TIED (COMPLETE UNREVISED VERSION)

Caroline Elora Click. Click. Click. Wala na yatang mas nakaka kalma pa sa tunog ng shutter ng Mark II ko. Papunta ako ngayon sa bahay ng bestfriend kong si Marj. I used my camera where in I had a heat vision sensor installed para ma check kung may malapit na security detail sakin. I double checked my watch, kung saan naka tago yung ginawa kong tracker para alam ko kung saan sina Dumb and Dumber. I giggled like a mischievous teenager that I am when I saw their location. The coast is clear Agent Cara Galvez. Napailing na lang ako sa kalokohan ko. ---- I was riding my bike along the Sunny Boulevard of Imperial Grande, a vast estate situated a few kilometers away from the heart of Albay, when an old couple caught my eye. Lolo Gregor and lola Willa, my grandparent's best friends. Kinawayan nila akong dalawa at ngumiti sakin. They were seated side by side on a bench, lolo Greg was splitting a sandwich into two, and was about to give it to his wife. I just had to stop and capture the moment. The way lola Willa looked at him with loving eyes as she accepted the sandwich from him, was priceless. Parang may kinukurot sa puso ko sa tuwing makakakita ako ng mga ganitong tagpo. I adjusted my glasses and sighed, channeling the hopeless romantic in me. Kailan kaya dadating ang Hua Ze Lei ng buhay ko? Eto na yata ang napapala ko kakapanuod paulit ulit ng Meteor Garden. Oo, ayaw ko kay Dao Ming Shi. Ang harsh kasi niya. Gusto ko si Lei, sweet and gentle. Bumalik ang tanaw ko sa dalawang matanda. Halatang mahal na mahal nila ang isa't isa base sa mga nakaw na tingin nila. I want to give that kind of look to someone...someday. I'm one of those girls who dreamt of being swept away by prince charming, as cliche as it is--I am a closet hopeless romantic. Pero sa ngayon, kailangan kong mag aral, because apparently I suck at math at papunta ako ngayon kay Marj dahil may kopya siya ng answers para sa exam namin bukas--kung saan niya to nakuha, hindi ko alam. Fine, binabawi ko na yung "mag-aral". If there's a term for being dyslexic when it comes to numbers only, then I am one of those people. Every time there's numbers involved, I swear I get migraines and my stomach acts up. I loose my marbles and I feel like I'm the dumbest person ever. Para akong magdedeliryo sa sakit sa tuwing may makikita akong fraction at kung ano ano pa mang equation na panigurado ako hindi ko magagamit pag naka graduate na ako. Pambihira, sa tingin ba nitong mga prof namin magagamit ko yung sine co-sine ekek na yan pag nag tatrabaho na ako? Kailangan ko ba malaman ang hypotenuse ng isang bagay para malaman ko kung bakit nag back down ang investors? Bloody hell, diba malaking hindi? Sabagay, never ko naman nakita ang sarili ko na magtrabaho sa opisina, I'd rather work with my hands and create stuff--sa sobrang pagka overprotective kasi sakin ni dad, kahit saan siya magpunta kasama niya ako, ngayon ngayon na lang din niya ako napapayagan na hindi siya kasama.  Kasi nga mom has already talked to him at pinaintindi na teenager na ako, and instead of exposing me to one of his company's-- Stealth Rig's tech labs, kung saan sobrang dami kong natutunan, napapayag niya si dad na hayaan na muna ako, and be a teenager for once. Okay lang naman sakin either way, atleast ngayon hindi na limited ang pwede kong puntahan---err puntahan pag nakatakas. I parked my bike on Marj's front porch and knocked on their door. "Maray na hapon (Good after noon) Mrs. Sandoval. " I greeted, when her mother opened the door. "Hello dear, nasa kwarto niya si Marj." She gave me a tight hug and a peck on the cheek before letting me go, then gave me a strange look. "Tumakas ka nanaman no?" nababahala niyang tanong. "Dai man (Hindi) po." I smiled and the word liar is plastered all over my face. "Well, tatawagan ko pa din ang papa mo. I know Richard is so protective of you, I don't want him to get worried." Her tone wasn't open for argument. "Uggh. Fine." I rolled my eyes and adjusted my glasses. "Nagluluto ako ng paborito ng kambal, baba na kayo pakatapos ng isang oras ha?" Mrs. Sandoval smiled cheerfully. Nice, makakakain nanaman ako ng famous laing at bicol express niya. Cooking always seem to lighten up my best friend's mother, and she's really great at it. Pero mas magaling si mom, eh mommy ko yun. "Yey!Thanks Mrs. Sandoval." I ran back to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Oh, ikaw talaga." She chuckled. "You're welcome dear. And how many times have I told you to call me tita or even nanay. Mrs. Sandoval is too formal, we're no strangers to each other." Kinurot niya ang pisngi ko. I shrugged and walked towards the staircase smiling. Tita or nanay as she wanted me to call her was my tutor in math nung elementary ako. I call her Mrs. Sandoval because that's how she was introduced to me, and I guess it just stuck. Actually, psychologist siya, pero sa grabeng pagka o.a nina Dad, dahil ayaw nilang basta basta lang ang magtuturo sakin, siya na lang nag volunteer na maging tutor ko. Her husband, Julio II is my father's bestfriend, and our current province governor. They both met and served in the navy almost decades ago. Naririnig ko na si Ben Gibbard singing about waiting from such great heights from Marj's bedroom and I was singing along with it when I almost tripped on a luggage carrier. "Cara!" I managed to hold on to the wall to balance myself. Muntik nanaman ako masubsob, pambihira. "Are you okay,sweetie?" Two strong hands pulled my shoulders up to stand straight. "Oh my gosh, Third!" I literally threw myself into my best friend's brother's arms. "When did you get back from Manila?" I asked, my eyes drinking in the glorious hotness that is Third Sandoval. Bloody hell, ang gwapo niya talaga. My hands couldn't help but grip on his tight biceps. Si Third ang ultimate crush ko simula pa nung grade three ako (yun ang alam nila, pero ang totoo, nung una niya akong kinarga, crush ko na siya nun) and for a while there, nakalimutan kong kapatid pala siya ni Marj. I felt my cheeks blushed when I realized what I did. Bloody hell, manyakis na ba ako? I mentally kicked myself on the butt. "Kaninang umaga lang, and I missed you too sweetie." Nginitian niya ako ng pag ka tamis tamis, and went on crushing my heart by patting my head and messing up my hair that only big brothers do. "Stop it, hindi na ako bata. I'm already sixteen, Third." I pouted, trying to fix my hair. "Haay alam ko, I just missed you and the twins." He chuckled then pulled me in for a quick hug. "See you girls at dinner later." kinindatan niya ako then went to his room, leaving me dumbstruck. Of course I'm pathetic. Kindat lang niya parang mahihimatay na ako sa kilig. Kaso, kapatid lang talaga ang turing niya sakin. Ouch. I adjusted my glasses and imaginatively picked up the pieces of my broken heart. "Anong nangayayari diyan sa mukha mo?" Marj's question interrupted my thoughts and narealized ko na nakapasok na pala ako sa kwarto at nakaupo na sa kama niya. I simply looked at her. "Oh, oo nga pala hindi kita nasabihan na umuwi si kuya." umupo siya sa tabi ko. "He still thinks and treats me like an eight year old. I'm such a plonker." I crinkled my nose and adjusted my glasses. "Oh, Cara.. You know my brother loves you, unfortunately as a sister. Maybe it's time you move on to someone else? Someone our age?" I gotta give it to Marj for not being subtle when it comes to my feelings towards her brother. Eversince nalaman niyang crush ko ang kuya niya, panay ang pag discourage niya sakin, dahil mahal na mahal ni Third ang girlfriend niyang si Marnie, at iiyak lang daw ako sa wala. "Besides, he's like 23, Third's old. It's gross." Humiga siya sa kama at ginawang unan ang mga braso niya. Siguro nga, tama siya. I adjusted my glasses again. "Pag iisipan ko." Humiga na din ako sa tabi niya at tinitigan siya. "So, where's the cheat sheet?" itinaas ko ang dalawa kong kilay at ngumiti ng pilit. "Show me the goodies first." Ginaya niya ang tono ko at nagtaas din ng kilay sabay tayo sa kama. I stood up and opened the side compartment of my camera bag. "You'll love these. Asan si Victoria? Bibigyan ko din siya." I said matter of factly then handed the small striped pink and white paper bag. "Nasa kwarto yata ni kuya nanonood ng Dexter, alam mo naman yung dalawa addict sa series...Oh my God Cara!" She beamed. "These are hot!" sigaw niya while holding the pair of lacy underwear. "And they feel nice too." I agreed and pulled up my hoodie. "I got the black ones." I said nonchalantly, exposing my barely covered boobs. "Wow, your t**s are really nice." Natawa ako sa choice of words niya. Kahit kailan talaga napaka subtle ng filter niya sa words. "Salamat sa genes nina mom and dad." I giggled then pulled my hoodie back down. "I swear Cara, if I was given the opportunity to swap boobs with you, I won't wear those hideous hoodies and band tshirts." She shook her head."Eto ang isa sa rason kung bakit kahit first kiss mo, hindi mo pa na eexperience." She sighed. "Hoy, you're my first kiss, doesn't it count? Also, I think late bloomer lang kayo ni Victoria, have you seen Mrs. Sandoval's knockers? They're ginormous! For sure lalaki din yan Marj." Kinagat ko ang aking labi and adjusted my glasses. "Of course it doesn't count, it was just practice just in case. And thanks to our smooching lessons, Sebastian is addicted to my lips. Sabagay, malaki nga ang boobs ni mom. Sana lang Cara totoo yang prediction mo." Marj giggled and looked at me with dreamy eyes. Sebastian King Andrade, siya ang co-captain ng Andrade Prep basketball team and boyfriend ni Marj of one year and 2 months. And as cliche as it is, Marj is the cheerleader captain. Diba parang kinuha lang sa 90's chick flick ang lovestory nila. "Salamat ha? Napaka buti mo talagang bestfriend at pinamukha mo pa sakin ang napaka saya mong love life." I said sarcastically, while motioning for her to move so that I can lay on the bed. "First of all, alam mo naman kung bakit wala akong interes sa mga kaidad natin. Wala akong panahon diyan mga mga ka batch nating puno ng pimple at mga saksakan ng yabang. A bunch of wankers." I sighed."Maybe I'll die a spinster with two dozens of cat, and I'll put it on my will to get them delivered to your doorstep once I take my last breath." Tumawa siya, at alam kong pinagtatawanan niya nanaman ang British english ko. Bata pa lang kasi ako, sinanay nako ni granny Silver (she's half brit) na mag salita ng brit, and most words I use ay tinatawanan nina Marj and Victoria like I'm alien or something. "Baliw ka na Cara." Tinampal ni Marj ang noo ko."You're still a teenager, ang bata bata mo pa and my brother's not it for you. Asa ka dun patay na patay yun sa malanding si Marnie. Crush lang yan, you'll get over it eventually. Umayos ka nga, garu ka bua. (baliw ka na)" Well, at least she's always brutally honest. And I love that about Marj. "Alam ko. It's stupid." I sighed and adjusted my glasses again. "I guess I better start adopting cats from now on." "May latak na ang ulo mo kaibigan." Tumawa siya and threw a pillow on my face. Hay, Third, gusto na kitang kalimutan. ----- "Manonood ba kayo ng exhibition game on Friday? Maglalaro ako." Third asked everyone at the dining table. Napapagitnaan ako sa mesa nina Marj at Victoria--yup they are twins but they are the exact opposite of each other. Marj is blunt, while Victoria is somehow like me. Socially awkward. Close din kami pero mas priority niya ang mag aral talaga--at magbasa ng libro, and sa tingin ko sakanya galing yung cheat sheet. "Maglalaro ka kuya?" Marj raised an eyebrow at Third, my loves. I just looked at him, and know that I can never get over his cute smile and pretty eyes. "Yeah,Coach Stanton asked me to, I'll also be giving some pointers to the basketball team." Kinindatan niya si Marj. I discreetly rolled my eyes noting how cute he is. Bakit ba kasi ang gwapo niya? Huhu. Sinubo ko na lang yung kanin at napakasarap na laing. "Fun. Obviously I'll be there to cheer on you." Marj confirmed, then looked at my direction. "How about you cat lady?" Nanudyo niyang tanong. "Hindi ko alam, it's not my crowd really. Maybe, raincheck?" Tiningnan ko si Third. Fudge, ang ganda talaga ng mata niya. Natuwa ang bruhang Marj at ngumiti, approving my subtle refusal, while Third crunched up his brows. "But sweetie, you never miss a game. Wag mong sabihin na may boyfriend ka na, sino siya? Pakilala mo sakin ng mapangaralan ko." He asked, his voice obviously prying not angry. Oh how I wish na galit talaga siya dahil nagseselos siya. "My lips are sealed Third." Sinabi ko na lang at binalingan ulit ang kinakain ko. "Ouch,Cara. Hindi na talaga kayo bata.. eh yung baby ni kuya? May boyfriend ka na?" Tiningan niya si Victoria na tinaasan lang siya ng kilay at kamao. "Meron madami sila, si Edgar Allen Poe, si Charles Dickens..depende kung sino ang pagbibigyan ko ng oras ko kuya" Nakangiti niyang sabi. Minsan, hindi ko din gets tong si Victoria, hindi kasi siya mahilig makipag socialize, kung ako matatawag na suplada, siya super aloof talaga, hindi ka niya kakausapin pag ayaw niya. Mas prefer niyang manood ng tv series at movies o kaya magbasa ng libro kaysa maglakwatsa. Third sighed happily then looked at Marj.  "That reminds me, Sebastian ang pangalan ng boyfriend mo diba?" he asked. "Leave him alone kuya!" Marj squealed, unhappy about where the conversation was going. "I guess that means I won't leave him alone then. Thanks for the reverse Psychology sis." He winked at her. Bakit ba siya kindat ng kindat? Ang hirap tuloy maka move on! Bloody hell. "I hate you kuya!" Marj announced hysterically. Lahat kami natawa sa kaartehan niya. "Oh please, you love me the most.." Sabi na lang ni Third na hindi man lang naapektohan sa kaartehan ng kapatid niya. "Fine, you win. Pwede mo na siyang kausapin, and that is only because I love you the most. Pero wag na wag mong susuntukin ang gwapo niyang mukha pleaseee." Pagmamakaawa niya. "Baliw talaga tong si Marj." Natatawang sabi ni Victoria sabay pitik ng noo ni Marj na kinurot naman ang tagiliran niya. "Where's my baby girl?" Narinig ko ang boses ni dad sa di kalayuan, making everyone look at the direction where the voice was coming from. "I'm here dad!" I yelled rolling my eyes. "Tinakasan mo nanaman yung security details mo." Galit ang boses niya, but I know he's not because he kissed my forehead. "They're pretty numpty for ex special forces dad." I replied matter of factly,natahimik ang lahat, hindi kasi sila sanay na ganun kami mag usap ni dad. He's pretty ruthless and authoritative, but he always have a soft spot for me, which I happily abuse occasionally--meaning any occasion I get. Eh, wala siyang magagawa ako lang naman ang anak niya. "I don't want you riding a bike alone again young lady." He commanded, this time I know he's serious. Ayan nanaman kasi siya, akala niya sakin laging may fragile sticker sa noo, hindi dapat mabasag. "Fine. Just tell Dumb and Dumber to stop slacking on the job next time." I stood up and kissed his cheeks, making him fall for my charms again. O diba, ang galing ko magpalambot kay dad. I felt him sigh in surrender and shook his head. I'm Daddy's little girl after all. "I'll be taking my girl home Marianne. Pasensiya na, dito nanaman pala to nakikain." He looked at Mrs. Sandoval and smiled. "Nasa labas na si Julio, chinecheck yung mga alaga niyang manok. Siya nga pala Third, care to join me and your father later tonight? Beers on me." He smiled at him. "Of course sir." Third replied. He's always been kind of intimidated by my dad. Sus, para si dad lang. "Bye twins!See you tomorrow at school." I blew a kiss at my best friend and she blew one back. "Thanks Mrs. Sandoval for the delicious dinner!" I added while my Dad and I walked towards their front porch. ∴ ∵∴ ∵∴ ∵∴ ∵∴ ∵