This is it. Big day for Ben.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lTjFYsr8E
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0uObKIBt3
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ84gClH7c
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHdsj0OL9e
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5UldnYQnQ
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwpUJSxXNI
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4BJbRjN1b
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUEtvmHOuo
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9lNRWMdLH
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPzyZVS00B
"Sure."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8nWEhHaEG
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyXr3nrKOZ
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yYj0FLKmc
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEkMH0wIEi
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4hP4sGIOR
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcVu1Lv4ot
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrYuoCoiwn
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."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6nxzwDr2z
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?352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzvs09hViE
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDFryykdbq
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0OWo9aSyz
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSyJP31mMy
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHECo1x3Iv
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl65nybTCTq
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GbI39Ydsc
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYal9gP1MF
Oh. Brand-specific.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDdYIbv6ie
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAvW1T5PKy
His brow arched.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQArRqPasoi
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UEzmzetln
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4FoFQk7Dd
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rk76IJKTE
"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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm068sCXTD
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJgwUKSyEh
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGSVjsowgI
"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?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9wZNpows4
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A6h2Qg9Vx
"I do," she answered.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1uv6G0k6P
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJP343hXPY
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywNcU8BpYO
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s0WjqBBdi
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71uoXiHPy1
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOIQCBsAgc
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtVGpzeg4k
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoXwBpYA1j
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xn0faYwfb
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjmOjqmASx
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?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVipJLC2iu
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLmxuIwxG8
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qxBX8oPgI
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXODoCxzx8
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZhGmcqTm5
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...352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx6jg6i3AZ
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ311qSmpYAO
"You did, you liar," he insisted.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQO3NGcRoG
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3VAx3hF1n
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1ENwAVeQn
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh4aLP7VFT
