This is it. Big day for Ben.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam5f2D1dX3
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgbd9Zdxlu
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXNNTuVM5o
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7sq1BNcGe
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnEFc9iIbY
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwS3Uw9sGk
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv6nYMN5vk
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lQnSAW90U
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HkGb5Q8YJ
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1jM9wwZC2
"Sure."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0y7tq5IRo
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2S3nPdIZE
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6z9i26PoG
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡousKHsBYz8
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFgM748kag
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOO7drAB7z
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMGxMuo197
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."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtrjyky3Fe
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?376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGPlKKKNBQ
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg9y41kuTW
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj9VkVFyt1
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t49DDgylP
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5B8qJhdVPA
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKGl9QHS9E
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkV7XtqnIa
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGkfxeZBrE
Oh. Brand-specific.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXUCQTcGXm
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7tQx5SHHC
His brow arched.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnK4yrono3
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa2SXlBzDc
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX0bwPck9G
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1WDh8jpDx
"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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAwitdWiXI
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0ZSSCslYI
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5PIaCOAMR
"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?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3icXEqLXLa
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIXQvqAC6W
"I do," she answered.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor2PxJStEu
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzlGR0ctwW
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfjxCnbnbO
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXkc06rmWo
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThftOrtgB2
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYn1SnLtSi
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu5pdHqFZd
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSseUMak3n3
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DoTQWL0ME
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9csLqwY3l
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?"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDiO5Kv190
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdUwqbRMFC
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUghQmrwZ2b
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDnTa2o6xQ
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEgMVLYL6e
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...376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtQNgCS0qA
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9yd43F32x
"You did, you liar," he insisted.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFPVxfQzsX
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsyLEklLWN
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREKbYWjpt4
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrhFzjUIqz
