Hide, Baby

1

"MAUI are you still not done?" Inip na Inip na tanong ng kuya kong si Mati. Nasa labas siya ng kwarto ko, kumakatok. 

"Eto na nga po kuya, malapit na." Sabi ko ng may kasamang irap. Okay lang umirap since hindi niya naman nakikita.

Minadali ko na ang ginagawa ko. Nakalimutan ko kasing may event pala na kailangan naming puntahan. Isang sulyap muli sa salamin at napangiti na ako. I am so pretty naman talaga kahit anong gawin ko.

"Finally nakalabas ka na rin. Kanina pa tumatawag si mommy. She's worried na baka malate tayo sa party sa sobrang tagal mo." Panenermon pa ni kuya while we're walking downstairs.

"It's fine kuya. Party lang naman ni Axel iyon so no biggie."

"Bakit ba ang init ng dugo mo kay Axel huh?" Sabat naman ng panganay namin na si kuya Mavi.

Tumayo silang dalawa ni Maki mula sa pagkakaupo at sabay sabay na kaming naglakad palabas ng bahay.

"He's so mayabang kuya. I don't like his aura." I said. It's true, whenever I look at him ewan ko ba kahit wala naman syang ginagawa, naiinis ako. Maybe because his aura screams danger.

Nagtawanan nalang ang mga kapatid ko sa sinabi ko. I just rolled my eyes and entered our car. I don't even know why I should attend his party. We aren't even close. But well, if mommy says so, then we have no say about it. She's our Commander.

We arrived at the venue of the party at kaagad kaming tinanong ni mommy kung bakit kami nahuli. She glared at me nung nalaman nya na ako ang dahilan. She was about to pinch my singit but then laking pasasalamat ko ng may lumapit na mga amiga niya sa kanya kaya nabaling ang atensyon niya.

When that mahangin was called on to the stage, I literally saw the eyes of every girls except me of course, twinkling. Don't they have a taste? If meron, ang pangit naman. Sayang din sila because they were pretty. Mommy even looked proud at him when he finished his boring speech.

The foods are served and it was really good. Doon nalang ako nag focus. What do I expect eh isang Torrealba ang nag birthday. His party is obviously grand. Punong-puno nga ang dalawa malaking table sa gilid ng stage for his gifts. Seriously? Ganon kadami?

Daddy called us to greet the celebrant and his family. Ayoko na sanang sumama but I saw tita A, his mom, looking at us so I got no choice but to come. I stood up bringing the gift that me and my mom bought last week. Niyaya ako ni mommy na magshopping tapos may iba na pala siyang agenda. 

"Happy birthday hijo." "Happy birthday Axel hijo." Daddy and mommy grreted him.

"Happy birthday, bro." "Happy birthday man." "Happy birthday kuya Axel." My brothers then greeted him.

He smiled at them and then turned his gaze at me. I lifted my eyebrow at him. What now?

"Greet him Maui and give your gift to him." Kuya Mavi said and my two ugly brothers chucked.

"Happy birthday." Labag sa loob kong sabi sabay abot ng regalo sa kanya. 

"Thank you Maureen." He looked pleased sa regalo niya.Well dapat lang. 

"She personally picked the gift for you bro." Pang-aalaska ni kuya Mati.

"That's so sweet of you Maui hija." Tita A told me. I just smiled and hugged her. 

"I know right Alexandra." Singit pa ni mommy. 

Meanwhile, Axel opened it and saw that it was an expensive perfume. He sprayed it on his wrist and smelled it. "I liked it Maui, I'm gonna use this. Thank you again." I just nodded once at him.

"Did you enjoy the party?" Axel smugly said, trying to start a conversation with me. I tried to look at the people around us and saw my family busy talking to his other relatives. Why am I left with him?

"Well it's kinda boring." Nag-iinarte kong sagot. The truth is I am amazed at his party. It was well planned and decorated. Like I said earlier, it was very grand. But I didn't told him that because I don't want to give him the satisfaction that he wanted. 

" Oh." Tanging nasabi niya. Nawala ang sigla niya. What? Nabibigla pa ba siya sa trato ko sa kanya? This shouldn't be knew to him. 

"Maui did I do something wrong for you to treat me like this?" 

Ano ba 'tong tanong niya. Hindi ko na sana siya papansinin but when I saw his bloodshot eyes, nagbago ang isip ko.

"I don't know. I just don't like the air and the vibe your giving." I said honestly.

"Tell me, what should I do to please you?" Tanong niya pa na nagpagulat sa akin.

Is he for real?

"Why do you want to please me Axel?" I asked him.

He was about to answer me but he was interrupted by some old businessmen. Sakto din at tinawag ako nila mommy to come back to our seats. He looked back at me pero tinarayan ko lang siya at tumalikod na. Bago kami umalis ay narinig ko pa na pinapakilala siya sa anak na babae ng kung sino mang Poncio Pilato. 

"Rodolfo probably wanted to marry off his daughter to Axel." Daddy suddenly opened the topic. 

"Well I think Axel is not the type who will agree to arranged marriage hon." Mommy commented.

Hindi na ako nakinig pa sa usapan ng mga magulang ko at hinila ang bunso namin na si Maki sa isang gilid para magpapicture. I need some pics to post on my social media accounts. 

It's past eleven na ng gabi noong nakauwi kami. Hindi na kami nagkausap pa ni Axel sa sobrang dami niyang kinakausap na bisita at pabor naman sa akin iyon.

Pagod na ako kaya pagdating sa bahay ay naglinis agad ako ng katawan at naghanda na para matulog.

Nang medyo nakakaidlip na ako ay biglang nagbeep ang phone ko para sa isang text message. Hindi ko na pinansin iyon at nag patuloy sa pagtulog. I'll just check it tomorrow. And I succumb to a deep slumber.

Morning came and I prepared myself before going downstairs to eat with the fam. The men in our family were always busy. Pero hindi namin kinakalimutan to spend time with each other. Bata palang kami, tinuruan na kami nila mommy at daddy to treasure family. We bond like this. Eating together, watching movies on our theater room, shopping and so many more. Usually breakfast lang kami nakokompleto since busy sila kuya sa work mostly at night.

I greeted everyone and kissed my parents. We ate and converse happily. Today, I plan to edit my photos last night and to draw some sketches.

I spent my time in my room, in front of my beige-colored laptop, editing. I so love the color of it. I was surfing when I saw the laptop case in an online shop last month so I ordered it.

When I posted my pictures, I accidentally thought of something. I got my phone and saw the message I received last night. The number wasn't registered but when I read the text message, I immediately knew who it was.

'Thank you for coming and again, thanks for the gift Maureen. It means a lot.'

I didn't bother replying. Para saan pa? I know I should change my attitude towards him. But what can I do? He's like a danger personified. And honestly, I am scared of what will happen to me if I became nice to him.

Inalis ko nalang si Axel sa isipan ko at ipinalibot ang tingin sa room ko. Then like a lightning, an idea suddenly strucked on my mind as I reminisce my past conversationwith my friend.

"Maui you should create a YouTube channel wherein you'll showcase your talent." My friend, Graciela said.

"I still have no time to do that." I answered. YouTube channel? Sounds exciting huh.

"Well, I'm just suggesting since nagsisimula ka nang makilala ng mga tao."

She's right. People started recognizing me. They followed all my social media platforms. The reason? Someone anonymously posted a blog about me, being a beauty and brain girl.

Come to think of it, I have all the time in the world since we have no classes. I, once again looked around my room and realized that it's been three years since I last decorated it.

My room is pastel colored and so girly. My bed is large pero parang gusto kong palitan ng mas space saving. I have a cabinet full of kpop albums and I wanted to put it in another place. A lot of ideas reached my mind the moment I decided to renovate my room.

What about the channel that Cie is talking?

I almost clapped when I realize to make it as a content. It could be a series of me, renovating and redesigning my room. I feel giddy just by thinking about it.

So I created a channel. Then I posted a screen capture of it on all my social media platforms telling everyone that I finally have one. I also messaged my fam, and friends group chat about it. They were surprised but still supported me.

Next, I made a rough draft of my new room. I chose the color pallette and decided to go on a earth toned one. I really enjoyed drafting my future room. I'm also going to ask my brothers some tips and let them suggest because they have more knowledge about things like this than me.

I became busy the next days organizing my things. Doon muna ako magsstay sa guest room namin while we're renovating my room. I also ordered na some things that I want online like a new bed, sofa and such. It was fun!

Mommy even joined me noong namili ako ng paint color. I also bought some accessories and furnitures that I need. This is kinda tiring but I know that soon, my hard work will be all paid off.

In a span of few days, my subscriber count boosted. I never expected this since I still haven't posted a video content. So I did what I had to do.

At first, I'm feeling nervous. I wasn't used to talking by myself so medyo awkward pa for me to take a video. I asked my brother to record me for my first ever content. I explained my plans and make it exciting for the next uploads. I also included short clips while we're removing my things and when we painted my room.

After I uploaded the video, my family and friends congratulated me. I am only starting on this new journey of mine but I can already feel the overflowing support of everyone.

Days passed and the progress in my room is very evident. I uploaded videos and I never thought it would boom this big. My followers on my social media accounts almost doubled. I seek help and advices from my other friends in the same industry. Wow, this is a lot of fun I can say.

Today, I am at the mall, shopping. A small group of teens came to me and ask for a picture. I agreed and felt so happy when they told me that they love me and my videos. I promised them that I'll create more interesting videos for them. They made my day.

I am sipping my wintermelon flavored milk tea while I wait for my brother. He should be here by now. A black SUV then parked in front of me kaya umusog ako ng konti para makita ang paparating na mga sasakyan. I heard the door opened and close pero 'di ko nalang pinansin.

"Let's go Maureen." Bigla akong nabulunan nang may nagsalita sa gilid ko.

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