subalit ibang sabi ni Jessy sa kanya.
Napakunot-noo siya ng as in sa sinabing iyon ni Jessy. At kailan pa siya nagkaroon ng boyfriend na mayaman? Naghahanap pa nga lang siya, eh.
"Ano kamo?!" mas nakusot ang mukhang tanong niya sa pinsan.
Inirapan siya ni Jessy. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa'kin na kilala mo pala si pogi?"
"Ano bang sinasabi mo riyan?!" May sira na yata sa tuktok ang pinsan niya. Naku po!
"Halika ka kasi. May bisita ka. Nasa salas sila."
Halos magsugpong na ang dalawang kilay niya. Takang-taka siya na sumunod nga siya kay Jessy pero ano't bigla rin siyang liko nang makita niya ang sinasabi nitong bisita.
"Waahhh!!" Ang hitsura niya'y tila nakakita siya ng multo.
"Oh, bakit?!" Si Jessy naman ngayon ang takang-taka sa inasal niya.
"Jessy, hindi ko siya boyfriend! Siya ang papatay sa'kin, eh!" nakangiwing anya na parang maiiyak. Tuwid na tuwid siyang nagtago sa pader. Kulang nag-walling siya. Juskolord!
Napa-"Huh!?" lamang si Jessy sa sinabi niya. Lalong nalito.
Akmang tatakas na siya pero nakalapit na sa kanila si Kael at Arthuro dahil nakita na pala siya ng dalawa. Wala na! Tigok na!
"Try to flee para pulis na ang maghahanap sa'yo!" At may babalang sabi na ni Kael sa kanya.
"Hi!" kunwa'y bati naman niya sa binata. Takot lang niya sa pulis. Yay!...........
- Writer
