Unfortunately and at the same time how fortunate I am to like Rhaiden, my neighbour, the one who owns a chicken in their backyard. I didn't know why I liked him though, it just happened. And I hate that as we get closer, he starts to be more caring and it's hard for me not to put malice on it. Kaya hangga't maari, hanggang kaya ko. I won't fall nor confess, cause I'll be in a hard situation. 
"Is he your boyfriend, Ben?" 
"Huh?" I asked in a shock tone. 
We're now inside the car, on the road to go to Camalig. I'm seating on the back seat, while the siblings are on the front. Lumingon mula sa unahan si Lili. She's smiling widely at me while raising both her brows. 
"He's cute," she commented. 
I only smiled. "He's not," sagot ko sa tanong ng kapatid ni Lili na si Kuya Kylo, he's the one driving the black jeepney. 
Lili's lips become 'O', afterwards she nods her head. "Really?" She reacted, grinning and nodding her head. 
I shifted my gaze. I don't like the way she reacted. Although, I've seen a lot of reaction to Rhaiden. Pero iba pa rin pala kung kilala mo ito at pinsan mo pa. Lili's pretty, she made Rhaiden stared at her. 
Nakarating kami sa bahay ng mga Lucilla. Kung saan nakatira ang isa sa mga kapatid ni Mama. Sa lahat ng magkakapatid, si Mama lang ang umalis ng bayan na ito. I don't know the exact reason why she left her hometown. The only thing I know is that she hates being here. 
"Uncle Joe really wants to see you. Pero mukhang imposible iyon dahil hindi ka naman dito tutuloy." 
Nakarating kami sa labas ng bahay nila Katrina Lili. Hindi sila natigil sa pagkukwento sa akin ng mga bagay-bagay na hindi rin naman ako maka-relate. They're talking about families and stuff, I should've put my earphones on. But it will be such a disrespectful move to do, so I sat still and listened. 
"Maybe next time. Hindi rin naman kasi ako mag tatagal dito." I gave Lili a smile. 
She nods her head minimally. Papasok na kami sa loob ng bahay nila, habang si Kuya Kylo naman ay inaayos ang parke ng sasakyan. I'll stay here until 5 pm. Iyon naman kasi talaga ang usapan, pero maaga akong tumungo rito. I have to acllimatize myself here. 
"Charan!" she exlaimed joyfully as we reach the main door of their house. 
Lili's family is a middle class type of people. They have a very comfy and vintage style house. Well, I'm assuming that it's our grandparents old house. Naimana lang ng pangatlong anak na si Tito Allan. Si Mama kasi ang pangalawang bunso sa limang magkakapatid. Uncle Joe is the oldest among them and the richest. 
Binuksan niya ang pintong gawa sa narra. It still looks shiny at walang bakas ng kahit ano mang hinagpit nang kahapon. They did a good job on taking care of the old stuffs. Although some things have changed here, too, based on my Mama's album. Ang dating kahoy na dingding ay ngayon ay semento na. Same wood floor and and windows, the interior still look the same but it has the hint of modern design and decor. 
"You can leave your things here, Ben," tinuro ni Kuya Kylo ang isa sa mga kwarto ng bahay. 
Tumango ako. Iiwan ko kasi ang maletang dala ko. I don't want to bring my whole stuffs there. Baka sakaling mag alsabalutan ako o kaya naman ay palayasin ako doon, kaunti lang ang aalalahanin kong bitbitin. 
"Thanks, Kuya Kylo. Pala, anong oras ang dating nila Uncle Allan?" I asked while peeking through my apple watch. 
I still have an hour. 
"Ahh, mamayang gabi pa iyon. Baka nga at hindi mo na maabutan." 
We're sitting on the sofa, in the living room. Kaming tatlo lang pala ang narito at ang isang kasamahan nila rito sa bahay. We talked about some few things dahil ayaw nila ng tahimik. They asked about my university and what course I am in. 
"Ahh I'm taking a science course," sagot ko tanong nila. 
Gulat na tumingin sa akin ang pinsan na babae habang kumakain ng sabang prinito. It taste really good, especially with sugar and coke. 
"Realy? Hindi ka nag Accountancy?" 
Umiling ako. "I'm not really good at numbers, equations and such." I shook my head and took a bite of the fried banana, it's so good. 
Tumango-tango ang babae habang busangot ang mukha, "Si Papa, he pushed me to take accountancy kahit na hindi ako magaling sa math," nagtatampo niyang tugon dahil sa kan'yang ama. 
Kuya Kylo grinned. "Ehh. Masyado kang humble. You almost cried noong malaman monh President lister ka," he commented while his arms ware crossed and seated comfortably beside her little siste. 
Nangingiti ko siya tinignan. "Wow! Congrats. Ang hirap na ngayon makakuha nang award," I nod at her and felt happy about the sudden achievement. 
Ngumiti ang babae sa akin. "Congrats din! I've heard na you're a dean lister, too." 
It's hard for me to get in a lister. I'm blessed to have an award for my efforts, too. 
Tama nga ang sabi ni Mama. She boast about her family's genes and blood are full of smarties. Hindi rin naman siya nagkamali sa bagay na iyon. All of my cousins are academic awardees. Lili and Kuya Kylo from Tito Allan. Herald and Heinz from Tito Joe. Keilani and Leilani from Tito Hersito. Of course, Me, from my Mama. Ang bunsong kapatid naman ni Mama ay wala pang anak o asawa. Sa lahat ng mga pinsan ko, Keilani and Leilani are my favourite cousins. Hindi lang dahil ay lagi ko silang nakakasama noon, but also we have the same university. Tho they live in a boarding house at dito sa Camalig ang bahay nila. I don't know where are they right now. Ang alam ko lang ay tumungo sila ng ibang bansa upang magbakasyon at kitain ang kanilang ina. 
Time flew fast when the conversation is interesting. Ang kumalmang kaba sa aking dibdib ay muling pumanhik sa akin. I think I will never be ready to meet them. I feel so anxious and stressed. 
Sa loob ng kwarto ay inayos ko ang sarili at maliit na bag pack na gagamitin. Lili's said that this is my mother's old room. At sa lahat ng kwarto, ito ang pinaka malaki at pinaka matingkad ang kulay. They did not change color nor the design, because the mom wouldn't like if they did. That's how they love their old girl. 
Habang nilalagay sa balikat ang strap ng bag ay may kumatok sa pinto at linuwal nito ang pinsan kong lalaki. "Papa's here, siya raw mag hahatid sayo. Pero sama kami," he said, smiling like a kid. 
Tumango at ngumiti. "Okay! I just have to set this aside," tinuro ko ang maletang nakabukas sa sahig. 
"Ben Zene, nak!" 
A tall, middle aged man with a dark chocolate colored hair welcomed me with a widespread arms. Suot pa niya ang panlabas na damit at sapatos. 
Nahihiya akong ngumiti at kinaway ang kanan na kamay. He looked at me like I'm also his daughter. 
"Uncle," I called. He's waiting for me outside the house, sa tabi ng kan'yang puting jeep. 
He hugged me as soon as I reached him. He gave me a full warmth hug, a hug that every daughter's dream. 
"Ben, I'm so happy to see you, again." He said while hugging and swaying me. Hinarap niya ako sa kan'ya matapos ang ilang segundong yakapan. He has this awed expression on his face. 
"You look so much of your Mom," he giggled an gave me a pat on the head. "At katangkad mo na rin siya," he added na para bang naisaulo niya ang buong pagkatao ni Mama. 
Tumawa ako nang mahina. I look down, being shy. Hindi ako sanay sa mga ganitong bagay. Even my mom is too reserve and hesitant to say that I'm her duplicate. She always say that I'm more beautiful than her, that I'm unique, that I can be more than herself. 
"Hindi ka muna ba tutuloy sa bahay natin kahit isang gabi?" Uncle Allan asked while maneuvering the car. I'm sat beside him, the passenger seat. While his children are on the backseat. 
Ngumiti ako. "As much as I want too po, pero limang araw lang po ako nandito." I reminded him. 
Kahit pinatapon ako ng nanay ko rito ay ayaw din naman niyang mag tagal ako dito. That's how she loves and hates me. 
"Nako talaga iyang si Ez. Kahit siya ayaw niya kaming bisitahin." Kunot ang noo na sabi nito, mukhang nagtatampo pa sa kapatid niya. 
Isang ngiti lang ibinigay ko sa kan'ya. Wala na rin din akong masagot pa dahil sa kabang kumakabog sa dibdib ko. Kahit nagsasalita si Uncle Allan, I can't comprehend his statements anymore. 
"Are you okay?" Someone whospered behind me. Naalis ang tingin ko mula sa bintana at lumingon sa aking kanan. 
Lili's already peeking behind the front seat. I grin escaped my lips. "I'm good," I said. 
"Ang ingay ni Papa, sana okay ka pa." She looks at his father who's still talking while his eyes are still on the road. Then she looks back at me, still smiling. "Kung ayaw mong matulog sa kanila. Chat mo ako agad, ha?" she raise and taps her phone. 
I chuckled. "Okay."