Simula
Dura Lex, Sed Lex.
My eyes flickered upon reading the words, mula sa hawak kong libro ay umangat ang tingin ko kay Dad na nakatitig sa akin.
"Have you read it, Adi?" he asked excitedly and when I nodded, he smiled more. "Do you get it?"
I blinked my eyes again and my Mom's laughter filled the room as she smacked Dad's arm.
"Silly, Iñigo. It's a Latin word and your daughter's just in high school!" she uttered in amusement and Dad stopped upon realizing it pero bumilog ang bibig at biglang natawa.
"Oh, right. I forgot." He said and shook his head.
"You want her to take law too, Dad?" My brother, Kuya Chiel asked may hawak na tray ng snacks, kasa-kasama niya si Ate Crest na may dalang sketch pad at nakasuot ng pang-alis na damit.
My eyes fell on her foot and saw her wearing heels too--like Mom na parang nasa mall kami.
"Ate, hindi sumasakit ang paa mo?" I asked.
"Hmm?" she glanced at her feet and grinned.
"Nope! It's comfy, why don't you try one too? I bought you some, alam mo ba? Nasa kwarto mo na, three-inches 'yon."
Namilog ang mata ko, mabilis akong umiling at lumayo kay Ate na tinawanan ako.
"It's color silver--"
"You bought heels again, princess?" Dad cut her off kaya tumango si Ate, malaki ang ngiting mas yumakap sa sketch pad niya.
"Yep!" she said proudly.
"Hmm?" Dad's brow raised, "what did I tell you about buying unnecessary things?"
"Ih..." Ate sat beside me while whining, si Kuya ay ngumunguya na ng pagkain habang nakahalukipkip sa tabi ni Mommy na nakatitig kay Ate Crest at kumikislap ang mata.
"Crest Veronica..." Dad warned.
"It's on sale kasi, Dad." She pouted more and glanced at my Mom. "Mommy, it's on sale. Can you please tell Dad it's okay?"
"Iñigo..." Mom immediately glanced at Dad who licked his lower lip.
"How much is it, then?" he asked my sister.
"Hmm, it's just ten thousand sixty-five but I bought it in 1% off so, naka-save ako ng 100 point sixty-five pesos." She even smiled cutely.
Dad heaved an exasperate sigh, napatawa si Mommy at si Kuya ay napainom ng juice pinapaypayan pa ang sarili.
"Thallia Josephine..." Dad called my Mom who only laughed and touched his arm.
"Just let your daughter, Iñigo." Mom even said, "at least naka-save ng one hundred?"
Huling-huli ko ang pag-ngiwi ni Dad doon pero nailing na lang at tumango kay Ate na nagpapa-cute pa sa kanya para hindi pagalitan.
"Alright, just for today, hmm?" Dad reminded her, "and stop from buying unnecessary things. Marami ka pang heels diyan at ang kapatid mo, hindi mo 'yan mapapasuot ng heels."
I immediately nodded, agreeing to my Dad.
"She should!" Ate groaned, "dapat fashionista-"
"Ayos na ako sa flat shoes, Ate." I said and when she pouted more at me, ngumiti na ako ng malambing at yumakap na sa kanyang baywang. "Sorry na...maybe sa future?"
"Sige na nga!" tunog pa siya roong malungkot, "basta ba, papayagan mo akong ayusan ka sa future. Deal?"
"Opo, deal." Sagot ko at napangiti na ng tuluyan dahil tumango-tango si Ate.
