Moving Into My Brother's House

Epilogue

I didn't know that I was holding my breath the entire time that we were in the elevator. Kung hindi pa ako pinakalma ulit ni AJ, I would have collapsed right there and then dahil kinapos na ako sa oxygen. Kung bakit ba naman kasi ang dami pang inimbita nila Lola e. Siya lang naman yung may kakilala ng mga tao rito. I'm not even sure if the party was made for me or for them to get more investors.

My knees were shaking by the time AJ and I reached the main door of the function room that Lola rented out for the party. I wanted to throw away my heels to prevent myself from kissing the floor pero hindi ko rin naman magawa. Nakakawala rin kasi ng poise kapag ganoon.

"AJ, wait." I finally told him nung naramdaman kong hindi ko na talaga kaya.

"Why? Masama pa pakiramdam mo? May masakit ba sa'yo? Tell me." Nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"Can we just ditch the party? I feel like I'm going to throw up sa sobrang kaba." AJ's face softened dahil sa sinabi ko. He then held my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes.

"Lauryn, just pretend that it's just you and me in there. Well, fine. You can include Tito and Tita and your crazy twin but you get the point. Focus on the people that makes you happy and relaxed. Think of them as your happy place and from then on, hindi mo na mararamdaman yung kaba diyan sa kalooban mo." AJ told me and I did as told. Little by little, medyo gumagaan yung pakiramdam ko. My knees were still shaking but AJ promised to guide me well habang naglalakad kami papasok sa function room.

True to his words, hindi ako pinabayaan ni AJ the whole time. By the time the 18 treasures came, gusto ko nang magpakain sa lupa. Puro kalokohan lang yung pinagsasasabi ng mga kaklase ko. The mood suddenly changed pagdating naman ng 18 roses. Daddy was my first dance followed by kuya and Ninong Marcus. As everyone has expected, AJ was my last dance. Everyone was squealing when AJ approached me with a bouquet of pink roses.

"Happy birthday Lauryn. I haven't told you yet but you look so pretty today. Huwag ka masyadong mag-aaayos katulad ng sa ngayon ah? Baka mapaaway ako palagi dahil sa mga lalaking umaaligid sa'yo." AJ whispered and I had to stop myself from laughing out loud because of that. Parang baliw naman kasi 'to. As if naman may balak pa akong tumingin sa iba.

We were taking our sweet time sa pagsasayaw when AJ suddenly pulled away from me. He then brought out a small box from his pocket which made a lot of people gasp inside the venue. Napatayo rin sina Daddy at Kuya dahil doon. But when AJ pulled out a charm bracelet from the box, kumalma sila bigla.

"Let's add more charms whenever we reach a new milestone in our lives. By the time that we're both ready, I'll be more than willing to change this one into a ring. I love you forever and always, Lauryn. Please remember that." AJ said and I had to stop myself from crying. Malalagot ako kay Memey kapag nasira yung make-up ko dahil sa pag-iyak.

After the 18 roses, nagsimula na yung pagkain. I moved to the table of my family to join them while eating. Ang diyahe naman kasi kung sa stage pa rin ako kakain. Knowing that our performance would follow right after the dinner, feeling ko hindi ko malunok yung kinakain ko. Kuya and AJ noticed it right away kaya dinala nila ako sa isang side ng room para pakalmahin na naman ako.

"Kat, relax. If it helps, mas marami yung lines na kakantahin ko kaysa sa'yo. So more exposure for me." Kuya told me and naisip kong may point nga naman siya. Mas marami siyang chance na pumiyok habang kumakanta. Somehow, that made me calmer.

They were continuing to give me tips para mas kumalma at mas maging confident sa gagawin naming kalokohan nung bigla kaming tinawag ng host para sa performance naming tatlo. Napatingin kaming tatlo sa kanya at naramdaman namin bigla ang kaba. It was now or never.

AJ, being the most confident among us, walked straight to the stage. Inihanda niya na rin yung mga gagamitin namin and made sure that everything was set. Siya na rin ang nagprisinta na mag-small talk para balaan ang lahat sa gagawin namin. The guests laughed because of what he said. Napailing na lang kami ni kuya and we went to our positions as well.

"Good evening po." Pagsisimula ko. "Before anything else and before your eardrums bleed, let me take this opportunity to greet my most awesome twin a happy happy birthday as well. I wouldn't be the same Lauryn Katreena that all of you know without him. He's my original best friend and no one could ever change that. I love you, Kuya." I said and I saw how Mommy and Daddy smiled because of that. Niyakap naman ako saglit ni Kuya bago siya pumosisyon sa tapat ng mic. AJ nodded his head as a cue.

"I look into your eyes, so far away
There's trouble in your mind
You're losing faith
Hey now, let me hold you
It'll be okay!
Coz I will love you
Till they take my heart away."

A lot of people were taking videos while we were performing. Pero mas pinili ko na lang na mag-focus sa pagtugtog at pagkanta. And yes, I tried to enjoy it as well. Sana lang talaga, hindi ako pumiyok dito.

"Believe in me
I'm here to stay
I will love you
Till they take my heart away

Away, away
I will love you
Till they take my heart away."

Our first song ended successfully. People were actually clapping for us. When AJ gave the cue for our last song, we were much confident.

"Sabi nila
Balang araw darating
Ang iyong tanging hinihiling
At nu'ng dumating
Ang aking panalangin
Ay hindi na maikubli"

We were all smiles and I know this day is not just special for me. Not just for kuya. But for our whole family. As long as we stick together, everything will be okay. 

"At ngayon, nandito na
Palaging hahawakan
Iyong mga kamay
'Di ka na mag-iisa
Sa hirap at ginhawa
Ay iibigin ka
Mula noon
Hanggang ngayon
Mula ngayon
Hanggang dulo
Ikaw at ako"

Natapos yung performance namin na humiling ng isa pang kanta ang mga tao. We had to beg off dahil hindi na kami nakapag-practice nila kuya. The party continued with free dancing and overflowing drinks. We had danced the night away and partied to our heart's content. Well, I still couldn't drink any kind of alcoholic drinks being allergic and all but I still enjoyed our birthday celebration.

And today, I finally realized that I'm really a princess in my own right. A princess who is loved by the people around me. A princess who is willing to go through everything for the sake of the people who are important to me. And finally, a princess who is able admit to her own mistakes.

Moving into my brother's house might be the worst decision that I have made before. But if I didn't do that, I might be the Lauryn Katreena that the people would know now. I might still be the bratty little girl who would always want to get what she wants.

And now, I finally realized that as long as I have my family and friends with me, I will be okay. Because they will be source of happiness and through thick and thin, they will always have my back.

This is Lauryn Katreena Tanciangco, now signing off.

***

Aaaaaand, that's it! Sorry if I had to end it this way. Alam kong sobrang  bitin pa rin ng story but I didn't want to drag this any longer. Ayaw ko nang bigyan pa ng kung anong twist ang buhay ng kambal since they deserve to be happy. What more could be a happier day than their own birthday di ba?

I'm still thinking of writing a special chapter in Liam's POV. Kung kailan, hindi ko pa sigurado.  I know marami nang natagalan sa paghihintay and I'm really sorry for that. But for now, let me thank all of you who have sticked me with for six years bago ko matapos 'to.

Happy new year dear readers!

xxRaice