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CHAPTER 2

DAPHNE'S POV

“Procopio! Ang gatas! Nasaan na?!”

Malakas na sigaw ng Mommy ko na si Quin sa Daddy ko habang karga karga at sinasayaw sayaw ang umiiyak na kapatid kong si Eros.

My Mom was a former Physics teacher and now our school's principal. “Tahan na, baby.. Sshhhh.. Papaluin natin si Daddy ha? Ang kupad kupad kasing kumilos eh!” Naririnig ko pang bulong n’ya sa kapatid ko habang kanina pa masama ang tingin sa gawi ng pinto ng kusina kung saan naroon si Daddy para ipagtimpla ng gatas si Eros. I shook my head and turned my attention to the television in front.

It's weekend kaya ganito kagulo ang bahay. This is the normal scene in our house every morning and every weekend, lalo na kapag pareho lang na nasa bahay ang parents ko. They bicker almost everyday and I am used to it like it was pretty normal for a couple to fight almost every time. Para sa akin ay mas hindi normal kung tahimik ang bahay at parehong nandito sina Mommy at Daddy.

Being the eldest was somehow hard because I feel like it’s my responsibility to be the standard for my siblings. So, I am always doing my best to be the number one. Not only in our family but in everything I do. I am quite competitive and reluctant to admit defeat. Besides, wala pa namang nakakatalo sa akin sa kahit na saan, lalo na sa school. I am the reigning campus queen, the top student among our batch and the current President of the student council. And I have achieved all of that just not because my parents are both teachers, but because I can literally get everything I want because I excel in almost everything. Everyone is expecting that I will be the Valedictorian at the end of this school year.

“Mahal, saglit na saglit na saglit na lang!”

Narinig kong sigaw ng Daddy kong si Pio mula sa kusina. S’ya na naman kasi ang inutusang magtimpla ni Mommy ng gatas dahil iyak ng iyak si Eros dahil tinutubuan na yata ng ngipin.

“14.2…” Sambit ko matapos marinig ang question sa kung anong segment sa isang TV show na kasalukuyang pinapanood ni Mommy. My Mom turned to my side and arched her brow.

Napatingin din sa akin si Zeth na kasalukuyan kong kalaro ng chess. Zethus is currently a freshman in our school and the youngest is Eros who just turned two last month.

“The correct answer is 14.2!” Narinig kong announced ng host sa segment ng TV show na ‘yon. Easy.

“Checkmate!”

I yawned lazily and stretched my arms. Naghihikab ako habang pinapanood si Zeth na in-aanalyze pa rin ang huli kong tira. I smirked and tilted my head.

“Na naman?!” Kakamot kamot sa ulo na bulalas n’ya. Tinatamad na napasandal ako sa upuan.

“I told you, you need to practice more bago mo ako matalo," nakapikit ang mga matang sabi ko sa kanya.

“Araw-araw akong nag pa practice sa school. Wala pang nakatalo sa akin sa mga classmates ko,” sagot pa n’ya. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

“Your classmates are not on my level, Zeth,” prangkang sagot ko sa kanya. I was the one who taught him how to play chess and other board games. So, definitely, he cannot beat me. He just scratched his head and set up the board for another match.

“Pio, ano ba?! Ilang galon ba ng gatas ang tinitimpla mo at inabot ka na ng siyam-siyam d’yan ha?!” Muling sigaw ni Mommy na ngayon ay namumula na ang mga pisngi at mukhang iritado na talaga. She looked so pissed and I could smell another disaster coming up!

I heaved a sigh and stood up and immediately headed to the kitchen to check on my Dad. Naabutan ko s’yang nag headset at sumasayaw sayaw pa habang naglalaro yata ng kung anong online game sa phone. Napailing na lang ako. Grabe talaga si Daddy. Mas madalas pa s’yang masermunan ni Mommy kesa sa amin ni Zeth. Masyado daw kasing pasaway si Daddy lalo na daw noong binata pa s’ya.

My parents are neighbors, childhood friends and they worked and are still working together in school, which is where I am studying now. And according to Dad, my Mom is his first and last girlfriend. At palagi s’yang binabatukan ni Mommy kapag sinasabi n’ya ‘yon dahil kinokontra naman s’ya ni Mommy. My Mom said that Dad was a certified womanizer back in their days! And according to my grandma, they were always like this even before. They bicker a lot and they always fight even with petty things.

Young, wild and carefree. That was my Dad before he fell in love with my Mom. Mortal enemy daw silang dalawa dati at napikot lang daw ni Mommy si Daddy pero ‘wag ko raw sasabihin kay Mommy na sinabi n’ya ‘yon dahil malalagot daw kaming pareho.

“Daddy..” Tawag ko sa kanya nang tuluyang makapasok sa kusina. Mukhang hindi n’ya ako napansin dahil busy s’ya sa pagsabay sa kantang pinapakinggan n’ya habang mukhang enjoy na enjoy sa paglalaro sa phone.

“I've become so numb! Oh yeahhh! Oh—”

“Procopio!!”

Napalingon ako kay Mommy na sumunod na rin pala dito sa kusina at masama ang tingin nito kay Daddy na mukhang nakalimutan ng ibigay ang pina patimpla sa kanya na gatas. Gulat na gulat tuloy s’ya nang makita kaming dalawa doon.

“Daph? M-mahal? Sinong nauna sa inyong dumating—Aray!”

“Hindi lang ‘yan ang aabutin mo sa akin kapag kinakabag sa kakaiyak ang anak mo!” Banta ni Mommy pagkatapos n’yang pingutin si Daddy.

“Sorry na, Mahal!” Kakamot kamot sa ulo na sinundan n’ya si Mommy. I shrugged and followed them.

The doorbell rang and my Mom immediately turned to me.

“Daph, paki buksan ‘yong gate,” utos n’ya sa akin at dali daling pinuntahan si Eros. I nodded and headed to open the gate.

My face literally lit up when I recognized our visitors.

“Good morning, Sir Marco, Ma'am Cathy…” I politely greeted them. They were one of my teachers and Sir Marco is my favorite. He’s teaching Math, and God knows how I am fascinated with numbers!

“Hi, Daph!” Sir Marco greeted me back and his wife just gave me a lopsided smile.

I wonder why they're here?