HIDEOUS

CHAPTER 4

Sieraj woke up with the sound of her phone. She grunted and covered her face with a pillow but her cellphone continued on ringing. She unplugged it because she was charging, opened it and found out that her cousins are so loud in their group chat. The La Familia. She turned her data off and continued to sleep.

It's still 6 in the morning at gusto niya pang matulog since late na sila naka-uwi kagabi. Hindi siya sanay na hindi matulog ng maaga kaya naman pagdating niya sa kwarto niya ay bagsak agad siya sa kama. Hindi nga niya alam kung sino ang nagbihis sa kanya kagabi dahil nakatulog na siya kaagad.

Matutulog na sana siya but someone keep pestering her so she answered her phone. "I'm still sleepy so please stop calling me."

"Ouch Sie. What did you just say to your Kuya?"

Sieraj just grunted and ended the call then turned off the phone. She goes back to sleep and didn't care about the world.

•~•~•~•~•

"Ano? What did she say?" Elyse asked while still wearing her pajamas. Kakagising lang nilang lahat. Ang mga pinsan naman nila ay dumiretso sa garden ng bahay at naki-tambay.

"She hung up on me. She said that she's still sleepy. Natulog siguro. Ang aga kasi natin gumising."

"Nasanay na kasi siyang maaga na matulog kaya naman hanggang ngayon gusto niya pang matulog," sabi ni Akihito habang nakakrus ang mga braso.

"Hindi nga daw siya nakabihis kaya binihisan siya ni Mama kagabi."

"Sinong gutom? Magpapaluto ako sa chef," tumayo si Kael at lumingon sa mga pinsan niya habang nakahawak sa phone niya.

"Hindi pa naman kami gutom Kuya pero paluto ka nalang ng pagkain. Salad lang 'yong akin. Pakisabi sa chef."

"Diet ka ba Elyse? O sadyang trip mo lang mag-salad," sabi naman ni Xaf at tiningnan si Elyse.

"Please lang Xaf. Kahit ngayong araw lang tumahimik na muna. Huwag ako ang isturbuhin mo." Xaf just shurgged.

"Anyways, Sieraj will most likely be up at 8 so we'll wait at her for a while. Magbihis muna kayo. Ang aga niyong nandito."

"Oh. Why are all of you here at the garden? It's rare to see all of you to gather here."

Napalingon silang lahat sa entrance ng garden. Nakatayo doon ang ama nila Kael, si Jordan Wilson.

"Oh. Makiki-kain daw sila dito, Pa. Mga walang hiya kasi eh."

Binatukan naman ni Kael si Maxx habang napa-iling naman si Jordan sa mga anak niya.

"I'll be at the library. Call me if you need something, kids."

Umalis si Jordan papuntang library habang ang magpinsan naman ay nanatili sa garden. Walang umimik sa kanila.

•~•~•~•~•

Sieraj woke up feeling thirsty. Ayaw pa niya sanang gumising kaso nga lang nauuhaw na talaga siya kaya naman bumangon siya, kinuha ang phone niya at binuksan ito, tapos ay isinuot ang tsinelas niya pagkatapos ay bumaba na. Hindi pa siya naligo since 'di niya pa feel maligo.

Dumiretso siya sa kusina at kumuha ng tubig sa ref. She's really thirsty to the point that she can drink 3 bottles of water.

"Oh? Gising ka na pala hija. Pumunta ka sa harden dahil nandoon ang mga pinsan mo. Kanina ka pa inaantay ng mga batang iyon. Naghain na ako ng mga pagakin doon. Nandoon na din ang mga tiyahin at tiyuhin mo pati na ang mga magulang mo."

Napalingon si Sieraj sa mayordoma ng bahay na kakapasok lang sa kusina. May mga dala itong plato.

"Kanina pa po sila do'n? I didn't know we'll be eating at the garden together."

"Iyong mga pinsan mga alas sais pa lang nandoon na sa harden. Kanina pa iyon nandoon."

"Then I'll be going at the garden. Thank you po." Sieraj slightly bow down her head before heading out to the garden.

She opened her phone and send a message to her brother.

To: Kuya Maxx

On my way. May upuan bang naka-reserve para sa'kin?

From: Kuya Maxx

No worries. Tabi tayo. ?

To; Kuya Maxx

Okie dokie. Thanks. Btw, morning.

She closed her phone and put it inside her pocket. Itinulak niya ang pintuan papuntang harden nila. Mas malaki pa ang bahay ng pamilya niya kumpara sa bahay ng auntie niya. Para din kasing ayaw ng Aunt Akira niya na masyadong malaki ang bahay nila.

"Morning Sie. Nakatulog ka ba ng maayos?" Napatingin si Sieraj kay Maxx na nakangiti sa kaniya.

"Morning," she said and closed the door behind her. "Yep. I sleep well. Thanks for the comfy bed and warm blanket." Pumunta siya sa tabi ni Maxx at umupo. "Good morning everyone. Sorry for waking up late."

"No need to be sorry Sieraj. Okay lang naman na late ka nang gumising. It's understable to wake up late since you sleep late too." Ngumiti ang ina niya na nagpangiti sa kanya.

"Thank you po. And I'm sorry. Hindi na ako nakabihis kagabi because I was out of energy. Gomen'nasai."

"No, no, no. It's okay. Alam ko naman na mawawalan ka talaga ng enerhiya since kakarating niyo lang kahapon and the jetlag."

Sieraj just scratched her cheek out of embarrassment while her cheeks turned red.

"Anyway, let's eat everyone. I know you're all hungry so eat to your hearts content."

They started eating breakfast. Sieraj felt a special guest because her cousins specially her sister and brothers give her food and told her to give it a try. Since it's her first time eating another dish other than the Japanese dish she really eat and try it all.

"Hindi ba pupunta si Akira at Alfonzo dito? I heard that they're out of country, traveling."

Akihito answered Alessandra. "They're actually on their 'honeymoon' right now Tita. Well as what Mom called it."

"There's a big possibility na magka-bunso kayo," Karalynn shakes her head. "Madadagdagan na naman kayo. Sana naman hindi sakit sa ulo."

"Tita 'wag ka pong magsabi ng ganyan. Sakit na sa ulo ang kambal. Huwag naman sanang magkatotoo 'yang sinasabi mo Tita Kara." Airo looked horrified at the thought of having another family member.

"What? Ayaw niyong magka-bunso?" Karalynn looked at Airo who strongly disagree on having another sibling.

"Nope. Never. Tama na si Ryouji at Kyouri na nagpapasakit sa ulo namin. Pati si Sieraj nagiging bayolente na nang dahil sa kanila Tita Kara."

"What? I am not that violent Kuya Airo. How could you?" Sieraj said while glaring at Airo.

"Oo nga naman Kuya Airo. Tsaka kami lang ba ang sakit sa ulo? Ikaw din naman."

Akihito cleared his throat. Tumahimik naman ang mga kapatid niya. They don't want to see their brother's anger mode.

"Oh~ What is this fear I'm sensing? Takot ba kayo sa kapatid niyo?" Samantha teased her nephews.

"We don't want to see Kuya Akihito's anger mode Tita Sam. Daig pa niya si Mama kung magalit."

Sieraj agreed to Ryouji. "That's right. I saw Kuya Akihito being angry once and he kinda reminds me of Godzilla."

"Alright this conversation makes me uncomfortable. Change topic please."

They laugh at Akihito who really seems uncomfortable being the topic of the conversation.

"I heard you're all going out. Again."

Sieraj, who's in the middle of opening her mouth to eat, stopped and looked at her mother. "But I already plan on reading a book the entire day though."

"Oh."

Her cousins turned to looked at her. "Ah I just happened to plan on reading the book today. I didn't intentionally. . . Uh you know. . ."

"Then I think we can all just stay at the village today. I mean we can rest for today since we are still tired from yesterday."

"I'm sorry. I promise I'll read all the books I have with me. If I can't read it all today I'll just continue reading when we got home. I'm really sorry."

"Why are you apologizing Sie? That's okay. We understand. We will all just rest for today."

"Yep. Kuya is right. I actually have a baking lesson with Mom today too."

Sieraj looked at her sister feeling relieved. She secretly gives her a thumbs-up. Elyse winked at her.

"That's settled then. I'll go upstairs first. Hindi pa ako nakaligo."

"Oh. Wait for me Ate. I haven't showered too. I feel like my body is sticky." Sieraj drank the water in one go. She stands up and wave a goodbye to her family. They all waved back at her and resumed on eating.

•~•~•~•~•

—KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—

Someone knocked at the door that made Sieraj stopped her hand from drawing after reading some books. She draw something that popped on her mind after reading.

"Kuya Maxx if you're here just to disturb me then I'm sorry but I can't be disturb at a situation like this. This is between life and death situation."

"Oh. Can't your father also disturb you?"

The pen Sieraj's holding fell from her hand. She didn't expect to face her father now at all times. She didn't have enough courage to face him. She's still angry of the fact that her own family abandoned her even when she was still a baby.

Sieraj lips quivered. "I'm actually busy right now." She bit her lips to stop from quivering. Her tears fell from her eyes as she felt emotional.

"Then I'll come back here if you're not busy. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

She covered her mouth to stop her sobs. Why am I always crying if it's about my family? I'm being a crybaby. I shouldn't cry like this. I'm not a crybaby. I cried because I'm happy of my drawing. Yes. That's it.

Even if her hands trembled Seiraj continued on drawing her piece. She don't like it when there's something she can't finish.

•~•~•~•~•

"Where have you been Pa? I have something to discuss with you about the company."

"I went to your sister's room but I guess she can't be disturb right now. She said it's between life and death situation."

"Must be reading something. Ayaw niya talagang pa-isturbo kapag nagbabasa siya Pa. Akihito told me about it. If you disturb her or you're being loud while she's reading she'll glare at you. The kind of glare that can give you a chill running to your spine."

"Like that of a killer?"

"I don't know but that's what he said. They never saw Sieraj being angry like that."

"Let's go to my office. You said that you have something to discuss about the company, right?"

Kael nodded at sumunod sa ama niyang lakad papuntang office niya.

3 hours later . . . .

"Savi text mo nga si Sieraj. Tell her to come downstairs. Kaya hindi niya alam makisalamuha sa ibang tao eh. She prefers reading rather than knowing other people more."

"Let her be Kuya Aki. Ayaw naman siguro nating makita ang mata niyang nakakamatay. Iniisip ko pa lang 'yon para na akong pinatay."

"Ah. Right."

"What are you talking behind my back, lowly people? To say my name with that filthy mouth of yours. You shall be punished for your sin."

Nagpangiti si Akita sa narinig at sinabayan ang pag-da-drama ni Sieraj.

"Please spare our life, our queen. We did not intend to say your name with our filthy mouth."

"I'll spare your life just this time. Next time I'll hear my name coming out with that filthy mouth of yours I'll kill you to death."

"Thank you for your kindness, our queen." Akita bow down his head to Sieraj who is sitting across to him.

"Oh. Yeah, sure. No problem."

"Umiyak ka ba? Anong nangyari diyan sa mata mo?"

"I cried because I finished another piece of artwork. It's so beautiful that I cried out of happiness."

"Really? Ngayon ko lang nalaman na iiyak ka pala kapag nakagawa ka nang 'another piece of artwork' mo."

Sieraj averted her eyes to her cousins. Ayaw niyang malaman nila na iba ang rason kung bakit siya umiyak. Malamang tatanungin siya ng mga pinsan niya at hindi siya nito titigilan hanggang hindi nila malalaman kung ano ang totoong rason.

"Ilan natapos mong basahin?"

"Lahat."

Napatanga si Wolfie sa pinsan niya. "Really? How many books did you read? I'm sure you only have 3 books?"

"I have 10 books with me and I have read all of them today. After I finished reading all the book I draw something that suddenly comes in my mind."

Wolfie became speechless at what he heard. His mind became blank after he discovered what his cousin told him.

"How about we give you a tour around the village Sie? Since wala naman na tayong ibang gagawin."

"Tama Sie. Hindi naman masyadong mainit ngayon kaya hindi masakit sa balat ang init ng araw. And you should go out for a while. Palagi ka nalang nagbabasa."

"My feet hurts. I can't walk farther than this," sabi niya na parang robot.

Hinatak naman siya ng mga pinsan niya. Walang siyang ibang magawa kundi ang sumama sa kanila. Alam kasi niyang hindi siya titigilan ng mga ito hanggang hindi siya sumama.

•~•~•~•~•

"This is the owner's house. Ang bahay nila ang pinakamalayo kasi natalo siya sa pustahan nila Papa. And yes. Our father and the owner are friends," paliwanag ni Maxx kay Sieraj.

"Kuya are some of the people here members of some. . . Uh. . . organizations? I noticed almost all of them have the same tattoo on some parts of there body. I think it's dragon? A dragon tattoo?"

"That's. . . . I think there friendly tattoo. I mean tattoo nilang magkakaibigan." Maxx averted his eyes from Sieraj.

Sieraj, who have a sharp eyes similar to an eagle, noticed the signals Maxx gives to their cousins. She sense something's wrong so she asked as innocent and naive as she can.

"Oh really. If you're friends to all the people here then does that means that you also have a tattoo?"

"No, no, no. We don't want to dirty our body with tattoos."

Lumingon si Maxx sa gilid niya. Of course. What he said was a lie. He also has one on his back. A dragon tattoo which symbolizes their group. Not only him but also his cousins and his brother. Elyse didn't know it yet.

"Eh? Why? Tattoos are cool. I want to have one."

Her cousins abruptly disagree with her. "That's a big NO."

"Right. Ano na lang ang masasabi ng coach mo kapag alam niyang may tattoo ka?"

"But sensei won't know. I'll put it on my stomach."

Pinitik ni Enzo ang noo ni Sieraj. "A no is a no Sie. Huwag matigas ang ulo." Sieraj clicked her tongue kaya naman inakbayan siya ni Akita.

"You can have one after you graduate though. So don't be down okay?"

"Anong after graduation? Dapat wala kaming makita na tattoo sa katawan mo pagkatapos ng graduation Sieraj. Hindi ka pwede."

Sumimangot si Sieraj sa sinabi ni Airo sa kanya habang si Akita naman ay iniiba ang usapan. Nagkatinginan naman ang iba sa kanila habang ang iba naman ang nagtanguan.

Even when they don't want Sieraj to have a tattoo on her body, time will come that she will have one. She will have one but not to be a 'member' of an organization but to be a 'leader' on that certain organization.

•~llthea~•