"Manang Risy, alis na ako. Nasaan pala si Zaiden?" Tanong ko Kay manang nang maabutan ko siya sa living room na naglilinis.
"Sa kanyang silid. Pinatulog ko Muna para tuluyan Ng bumaba Ang kanyang lagnat." Sagot nito sa akin.
"Mabuti Naman Kung ganoon." Sabi ko. "Ah, manang, baka mamaya gabihin ako sa pag-uwi paki tingin Naman sa kanya and pls. Contact me right away if something bad happened." Aking dagdag.
"Huwag Kang mag-alala ako na Ang bahala sa anak mo. Oh siya, unalis kana baka ma late ka pa sa party ng kaibigan mo" pagtataboy Ni manang sa akin.
"Maraming salamat, manang. Una na ho ako." Sabi ko sabay ngiti sa kanya bago tumalikod.
It's 30 minutes before 6 pm nah. Mayroon pa akong half hour na bumyahe patungo sa mansion Ng mga Herrer.
Pagkapasok ko Ng sasakyan I start the engine and drive at an average speed.
I open the radio and timing naman nah Ang ipinatugtog na musika ay isa sa mga paborito ko.
I smiled. Naalala ko noong bata pa ako I dreamed na sa paglaki ko magiging sundalo ako. I want to be a soldier to protect this country against those people who tried to exploit and destroy the future of the youth.
"Daddy, gusto ko paglaki ko katulad din ako Ni lolo. Gusto ko Rin ipagtanggol Ang bansa natin sa mga bad guys." Ngiti ko Sabi habang umuupo ako sa lap niya.
Napangiti Naman si mom at dad sa sinabi ko.
"You want to be a soldier hah. I'm sure your lolo if he's here. He is so proud hearing those words from you." Ngiting Sabi Ni dad at pinisil Ang aking chubby na pisngi. "That was your Lolo's dream profession for me. He always wanted me to be a soldier like him but it's not my line." He adds while looking at me. I saw different emotions in Daddy's eyes that he tries to conceal. "Always remember that me, your mom, and your twin always here to support you."
I sadly smiled. That dream of mine will stay as it is.
I will focus to be a mother to Zaiden.
I don't want him to feel the feeling of being unwanted.
I turn off the radio when I notice na nasa harapan na ako sa mansion Ng mga Herrer. I parked my car before getting out.
Papadilim na at maraming kilalang Tao akong nakita na pumapasok sa mansion.
"Good evening, ma'am. Full name pls." Bungad ng babae sa akin sa gate habang nakaharap sa computer.
"Zanniyah Rios." sagot ko.
"Ok, na ma'am." Sabi Niya sa akin pagkalipas Ng ilang Segundo.
"Thank you." Sagot ko bago tumalikod.
I followed others to the garden where the party was held.
Bumungad sa akin Ang magagarang venue at mga taong masayang nakikipag-usap sa kanilang kakilala.
I look for a vacant seat and luckily I found 1 table na walang may nakaupo.
Huminga muna ako Ng malalim at pinseryoso Ang aking mukha before straightly go there.
"What the hell you're doin' here? Trash like you are not fitted to this kind of party." Sabi Ng babaeng humarang sa akin.
Tumingin ako sa paligid to see if may nakapansin sa Amin at mabuti na Lang Wala because almost all of the visitors Are busy minding their business.
"I am invited. Is that enough reason for me to go here?" Sagot ko sa kanya ng seyoso.
Tumingin siya sa akin Ng matalim.
"Don't bring your squatter behavior at this important event of my friend, Mrs. Verdel. Don't you want that people will know your true color, right?" I ask her while smiling. " If I were you I'm gonna shut my mouth. And pls. step out of my way. I'm not here to entertain an attention seeker like you." Pahayag ko at tinalikuran siya.
"No one dares turn their back to me, stupid. I'm not yet done with you." She said and grasped my elbow.
I face her.
"Let go of my hand before I forgot that you're the first lady of this city," Naiinis na Sabi ko sa kanya at iwinaksi ko Ang kanyang kamay. "Next time you lay your filthy hand on me. I won't hesitate to break that hand of yours. Put that in your mind." Inilapit ko Ang aking mukha sa kanyang Tenga sabay mapanuyang sabing." first lady" at pagkatapos ay ngnitian ko siya. " Enjoy the night." At tumalikod.
The hell with that woman. She's getting on my nerves.
I compose myself before I sit.
Pagkalipas Ng ilang segundo nagsimula na Ang program para sa party.
I saw Ayla walking in the aisle with a handsome guy that is familiar to me. And behind them is a beautiful lady with a handsome guy also.
I'm happy to see her at this moment.
Masaya ako na Makita siyang masaya kasama Ang mga taong mahahalaga sa kanya.
I smiled when this guy name Ali. Have a surprise proposal for her.
Everyone in this venue is happy for her.
"Ate, I'm glad you came." Masayang sabi niya sa akin at niyakap ako.
"Of course, I don't want to miss this special occasion of yours, Ay²" Sabi ko sa kanya at gumanti Ng yakap. "Congratulations, mukhang nangangamoy wedding ka sa susunod na event that you're going to invite me." Dagdag ko at tumawa.
Napatawa din siya sa sinabi ko at namula.
"Thank you, so much ate."masaya niyang sabi sa akin.
"Eylul, come here." Tawag Niya sa kanyang kambal.
-----
Zeke's POV
"Tebrikler, Ali. (Congratulations, Ali)" Bungad ko sa kanya as he arrived at our table.
"Sonunda onu resmen senin yaptın, ahbap. (finally, you make her officially yours, dude.)" Bati Naman sa kanya Ni Akane.
"Ablamı ağlatmaya cüret edersen yüzünü kırarım Ali. (I'll break your face if you dare make my sister cry, Ali.)" Pabiro na seryosong Sabi Naman Ni Sage sa kanya.
"Sağolun beyler. (Thank you, guys)" masayang sabi niya sa Amin. "Ve merak etme Sage. Sözümü tutacağım. (And don't worry, Sage. I'll keep my promise.)" He said seriously.
"Ali is now engaged. Who do you think is next?" Akane said after our toast.
"It's obviously you, moron." I blurted out that makes Ali and Sage laugh.
"I'm serious, insan." Pahayag Niya at nag pout.
"Among the three of you, ikaw Ang may malaking possibilities na susunod na mag proposed. Unless you're not taking Mr. Monteclaro's daughter seriously." Pahayag Ni Ali.
"Hey, I'm serious to Senna. You know how much I treasure her." Sabi Niya Ng nakangiti. "But I'm not yet ready to settle down." Kanyang dagdag. "Eh, ikaw insan? Kailan ka?" Nakangising Tanong Niya sa akin
Sasagot na Sana ako Ng lumapit sa Amin si Ayla kasama Ang babae na Hindi ko inaasahan.
My friends are looking at me.
"Hello, love." Bati Ni Ayla Kay Ali at hinalikan Ito sa pisngi.
"Guys, I want you to meet ate Niyah." Masayang sabi niya habang nakatingin sa kanyang kasamang babae.
Zanniyah's POV
I notice na natigilan Ang fiance Ni Ayla at mga kaibigan nito Ng Makita ako.
"Good evening," I greeted and look at them one by one with a smile not until I saw the arrogant guy that I unfortunately bump last week.
He looks at me seriously as if he's digging something inside me.
"Ate, these are the men I'm telling to you," Ayla said with a proud smile. "The handsome guy, right there is my Kuya Sage. He may look snobbish but if you know him more he's one of the most caring guys you've met. And.... He's single ate" natatawa niyang dagdag na ikinataas Ng kilay ko sa kanya.
"You're not selling me to your old friend Ayla, right?" Seryosong Sabi Ng Kuya Niya sabay tungga Ng wine.
"I'm just kidding Kuya." Pahayag Niya. "Atsaka Malay mo diba, ate Niyah is also single. Malay natin baka this is the perfect time that you're goin' ta have a girlfriend, right ate?" Nakangiting tanong nito sa akin.
Napakamot ako sa aking leeg.
"I don't have time for that, Ayla. And you know that." Sagot ko sa kanya at nagpout siya sa akin.
"Hindi pwedeng tatanda kang dalaga, ate. Kung ayaw mo sa kuya ko edi kay kuya Zeke ka na Lang." Sabi Niya na naging dahilang napaubo Ang mga lalaki sa narinig.
"That woman is not my type, Ayla." Malamig na pahayag ng lalaki na may-ari Ng sasakyang nabangga ko last week.
"And you're not my type too, Mr. I don't like an arrogant guy like you." Sagot ko din sa kanya at binigyan siya Ng masamang tingin.
Biglang nagkaroon Ng tensyon sa pagitan naming dalawa.
"Nagbibiro Lang ako, huwag niyo namang tutuhanin. Kung makatingin kayo sa isa't Isa mapapaisip talaga ako na mukhang may nakaraan kayong dalawa Ni kuya Zeke, ate." Pabiro na sabi Ni Ayla para mapagaan ang atmospera sa paligid.
"Love, that's enough." Saway Ni Ali Kay Ayla dahil mas lalong bumigat Ang tensyon sa pagitan naming dalawa.
What the hell is the problem of this man with me?
Kung makatingin parang katayin ako Ng buhay.
"Ahm, ate. To formally introduce to you, my fiance. He's Ali. Ali Yildirim." Ayla said to divert my attention.
Napatingin ako sa fiance Ni Ayla na seryosong nakatingin sa akin.
"Finally, It's an honor for me to know the man that got the heart of Ayla. Pls. take care of her, Mr. Yildirim if you don't want someone will ghost you." I said that make his forehead crinkle.
"Ate, don't scare my love." Saway Niya sa akin.
I just shrug as answer for her.
"And lastly, that guy na singkit Ang Mata. He's Akane. Akane Yamashita. The cousin of Kuya Zeke. The clown of their group."
"Aylul, how come you've got a friend like her?" Seryosong Tanong bigla Ng lalaking nag ngangalang Akane.
"Kuya, Akane. Pls. Don't be rude." Sabi Ni Ayla.
"Ate is one of my playmates when I was 13. She and ate Za...."
"Ayla" I stop her from what she's about to spill. "Sorry to interrupt," I said and whispered the last words I want tell to her.
"Oh sure, ate. Pls. Follow me. Love, kuyas pls. Excuse us." Pahayag Ni Ayla bago kami tumalikod.