Chapter Nine

Hindi n'ya kami tinitingnan. Dun lang s'ya nakatingin kila Pia. Maganda s'ya pag gulo-gulo ang buhok pero mas maganda s'ya ngayon.

Pero bakit ganun? Mas gusto kong ako lang ang nakakakita ng side n'ya na mukha s'yang witch?

Napansin kong tahimik si Kevin. Usually maingay s'ya. Zia affected him for sure.

Tumingin ako kay Zia na kasalukuyang nakayuko. Then nag-angat na s'ya ng ulo. Napatingin s'ya sa'kin then her eyes got big. She uttered "What the fuck?"

Halos matawa ako sa kan'ya. Gulat na gulat s'ya. She should've expected it since she saw me earlier.

"K-Kevin?" she asked looking at me. I just smirked at her.

"He's not Kevin. I am Kevin," sabi ni Kevin. Way to go, bro.

Natutuwa ba talaga ako?

"Allow me to introduce you this guy. He's Keanu.. Kevin's brother— older brother," dad said.

"Err.. Hi. I'm Zia." She offered a shake hands. I smiled before accepting it. But when our hands met, there's an electricity that flowed on my body. She didn't tell me that she's Pikachu. Lol. Lame joke I know.

"Mare. Nagbago na isip ko. My Keanu and your Zia are perfect." What the hell mom? How can you talk about our future while we're here? Adults. They're really hard to read.

"Err... si Keanu po... sino po siya? Sorry for being rude."

"Sa America kasi nakatira si Keanu. Ayaw n'ya sa Pilipinas. So he stayed there with our relatives," my dad answered.
"Oh. Okay." That's all she would say?

So nag-eexpect ako na may sasabihin pa s'ya.

Nung kumakain na kami, tingin ako nang tingin sa kan'ya. Eyes take off of her. Pero ayaw n'yang makinig. Bakiiit??? Kasi wala s'yang tenga mata lang s'ya.

Lol. I'm talking to myself. Is this a sign of being insane?

Then I noticed na nakatingin s'ya kay Kevin. Si Kevin naman alam kong nararamdaman n'ya pero wala s'yang paki kunwari..

I don't know but my foot moved on its own and stomped into Zia's foot.

"Futang sh—"

I did it because I feel like doing it. I don't know. Something's definitely wrong with my brain. I wore a sly smile while looking at her. She then glared at her. I love it when she glares. It makes me want to tease her even more.

"Don't stare at him," I said. And just like yesterday, there's almost no voice coming out but I'm letting her to read my lips.

'Di na lang n'ya ako pinansin. Nainis na yata or gutom na. So I ate my food too. Until I felt someone's staring me. I looked at Zia. Boom. Busted. She looked at her food.

So you're interested, huh? I smiled at that thought; still staring at her. Then she looked again. Our eyes met, but this time she didn't look away.

Pia talked. Zia looked at her. Surprised. They talked for a while then she looked down.

"Nga pala Zia, nakalimutan kong sabihin na kayo ni Pia ay mag-istay kila Kevin," Mrs. Cortez said.

"What the hell?"
"Ano??!"
"Joke lang 'nay. Pero bakiiiittt? Aabandunahin mo na ba kami? Inay bakit?"

Base sa reaction ni Zia, she does not know yet.

Pinalo s'ya ng sandok sa ulo. What the hell?

Comedy 'tong dalawang 'to. But I thought they already know? They continued on arguing. Then I heard a name. Krista? S'ya ba 'yung kasama n'ya sa mall?

She's funny. And I'm liking it.

Kevin, I know why you're head over heels for her. Damn.

*****

Natapos na ang lunch kaya umuwi na kami. Si mom and dad eh nagpa-iwan kasi mag-kukwentuhan pa raw sila.

Nung nasa sala na kami kinausap ako ni Kevin.

"So what do you think of her?"
"Bro, she's cool. Now I think I already know what did you like about her."

He sighed.

"To be honest, she's one of the boys when we're kids. Nakikipaglaro sa'min 'yan ng habulan, mataya-taya, tumbang preso, text, pogs, basta yung mga ganun. But you'll barely see her playing paper dolls, instead you'll see her playing pellet guns. She's weird but beautiful. Our playmates had a crush on her. All of them are coward tho. They know that she'll reject them. But now.. She's wearing a dress." I noticed na medyo shocked yung boses nya. No wonder though. Mukhang malaki ata pinagbago ni Zia.

Should I tell him that she's still like that? No. He knows already almost all of her pasts but I... I just know that she's wearing floral panties.

"Why are you quiet earlier if you really like her?"
"I... I don't know. Nung nakita ko s'ya akala ko sasabog 'yung puso ko, kuya. Gusto kong makipag-usap sa kan'ya gaya nung bata pa kami pero nauna ang katorpehan eh."

Umiling ako.

"Gwapo at macho ka! Wag matorpe!!" sabi ko, "sa kwarto lang ako, huh? I'm sleepy."

I want to change the subject. I went to my room thinking about the things happening on me. My body's moving on its own. I don't really know if I like this feeling or not. I don't even know myself why I am allowing this to happen.

My goddamn body is moving as if it wants Zia to notice me.

But what about Kevin? I asked myself. Drown in thoughts I fell asleep.

*****

Nung kinagabihan, pumunta na kami do'n kila Zia. Sabi ko papuntahin na lang pero sunduin daw dapat sila e sa kabilang bahay lang naman. Weird. Actually I don't know the reason why the fuck they want us to sleep in one roof when in fact it seems that they know how to take care of themselves. Not sure about cooking though.

Nauna na naman sila mom and dad. Pagpasok namin sa bahay nila andun na sila sa sala at nakahanda na ang mga damit.

Comedy talaga 'tong mag-inang 'to. And it's normal na manghampas ng sandok, huh?

And... napag-desisyunan ko na...

I'll make Kevin realize that he's not the only one. Lalandiin ko si Zia. So he'll realize her worth.

Nung nakaalis na 'yung parents namin...

"Tara na sa bahay n'yo," sabi nung Pia. Ngayon ko lang narinig boses n'ya. It's cold. Emotionless just like her eyes. She's like an ice.

Then I saw Zia daydreaming. She's staring at nowhere.

"Zia!" I called her. Catching her attention helps her so that her senses are back. "D'yan ka lang?" I asked.

But she's not saying anything. She's just looking at me in the eye.

"Aish," I said. Trying to sound annoyed, I grabbed her hand. When I touched it, I felt the electricity again. She is definitely Pikachu. Her palm is soft. So I therefore conclude that she's lazy. Lol

I tried to distract myself but I can't. Yes. My heart is pounding so fast. It might go out on my chest. It's the same feeli—no. it's not. It is definitely not the same.

And I'm just helping my brother to realize that somebody could snatch her if he wouldn't make any move.

We're already at the living room and it seems that Zia is still high. Lol

"Zia!!!" Pia shouted right at her ears. I guess that hurts.

"Bakit?"
"Tulaley ka lang forevs?"
"Sorry."

"Ehem," I said.
"May ubo ka pre?"

"Kamay."
"Kamay?"
"Yung kamay ko. Baka gusto mong bitawan?"

"Malamang!" Sabay bitaw n'ya. Sayang. "Gustong-gusto kong bitawan!!" sabi n'ya sabay irap. She's really something..

And Kevin.. He's still not talking, huh? I looked at him. And he's sad. Sorry bro, but I hope you'll realize soon.

And I hope that I won't fall hard. I shouldn't for my sake.

"Bro. Ikaw na bahala. Sa kwarto lang muna ako," he said. I hope you'll think about it in your room. So I just nodded then he left.

"S-san yung kwarto namin Keanu?" she suddenly asked. Hahahaha I have an idea.

"Hmm..." I pretended that I'm thinking. And smirked at that thought.

"Sa guestroom si Pia.. At ikaw ay... Hmm.."

"Sa kwarto ko."

"Pakyu. Asa ka," she said looking at me. She's really funny when she's pissed.

"Joke lang," sabi ko sabay tawa "Dalawa ang guestrooms dito so tig-isa kayo. Katapat ng kwarto ni Kevin yung isa tapos 'yung isa, katapat ng sa'kin. Mamili na lang kayo."

"By the way, movie marathon tayo?" I asked. So they won't be bored.
"Sure!" Pia said. She's energetic? What happened? She looked menopausal earlier. Lol

Then they went upstairs to put their things in their room. So I ordered a pizza.

Zia's sitting on my right while Pia's sitting on my left. Did they plan to sit beside me?

So much for being assuming. lol

We agreed to watch Maze Runner but I didn't understand the movie cause I keep on looking on Zia. I don't know why but my body's acting like this.

"So... ano nang sunod?" I asked. I wanted to sit beside her longer. I don't want to end this. Not yet.

Ugh fuck you brain. You shall not fall. Don't think like that. Kevin likes her, it's inappropriate to fall in love with the person that your brother likes.

"Horror!" Pia said excitedly.

Zia didn't even bother to protest. It seems like she wants this kind of movies. I thought I would receive a hug because she's scared. Lol.

"Okay. Conjuring or Coming Soon?" I asked. Because that's the only horror movie I have

"Conjuring muna bago 'yung Coming Soon," Pia said.

I agreed then played the Conjuring. Like the Maze Runner, I didn't even understand what the movie is. Parang sinasapian lang ganun 'yung naintindihan ko. Bakit ba kasi ako tingin nang tingin kay Zia?

But I laughed when she covered her eyes but there are spaces on it so she can still watch the movie. She's weird.

Pia is enjoying the movie and Zia is kinda terrified? I don't know. She looks like she's serious about watching it.

Now, Coming Soon. I didn't even watch that movie cause that old woman is creepy. Pia's laughing while Zia looks like she's gonna faint.