#TheRebelsRival

December 23

7:34 AM

Bro #1:

Teka hahaha meron pa rito

boss level to ng mga memes ko

Reika:

HSHSHSHSHS BWISIT KA MAGNO!!!

Bro#1:

Hoy lakas ng tawa mo!!! Rinig kita rito mula sa kabilang kwarto

Reika:

Why did u send that kasi gago 

Bro#1:

Kasi ako ay gwapo

Reika:

Ewwww

Bro#1:

Anak ng tinapa! Sayang oh! Rhyme na sana!

Reika:

Sorry naman nagsabi ka sana

Bro#1:

Ayoko na, wala na akong gana

Reika:

Mukha mo sarap tamaan ng pana

Bro#1:

Baka nakakalimutan mo? Sa akin ka nagmana?

Reika:

Aba't ang laking parusa!

Bro#1:

Hoy sa mukha ko maraming nagkakandarapa! 

Reika:

Saan ba banda?

Bro#1:

Itanggi mo lang, wala kang mapapala

Hayyy ako ay gutom kaya bababa na

Reika:

Dalhan mo ako ng food, spaghetti sana

Bro#1:

Rei birthday ni lolo ngayon

Reika:

And you just ruined the rhyme

Bro#1:

Kung hindi lang birthday ni lolo, tutulungan kita. Alam mo yan

Reika:

I know... just send me a signal if alam mo na

Bro#1:

Affirmative pinsan kong pangit

Reika: 

Bilis gutom na ako

Bro#1:

Wala si Tita 

Lolo's in the dining

Reika:

Yas boiiii!

Dali-dali akong lumabas mula sa kwarto at nagtatakbo pababa ng hagdan. Malapad akong napangiti nang makita si Lolo at Magno na nakaupo sa mesa at kumakain ng Spaghetti mula sa mismong lalagyan. Ibang batch ng paghetti na yata kasi nasa iba nang lalagyan.

"Happy Birthday Gramps!" Sigaw ko at muling nagtatakbo. Yumakap ako sa kanya nang mahigpit.

"Thank you, Reika." Grandpa chuckled as he kissed the top of my head. 

Naupo ako sa tabi ni Lolo at bago pa man ako makapagsalita, nag-abot si Magno sa akin ng isang tinidor. 

"May laway 'to?" Pabalang kong tanong kahit halatang malinis namin.

"Laway lang ni Lolo." Biro ni Magno kaya halos mabilaukan si Lolo kakatawa.

The three of us sat on top of the dining table, eating Spaghetti from a large Tupperware without a care in the world. Just like the good old days.

Magno was the family's first Grandchild, I was the second. It took awhile before the family had new kids that's why for a long time, our Grandparents' love and attention were focused towards us. In a way, my Grandparents gave me the love I never had from my own parents. And to me that was enough. They were more than enough. 

Saktong pagkaubos namin sa Spaghetti, biglang dumating ang mga mas nakababata naming mga pinsang nasa lima hanggang sa walong taong gulang. 

"Lolo! Happy Birthday!" They squealed and screamed as they ran towards where we sat. Grandpa beamed at the sight of them. 

Magno and I exchanged glances. It was our cue to scoot and let the younger ones have their time with Gramps. 

We both jumped off from the table and excused ourselves subtly, leaving Gramps giggling as the kids shower him with kisses and greetings. 

I placed my arm against Magno's shoulder as we walked towards the living room sofa. I jerked my arms as if I was trying to hit him in the safe, much to his chagrin. People who would see us may think we're fighting but little do they know, that's just how we are with each other.

Last night, he stayed up in my room for a while and watched some youtube vines and fail compilations with me. He even flooded me with hilarious memes by morning. It was his way of comforting me.

I was an only child... but because of him, I always felt like I have an older brother. I don't say it much, I guess I've never even told him before, but Magno was Godsend to me. We hate on each other a lot but truth is we got each other's backs, always.

"Hey Tron!" I smiled when we reached the living room and found Magno's younger brother sitting on the couch while reading a comic book. Tron was only 6 but his comic book collection has already reached 50. 

"Hoy Turon, bumati ka na kay Lolo?" Tanong ni Magno saka pabagsak na umupo sa tabi nito. I sat by Tron's other side. Our backs and necks leaned against the side of the couch.

"Yes." Tipid nitong sagot nang hindi man lang inaalis ang tingin sa hawak na comic book. "Advance happy birthday Ate," he added with his cute cheerful voice but his attention was still on his book.

"What's my gift?" Biro ko sabay sundot sa tagiliran ni Tron dahilan para mapahagikgik ito at mapayakap agad sa akin, syempre may kasamang palo sa mukha ko. May saltik din ang bata eh, mana sa kuya.

"Naman Rei! Bata pa ng kapatid ko hinuhuthutan mo na?!" Biro ni Magno kaya naman pabiro ko siyang sinipa.

"Good Morning..."

Napatingin kaming tatlo sa dulo ng hagdan at agad naglaho ang ngiti sa mukha ko nang makita si Mommy. Nanikip ang dibdib ko at nawalan na agad ako ng ganang gumalaw.

 Hindi gaya kagabi, wala na ang galit sa kanyang mga mata at nakangiti na siya muli habang nakatingin sa akin. 

"Good Morning Tita," sabay na bati nina Magno at Tron sa kanya. 

"Hey..." Tumango na lang ako.

Nagsimula siyang humakbang papalapit sa akin kaya naman dali-dali akong tumayo sabay hila sa braso ni Magno. "Come on! It's Fortnite time!"

"Video games? Pero umaga pa?" Mommy asked with a curious smile. Her voice was as soft and gentle as before. A sharp contrast from last night.

"We kinda made plans with the gang?" Magno covered for me and laughed shakily.

I sighed inwardly. Good thing lagi kong maasahan si Magno. Next to my Grandparents, alam kong siya ang kakampi ko.

Buong araw din kaming tumambay ni Magno sa kwarto at naglaro ng video games, bumababa lang para kumuha ng pagkain. Lolo didn't mind since his old pals arrived and they went out for some swimming. 

"Pagod na ako." Umingos si Magno at binitiwan ang controller. 

"Pagod ka nang matalo?" Napahalakhak ako kaya sinamaan niya ako ng tingin.

Dumapa siya sa kama at idinipa ang mga kamay, probably to send texts to his girls. Yuck.

"Isa na lang talaga at mapapatay ko na 'tong si Haji." Biglang bulalas ni Magno na nakabusangot na.

"Pumila ka, marami tayo." I joked. But hey, marami naman talaga kami.

"Inunahan na naman ako sa crush ko." Magno sighed. "Hanap na lang ako ng ibang crush."

Ngunguto-ngutong bumangon si Magno at biglang tinuro ang kahon na hinatid ni Slade. "Ano pala laman niyan?"

I shrugged. "I haven't opened it yet."

Walang sabi-sabing tumayo si Magno at pinulot ang kahon at binagsak ito sa aking tabi. Isa-isa niyang tinanggal ang packaging tape nito at binuksan na para bang para ito sa kanya.

"Pucha." Humagalpak bigla sa kakatawa si Magno. "Rei, mukhang magugustuhan mo talaga 'to! Ganda ng regalo ni Slade sa'yo!"

Nakunot ang noo ko at tuluyan akong napangiwi nang itinaas ni Magno ang isang picture frame na mayroong picture ni Silver kung saan hawak niya ang isang papel na may nakasulat: Happy Birthday, Rei-Rei! And being Silver, hindi ito nakangiti sa litrato. 

Gusto kong magmura pero nauwi lang ito sa tawa. Mas lalo akong natawa kasi naka-peace sign pa talaga siya. 

"Maganda 'tong panakot sa daga!" Mas lalo pa akong natawa dahil sa komento ni Magno.

Magno handed me the frame and continued to check the box' contents. 

"Uy!" His Almond eyes beamed as he grinned happily. I chuckled at his reaction. There were only two things in this world that could make him react like that; Food and Cartoons.

"Ano yan?" I got curious.

He happily fetched large packs of Chocolate Marshmallows from the box, hugging it like a madman. God! Remind me again why this guy has a dedicated fan club to his name?! Grabe, if only those girls would know how dorky my cousin is!

"From Slade?" tanong ko.

"Uhuh!" He nodded and grinned. 

I was about to look away when he suddenly cleared his throat as if he was waiting for me to say something.

"What?" I grimaced.

"Aren't you going to ask if I would want to have these?" He asked sarcastically, the smile never leaving his face. He always turns into a fireracker when there's food around!

"Okay Fine!" I sighed exasperatedly. "Magno, gusto mo ba sa'yo na lang--"

"Thanks!" He beamed even more.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa aking laptop upang maghanap ng magandang panoorin nang muli na namang magsalita si Magno.

"Ano 'to?"

I looked at his direction and saw him holding up a wooden box. I got curious so I stood up to take a closer look at it. 

We both looked at each other. No one spoke a single word but I could tell he was just as curious as I was. Without saying anything, Magno opened the box only to reveal a baby blue Ukelele inside. 

My eyes widened in awe. It wasn't just a normal baby blue ukelele, it looked like it was painted to look like a galaxy. It was heavily detailed that it felt life-like. I'm not a fan of cute things but for some reason, the Ukelele left me speechless.

"This is cool!" Magno thought so as well.

As we both marveled at the Ukelele, the door suddenly opened making us both turn to it's direction.

"Hey! You guys hungry? I made some cake!" Mom was smiling from ear to ear as she looked at me.

But all of a sudden, the smile on her face disappeared the moment she laid eyes on the ukelele.

"W-who gave you that?" Mom spoke as her lips trembled, eyes dead-set on the instrument inside the box.

But before one of us could even answer, Mom left the room. 

Magno and I could only look at each other in confusion.

****

As I laid on my bed at the dark of the night, I grabbed my phone only to find separate messages from the twins from hell. I decided to open Silver's first since I like her way better than her brother.

December 23

11:47 PM

Villafranca #1: 

Happy birthday Demon

Sorry late greeting, I got busy

You:

24 birthday ko multoka

Villafranca #1:

Just act like it's 24th already para wag ako mapahiya

You:

Wala na, sirang-sira ka na sa'kin

Villafranca #1:

Siraulo ka naman talaga

You:

Why are we friends again?

Villafranca #1:

I'm a charitable person

You:

Bastos hahahaha

Villafranca #1:

Joke lang 'yon okay?

You:

Thanks multo

Villafranca #1:

Thanks Rei

You:

For putting up with you? You're welcome!

Villafranca #1:

:)

Silver's message left me with goosebumps. She's even weirder than my cousin. I don't know what else to say so I took a peek at Slade's message for me.

Villafranca #2:

Lapit na birthday mo

Minutes na lang 45 ka na

You:

45 and still cooler than you

Villafranca #2:

Musta?

You:

You realize how awkward that question is right?

Villafranca #2:

You realize it's just an innocent question right?

You:

DI bagay sa'yo

you're not innocent

Villafranca #2:

Damnnnn u really gonna flay me alive every time we talk?

You:

hahahaha 

thanks btw

Villafranca #2:

No problem

didn't know u like marshmallows that much

You:

I don't like marshmallows that much

Magno does

Villafranca #2:

I think I just got conned by your cousin

You:

Huh?

Villafranca #2:

Don't know what to give to u so i asked him

i'll just ask sawyer next time

You:

Ugh no

Isa pa yon

Just give me cash next time

Villafranca #2:

Aabot ka pa ba ng next year? hahaha

bad joke sorry peace

You:

Extended ako uy hahaha

Dark humor is fine with me

i am darkness

Villafranca #2:

Oo nga pala, kasali ka nga pala sa kulto

You:

Sali ka?

Villafranca #2:

Akala ko ba ako ang demonyo na sinasamba mo?

wish that didn't sound weird yikes

You:

it did sound weird

yikes indeed

Villafranca #2:

11:58 na!!!

You:

Ano? Tatalon ka pagsapit ng 12?

Villafranca #2:

Ikaw ang dapat tumalon

You:

aray ha

where'd u get the ukelele?

Villafranca #2: 

nagustuhan mo?

You:

yup

i'll learn later

Villafranca #2:

gawa mismo ni uncle

even painted it himself

You:

really cool

tell him thanks

Villafranca #2:

58

59

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

▬ end of 21!▬