FRIEND OF MINE (2nd Generation HUGS)

Chapter 16 -I Don't Like You

Chapter 16 -I Don’t Like You

‘Zinnie! What a pleasant surprise! Your brother’s not here now, but he will be back. He just bought something at the mall.’

‘I knew. I called him first the minute I arrived at the airport.’ I place my luggage at the end of the cushion before sitting. ‘Where’s Third?’

‘He is asleep. Would you like some soda or juice perhaps?’ 

‘No thanks. I ate before coming here.’ Phoebe just smiled at me before nodding. 

‘I’ll just check on Third.’ tumango lang ako before leaning back. 

I have a month long vacation from school so I have decided to take a vacation here at my kuya’s place in Boston. Mama wanted to come sana pero may flight sila ni daddy somewhere in Spain and since it will be all work stuff so I have decided not to come with them. Nagsabi na naman ako kay Kuya Ziggy the other day that I will visit him and my nephew, but I didn’t tell him when the exact date I will be arriving. 

‘I was about to fetch you at the airport but you’ve said papunta ka na dito.’ I opened my eyes upon hearing my brother’s voice. He walked towards me before leaning over and gave me a quick hug. ‘Nagkita na kayo ni Phoebe?’ 

‘Yeah, she’s just checking on Third. Natutulog daw.’

‘Do you plan on staying here while you're on vacation? Or do you have a suite already?’ 

‘I am hoping that you’ll accommodate me here, Kuya Ziggy. Pero, kung hindi naman pwede then I will just book a suite instead.’ 

‘Of course pwede! I won’t allow you to get a suite kung may extra room naman dito for you to stay at.’ 

‘Baka kasi ayaw ni Phoebe na I am here, you know.’ tiningnan niya ako ng may pagtataka before shaking his head.

‘That’s silly Zinnie. Although I haven’t told her yet that you will be coming over since wala ka naman sinabi kasi kung kailan ang sakto na araw na pupunta ka, I think she wouldn’t mind at all.’ He smiled at me before hugging me again. ‘Tara! I’ll show you to your room.’ He quickly grab my luggage kaya sumunod na lang ako. 

My brother’s place is not much to boast about and not that spacious also, but it looks like a home kaya ayos na rin. I slept first because of my long travel at nagising ako ay halos madilim na. Paglabas ko ng room ay nakaramdam ako ng gutom when I smell an aromatic scent coming from the kitchen. Pagdating ko sa kitchen, I saw my brother wearing an apron and facing the stove.

‘What’s for dinner?’ He glanced at me shortly before stirring what’s inside the pot.

‘I am making your favorite, Beef Casserole and Tuna Steak.’

‘Eh bakit ikaw ang nagluluto? Sa atin nga you don’t even hold a turner or usually come to the kitchen to help?’

‘Syempre iba na ngayon at iba before.’ 

‘Doesn’t Phoebe know how to cook?’

‘She’s still learning.’ tumaas ang kilay ko sa narinig ko. Our mom usually tells us before na dapat marunong sa kusina ang isang babae bago pa siya mag-asawa. It is one way of showing your husband that you are a good wife. Sabi nga nila, “A way to a man’s heart is to his stomach”. Kaya nga ako, bata pa lang ako ay nakasanayan ko ng tumambay sa kitchen especially when Mama is cooking. I am not saying that I am a great cook, but I know some dishes and I perfectly knew that I mastered it well. 

My attention was diverted when Phoebe entered with my nephew. Automatic na napangiti ako upon seeing this handsome little fella. Mabilis akong tumayo before getting him from his mother saka nagpaalam ako na sa living room muna kami ni Third. 

‘You’re getting heavier, Third. Matakaw ka siguro ano. Ang cute mo talaga. Manang-mana ka sa mga Reiz, little boy.’ 

‘His eyebrows and lips ay sa side namin nakuha.’ kaagad akong nagtaas ng tingin and I saw Phoebe standing near us. I just smile at her before gazing back at my nephew who is staring intently at me. 

‘Ngayon ka lang siguro nakakita ng maganda ano, Third. You are staring at Tita Zinnie as if you are amazed at my beauty. Hahahahaha!’ I heard deep sighs pero hindi ako nag-aksaya ng time para linungin siya.

Honestly, I really don’t like her for my brother. Hindi ko nga malaman kung ano ang pinakain niya sa kuya ko para maging sila in the first place. Just like my first impression of her before, hindi pa rin ito nagbabago until now. May something talaga kasi eh. Or maybe because I really just don’t like her period. Well kung ano man ang nakita ni kuya sa kanya, I just hope hindi ito pakitang tao lang. 

After dinner ay diretso na ako sa room and freshen up. Since mahaba ang itinulog ko kanina ay hindi pa ako inaantok, so I get my laptop and browse my social media accounts. I saw several posts from Areszel which is a usual thing for her then a post from Ate Bella. Naisipan kong tawagan si Ate Bella through video call when I noticed that she is online. She answered immediately. 

‘Hi Ate Bella!’

‘Hey Zinnie! How are you?’ 

‘I’m here now in Boston, Ate! I’ve just arrived this morning!’ 

‘Really? Wala ka bang school?’

‘We have a month long vacation kaya naisipan ko na to go here instead of being alone at home since paalis rin sila Daddy and Mama.’

‘I see. So how’s everything with you?’ 

‘Nothing new naman. Ikaw ang how’s everything with you? Busy ka for sure with all the preparations for your upcoming wedding!’ I saw her smile a little. ‘Mmm. Parang something is odd with the way you smile, Ate.’

‘Ang dami mo talagang napapansin Zinnie. I am just tired, that’s all.’ my eyebrow arch.

‘Umamin ka nga sakin, Ate. Do you really love Troy?’ 

‘What kind of a question is that, Zerene Genvely Reiz? Of course I love him! Magpapakasal ba ako if not?’

‘But your eyes are not saying the same, Ate Bella. Ang hirap naman ng love na yan! Alam mo Ate Bella if I were you, I wouldn’t push through with that wedding of yours!’ it’s her turn to arch an eyebrow at me. 

‘Don’t be ridiculous Zinnie. There is no reason to do such.’

‘I know there is. Honestly, I knew that you love Kuya Ziggy. Matagal ko ng napapansin sayo about that. How sad lang because you can’t be together anymore’ her eyes starts to welled up kaya alam ko na totoo ang sinasabi ko. 

‘Stop that Zinnie. Don’t even say that, baka may makarinig sayo jan.’

‘So? So what if someone hears me! I don’t care! Pero talaga Ate Bella, how I really wish na kayo na lang ni Kuya ang magkatuluyan. I like you far more better than Phoebe!’ 

‘Hay naku Zinnie! Here we are again with that presumption of yours! Tigilan mo na yan dahil kapag may makarinig sayo jan, for sure gulo yan.’

‘But I really don’t care nga Ate Bella! In fact, malakas pa nga ang voice ko now eh! So what if marinig ni Kuya Ziggy! And so what even if Phoebe herself hears what I am saying! Paki ko! Free country ito saka there is no law stating na bawal magsabi ng saloobin ang isang tao! May freedom of speech pa nga na batas eh!’ 

‘Sabihin na yes there is, but can you be courteous enough to Phoebe for your brother’s sake, Zinnie?’

‘Hell no way! Ganito na ako so why will I change myself and the way I act? Para saan? Para maging okay kami ng girlfriend ni Kuya?’ 

‘Soon-to-be-wife is the right thing to say.’

‘Marami pa ang pwedeng mangyari, Ate Bella. Not until they are legally tied in matrimony, there are lots of things that can still happen. Malay mo, hindi matuloy ang kasal nila! Tawa ko lang talaga if ever!’

’Napaka-maldita mo talaga Zinnie! Hahahahaha!’ 

‘At least I am making you laugh, Ate.’ 

‘I have a free day this week, kita tayo. Gusto mo?’ 

‘Oh I love that, Ate! Sige let us meet!’ 

‘Alright. Message na lang tayo. Got to go, maaga pa ako tomorrow.’ 

‘Okay! Night Ate Bella, see you soon!’ She waved back before ending our conversation. 

Kinabukasan ay maagang umalis si Kuya Ziggy, he needs to go to work. Nalaman ko rin sa kanya na hindi na pala niya pinapasok sa work si Phoebe to take care of my nephew. Nasa living room ako now and reading when she approaches me. 

‘May I speak to you Zinnie?’ inangat ko ang ulo ko before closing the book I am reading. 

‘It’s Genvely for you, Phoebe. Now what about?’ umupo muna siya sa isang single seater. 

‘I was not listening to your conversation last night with Bella but since your voice is too loud, I overheard things.’ I just shrugged my shoulders and waited for what she was about to say. It took a while before she said another word. ‘I know you don’t like me for your brother, but you have to deal with it.’ 

‘I won’t deny the fact that it is true. I don’t like you una pa lang. The first time I saw you, hindi na kita gusto. And not even my brother can change what I feel for you.’ She release a heavy sigh. ‘Pasalamat ka dahil may anak kayo ni Kuya Ziggy dahil sa totoo lang, hindi naman talaga kayo bagay ng Kuya ko. He is too good for you. May ibang babae na mas bagay para sa kanya kaya be thankful na nabuntis ka niya.’ I saw hurt in her eyes but I care less.

‘Even if ayaw mo sa akin, that still doesn’t change the fact na magiging part pa rin ako ng family nyo soon. Your brother will marry me this year.’

‘Don’t be too complacent about that Phoebe. Unexpected things happens kaya hanggang hindi pa kayo kasal ni Kuya or even if kinasal na kayo, that doesn’t give you an assurance na kayo talaga hanggang sa huli.’ 

‘You are so rude and tactless, you know that Genvely. Knowing that you are not in your territory. Show a little respect bilang soon-to-be-wife ng Kuya mo and your soon-to-be sister-in-law.’

‘You know what Phoebe, respect is earned. Hindi mo yan pwede na hingin sa isang tao. If I see you worthy, then why not right? But you see, you didn’t even pass my standards. Kaya yan respect na sinasabi mo sa akin, keep it to yourself.’ kita ko how her eyes got fiercer that just made me smirk. ‘At uunahan na kita Phoebe, even if magsumbong ka pa sa Kuya ko about sa mga sinabi ko now and what you heard last night, I don’t give a s**t. Call me a b***h if you want, but that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t like you. At never kitang magugustuhan. Nakuha mo man ang votes ng parents ko and even my brother’s sympathy, but as long as I am around then I will never consider you as part of my family. Got it?’ hindi siya sumagot kaya I smile a victorious smile inside of me. ‘Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to pack my things. Staying here wasn’t a good idea after all. It’s way better to just book myself a suite than stay here with you na alam ko naman na makipag-plastikan lang ako sayo for the sake of my beloved brother and my dear nephew.’ I hastily stood up and left her behind. 

Just like what I have said last night kay Ate Bella, I don’t care if marinig at malaman ni Phoebe ang gusto kong sabihin. Mas mabuti pa nga yun at least alam niya ang totoo coming from me mismo. Well sorry na lang siya dahil ganito ako ka-prangka magsalita. Pasalamat pa nga siya at gusto rin siya ni Mama, if not ay malamang mas masakit pa sa mga sinabi ko ang narinig niya from her.  

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