Chapter 3

"Let me do the dishes." I volunteered. Napantastikuhan naman akong tinignan ng dalawa. Halatang hindi sang ayon sa sinabi ko.

Because if I volunteered, they have to help me out with it too.

"Bl--" I cute her off.

"You don't have to help me." Nagkusa lang talaga ako kasi nakakahiya, at ayokong maki join sa ingay nila.

Hindi naman kasi ako belong kaya ayokong mag feeling.

Nadala naman ng mga lalaki lahat ng maduming pinggan doon sa sink. There is not need to go to their villa kaya okay na rin ‘yun.

"Are you sure? madami ‘yan" Pagtukoy ni Aly.

"You don't need to do the dishes! She's right, madami 'to." 'yong Alec na ang nagsalita.

"I insist." I said strongly. Hindi na niya ako pinansin pagkatapos, walang pakialam sa akin which I'm thankful of.

Sanay na ako sa ganong ugali kaya alam ko paano kumilos sa tabi nila. My Father and Tito's are like that too, I've been dealing with coldness all my life. Napangiti ako sa isipang ‘yun.

"Really?! you'll do this?" Hindi maka paniwalang bulalas ni Ari.

"Yes."

"But that's a lot! and no offense meant, i have no intention on helping you kasi mababasag ko lang mga ‘yan." Natatawa niyang sabi sa ‘kin.

"Wala naman ibang maghuhugas maliban sa akin, and you fed me so it's fine."

"Pero---"

"Ari, c'mon. Stop talking to her, dun tayo. Tsaka dapat lang naman maghugas ng pinggan ‘yan kasi naki kain." Malditang sabat nong isa.

"What?!" Pheobe heard that from afar at naglakad siya ng mabilis papunta sa gilid ko.

"Bitch ka ghorl?" She spat those words without a care. Tinaasan lang siya ng kilay nong babae.

Ari sense the growing tension. Hindi naman ako na offend doon sa sinabi nung babae, kasi totoo ‘yun. Only, the way she delivered it sounds like she's belittling me.

"Well...." Ari sounds off, like she doesn't know what to say. She turned to me and asked.

"Sure ka ha? You don't seem like you know how to do the dishes."

Tumango lang ako. " I know how to cook, so I know how to clean." I said with passive voice.

"Eh kasi.. " she trail off.

"Do I look rich?" Natatawa kong tanong.

"You just don't look like one because I know you are." She smirked at me.

"You're rich naman talaga, kaya why bother washing this? If you want you can even buy everything?!" My friend ridiculously exclaimed. Pero halatang pinapahiya lang nya 'yong babae sa tabi ni Ari.

Tumango naman ang huli. "She's right, so no point talaga. I know who you are pero if you insist, bahala ka."

Kumunot ang noo ko doon, she knows me?

"You know me?"

"See? I know you but you don't even know who I am despite meeting each other in multiple parties, because you're that exclusive." Natatawa niyang saad.

"Oh, sorry."

She just shrug. "Nah, it's fine. Mauna na kami nito." atsaka nya hinatak ang kaibigan. I even overheard her saying 'Next time, know who you're bitching with!'

"Sarap nong pagkain pero ang pait nong mga kasama ni Kuya." Natawa naman ako sakanya.

"Gaga, hindi kasi tayo kilala." sabi ko naman.

"But the guys welcomed us! even Arisa!"

"Coz they're boys" I told her and the shrugged. "Yung boyfriend mo, hindi mo i-ccheck? Baka nagising na ‘yun."

"Hala! Oo nga pala!" Hindi sya makapaniwalang nakalimutan nya ang boyfriend nya.

"Balikan kita agad, check ko lang si gago." Hindi pa man ako naka sagot tumakbo na siya palayo sa ‘kin. Leaving me alone.

I look around to find Aly but I saw her near the buko tree's with her eyes close. What do I even expect? Pagkatapos kumain non, matik nang matutulog sya.

I started washing off the dirt of the cups, spoon and plates before soaping them.

Although my family is rich, I wasn't raise like one. We live normally, we may receive expensive things from our parents but aside from that, everything is ordinary. We're not sheltered nor pampered.

"Hi." Pagbati ulit sakin ni Ari, binalikan pa nya ako.

"How can I help?"

"Nothing, baka mabasag mo eh." I teased. She giggled.

"Okay, I'll chika nalang."

I nod silently.

"I've seen you multiple times in parties, kaya you look familiar to me tapos nung pinakilala ka ni Pheobe, I remembered."

"I'm sorry if I don't know you." I apologise sincerely, hindi ko kasi siya kilala, isa pa, hindi naman kasi ako nakiki socialize sa mga party na pinupuntahan ko.

"Nah, muntik din naman kitang ‘di makilala. It's just that your family has a big influence."

Nagpatuloy ako sa paghuhugas ng pinggan.

"Kaya nagtataka talaga ako, you know how to cook and do this! wow"

Ngumiti naman ako. "We're raised averagely."

"Why?"

I shrug. "Papa didn't made us feel like we're rich. I live independently too since I was a kid."

"Hmmm, how'd you know how to cook? I overheard kanina, you cook deliciously daw. I wonder if I could taste the food cooked by a Zoyle?"

"Hanggang bukas pa naman kami dito, if you want I can cook something for you later." I Offered.

She look shocked. "Really?!" Tumango naman ako, Nagluluto rin naman kasi ako mamaya para sa amin, bibigyan ko nalang siya.

"I'll wait for that! So pano ka nga natutong magluto?"

Tumigil ako saglit at tinignan sya.

"Mahilig akong kumain eh, tapos bukod sa Papa ko, walang marunong magluto. Not even mommy or my Tita's. Kapag may gusto kaming kainin magpipinsan, wala kaming makain kasi walang marunong magluto sa pamilya. Papa can't cook for us always because he's in the office all the time. Naging interested ako."

"Wow, sana all." Tumawa sya ng malakas. I laughed with her too.

The atmosphere she carry is light, probably the reason why she's easy to go with.

"Ari!" May tumawag sakanya sa malayo.

"Sige na, you can leave me here. Feebs will comeback any minute."

And she left.

Malapit na akong matapos nang biglang parang may multong nasa likod ko dahil tumayo ang balahibo ko.

Then I smelled that cologne. I flinched when I confirmed who it was.

Walang salitang namutawi galing sakanya, he just took the plate and sponge away from my hand softly.

"You can rest, I'll finish this." He said.

"Huh?" I stared at his side frame for a moment.

Why is he helping me? Tahimik lang ako habang pinagmamasdan sya.

He looks familiar din, pero imposibleng 'di ko matatandaan 'to. Gwapo eh.