HIDEOUS

CHAPTER 2

"This doesn't make any sense." Sieraj said while sitting still on her seat.

Lumingon si Airo sa kaniya. "What do you mean?" He asked.

"Why do they have to sit beside me? " Sieraj pointed the twins beside her.

Sitting arrangement:

| Ryouji | Sieraj | Kyouri | aisle | Airo | vacant |

| Akihito | vacant | vacant | aisle | Enzo | Akita |

"Just let them be. Mas gusto nila na tumabi sa'yo which is better for us." Sabi ni Enzo habang naglalaro sa cellphone niya.

"And worst for me." Sieraj grunted and closed her eyes.

•~•~•~•~•

"Kuya ang aga natin dito," Elyse looked at her phone. "It's still 5 o'clock in the morning. 'Di ba mga 6 sila dadating?"

"It's better to be early than late. And it's your fault that we're here this early. Kung hindi ka ba naman nanggigising edi sana natutulog pa tayo ngayon. Oh tapos ngayon nagrereklamo ka kasi maaga tayo dito? Sige nga kaninong kasalanan to ngayon?" Napasimangot si Elyse sa sinabi ni Maxx. "Tapos sabi ni Fydyl sa'kin nambubulabog ka daw sa gc. Aga-aga nanggugulo ka ng tulog."

Elyse just stay silent and didn't bother to fight back with her grumpy brother. Aga-aga mo din para kang nakalunok ng sabon. Bumubula 'yang bibig mo kakasalita mo eh. She just snorted at the thought.

"Tsk. What did I told you about the way you speak Maxx?"

Maxx grunted. Kasalanan 'to ni Elyse eh. Kung hindi ba naman nanggigising ng maaga edi sana tahimik ako ngayon. Tapos ako pa sinisisi dahil sa pagsasalita ko. Anak ng. May favoritism din 'tong si kuya Kael eh. "Totoo naman sinabi ko ah." Kael gave him a look to shut his mouth. Maxx immediately hold his anger in. May favoritism nga. Buset na favoritism na 'yan.

"Woah. Did we come at the wrong timing? Maybe we shouldn't have booked an early flight." They all turn their head to the owner of the voice. It was none other than Akihito.

"Oh. I thought 6 kayo dadating. Napa-aga yata?" Lumapit si Kael kay Akihito at tinapik ang balikat niya. "Welcome back bro."

"Thanks Kael. Anyways I heard you scolding Maxx? What's going—" hindi natapos sa pagsasalita si Akihito dahil nangibabaw ang boses ni Maxx.

"Sieraj. Woah look at you. You're all grown-up. Asan pasalubong ko?"

"Give me some kwek kwek first. You told me to give some." Sieraj said to Maxx.

"I already bought some yesterday. It's on the house. Now give me my gift." Maxx said while extending his arms to Sieraj.

"Daya," she said while pouting and giving Maxx his present. "I shouldn't have bought you some gifts."

"Aww come on," sabi niya at inakbayan si Sieraj. "I'll let you eat it once we arrive at the house."

"Promise?"

"Yep. Promise."

"Since when did you two get so close?" Akita said while confusingly staring at the two.

Sieraj pointed at Maxx. "Kuya Maxx messaged to me first. I didn't think he's a shameless person."

"Hey. How dare you call your brother shameless? It breaks my heart Sie."

"Oh. Let it break then." Sieraj said without looking at him and eat her gummies.

"Woah. How cold of you. Thank you for your concern. I appreciate it." Sieraj chuckled at what he said.

"Get your hands off my shoulder. It's heavy." She said while smiling at him.

"Hey stop smiling when you said such things. It's scary," Sieraj just stuck her tongue out to annoy him but Maxx pinch both of her cheeks. "How can our baby koala is so cute? You're my favorite sister from now on."

"Kuya Maxx stop harassing Sieraj. Her cheeks will stretch out if you pinch harder," Ryouji said and held both of his hand. "Release her cheeks immediately. I'm sure they look like red tomatoes right now."

"Red tomatoes? Not red cherry?"

"Red apple," blanko na sabi ni Sieraj at pinitik ang kamay ni Maxx. "Kuya Aki, my stiff and aching shoulders are killing me. Where's our ride?"

"Oh right. Hali na kayo. Alam kong pagod kayo sa biyahe." Sabi ni Kael at umuna sa paglalakad. Sumunod naman si Elyse, Akihito, Airo, Enzo, at Akita.

"Sie akin na 'yang bag mo. Ibigay mo kay Kyou ang maleta mo." Tumango si Sieraj kay Ryouji at walang pagdadalawang-isip na ibinigay sa kambal ang bag at maleta niya.

"Four hours sitting in the plane is a pain." Sabi ni Maxx at minasahe ang balikat niya. Parang zombie na naglalakad si Sieraj habang nakasunod si Maxx na nagmamasahe sa kanya at ang kambal na dala ang mga gamit niya.

"Hurry up you four." Lumingon si Akihito sa kanilang apat at napangisi nalang sa kanilang apat.

"AUNT Sandra sabi ni Kael papunta na sila dito." Lumingon si Alessandra kay Yuriel habang si Savi at Cley ay inagaw ang cellphone ni Yuriel at ni-reply-an si Kael.

From: Kael

Otw.

To: Kael

Kuya Kael. Savi 'to. Send picture nga.

"Anong ginagawa niyo dyan sa cellphone ko? Give me my phone." Hindi pinansin ng dalawa si Yuriel at naghintay sa message ni Kael.

—DING—

"What? Wait. Am I seeing things right now? She looked like grandma but a younger version." Cley squinted his eyes.

Woah. This gives me goosebumps. "Parang nakatingin si grandma sa'tin kung titingin pa ako sa picture." Sabi ni Savi at umaktong parang natatakot.

"What's with the fuss?" The two immediately delete the photo and handed the phone to Yuriel.

"Malapit na sila sabi ni kuya Kael." Cley and Savi smiled and the two hurriedly went outside to welcome their cousin.

•~•~•~•~•

"Winslocke Village. Winslocke? What does that mean? Is there a meaning behind the name?" Tinanong ni Sieraj si Maxx na nasa tabi niya.

"Nope. Feel lang ng may-ari sa village na 'yan ang pangalan. Tinanong ko nga 'yong anak ng may-ari tapos sabi niya 'Lasing si papa no'n' kaya 'yan ang pangalan', so yep." Sieraj stared at Maxx for a while before looking outside the car.

"Oh that's right. Sie do you still have some yogurt left?" Napatingin si Sieraj kay Enzo na nasa likod kasama ang kambal at si Akita.

"Kuya Airo drank them all." Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin si Enzo kay Airo at niyugyog ang inuupuan ni Airo.

"Bakit mo ininom lahat kuya Airo? Stop being so greedy will you? Ang hilig mo talagang ubusin lahat ng pagkain. How come you still maintain that body of yours?"

"Hey! Stop shaking my seat! I'm starting to feel dizzy."

"I don't care. Sinapian ka na naman ba ni gluttony at inubos mo lahat? HUH?!"

"Hey, hey, hey. That's enough. Pati ako nahihilo na din." Akihito reached for Enzo at the back and slap his hand holding the seat.

"I'm hungry." Tumingin sila kay Sieraj na nakatulala sa labas.

"Ang dami mo ng nakain kanina Sie."

"We're here."

"Woah. The design is so amazing." Lumabas si Sieraj sa sasakyan at tulalang nakatingin sa harap niya. In front of her is a beautiful house.

"Welcome home Sieraj." Tumingin si Sieraj sa tatlo niyang kapatid na nakangiti sa kaniya. She can't help but to shed tears.

"Hala Sie. Ba't ka umiiyak?" Lumapit si Elyse sa kaniya at niyakap siya.

I'm finally home. MamaLa, PapaLo. I'm home. You told me that you wanted to visit here with me. I'm sorry it took me so long to come here. It took me so long to come and visit my family, your family.

"What's going on?" Kael's cousin went out together with his aunts and uncles and her mother.

"What's the fuss all about?" They were all confused because they heard some voices inside.

"Ma we need some tissues." Lumingon si Kael sa ina niya. "We don't know what happened. Sieraj just started crying."

Hearing her daughter's crying, Alessandra immediately told the maids to bring some tissues.

"Oh. No need to bring out tissues. We already have one." Akita give Sieraj a tissue coming out from her bag. She mumbled a 'thank you' and wipe her face with it.

"Have you calmed down?" Lumapit si Enzo kay Sieraj at ibinigay ang tubig na dala. "Here. Drink some water."

Itinali ni Ryouji ang buhok ni Sieraj habang si Kyouri naman ay pinunasan ang mukha niya.

"Why did you cry Sieraj?" Lumapit si Akihito sa kanya at tinapik ang likod niya.

"MamaLa and PapaLo told me that they wanted to visit here with me." Sieraj said while trying to calm down.

"And?"

"I can't come here because I have injured my leg. They told me that we'll visit here after I recovered. But someone." Sieraj didn't continue and just try to calm herself.

"Why did you injured your leg?" Maxx asked out of curiosity.

"I don't want to tell you."

"Why don't we go inside first? I'm sure you're all exhausted."

They all entered the house. They all can't take their eyes off of Sieraj. It's like their grandma is here with them but a younger version.

"Sie ba't ba ang bigat nga maleta mo? What did you put here?" Kyouri asked Sieraj because as he was lifting her suitcase earlier it seems like he was carrying a very heavy dumbbell.

"Ten books, sketching pads, 3 days worth of clothes, coloring materials."

"Nani? 10-Satsu no hon, suketchipaddo, 3-kakan no fuku, soshite iro-zai. Hoka ni nani ga haitte imasu ka? Danberu o motte kita nodeshou ka?" (Translate: What? Ten books, sketching pads, clothes for 3 days, and coloring materials. What else is inside? Did you perhaps bring a dumbbell with you?)

"Naze danberu o motte kuru nodesu ka?" (Translate:Why would I bring a dumbbell with me?)

Kyouri just shook his head in disbelief. I can't believe she brought her sketchpads, coloring materials, and books with her.

"Ikaw nag-insist na magdala sa maleta niya kaya 'wag kang magreklamo." Sabi ni Ryouji at inakbayan ang kambal niya.

"Anong ako? Paalala lang kambal at baka nakalimutan mo. Ikaw ang nagsabi na ako ang magdala sa maleta ni Sieraj. Hindi mo man lang ako tinanong kung okay lang ba sa'kin. Pala-desisyon ka talaga. Ialis mo 'yang kamay mo sa balikat ko at baka matadyakan kita dito. Gago ka talaga." Napangisi naman si Ryouji sa inakto ng kambal niya.

"Naiinis ka ba? Come on. I know that you'll still insist on carrying her suitcase. Paborito mo si Sieraj e."

Inambahan naman ng tadyak ni Kyouri si Ryouji pero naka-ilag siya. Ang mga pinsan naman nila na nanunuod sa kanila ay napa-iling na lang.

"Mabuti naman at hindi pa kayo pinatapon ni aunt Akira at tahimik lang si uncle Alfonzo. Knowing uncle Alfonzo I'm sure he'll immediately sent you out of the house."

"Wala ng pake si mama at papa d'yan sa dalawang 'yan. Mga abnormal." Tumawa naman si Yuriel sa sinabi ni Akihito.

"Kambal nga pero palaging nag-aaway. Sakit sa ulo." Reklamo naman ni Airo.

"Nē. Kuya Akihito's patience is wearing thin. If you want to sleep outside then I'll prepare some thin blankets for you."

The twins looked at Sieraj that is smiling and looking at them innocently. Both of them look horrified. Ang iba naman ay nagpipigil ng tawa.

"You're okay?"

Tumango si Sieraj sa kanila. "I'm feeling better now. But please refrain from fighting. Aunt Akira told me that he'll send both of you to Tito Del."

"No way in hell mom would do that. Ipatapon niya kami sa Mars, 'wag lang kay Tito Del." Lumayo si Ryouji ni Kyouri at lumapit kay Akihito. "Kuya tawagan mo nga si mama."

"Nope. Mabuti at naisipan ni mommy na kay Tito Del kayo ipatapon. That way you'll be more disciplined."

"Alright kids. Sit down. I know you're hungry."

"Oh. How about the luggages aunt Alessandra?"

"Give that to the maids. Sila na ang bahala diyan."

They give their luggages to the maids meanwhile Sieraj took a seat.

The whole family eats breakfast together in the garden. They talked and laughed together. While the young ones are laughing and talking to each other, the old ones are enjoying seeing their kids are happy. This might not be the first time that they're eating together but this feels like the very first they gathered on one place. They are all gathered, but right now feels special as Sieraj eat and laugh together with them.

•~llthea~•