Simply Yours (SPG)

Chapter 2

Krista and her dad stays on one of their hotels as the clock strikes on ten pm in the evening. Hindi naman puwedeng tuloy-tuloy lamang sila sa pagbyahe, they need to have a proper sleep that's why they pull over.

"My daughter and I will be staying in different rooms. After ten minutes bring us our foods and don't disturb us after that, are we clear?" Striktong saad ng kaniyang ama sa manager ng hotel.

"Yes Governor," the trembling manager replied na siyang kaniyang kinailing.

Her father is really intimidating.

"You're scary dad," hindi mapigilang komento ni Krista ng sila ay makasakay na sa isang private elevator.

"Am I?" Tanong nito habang nakataas kilay, at tanging tango lamang ang naging tugon ni Krista roon.

"Well, not really," her father added and again, raffles her hair.

As they reached the top floor, they headed to their respective rooms and without thinking twice—Krista jumps on her huge queen size bed and closes her eyes that turns into deep slumber.

Sa muling pagdilat ni Krista ng kaniyang mga mata, ay bumulaga sa kaniya ang nakakainis na mukha ng kaniyang nakakatandang kapatid na si Kohen.

"Kuya naman e!" Singhal ni Krista at agarang napabangon.

Her Kuya Kohen just laugh at her reaction and sit beside her comfortably. Samantalang siya, ang nais niya lamang sa mga sandaling ito ay ang lamutakin ang nakakainis na mukha ng kaniyang kuya.

"How are you our disney princess? Tulo laway ah?" Asar nito na siyang mas kinainit ng kaniyang ulo.

Without a word, Krista slaps her older brother's arms pero imbes na masaktan ay mas lalo lamang lumakas ang tawa nito.

"Baliw ka ba kuya? Wala namang nakakatawa pero tawa ka nang tawa!" Singhal niya rito na may halong pag-amba.

"You and your mouth," bagsak balikat na saad ng kaniyang kuya at napabuntong hininga pa talaga. "Bangon na, ikaw na lang ang kulang at hinihintay sa baba."

"Piper and Ate Farrah's here?!" Krista exclaims in excitement.

She can't contain how happy she is knowing that her two girls cousins are here.

"Thank god I won't be stuck around you guys," nakahawak sa dibdib niyang dagdag habang malawak na nakangiti.

As her older brother's eyebrows raise up, her shoulder fell down dramatically.

"Don't tell me..."

"Piper's here, but Farrah? Nah," her older brother replied while shrugging.

"Ohh..." Matamlay niyang saad habang nakanguso. "I badly want to see Ate Farrah pa naman,"

She heard her older brother sigh then eventually pat her head gently. "Don't be sad disney princess number three, lolo already send someone to fetch Farrah but this time it's a high ranking official and a colleague of mine."

"You sounds confident when you mentioned your colleague, may I know the reason why kuya?" Puno ng kuryosidad niyang tanong.

"Nothing special. Malakas lang ang kutob ko na mabibitbit niya si Farrah pauwi,"

Krista can't help it but to stare on her older brother's face. Her older brother Kohen Lance Fortner, is a thirty four years old bachelor politician with neck tattoo, gray eyes—that he takes after their dad, thick bushy eyebrows, curly lashes and hair.

Her older brother is very popular and charismatic, iyon nga lang sa edad nito'y hindi pa ito nagkaka-girlfriend. Minsan napapaisip siya kung babae ba talaga ang gusto ng kuya niya o iba.

Dalawa lang silang magkapatid at malayo rin ang agwat ng edad nila sa isa't isa, kaya naman may mga bagay silang hindi napagkakasundoan but the main point is her older brother loves spoiling her.

"What's with that stare and look?" Salubong kilay nitong tanong dahilan para siya'y mapaayos.

"Nothing," labas sa ilong niyang tugon. "Umalis ka na nga rito kuya! Naaalibadbaran ako sa mukha mo!" Pagtataboy niya rito at inikutan pa ito ng mga mata.

"Hindi mo man lang ba ako na-miss?" Bagsak balikat at nakangusong saad nito, dahilan para siya'y mangilabot.

Sa labis na inis ay dinampot ni Krista ang unan na nasa kaniyang tabi at walang pagdadalawang isip iyong hinagis sa kaniyang Kuya Kohen, dahilan para ito'y matamaan sa mukha at mapangiwi.

"Magtigil ka nga kuya! Kadiri," she even acted like puking.

"You're really mean—"

"Krista! I'm home!"

A familiar voice shouted that cut what his older brother would say. At kasabay ng malakas na sigaw na iyon ay ang pagbukas din ng pinto ng kwarto, doon bumulaga kay Krista ang napakagandang dilag na walang kundi si Irish Piper Fortner.

"Piper!" Krista squeal then jump off her bed.

Mabilis niyang tinakbo ang pagitan nila ni Piper at mahigpit itong niyakap habang patuloy pa rin sa pagtili.

"I missed you so much Ate Piper!" Pagbati niya na may halong pang-aasar.

Ngiting tagumpay ang gumuhit sa kaniyang labi ng marinig ang bahagyang pag-ungol sa inis ni Piper.

Mission accomplished.

"Ano ba girl? Matanda lang ako sa 'yo sa buwan kaya huwag mo akong ma-ate ate riyan nanggigigil ako,"

Napangiwi naman si Krista nang dahil sa bahagyang pagkurot nito.

"You're bullying me na naman Piper," Krista let go of her cousin. "Ipagkakalat ko 'to sige ka," kaniyang pagbabanta.

Krista saw how Piper's eyebrows raise up, that made her gulp hard. Hindi lang 'yon, ang kaninang nangungusap nitong mga mata ay bigla na lamang tumalim tanda na kailangan niya ng tigilan ang pang-aasar niya rito.

"What if siraan ko ang pastry shop mo sa media?" Mapanghamon at mapagbantang wika ni Piper dahilan para timpla niya naman ang sumama.

"Don't try me b***h," she replied while gritting her teeth.

"You're worst as ever Krista," Piper commented, and after that they both laugh loudly in the most wicked way that you know.

"I just watched your latest interview. Girl...you got me so proud," Krista, then wipes her imaginary tears.

Piper flips her hair then laugh contiguously. "That was a piece of cake my dear,"

Napangiwi naman si Krista nang dahil sa tono ng pananalita nito. "Kahit kailan talaga ang arte ng pananalita mo. Kaya nanggigigil sa 'yo si Ate Farrah e,"

"Good thing the godzilla's not here," Piper then laughs her heart out. "I miss her though," bulong nito.

"Me too..."

Piper heave a sigh and clangs on Krista's arm. "Forget about Ate Farrah, let's focus on the gifts I brought back for you," and she squeal.

On the other hand, Kohen watches the two girls in front of him in awe. Napapailing na lamang siya sa usapan ng mga 'to, paano pa kaya kung nandito si Farrah? Edi sasakit na naman ang kaniyang ulo.

As the oldest, he's in charge of watching the youngest one lalong-lalo na ang tatlong pasaway na babae nila sa angkan.

Sa kapatid niya ngang si Krista tinutuboan na siya ng uban, paano pa kaya pag magkasama na naman ang tatlong disney princesses? Mabuti na lang at mayroon siyang life insurance.

"Saan kayo pupunga mga disney princess?" Tawag niya sa atensyon ng mga ito, dahilan para kapwa itong mapatingin sa kaniyang direksyon.

Agad naman siyang napangiwi ng makita ang matatalim nitong mga matang nakatitig sa kaniya.

"What are you doing here pa kuya? Hindi ba't pinapaalis na kita?" Masungit na saad ng kaniyang bunsong kapatid na si Krista.

"Look—"

"You look old but you ain't got lover, poor you," Piper cut his words off that makes his shoulder fell.

"You're a hundred percent right Piper. Hindi ko alam kung pihikan ka lang ba talaga sa babae o bakla ka kuya?" Gatong pa ni Krista na siyang kaniyang kinanganga.

"Tanggap ka pa rin namin kahit bakla ka Kua Kohen," Piper added and even patted his shoulder.

"I'm not—"

"Hush," Krista shushed him. "Hindi mo na kailangang magpaliwanag pa kuya. Naiintindihan namin," pinalungkot pa nito ang mukha.

"Mukha ba akong bakla?!" He exclaimed in irritation.

Kailangan ba talagang magkaroon siya ng kasintahan? Masaya naman siyang mag-isa at isa pa, pangangalaga sa bayan ang inuuna at prayoridad niya. Hindi naman siya mauubosan ng babae.

"Argh my ears..." Piper groaned while pouting. "Umamin ka na lang kasi kuya. Hindi ka naman namin huhusgahan, in fact we will welcome you with wide open arms." Dugtong pa nito habang nakangisi ng nakakaloko.

"Why so defensive kuya?" Gatong pa ng nakangising kapatid niya.

Mas lalong nalukot ng kaniyang mukha nang dahil sa sinabi ng mga ito. Kaya pala ang smooth sailing ng campaign niya, nasa mansyon pala ang malaking dilobyo.

Full of frustration and irritation, Kohen turned his back to them and leave Krista's room silently. Wala rin naman kasing patutungohan ang pagtatanggol niya sa kaniyang sarili lalo na't sa loob ay wala siyang kakampi.

As he reached the huge family room—filled with his relatives, he instantly scanned the area and walk towards Polaris, thirty three years old—Piper's older brother.

"Oh? Why do you look so down kuya?" Pansin nito sa kaniyang itsura't presensya.

Nagpakawala muna siya ng isang malalim na hininga at sinabing, "The two disney princesses happened,"

Napangiwi naman si Polaris na tila ba'y naramdaman din ang kaniyang pinagdaanan kani-kanina lang.

"They got you good aye?" Polaris commented.

"They did, as always." He sigh.

"Paano pa kaya kung nandito ang godzilla?" Pagsingit naman ni Faiz, thirty three years old—ang nakakatandang kapatid ni Farrah.

"I can still handle the two very well, but with Farrah? I f*****g surrender," he replied without mercy.

"Me too," Polaris replied, shivering.

"Your little sister is such a wicked witch," he added.

Faiz groaned on their reaction but instantly laughs because it's true and accurate.

"Well, I can't argue with that because she is," Faiz's proud loud laughter echos in the family room's four corner.

Farrah is a big trouble, and he is silently praying and hoping that his colleague can make it out...alive.

"Our Farrah is the sweetest!" Pagsingit ni Flynt sa usapan na kararating pa lang.

Sabay naman silang napaungol ni Polaris sa pagkadisgusto nang dahil sa sinabi nito.

Who's Flynt anyway? He is Farrah's other older brother—thirty two years old and a marine. Flynt, is Farrah's suitors greatest fear.