This is it. Big day for Ben.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXkYLzeobM
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmba9CLCnG
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4RfgdYKTY
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnOXqDhT6a
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LqXHiZDaQ
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0INZONqmR
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsSlhYzDxb
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40sgb32qf0
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqvl0Ar4uZ
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPIozdpunl
"Sure."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbdHttmZyX
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL5wNPNonO
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23z9DuEhnE
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBA5JVCPah
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxTWHO7G3c
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N6VKwbaaz
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNusl3YdyNo
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."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTc7prpKIt
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?290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzp2ryamcR
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViBELMMDiq
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42JwuxohxZ
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEh88wHWIt
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAVrU6p4Pw
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7xOpnb3nE
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HEL8CGhvX
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjNsFzsJWi
Oh. Brand-specific.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWahnOug540
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUCaY8d98y
His brow arched.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8yr2dwtTQ
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaRXb5CI7f
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EvZGEFRWu
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTAAm1dwHs
"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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzicNNAjIkD
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZG65Fb950
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGx5frpSbL
"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?"290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTE1d4uU1F
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW5bA2GZPT
"I do," she answered.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl2setgvYm
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT0OxwQyH9
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9NbrUz06p
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxS6632RCI
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpk61DPOCq
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKmqrxG0PT
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLtgdiIfSM
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMMcF96IUi
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE0L548aaC
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZv343yK9U
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?"290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaPreRQczR
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9wMehiYfM
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jAl1COLbD
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhg1DKUcml
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmiVhsNvI6
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...290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamxhxw2AX3
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLBQOu2Qv4
"You did, you liar," he insisted.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YFq0l7wTh
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSRDozXl38
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS08YARD61
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.290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu5btV7mns
