Polarized Antagonism

3:

Lucia

It's been a month already and I could say that it's going well for me. It became easy for me to avoid Cameron. Tuwing umaga ko lang siya nakikita, minsan nga hindi na kasi lagi siyang late pumasok.

I have my own car, so I don't have to go to school with her.

Masyadong busy si tita sa work niya at every once in a week na lang siya umuuwi sa bahay. So basically, It's just me and Cameron, and the maids ang magkakasama sa bahay.

But there are times where I have to put the most fakest smile I could put in my face and act like I don't want to choke my cousin. Those instances for example is when Tita goes home and tries to make up to us by going out and have a nice family dinner.

I do appreciate na iniinclude niya ako sa family bonding.

She's reminds me of my Mom so much.

Tita asked us to join her to buy groceries. Siyempre, sumama ako pero halos isang oras pinilit ni tita si Cameron na sumama sa amin.

That girl is stubborn, I tell you.

She locked herself in her room all day simula nang umuwi si Tita. Hindi namin alam kung ano ginagawa niya don pero ayon kay Yaya Dalia ay naglalaro lang daw ito sa mga game consoles niya.

She really likes video games. She reminds me of a teenage boy who's in the middle of his rebellious phase, honestly.

Anyway, nandito kami sa grocery. Tita gave me a cart to put all food or necessities i want to buy for myself para daw hindi siya magkamali sa pipiliin niya.

I was a growing girl, she said.

" Is this for free? "

" Opo, ma'am. "

Napatigil ako sa pag brobrowse ng bibilhin ko ng makita ko si Cameron na kumakain ng free sample na hotdog.

Kumuha siya ng isa at kinain ito. Seryosong seryoso ang mukha nito na parang food critique siya.

She took another one.

And another one.

And another one.

And another one.

Hanggang sa maubos niya na yung isang buong platter ng hotdog.

I couldn't figure out the expression that the guy who's handing free samples have on his face. He looks nervous, kinda pissed and amazed at the same time.

If I were him, I will tell Cameron to fuck off and buy the actual product instead.

" It's not even tasty. " she said in a voice as if she was offended.

She walked away without even looking a bit embarrassed to what she did.

Her attitude is something that normal people won't understand and tolerate.

Mabilis na lang ako umalis kasi baka isipin nung lalake na kilala ko si Cameron.

I don't want to be associated with her.

I saw tita waving her hand at me kaya naman lumapit agad ako sa kaniya. There are two carts filled with food and other stuff. Buti na lang kasama namin si Kuya Tino, driver ng family nila para tulungan kami sa pagdadala ng groceries.

" Did you get all you needed, Lucia? " tanong sa akin ni Tita.

" Just a couple more things po. Aalis na po ba tayo? "

" Not yet pa naman. Sige, while you're at it, puwede ba na pakihanap si Cameron. She always wanders around at baka mahirapan na naman ako hanapin siya. She rarely picks up her phone when I'm calling. "