This is it. Big day for Ben.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhfAICHqDR
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS7Ju7IX6C
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumHBzMSX53
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IQ2ChF2lZ
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0m5xCTByN
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSI3WW2P5F
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOsXUQjbLG
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLjOLTrrpB
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhw0KHbrxI
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKhWTcHsCZ
"Sure."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNNBHb5ffm
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckzhLCZG1S
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHNvzuTp2n
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdx9S8zI1O
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDnoRjSgHz
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup0rmIIIVh
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZkSDWdYyr
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."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE9AdrPJ0Q
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?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjOpi2ewNY
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAXogFafxY
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93PSDF7ys2
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TWspA3RdW
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI3iq4oAn2
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpdZQKZDnv
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgqvLySkEc
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1q95DP9kw
Oh. Brand-specific.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrWTjPTdd9
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9yo633gsN
His brow arched.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDrWtizqOS
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2Ark0SLkv
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVHS7RB8Ip
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZmkqMtll4
"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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01UGmOlbFb
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC8Ws7gWdW
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQupTlO8DtV
"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?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl4DUZdMBp
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnAmwYMGqR
"I do," she answered.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdWxwQohxo
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSl7Z9g0qw
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDti3zsgmJw
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgBHGBrmLk
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgTheRpjXf
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHComb5hr2r
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoS1oxu78c
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx3cUrzxMu
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXwefNy8cP
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv41Ick00d
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?"403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGC17Ndgw1
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jRv7bkBhv
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83neiOeOa5
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwX97m6Vbe
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFXQcdIJxj
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...403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYwReRgS4q
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6xTtxrnN4
"You did, you liar," he insisted.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72eWWp9afH
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmmzGbVwZC
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzrReWHVUt
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.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIKSoy2By7
