Chapter 2 "Period"
1465 Words
After thirteen years, they successfully raised their two children with proper care and love—Elise, their biological daughter, and Ednel, their adopted son. The bond in their family grew even stronger, especially with Neil and Elise becoming as close as real siblings. The two grew up in a life of luxury after Bong fully established himself as a businessman and semi-millionaire through his furniture business.
Neil watched Elise from a distance. Time flies so fast, he thought. Back then, he was the one giving his sister baths, dressing her, feeding her, powdering her back, putting on her socks, and tying the ribbons on her shoes. He still remembers when Mama Patricia announced that he would have a baby sister. It was like a bucket of cold water was poured on him out of joy.
"Hey, Kuya!" Elise surprised him, poking him with a fork.
He didn’t know why, but he had a phobia of forks. Every time he saw one, the name "Roxas" would flash in his mind, bringing up vague scenes of someone harming a woman. He had never even watched scenes like that.
Now that he is eighteen, Neil still saw Elise, thirteen, as his little sister—someone whose cheeks were irresistible to pinch.
"Hey! Enough of that and eat! You’ll be late! Look at the time! It’s seven already! You might miss the flag ceremony!" their mom shouted.
They all sat down at the dining table. Just as Neil was about to take a bite, his sister spoke up.
"Oops! Not yet! Let’s pray first!" Elise suggested.
Neil chuckled and messed up her hair. "Alright, little sister!" he said as they closed their eyes and prayed.
After thanking God, the siblings raced to grab the chicken leg.
"Hey, Kuya! That’s mine!"
"No! I got it first!"
"I was already eyeing it during the prayer!" Elise protested, sticking out her tongue.
"That’s why it’s not yours—because you weren’t focused on praying, little one. So it’s mine!" Neil teased.
"What’s going on, kids?" Patricia interrupted while their dad chuckled.
"I got it first, Mama! Grr!" Elise argued madly.
"Since we love you both and don’t take sides, who’s willing to give way?" Patricia asked.
Neil stayed silent. Elise, too, glared at him stubbornly.
"One… two…" Bong counted.
Elise throw him an angry stare.
"Three! Alright, since neither of you will give in, I’ll take the chicken legs myself!" Bong teased with a grin.
Both Neil and Elise groaned in disappointment as their mom gave them each a sunny-side-up egg instead.
"You know, siblings should learn to give way. We’re teaching you early so you’ll be ready. Don’t be selfish. What will you do when the time comes for us to divide the inheritance?" their mom explained.
Neil couldn’t deny it—he just wanted to tease Elise. He thought she’d give in and hand over the chicken leg, but she had really grown up. She wasn’t the easily tricked, gullible sweet little sister she used to be.
As they ate, Elise suddenly put the egg white on his plate.
"Kuya, give me the yolk on your plates!" she said.
Neil smiled. His sister still had a childish side. It had always been their thing—trading parts of the egg. Neil only liked the whites of sunny-side-ups, while Elise preferred the yolks. Their quirks matched perfectly.
"Neil! You’re in charge of washing the dishes! I’m off to work. Help your mom clean the house," Bong instructed.
"Yes, Papa!" Neil quickly replied.
After washing the dishes and sweeping the floor, Neil headed upstairs to his sister Elise’s room. He planned to comb her hair, just like he used to when she was younger.
He knocked on the door.
“Bunso! Are you in there?”
“Wait! Don’t come in yet, Kuya!” Elise called out.
“Why? What are you hiding?” he teased.
“Just don’t open the door!” Elise cried out, sounding distressed.
He chuckled, but curiosity got the better of him. He opened the door and rushed inside.
Elise screamed, clutching a towel to cover herself. Her scream was so loud that Patricia ran to the room.
Patricia found Elise crying, trembling, because her lower part is bleeding or having her first menstrual period. The intensity of her sobs. Neil stood frozen, shocked by the sight of the blood.
“Neil, go to your room. Your sister and I need to talk. This is a woman’s matter,” Patricia said, her voice gentle but firm.
“Okay! I’m sorry, Mama. I just wanted to help her. I miss my little sister.” Neil's voice wavered.
Patricia gave him a disapproving look. “Neil, what’s wrong with you? Are you gay? Just leave us alone for now!”
Feeling rejected, Neil nodded and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. He wasn’t gay. He just missed caring for his little sister. They had always been close, and it hurt to be pushed away.
Once alone with Elise, Patricia sat beside her, brushing her daughter’s hair back from her tear-streaked face.
“Ma, why is there blood?” Elise asked, her voice trembling.
“It’s a sign you’re becoming a young lady, sweetheart,” Patricia explained softly. “You’ve hit puberty. You’re thirteen now.”
“Really?” Elise asked, still uncertain.
“Yes. It’s perfectly normal. Here, wear this.” Patricia handed her a sanitary napkin. “Place it like this. It will stop the blood from staining your clothes.”
“But Ma, why did you send Kuya Neil away? He should know how to help me with this,” Elise said innocently.
Patricia smiled gently. “Sweetheart, I know Kuya Neil always took care of you, but now you’re growing up. You need to learn how to do these things for yourself. Your brother is becoming a young man. One day, he’ll have a family of his own. You can’t depend on him forever.”
Elise looked down, understanding slowly dawning in her eyes. “I get it, Ma.”
Patricia kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Good girl. You’re growing up, and I’m proud of you.”
"But, Ma! I don't want Kuya to get married!"
Patricia smiled softly at her daughter. "You may not fully understand now, sweetheart, but you'll get it once you get old. You'll see—when the time comes, everything I’ve said will make sense. Here's the deal: If you don't want Kuya Neil to get married, you need to start learning how to do things on your own. Learn to prepare your own clothes, clean your room, comb your hair... and more! Once you can do all of that, your Kuya won’t get married. You’ll be independent, just like him."
Elise’s eyes widened. "Okay! I’ll do it. Just promise me, that Kuya won’t get married!"
Patricia nodded, then lowered her voice. "Promise me you won’t tell him what I said."
Elise smiled brightly, her hands reached for the sanitary napkin. "Okay, Ma! Should I wear this for my first class?"
Patricia smiled back and nodded.
-----
After Elise was settled, Patricia walked to Neil's room. She knocked lightly before entering.
"Son, can I come in?"
"Sure, Mama!" Neil replied, sitting up from his bed.
Patricia took a seat beside him. "Son, Elise has started her menstrual period."
Neil blinked in surprise. "So that’s why there’s blood!"
Patricia nodded. "Yes. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Ma. What’s that?"
"I don’t want you going into Elise’s room starting from now on," she said carefully. "You two can’t be alone in a one room together anymore."
Neil frowned. "Why not? We’re just talking or playing. Nothing’s wrong with that."
"You're both adults now," Patricia explained. "It’s not good in the eye. And it doesn’t look right."
"But, Ma," Neil protested, "what about how close we are? We talk, tease, and even play together sometimes."
"That’s fine," Patricia reassured him, "but no more hanging out alone in a room without us knowledge. And no more physical contact, either. You’re eighteen now, Neil. I know you understand your limits."
Neil sat still for a moment, then grinned. "But, Ma, we’re siblings. It’s not like we’re doing something bad or nasty."
Patricia paused, suddenly feeling guilty. She stood up quickly, unable to find the right words.
Neil noticed her hesitation. "Ma? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
Patricia cleared her throat, her voice wavering slightly. "No, nothing’s wrong. Just remember what I said, okay? Now get ready for school—your dad and I are waiting."
"Okay, Ma. Love you! Don’t worry, I’ll follow your rules. I just miss my little sister... Can’t believe I won’t be able to hold her anymore, hehe," Neil said with a light chuckle.
- Writer
