Sister Complex : Chapter 3 Part 3

 I’ll be Nice to Her

(Cecily Gonzaga POV)

After naming mag-lunch, nagpunta muna ako sa CR. Sumunod din si Gwynne. And we are alone inside. Sinadya kong tagalan sa loob ng cubicle pero paglabas ko, naghihintay pa rin si Gwynne.

Tumingin ako sa reflection niya sa salamin at nakangiti siya, nginitian ko na rin. Tapos dumirecho ako sa faucet para maghugas. At nung kukuha ako ng tissue para punasan ang kamay ko, ubos na pala! Nice!!! Wala pa naman akong panyo, basang-basa kamay ko. No choice, ipupunas ko na lang sa damit ko.

Then Gwynne gave her handkerchief. “Eto nalang oh.”

“Wag na. Wala ka nang panyo. Mababasa lang yan, sige ka.” 

“Okay lang.” Kinuha niya kamay ko at siya mismo ang nagpunas nito. "Ito, gamitin mo muna."

“Para naman akong bata.” Sabi ko.

“Sorry ha. Pag nakikita kasi kita, I can’t help but to act like an ate. Naasar ka ba? Sorry.” Ang bait mo! Nakakaguilty na talaga. 

“Okay lang. Ganun mo ba talaga ako ka-gusto ituring na baby sister mo?”

Ngumiti siya at tumango. “Oo… pero wag kang magalit ha.” Ngumiti ako at natawa. Now mukha siyang bata. 

Anyway, tumingin na ulit ako sa salamin para mag-retouch. Pulbo lang naman ang gamit ko. Nakatingin siya sa’kin, at isang curious na tingin. “Natural pala yang blush sa mukha mo.”

“Ha?” Hindi naman ako nilagyan ng make-up ni mama ah.   “Bakit?”

“Mamula-mula kasi pisngi mo. Para ka talagang manika.” Nakaka-flatter naman.

Lumabas na kami ng CR. At heto lang ang masasabi ko, shame on me! Wala akong karapatang magsungit o magalit kay Gwynne. Dahil habang nag-uusap kami kanina sa loob nang kaming dalawa, nafi-feel ko ang sincerity niya.

So kanino ako dapat magalit? Kay Ash? Hindi rin… manhid siya, oo. Pero kasalanan ko naman kung bakit ganito eh. Pwede kong aminin, pero hindi ko magawa. Kaya wala akong dapat sisihin kundi ang sarili ko. 

Nung nagkaayaan na manood ng sine, sabi ni Gwynne may kailangan daw siyang bilhin sa bookstore kaya kaming tatlo na lang daw. But I knew Asher, susundan niya si Gwynne and I was right. Kaya ang nangyari, si Gwynne at si Ash nagpunta ng bookstore. Samantalang ako at si Hadwin, manonood na ng movie.

*     *     *

(Gwynne Alvarez POV)

I really like Cecily. Kahit noong first day nung class, nagagandahan na ako sa kanya. Mukha kasi siyang manika. At ang nakakatuwa pa, may kamukha siya sa ball-jointed doll collection ko sa bahay. Then one night, tinanong ako ni Kuya Hadwin about a girl. I was sure he was talking about Cecily. “Babaeng medyo maliit, mukhang manika kasi baby-face, maputi parang Korean, may long curly hair at parang mahilig sa cat designs.”

It was the first time my brother and I had a conversation about a girl. And I was glad na ang pinag-uusapan namin ay si Cecily. Then the next day. I asked my adviser na ilipat ako sa tabi niya and he agreed. Nung mag-usap kami ni Cecily, I really wanted to poke her face because she’s really cute. Namumula kasi yung pisngi niya na parang kumikintab. Pero nahiya naman ako, baka kung ano kasi isipin niya.

Now were at the mall, and we bumped on her and her brother Asher. Kapatid pala niya yung friend na pinakilala sa’kin ni kuya dun sa cafeteria. Then nagka-ayaan sa Jollibee. I actually like it there because of the children, I’m really fond of them. Sayang nga eh, ako ang bunso sa pamilya. Walang mas bata sa’kin na pwede kong i-pamper.

Anyway, naiwan kaming dalawa ni Asher sa table. He’s a bit awkward. I don’t know why. But I think his cute. Silang magkapatid, parehong cute.

Then he asked me a question, “Do you already like someone?” I said there’s none. But when he asked that, I felt something weird. I was just constantly laughing at whatever funny thing he says and when I look at him looking straight to my eyes, my heart beats fast. 

After we had lunch, nag-CR naman kami ni Cecily, and we talked. How I wanted a sister like her. Dahil kung ate niya ako, I would make her feel the luckiest younger sister. But then I found out a while ago that she’s older than me. Malas ko naman. But at least, we had a girl talk. Nag-aadjust pa siguro siya kaya medyo naiilang pa siyang kausapin ako and maybe pati si Kuya Hadwin.

Then we went out. The three of them wanted to watch a movie, horror movie. I’m easily scared so sabi ko, hindi na lang ako sasama tutal may kailangan pa akong bilhin sa bookstore. Tapos sabi ni Asher, sasama na lang daw siya sa’kin. I felt happy, now this is weirder. 

And its decided, Hadwin and Cecily went together to watch the movie. While Asher and I are now walking side by side. Inside the bookstore.

“So you love reading?” Asher asked. Sabi ni kuya Hadwin he is the top of their class. I’m impressed.

“Yeah. I bet you do too.” I answered.

“Hindi naman. What books do you like reading?” He’s kind of self-conscious, I can feel it. 

“Books about self-improvement. Sometimes, romantic novels din, ikaw?”

Nag-isip siya. He’s funny most of the time, or I find it funny dahil mabababaw lang na bagay ang nakakapagapatawa sa’kin. “Academic books…?” Sabi niya, natawa ako. Bakit parang nate-tense siya? Yan tuloy, parang I’m feeling the same way.

“So… you just love studying?” What’s this… I can’t erase the smile on my face.

“Parang ganun na din.” I just like how he can look straight to me and say what he has to say. “Any book will do, as long as I learn from it.”

“I agree.” And I think I’ll have to say this. “You know what, I’m really glad na friend ka ni kuya.” But then I blushed because I’m not really sure why I said that, I just felt the need of saying it.

“So you like me?” I’m about to say yes but… “I mean you like me, being your brother’s friend!”

“Yes…” I giggled. He also laugh. This time, I’m quite sure what’s happening. 

“I also like you…” My tongue slipped.  “I mean, I like you and your sister.” It was true that I like them both. But it’s getting really embarrassing for me. Pero nakatingin lang siya sa’kin, nakangiti. Parang sinasabi ng actions niya na okay lang maging ako.

And I was really happy.

 Because this was such a fine day.

End of Chapter 3 Part 3

>>>CHAPTER 4 HERE