Moving Into My Brother's House

Chapter 46

The rest of our stay in the resort passed by in a blur. We didn't dare to do extreme activities anymore. Mas nag-focus na lang kami sa bonding naming tatlo. Swimming, jenga, video games. Yung mga activities na sure kaming wala nang mamumutla at mapapahamak ang ginawa namin. At the end of the day, mas importante naman yung nag-enjoy kami e.

Malapit na kaming mag-check out nung naalala namin na wala nga palang dalang sasakyan si kuya or si AJ. Sumabay nga pala kami kay daddy. Paano kaya kami makakauwi nito?

"Kuya, tawagan na natin si daddy. Wala namang Grab dito e. Hindi tayo makakauwi kapag wala tayong tatawagang iba." Suggestion ko kay kuya. Kaso, for some reasons, he rejected the idea agad.

"Walang maiiwan kay mommy. Paano kung mag-crave bigla 'yon ng kung ano? Sino ang bibili?" Kuya answered and I realized na may point nga naman siya. Medyo matagal din kasi yung biyahe mula sa amin kaya alanganin nga kung si daddy pa ang susundo sa amin. Susuko na sana ako nung biglang nagsalita si AJ.

"Tinawagan ko na si Kuya Mario. Siya na lang ang susundo sa atin. Mag-ayos na kayo ng gamit para makapag-check out na tayo." AJ instructed and we did as told. Since hindi rin naman kami masyadong nagkalat, mabilis lang kaming nakapag-ayos ni kuya. After a few minutes, nag-check out na kami then we waited for Kuya Mario, the driver of AJ's family.

While waiting for our ride, I can't help but feel happy. Sobrang na-appreciate ko kasi ngayon yung mga maliliit na bagay. Yung simpleng bonding moments naming tatlo, ang laki ng epekto sa akin. By welcoming AJ in my life, hindi lang ako basta nagkaroon ng boyfriend. He became like a brother and a barkada as well. And I really appreciated that. Kasi, hindi na ako matatakot na baka may ma-out of place kapag magkakasama kaming tatlo. In a short amount of time, we learned how to adjust kapag magkakasama kami. Wala munang boyfriend AJ at girlfriend Lauryn. Isa kaming barkada na mag-eenjoy na magkakasama.

***

A few weeks (and walang katapusang reklamo) later, we were already in the final stretch para sa preparations ng debut ko. As much as I wanted to ditch it, hindi ko naman magawa kasi nangako si Lola na bibigyan kami ng trip to South Korea and Japan ni kuya right after our birthday. Who am I to reject that kind of offer di ba? So I decided to play nice and to play along sa kung anong trip ni Lola.

But everything came crashing down nung may naisip biglang pakulo si Ninang Denise. We were discussing with the event planner nung bigla siyang dumating sa bahay. May dala nga siyang favorite food namin ni kuya pero may masama rin pala siyang gagawin sa aming dalawa.

"G, I just came up with a brilliant idea! What if bigyan natin ng chance na mag-perform 'tong mga inaanak ko? Like a song number or a dance number? What do you think?" Ang laki ng ngiti niyang tanong kay mommy.

"NO!" Sabay naman naming sigaw ni kuya. Juskolord. Over my dead body! Hindi ko kayang mag-perform sa harap ng maraming tao! Magpapalamon na lang ako sa lupa kaysa kumanta o sumayaw!

"Come on mga inaanak. It's just a once in a lifetime opportunity para mapakita niyo sa harap ng maraming tao yung talents niyo." Dad scoffed when he heard the word talents. Sure, Dad. Ikaw na ang talented.

"Denise, you do know that the twins don't know how to perform. Sigurado ka bang gusto mong mapahiya 'tong dalawa?" Dad said pero ewan ko ba. Parang na-hurt bigla si kuya sa sinabi ni Daddy. Dahil siguro parang wala man lang tiwala si Daddy sa amin. I mean, sure. Hindi talaga kami pang-singer levels but still.

Akala namin, safe na kami ni kuya sa kalokohan ni Ninang Denise. But when Lola heard the suggestion, she offered us something that we couldn't resist. Bibigyan niya raw ako ng sarili kong kotse while kuya will have his car changed into a newer one.

"Seryoso po ba 'yan?" Kuya asked kaya sinamaan ko agad siya ng tingin. Sure, gusto ko talaga ng sarili kong kotse pero kuya and AJ are there naman. Di ko na pala siya kailangan. Saka mahal na ang gas ngayon. Sayang yung pera pag nagkataon.

"What? I'm just asking." Kuya explained, obvious na obvious na tempted na sa offer ni Lola. Lalong naningkit ang mga mata ko dahil doon. Dapat magkakampi kami rito. Hindi yung naghihilahan kami pababa. Pambihira.

Ilang minuto pa kaming nagdiskusyon dahil sa kalokohan ni Ninang Denise at panunuhol ni Lola. Nag-meeting pa kami ni kuya to weigh the pros and cons. Ang ending, nagkasundo kami ni kuya to reject their offer. Hindi pa rin pala talaga namin kayang magwala sa harap ng maraming tao. Kulang pa yung naipon naming kakapalan ng mukha sa katawan.

Mommy supported our decision. Mas okay na rin daw kasi na mag-enjoy kami sa birthday namin. Hindi na raw importante yung material things. Ang mas dapat naming pagtuunan ng pansin ni kuya ay yung moments and memories na makukuha namin from this experience.

When AJ found out about the offer though, pinush niya kami ni kuya to go with it. If it would help us decide daw, he would even join us in the performance. Siya na raw ang bahala sa guitar while kuya would play the beatbox and I would sing.

"Sira ulo ka ba? Bakit ako lang yung kakanta?" Walang filter kong sabi when AJ told us his idea. Sa suggestion niya kasi, parang ako lang yung mapapahiya. It would be a nightmare. Hindi ko kaya!

After hearing my reaction, kuya and AJ laughed like crazy. It was as if they were expecting this kind of reaction from me already. Napailing ako dahil doon. These best friends would really be the death of me!

"Of course we wouldn't let you go through this alone. Ikaw na nga lang yung center of attention sa debut, ikaw pa ba ang gagawin naming sacrificial lamb sa performance?" Kuya said when he finally stopped laughing. 

"You will be playing the keyboard then let's think of a song or two that would be okay for the three of us to perform." AJ finally explained his real plan which me think. What if pumayag na nga lang talaga kami? Minsan lang naman 'to e. Saka sayang yung offer ni Lola. Baka mamaya, bigyan niya pa kami ng gasoline allowance kapag natuwa siya sa performance namin.

"Okay, fine. So anong kakantahin natin?" I asked and at that moment, I knew that we're going to regret this for the rest of our lives.