ITS ME

Chapter 5

Chapter 5.

Kinabukasan bago natapos ang klase ko ay nagkita kami ni Natan 'yon nga naman ang napag usapan namin.

He is in fourth year college major also in Arts and Music. Graduating students. Kaya di na rin ako mahihirapan kung may project kami, magpapatulong na lng ako sa kanya.

Sumama na rin ako sa kanya sa palengke. Namili siya ng mga gulay at prutas at iba pang kailangan sa apartment nila.

I'm sneaking to his privacy now. Sumasagot naman siya sa mga tanong ko kaya di naman ganun siguro ka komplikado. Magkasama pala silang tatlo sa isang apartment.

I can't ever imagined, Natan looks like their father for his cousin. I mentally laughed at the thought.

"Rey sunduin mo na lang si Shiela," sabi ko habang ang cell phone ay nasa tainga. "May maghahatid naman sa 'kin ngayon."

"But madam?" ramdam ko ang takot sa boses niya. I know Rey will definitely hate my sister or even unbind their connection.

And talking about my sister... kaninang umaga ay sumabay siya sa kotse na minamanihuan ni Rey. Naiinis nga si Rey dahil sinisigawan siya nito pero walang namang magagawa ang tao kundi sundin siya.

Nagmagandang loob lang siya kapag nand'yan si lolo. She is certified b***h. Kapatid ang turingan pero di ganun ang samahan namin. Di ko alam kung bakit may galit siya sa 'kin.

Mahal ko siya bilang kapatid ko pero kung ganun naman ang ibabalik niya sa 'kin ay mawawala at magbabago lahat 'yon.

"Sige ako ng bahala, magsabi ka sa 'kin if may ginawa siya sayo..." sabi ko tsaka pinatay ang tawag.

Medyo naiwan na 'ko sa ere, si Natan naman ay busy sa pangunguha ng mga gulay at prutas. Pagkatapos naming bilhan lahat ng kailangan niya at lumabas na agad kami sa market na 'yon.

Natan's family is not a normal family, or we can say that his parents are can afford what he want in life. They have thier own company in Japan. Sila lang nandito sa pilipinas ang nag aral.

Nauna siyang naglakad habang bitbit 'yung mga binili namin. Now, I can look him completely, just because whenever our eyes met. It was humiliating me, embarassed. Inilagay niya sa likod ang mga 'to.

I opened the door and put the seatbelt. He immediately start the engined.

"Let's go?" I heard him said.

I sighed.

I nodded. "Yeah!"

Masaya ang byahe namin pauwi. Safe and so fun, you know what? Naka turn on yung stereo ng sasakyan niya at bawat kanta ay sasabay kaming dalawa sa lyrics.

We have this same vibes.

Until it was you and me...

Sabay sabay naming kanta sa huling lyrics. Nagkatinginan kami ng ilang minuto bago sumunod naman ang panibagong music.

"Ang galing mo palang kumanta Shey. Di hamak na 'yan ang pinili mong kurso." He just complimenting my voice, smiling at the road.

"Ikaw din naman," I complimented back.

Natawa na lang kaming dalawa. Naramdam kong nag vibrate ang cell phone ko. I received one message from Rey, they already got home.

Rina also sent me a message.

Your wicked sister is already here, where are you?

Unlike nothing all, Rina is genuinely concerned about me. Hindi nga pala niya alam na may maghahatid sa 'kin.

Tinago ko na lang ulit at tumingin sa kalsada. Napansin kong panay rin ang tingin ni Natan sa kanyang cell phone.

"You know Sheila?" I heard him asked.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa cell phone na nasa 'king kamay. Hearing the name of my sister will definitely boiled my blood. The flashback in my mind of what she said is always here, nothing I can forget.

"Magkamukha kayo... Your sexier version." tugon niya ulit.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Pinagkunutan ko siya ng noo.

"So, you said I'm not sexy?" I find it amusing yet he flinched away.

He burst a laugh. Lumabas ang kanyang dimple.

"Were sisters," I heaved a sigh.

"Oh? I guess so..." tumango lang ito. "Sheila is one of my cousin's girlfriend." puna niya.

That was caught me off guard. Napaisip ako sino kaya sa pinsan niya. Si Archie? Well in my case gwapo si Archie at siguradong pasok sa taste sa kapatid ko.

Pero si Joello di ko pa alam dahil di ko pa siya nakita ng walang takip sa mukha. Since were not in the same school so it's kinda barely seeing each other.

"Who?" I asked him, hesitantly. I don't know what comes in my mind. May parang nagtulak sa 'kin na itanong at gustong malaman ang kasagutan.

"It's kinda a secret. Nothing else will probably know." saad niya na nagpairita sa 'kin.

Bakit nasa secret page pa 'yan? E alam ko naman na pinsan niya ang jowa ng kapatid ko.

"We're sister and were not that close together," sabi ko na lng, napatingin naman siya sa 'kin. We're heading near from the mansion.

"Why?" He asked. Ngayon sa daan na ang kanyang atensyon.

"It's a kinda secret too." may halong biro ko. I burst a laugh.

Sabay sabay kaming napatawa. Maya maya pa nagsalita siya.

"Nagkakilala kami ni Sheila dahil magkaklase silang ng pinsan ko which is Rey at saka si Joello sa university kung saan sila nag aaral ngayon," he explain. "I think your sister is the president of that university." narinig ko nga noong dinner namin. At wala rin akong pake.

The car stopped in front of the huge gate of the mansion. I saw one familiar girl waiting beside the gate– Rina. Probably she's her a minutes ago before I recieved her second message.

Before I step out the car Rina motioned herself to check me if rather I inside. That's the reason I love her being my personal maid.

"Who's that?" Natan questioned.

Even answering his question I immediately lossen the seatbelt. Lumabas ako mula roon.

I saw a relief in Rina's faced.

"Halos mamatay na 'ko sa kaba dito madam..." she blurted out.

Nah. Ramdam ko din ang kaba sa mukha niya. She even checked me if I'm okay.

Probably I'm safe.

Rina stared me with those blank expression. Tinignan niya ako na nagpapahiwatig kung sino ang naghatid sa 'kin. She can even raised her brows.

Pinukpok ko ang ulunan ng sasakyan niya. Lumabas naman si Natan doon. As usual he's charm will definitely mess out everything yourself.

"Natan, schoolmate ko."

Pinakilala ko naman siya kay Rina. Mukhang hindi pa rin naniwala si Rina kung totoo bang schoomate ko si Natan.

But besides his charm, hes fascinating looks will be, it's more like saying the truth even if he didn't spoke it verbally.

"Schoolmate?"

"Yup!" I shooked my head.

Di ko rin gusto ang pag usapan tungkol sa pagkilala namin. When we have a first met. First closure together. Well, nothing but a friend.

Tahimik lang si Natan habang tumatango naman siya sa mga tanong ni Rina sa kanya.

"So, I guess I have to go?" He stroke his hair, smiling. Well, I find it whenever hi threw a words he still smiling. "Nice meeting your personal maid, Shey."

I smiled. "Thank you for driving me."

"Nah, wala 'yon. Sinamahan mo naman ako namalengke." Pumasok na siya sa kanyang sasakyan.

"Keepsafe!"

He opened the window of his car and waved us. We stood up for a moment witnissing how he fade out from our sight. Huminga ako nang malalim at humarap kay Rina.

Rina devilishly smiled showed, straight look into my eyes. I wonder how she think something out of the box.

"Schoolmate?" Rina questioned once again.

"Yup..."

Pumasok na kami.

"School crushmate?"

One of the guard open the small entrance beside the huge open gate for car. Doon dumaan si Rina. Habang ako ay inis na hinintay na bumukas ang malaking gate.

"f**k, body!" Mahina na mura ko sa sarili.

Maybe I need some excersise just to loosen my weight and size. Narinig kong mahinang tumawa ang guard na nagbukas ng trangkahan.

Nag aagaw dilim na ang paligid nung makarating ako sa mansion.

We head straight. Dumaan kami sa pathway. The pathway is almost dark without the help of lampost.

"How your stay here madam?" I heard Rina murmured.

That's questioned remembered everything. My family... si mama at papa. The treat of my lolo is so nice. Maganda naman sana ang takbo ng buhay ko kung hindi dumating 'tong kapatid ko.

Bitbit niya ang dalawang cartoon na kinuha doon sa gate pagdaan namin. Nakatingin lang ako sa maliwanag na bahay. Outside, all the structures are made of expensive things.

All my needs are in this package, it was because of lolo.

"Okay, yet frustrating." I flinched away.

"Huh?"

Pinaragsa ko ang kamay sa mga bulaklak sa pathway. I guess Rina already knew how my stay here. Maybe she knew but she keep on asking, just to ensure about it.

Pagpasok namin sa loob nadatnan namin si Sheila at Lolo sa sofa. They both seat facing the big screen beneath the wall. Nanood sila ng netflix.

The thought in my mind bothered me. Nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung magmamano ako kay lolo na nadyan ang kapatid ko. Sheila triggered a lot about me this pass days.

"Lolo good evening," tumingin siya sa 'kin. Nagmano ako sa kanya at humalik sa pisngi. Ito na ang nakasanayan ko everytime uuwi ng mansion.

"Apo ko bat ngayon ka lang? Napagod kaba sa school?" Lolo asked.

Alam kung natigilan si Shiela, ramdam ko ang tension sa paligid niya.

"Sorry lolo, may ginawa lang kami kanina..." I said, unsure kung maniniwala ba si lolo. Wala naman akong ginawang masama at isa pa college na ako, alam ko na ang tama at mali. Di na porket may nakabuntot pa sa 'kin.

"This is not the right time to a student who coming home late," sabi ni Sheila na nakatingin lang ang atensyon sa big screen.

I mentally rolled my eyes.

Whatever?

Atleast I do it, but I probably make sure I'm safe.

"Sheila?" Lolo warned her.

"I just stated the fact lolo."

"You have to be nice her Sheila, aren't you?." wika ni lolo pero hindi na sumagot ang kapatid ko.

"It's okay lo."

I heaved a sigh.

If I don't get the same what I deserve well let's get straight. Wala na rin siyang makukuhang kapatid ang turingan. Tutal ngayon lang kami nagkakilala kaya di naman ganun kasakit kung maari.

"Rina, just bring food to Sheyreal's room." Lolo commanded.

"Yes Don..."

Before I stormed out the room. Nagpaalam muna ako kay lolo. Narinig ko pa ang mahinang mura ni Shiela sa tabi ni lolo.

I hold the cold doorknob as I entered my room. I sat on the chair. I heard my phone rang. I immediately answered the call.

"Mom?" I said, missing them.

"Anak?" Boses ni papa. Minsan si mama lang talaga ang tumatawag sa 'kin.

"I miss you..."

"I miss you too both."

"Sheyreal kumusta ka na dyan?" My mom questioned, caught me off guard.

Medyo okay, medyo hindi din.

"I'm fine here. Kayo ba dyan?"

Tumayo ako at pumunta sa kama. Humiga ako. Now I'm completely facing the ceiling while holding the phone.

Natanong pa nila about sa pag aaral ko at kurso na kinuha. Well, I said it honestly except about the tension between my sister. I don't want to pressure and think about me either Lalong matanda na sila at ayaw ko naman silang pinag ooverthink.

"Madam dinner."

"Come in." I said.

Umupo ako ng maayos at tumingala sa mga pagkain.

"I hate her very much," Rina said, full of disgusting.

"Sinabi mo pa?" Huminga ako ng malalim.

Nagsimula na akong kumain. After eating those healthy foods ay naligo ako. It was so sudden, I'm not used to bath on night. Mabilis ang pagbihis ko at nahiga na sa kama. Dahil wala narin akong nagawa ay naisipan kung i-open ang f*******: ko.

I saw three messages, from my classmates on highschool. Thier asking me where I am now. I don't bothered to reply as if we can met each other. And one notification, it was from the group I'd joined a past ago.

Medyo di ko na rin matandaan. I barely used social media because I don't know why, just I don't like it. Spreading fake news literally f**k up the world. That they can fool people.

The sudden idea popped in my head.

How if I add Natan in f*******:. That was so f*****g ridiculous but I need to try. Wala rin namang masama.