This is it. Big day for Ben.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJlCfCYM7S
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ejjFus8il
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DHhhbCAkd
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQNw9kFM4M
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58QUbNwrYz
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Hoq7GkgZH
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T2OeWqqYC
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRZ5kAVebW
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDSasMAteY
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7m6r85OLZ
"Sure."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny8ylSs1k5
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRXK6YXuAr
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszNRFK5Pw3
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t9771zLfW
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVOKaPVE6N
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRQPczw8DQ
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEbWBdv33w
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."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwEV8tZSeW
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?449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4hphQx5KI
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdNlSrZfdX
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJyRC7zmhu
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7ybCetid3
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8ZNQSOf5s
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70q5rhEXKW
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQex7T23eDO
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIhY8PuzsD
Oh. Brand-specific.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0WqyprsEJ
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06igwckmaj
His brow arched.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3ZKfhBEl3
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H02PmFy3I
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXzo7X7CH2
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR6K8Tw7Y9
"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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa432XQ1V0
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXfdrmale7
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARaPOgLX6q
"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?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WUJW8uf6A
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbExK530bZh
"I do," she answered.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ016295lfDl
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F5znPQ0Aw
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIlqCvMEdl
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWJ3zFwYbR
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a0az7guhs
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOomvkqyGW
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8U6fcA1G4
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunwE90ccJR
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPwj8SCssl
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2gDgI9xCd
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?"449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfPZbucMAJ
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHP2fnl4wY
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu5eqTWTYd
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU7DtqekRq
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu1ykZeJWT
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...449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7VMHUpvon
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR7teHUN9t
"You did, you liar," he insisted.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozAMQw9L7V
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkgy9fqdh2
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotD4H9xXHs
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.449Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7vo1SX9qX
