Somewhere Between Friends

5th Stop

"I don't know if I am at fault in the way I raised our children, Dad,"  I looked at my mother who's about to cry.  My father just winked at me and at my twin brother, Eric.  "At ikaw!"  sabay tapik kay Daddy.  "Tatawa tawa ka lang!  Aren't you worried about these things?  Malalayo na sa atin ang mga anak mo!"  and she sat on the couch.

My father lovingly hugged her.  "Babe, they have to do this for their own good.  Para hindi laging naka-asa sa iyo.  Kulang na lang, subuan mo ang mga iyan kapag nasa tabi mo, eh.  Ultimong si Gwain, parang baby pa rin ang tingin mo hanggang ngayon."

We all giggled when we saw our elder brother scratched his nape.  Totoo naman kasi ang sinabi ni Daddy.  She's a hands-on mom.  Kahit marami kaming kasama sa bahay, mas gugustuhin niyang siya ang mag-asikaso sa amin. Lalaine Villaluz is the best mother in the whole world!   

When my twin brother and I decided to study abroad, si Kuya Gwain ang una naming nilapitan.  Alam kasi naming kapag si Mommy agad, she will definitely be against it.  Then our brother talked to Dad. Hindi man agad ito pumayag, he tried to hear our side, of course, with Kuya backing us up.  So when we told Mom about it, she said no right away.  Nagtalo pa sila ni Daddy at ilang araw na paki-usapan pa talaga ang nangyari.  

"At ang hindi ko maintindihan, bakit gusto pa ninyong maglayong dalawa?  Since the day that your father planted the two of you inside me, hanggang ngayon, hindi kayo naghihiwalay!  So will you please tell me why you,"  she pointed at my twin brother.  "Wants to go in London and you,"  at me.  "Wants to be in Manila?  Please enlighten me, mga anak at hindi maintindihan ng Mommy ninyo iyon,"  salubong ang kilay niya habang tinitignan kami.  Si Daddy naman, hindi pa rin mawala wala ang ngiti.

"Basta ako, Mom, Lolo and Lola are there in London, as well as Tita Sol so I think, you will worry about me less than her,"  sagot ni Eric sabay siko ng mahina sa akin, urging me to talk. 

 Sa akin naman bumaling ang tingin ni Mommy.  I cleared my throat.  "Mom, I have my brother with me.  Isn't that enough reason for you to let me study there?  Besides, ayoko naman pong tuwing may makakakilala sa akin, they will see me as a Villaluz.  And competing with my twin is not healthy for me.  I hate it,"  hinarap ko si Eric.  "Don't tell me, you like competing with me?"

He smiled and nod.  I almost rolled my eyes, but instead, just snorted at him.  "Ewan ko sa iyo, Eric, basta ako, sawa na maging classmate mo.  I want a new environment.  Something fresh....."

"Manila is not fresh," napatingin ako sa kanya.  "Grabe kaya ang pollution doon!  The last time I went in there, I almost cannot breathe!"

"Sabihin mo, hikain ka kasi!"  I stuck out my tongue.  Nagsisimula na naman kasi siya ng simpleng pang-iinis sa akin.  I thought he is going to support me in this pero mukhang hindi pala fully ang pag-payag niya.  

Ako naman kasi ang naka-isip na mag-hiwalay kaming dalawa.  Ayoko naman kasing lagi na lang kaming magkasama at tinatawag na 1st Villaluz Twins.  It is not that I don't love my twin brother and my family because I love them more than my life but as of this early, I want to be independent.

"That is why I love to annoy you, Sis!" sabay kurot sa pisngi ko.  "Ang bilis mong mainis,"  and he grinned.

Our mother cleared her throat kaya napatingin kami sa kanya at umayos ng pag-kakaupo.  "And Erica, your brother is living in Palawan......the school that you chose is in Manila.  So how can he take care of you, huh?"

"Mom,"  pinigilan kong mangiti nang marinig ko ang boses ni Kuya Gwain.  To the rescue agad ang aking mahal na kuya!  "I have my place which is highly secured.  Pwede kong gawing lingguhan ang pag-uwi sa hacienda and I will take her with me.  I have well-trained people in there so there will be no problem if I will stay more time in Manila."

I raised my chin and smiled.  I know, I can always rely on my big brother.  I am his fav among all.  Maybe because I was the only girl in the family before.  Lately lang naman dumating si Aquizzah Leigh sa amin, our youngest sister, kaya dalawa na kaming Princess sa bahay ngayon, and of course, my mother as the only Queen.  It's not a secret to everyone that there are lots of women around who are trying to steal the glorious crown from her head but nobody succeeded.  It is because my Dad loves only her.  For him, my mother is everything.  Without her, he will be nothing.  We might be his children but his love for our mother is so great and he's so proud to boast it out.    Kung saan naroroon ang isa, dapat, nandoon din ang isa.  Hinding hindi mo sila mapapaghiwalay.  

"Do you remember before when you were still studying, Gwain?  Ayokong nalalayo ka sa paningin ko.  I can let you study somewhere else but within my reach.  Pero ngayon, you want your sister to study in Manila which is so far.....isama pang hindi na ganoon ka-safe ang siyudad!  Are you out of your mind, Gwain? Nanaisin mong mapahamak ang kapatid mo maibigay mo lang ang kapritso niya!"  she's starting her sweet rant again and we are all used to it.  Sobra lang talagang over protective si Mommy sa amin.  Si Daddy, he's more of a silent worker.  Malalaman mo na lang, mga bodyguards mo na pala ang nakasunod sa iyo.  Nagsimula ang pagiging paranoid nilang dalawa simula noong may mangyari kay Mommy sa mismong bahay pa namin.  Kaya hindi namin masisisi kung ganito sila sa aming magkakapatid.  And we both love them for that.

"So you are implying that you don't trust me, do you?"  si Kuya naman, he is using some tactics to my Mom.  Alam kasi niya kung kailan susuko si Mommy.  And I found it so effective but it is only Kuya who can do that.  Mukhang na-master na niya iyon dahil one time, Eric tried to use it to Mom and she easily eats him.  Ang lakas ng tawa ko ng bumalik siya sa akin at sinabing piningot daw siya ni Mommy kaya simula noon, hindi na niya inulit.  

Her face softens.  "I am not saying that, Gwain.  You know how much I trust you.  It is just that babae ang kapatid mo kaya hindi mo maiaalis sa akin ang mag-alala."

"You know that I can protect her with my life.  And besides, para saan pa ang pag-hire ninyo ng mga bodyguards kung hindi nila maaalagaan ang kapatid ko?"  Tinitigan ko si Mommy.  I know that it is working on her.  Pero nung tumingin ako kay Daddy, pinigilan kong tumawa dahil yung naka-akbay niyang kamay kay Mom, nakataas naman ang thumb niya, like he is saying that my older brother is doing a great job.  Sina Daddy at Kuya, eversince ay magkakampi na. Lagi nilang pinagtutulungan si Mommy dahil kung si Daddy lang, talo na agad siya.  Kay Kuya, hindi nakakapalag si Mommy.

She took a deep sigh and look at my father.  "Dad, dagdagan mo ang bodyguards ni Erica.  And promise me, we will visit her every two weeks."

"No problem, Babe.  We will,"  he kissed her forehead.  "Gwain is there so there is nothing to worry about.  My Princess will be safe."

I gave Eric a high five and I hugged my Kuya.  "Thank you,"  bulong ko sa kanya.  "I will bake your fav cheesecake."

I saw his big grin.  "Make more, okay? I will eat that on the plane."

"Kids,"  napatingin kami kay Daddy na inginuso si Mommy.  She's teary-eyed.

"Mommy," sabay kaming lumapit sa kanya.  "Thank you po," I showered her beautiful face with kisses.  "I will behave in there and will gain lots of friends."

"Huwag kang masyadong magpakatalino doon, ha, Lou?"  napatingin ako kay Eric.  "Baka isang araw ka lang doon and the school will kick you back in here."

"What do you think of those students in there?  Dumb?"  inirapan ko siya.  "Ikaw, huwag kang masyadong magmayabang doon, ha.  Baka wala ka nang mapasukang school sa kayabangan mo!"

We are always like this, me and Eric.  Wala kaming pinipiling lugar kung saan kami mag-aasaran.  And for sure, I will miss my brother.

"When are you going to start in that school, Princess?"  tanong ni Daddy sa akin.  "And sino ang una naming ihahatid sa inyong dalawa?"

"Let's drop Lou first.  I want to see Kuya's place and the school as well.  Kailangang pumasa muna sa standards ko ang schoool bago ko siya payagan,"  napasimangot ako sa sinabi niya.  Halatang nang-iinis lang and my mother assumed that she found her ally.  

"Nakaka-inis ka talaga Eric!"  sinuntok ko siya sa braso.  "I will really hate you!"

Natatawang niyakap niya ako.  "I am just kidding!  Napipikon ka na agad!" he kissed my head.  "It is just that I will surely miss you, twin sis.  Wala nang mang-gugulo sa akin."

I hugged him back and smiled.  "I feel the same, brother.  Pakabait ka doon ha and make sure, you will always call me. Video call pala."

"Wait lang, ha,"  inilayo niya ako habang naka-kunot ang noo.  "Bakit ako?  Eh ikaw ang nakaisip noon."

"Kasi mas mahal kaya ang tawag from Philippines to London!  Mauubos ang allowance ko,"  which is not true.  Sarap lang talagang kulitin ang kapatid ko.

"Sige na nga! Kung di lang kita mahal!"  niyakap niya ulit ako ng mahigpit.

"Mommy,"  napatingin kami sa dalawang kulot na kambal.  They are Alaric Lander and Adalric Landon.  "Can we change school as well?"

Natawa naman kami at tig-isang binuhat namin sila ni Eric.  "Not yet.  You are still babies,"  nanggigigil na hinalikan ko sa pisngi si Lander. "Besides, do you want to leave Aqui alone in here?"  they both shook their heads.  Kung si Kuya Gwain, sobra ang pagiging protective sa amin noong kami pa lang ni Eric ang mga kapatid niya, ganoon ang ginagawa ng kambal kay Aqui.  Hindi basta bastang malalapitan ng ibang tao ang bunso namin especially if they are around.

"But we can go and visit you, right?"  Landon asked Eric and he nods.  "Anytime?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Eric.  Kapag nagtanong ng ganoon ang kambal, it means, anytime as in anytime talaga.  Kahit hatinggabi pa iyan, kailangang masunod.

"No Kiddo,"  napatingin kami kay Kuya Gwain na nakangiti.  "Mom and Dad will decide when,"  they both pouted at what he said.  

"Ma'am Aine,"  napatingin kami kay Nanny Sonia.  "Aqui is hungry."

But it is Dad who took the little doll in his arms.  "Mommy, in our room."  Tumango naman si Mommy.  "Later, Kids.  I need to discuss something with your mom,"  and he winks. We all kissed them on their cheeks.  

"Discussing something while feeding Aqui?"  I asked them but didn't get any answer.  They walked through the stairs, hand in hand.  I looked at Kuya Gwain.  "About what?"

Ngumiti lang siya at ginulo ang buhok ko.  "Don't ask because I have no idea.  Let's go to the kitchen and we will all help you in baking those cheesecakes."

I tried my best not to cry because for sure, I will miss everyone in this house.