Bridgetine Heirs | River

Chapter 1

TATLONG  na buwan na kaming magkachat online. I tried to hack her location  but I failed each time. Mukhang marunong din s'yang magblock. So I said to her last week, kung hindi ko maririnig ang boses n'ya sa phone, we should stop chatting. Malay ko ba kung lalake ang kausap ko. Isa pa, Jamie ang pangalan n'ya. I respect everyone's preferences but I don't swing that way. Konti lang ang ayaw ko sa buhay -- and being lied to is on top of my list. Gasgas man ang kasabihan na 'honesty is the best policy' pero 'yon ang motto ko. Mahalaga 'yon eh. It's a good foundation in any relationship.

Nag-ring ang telepono ko. As usual, the call is unregistered. "Hello."

"Hey, are you busy?" Her voice is so soothing. Kasing ganda kaya ng boses n'ya ang kanyang mukha?

"Hi! Hindi naman, nasa office pa. Katatapos lang ng meeting. What's up?"

"About our lunch tomorrow, is Verjus okay?"

May usapan kaming dalawa na magkikita for lunch sa downtown. Sa totoo lang, ilang attempt ko bago ko s'ya napapayag. Ano ba kasi ang meron at ayaw n'ya akong makita in person? Hindi naman ako pangit. In fact, madaming nagkakagusto sa akin.

"Are you kidding? I love that place. I will be there before twelve."

It took her a bit to respond and I even heard her sigh. "Okay."

Why does she sound like she's not excited to see me? Ako nga, hindi na makahintay makita s'ya. I can tell she has class from the way she speaks. Sa imagination ko — may ganda s'yang sopistikada, matangkad, maliit ang baywang at magandang manamit. In short, sexy.

Pinalambing ko ang boses ko. "I can't wait to see you tomorrow."

Nang matapos ang pag-uusap namin ay nag-ayos na rin ako ng gamit ko pauwi. It's Friday. Usually, I will be hanging out in a bar with Nic.. I mean Kuya Nic na pala. Asawa na s'ya ni Ate Sage. Pero busy s'ya sa pagbabawi sa kapatid ko at buntis rin si Ate, kaya kung ayaw n'yang masabon — diretso sa bahay ang uwi ng mokong.

Ako kaya? Kapag buntis na si Jamie — mainitin kaya ang ulo n'ya? That made me chuckle. Buntis na agad, ni hindi pa nga kami nagkikita. Sabagay, doon din naman ang ending namin. She's smart and fun to talk to with. I don't care if she's rich or poor. I have enough money saved for the both of us. Wala naman siguro s'yang sakit na nakakahawa. Plus, I really think she is beautiful so what's not to like?

Pag uwi ko sa condo ay inihanda ko na ang susuutin ko para bukas. I was in the middle of picking a shirt when my phone rang.

"What's up bro?" It's my brother in law.

"Bro, are you busy? Can you babysit Cole for a bit? May sakit kasi ang yaya n'ya and I planned to take your sister out for a date tonight."

"A bit? He can sleep over. I'll go pick him up. See you in half hour."

"Great! Thanks!"

"Thanks ka dyan, may bayad 'yan."

"Anong gusto ni bayaw?"

"Take me out on a drink next Friday after work. Ikaw ang taya."

Mahina itong napamura. "Gusto mo na talaga siguro akong mamatay?! You are on speaker phone and your sister is throwing daggers at me."

"Ate, huwag kang magsungit. Papangit ang pamangkin ko."

"River Slater, don't you dare take Nic to the bar," naiinis na sabi nito.

Natawa naman ako. "At bakit naman?"

"Or I will mess up all your computers. Remotely."

That made me gulp. She's a hacker. Before she stayed in Russia, tinuruan na s'ya ni Uncle Dom at Peyton and my sister is a fast learner. Mas mabilis pa nga sa computer ang utak n'ya at walang palya. Mas nahasa s'ya sa hacking noong tumira s'ya kina Kuya Mik.

"Sabi ko nga di ba, never! Si Kuya lang talaga ang mapilit."

"Taran —" Kuya Nic was about to say tarantado but my sister was fast enough to cut him off.

"Nicholas," singhal ni Ate dito.

"Sorry, babe."

Hindi ko napigilang mapahalakhak ng tawa. Pagdating kay Ate, tiklop talaga si Kuya. Not because he is afraid of her — well, kind of. Who wouldn't be? She's well trained with guns, martial arts and she can snap your neck in a heartbeat. Ang ate kong halos hindi makapatay ng langaw ay iba na ng bumalik galing sa Russia. She's stronger, fiercer — a complete badass, but she loves her husband than life itself. I want that kind of love from my future wife. Maybe from Jamie.

In exactly half hour, I arrived at their house and my nephew came running to me. Itinaas nito ang dalawang braso at nagpapabuhat.

"Uncle Ri! Uncle Ri!"

Binuhat ko naman s'ya agad at hinalikan sa pisngi. Noon ay utal pa s'ya at ang tawag sa akin angke ri. Ang landi ano? I chuckled.

"How are you, little man?"

"Fine. Dad said I'm sleeping over at your place. Can I eat candies?" Ang mga mata nito ay nagliliwanag at mukhang nasasabik.

"Of course — not." I had to add the not dahil pinanlilisikan na ako ni Ate ng mata ngayon. Tumamlay naman ang mukha ng pamangkin ko at nagmukhang talunan kaya mahina ko s'yang binulungan. "Don't worry I have lots od skittles in the car. Don't tell. Act sad okay?"

Tumango naman ito at kumindat sa akin. Halos sabay kaming umalis nina Ate. Ang bilin pa n'ya ay patulugin ng maaga si Cole. Tss! Para namang hindi s'ya nagpuyat noon. Well, bihira nga s'ya. Ako ang madalas.

"Did you eat dinner yet?"

Umiling ito. Kasalukuyan ko s'yang nilalagyan ng seatbelt sa booster seat n'ya. "I had snacks. It's too early for dinner."

"It will be dinner time soon. Do you want pizza and wings?"

"Yes," nangingiting sabi nito at pumalakpak pa.

Sa halip na mag order kami ng delivery ay pinili kong pumunta sa pizza house at doon kami kumain ni Cole. Pakagat na ako sa pangalawang slice ng may pumasok na babaeng matangkad, nakashorts na puti at pulang sleeveless blouse. She looks so beautiful at walang bahid na kolorete sa mukha except for lip gloss. Nakasuot lang ito ng flip flops at may dalang cellphone. Sa hula ko ay ito na rin ang wallet n'ya. She is so different. I like her. Wait, remember Jamie?

But what if this is her?