Work in Progress

Chapter Two

Leah instinctively passed her younger brother the bowl of rice without him even asking, a common love language for most Filipino families. Although, she found it odd how he wasn't bragging about his academic achievements at the dinner table for once.

"Oh, Leah. Kamusta naman internship mo?₁" Leah's father asked as she was about to devour a spoonful of rice paired with her mom's "famous" crispy adobo into her mouth.

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₁ Tagalog for "How is your internship going?"

Leah shrugged. "Going well, I guess."

Her mother furrowed her eyebrows. "Yang I guess, I guess na yan.₂ Why don't you answer your dad properly?"

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₂ There isn't really a proper explanation to this besides the fact that mom is not satisfied with Leah's answer. It roughly translates to "That 'I guess, I guess' answer."

As much as she wanted to argue that the internship really was going well, Leah fought the urge knowing it would only end in her mom storming out of the dinner table in anger. She could already hear what her mother would mutter to herself as she stormed out. That smart ass is always talking back. She doesn't know how to respect her elders. Bwisit!₃

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₃ Bwisit is a swear word used to express extreme annoyance. Pronounced "booy-set."

Leah cleared her throat, forming an answer in her mind that she thought would get her parents off her back. "Um, I surprisingly didn't do much today."

Her parents didn't respond. Good.

Suddenly, as if on queue, her brother started talking about the First in Grade award he received at the awards ceremony his school had held that day. God forbid the attention be taken away from him!

"I really didn't expect to receive the award but when they announced my name, I was so shocked!"

"Well done, Noah!" said Leah's mother with a smile as she congratulated him. Leah rolled her eyes. She could imagine what her parents were saying in their minds. Why can't Leah be more like her brothers?

As if things couldn't get worse for Leah, Mr. Torres' phone lit up and a photo of his eldest son's face took up the screen. He immediately picked up his phone from the table, clicked the "Answer Call" button and held it up to show everyone at the table.

Suddenly, the video of Leah's older brother overtook the phone screen.

"Hi everyone!" he said happily waving at the camera. He looked like he just woke up. Makes sense. It is morning in Chicago, after all.

As if her cheeks weren't in pain from smiling because of Noah's award, Mrs. Torres' smile grew even bigger at the sight of her son on the phone screen. "Hi, anak₄! How are you?" she replied with a wave.

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₄ Tagalog for "my child"

"Good! Just wanted to call to say I recently got promoted to the head of my team! What about you guys? How are y'all? Lee? Noah?"

Noah didn't hesitate to tell his Kuya₅ Arthur about the award he received. "Oh, and Ate₆ got an internship." Noah smirked and laid back on his chair, clearly proud of himself and his achievement.

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₅ Term used to address older brothers

₆ Term used to address older sisters

Arthur raised his eyebrows. "Is that so? Why didn't you tell me Leelee?"

Because you only care about yourself. "Yeah! I just got an internship at Coleman Comms." she replied masking her true feelings with a smile.

"No waaaaay! They have a branch here in Chicago too. You should just do your internship here!" Arthur suggested.

She did not expect her older brother to suggest something so absurd, as if it was so easy to just drop everything and move to a new country. "Uh, no thanks. I think I'm okay here."

"Why? May guy dyan₇, noh?" Arthur replied jokingly.

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₇ "There's a guy, isn't there?"

Leah rolled her eyes. Why does it always have to be about a guy? She secured the phone on her dad's palm who happily started conversing with Arthur about his promotion.

Well, it wouldn't be a Torres dinner if my brothers didn't boast at all.