This is it. Big day for Ben.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78u0wKVDx0
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE4B620r50
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLThpNT4wPU
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ707LgQ85u6
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6puohpkmHk
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYyfMm6DeX
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQKVB9DvZN
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GRnessN37
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k6HTphYG2
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TpTrgYGk0
"Sure."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEbgrClFea
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7W5KFlHww
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm7Wa3DJUx
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yNGiyWLHx
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBt9FQ0OhG
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GydbimpDc
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyMEDf0qmV
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."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb1iAsuwLM
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?372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB30Z5WdrRb
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgq1nSzL1U
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vKefjzYMA
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MKxoTOp1a
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjQ2YnakJI
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONTBOLOTjN
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIpEDbLoCV
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gwNaGfAOG
Oh. Brand-specific.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP3P3gd2FI
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNdhfXQBKM
His brow arched.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG2IHE9Vmw
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gG5VFYLQP
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4SvwsYsaM
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlV6cf6KCm
"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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVo4YzgXFJ
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxOdZ6F8ti
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXbWe1w5sJ
"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?"372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy4x54Wg0R
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mWKxFUGmB
"I do," she answered.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlpaUk0cPP
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRhUuikeGL
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoWWBKrryq
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN6kY3h5Oa
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84YEHpnxqM
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZPwLI5x91
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDwAThQ38j
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L8UGqlHet
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRemMPXArC3
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTwZTjjXNe
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?"372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJPLyVxG5l
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKjcqf0Uc9
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d1YTry8hc
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHgtbpRgdR
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRpFRFH5n3
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...372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz2d0QzD6P
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOKKhPPUWb
"You did, you liar," he insisted.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3EIiYFSAr
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKp3WUXT6H
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGv2OL3C7S
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.372Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYlRJqlTre
