This is it. Big day for Ben.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF81RyiPlNg
I couldn't say everything went smoothly. When he first told Mama what was troubling him, the woman literally broke down. I've lost count of the times her dreaded slipper left marks on his body except for the eyes. What I only remembered were the number of days she deemed him non-existent and the times that her treatment tortured him.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm1BOFlPxZ
But gladly, he made it out in one piece. After five days of silent treatment and a heart-to-heart talk, Mama finally gave him her blessing and all the manna our family could afford.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnqtUMe9zS
Which is why on the day of his wedding, the other Opiana boys prepared the food for the feast, while I took the responsibility of making sure that the hair, makeup, and gown of the lucky bride, Naya, looked presentable.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBBxBTgu20
Before the makeup, I gathered her black, wavy hair in an updo and adorned it with a do-it-yourself headpiece made of fresh jasmine flowers before proceeding to the makeup. It took me late nights to study the looks of Yamada Yu, Song Hye-kyo, and the Squid Game hottie, to see what would perfectly match her skin tone. After fifteen minutes, I achieved the desired look and smiled in satisfaction. I double-checked the details of her wedding dress and nodded to myself, seeing that nothing went wrong.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwZlvP6ba0
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh77RvoSUJ
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKmiRzUvCY
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i83NZor3Z
I smiled at her remark and replaced my hands with a bouquet of white calla lilies. But something popped into my mind that I couldn't bask in the glory for a long time.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHSPB5z85t
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWIFHvYdiA
"Sure."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRqKyISZ9s
I rushed to the room where Ben was grooming up to check how he was doing. The door was left ajar, so I could see his twin Dan fixing his suit, and in a way, trying to keep him from getting cold feet. I smiled. Despite looking literally different, these boys stuck together like glue from the day they were born.
Knowing that Ben didn't need my presence anymore, I found myself ambling toward a wide, makeshift hall where the rest of the boys were preparing food. Most of them were naked from the waist up, wearing only knee-length shorts or worn-out denim pants. My eyes widened in amazement as their broad shoulders bore a large, bound hog, as their strong hands stuffed a bamboo stick inside the beast's mouth, and as their muscled fingers drew out its blood without breaking a sweat.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSQ49pO8E8
My lips pursed, picturing how it felt to be one of them. But mama strictly confined me to the fabrics of this knee-length Sunday dress. The itch crept quickly throughout my body that I wanted to wriggle out of the stupid clothing at the soonest time possible.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSQz4p08X2
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9erro7WsC
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMG53abTfl
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNqlVlLK5f
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRbjgV7OnG
He scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "What do you know about roasting a pig? You're not needed here. Go back to Naya, where your service is more useful."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB59Nn2DoYY
A chorus of mocking laughter echoed along the seven pillars of the mess hall. My chest pounded with a fit of anger I could not get rid of. Who on earth would want to be in my position right now?334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtwBmydByO
The only one who did not join the "fun" was Joe, whose words stopped the boys from barking. His fingers curled like an eagle's claws on Lev's shoulder, causing the latter to tremble like a rat.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQmqIg8Nbf
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW3uVK3uOG
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnumUBaRXfD
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WsCQjKcVM
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j4n2jNLID
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaEZk2m2t4
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbUX25byq8
Oh. Brand-specific.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY6j3QCCoH
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmw890pck4
His brow arched.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwqYBVurml
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLhnzsgZQf
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWBljXGmNW
That and I hurried to the market to look for a liver spread named Ram before he thinks of slamming my face on the scorching cauldron of boiled rice.
Luckily, we have finished the food preparation early, so we were able to attend our second brother's wedding. The monoblock chairs in the church have been filled with relatives from both sides, so the need to accommodate all the guests made us boys and 'girl' stand before the windows like a firing squad. Mama who was sitting beside Dan dried her tears from time to time with her handkerchief. So did the mother of Naya who sought comfort in the arm of her husband.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrMjr1ETcf
"Do you, Benjamin Opiana, take Naomi Dela Cruz as your lawfully wedded wife, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" The pastor asked monotonously.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD1lbxVnWv
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB9KZBkSh4
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4gb6Ppo8G
"Do you, Naomi Dela Cruz, take Benjamin Opiana as your lawfully wedded husband, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNlrsSPsuf
Naya wiped the tears from her cheeks. Good thing I applied a waterproof sprayer on her face. If not, I'd be in danger of facing mama's dreaded slipper for creating a bridezilla.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCwwDRkwZz
"I do," she answered.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUowHT9rH7O
When the pastor signaled the couple to seal the deal, Ben's hands raised the white veil and caught his wife's mouth in a passionate kiss. A huge round of applause drowned the silence of the small church.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhm9Wj0UU9
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu2LXigS93
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1g0BoS83y
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJf4FtWy1P
I turned my eyes upon Naya's direction to see what he was talking about, and to my horror, the headpiece was not properly arranged! I wished I could dash to the altar and fix her hair without making a complete fool of myself. Hopefully, mama did not notice.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSnKkedkEP
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHANJ8bofI
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmEs71iLMf
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oRCKzjjkl
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8jmjjwKoh
My arms crossed. "Come on, man. In four years, you'll be growing gray hair. Besides, should've you been the first one to settle down?"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5NmILppty
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhok0yX8iZ
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFlqQsduTC
Here we go again. Why did he have to hit a nerve at every conversation? I stopped answering, knowing I would never stand a chance against his cold, calculated words. But he wouldn't let me off that easily.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9TanwxOrI
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG8TBo1pHX
Fine. But what can I do? I'm a hot-blooded young man coming of age, and that young lady at the line of the bridesmaids happened to drop my jaw in her simple attire and no-makeup look. But...334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzazcBQVo7
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNDGmWMTg5
"You did, you liar," he insisted.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiQztrgsS0
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicLHtBfKzk
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWLBVOKYbn
My hands went down to my sides, fingers curling into fists in controlled annoyance. If only we were not in a church, I swear to God, one of these fists would fly straight to his jaw.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93F1wTEtIb
