This is it. Big day for Ben.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSda5XFCdqj
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgu94A3tAZB
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrMYp0OnAk
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9YB9m6Drp
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkj35kgXxG
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97dVsV0dg3
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUffflgNkE7
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWLGZFSP1g
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyqusuNF1p
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMKsDSLB5s
"Sure."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPrCyee3V5
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ84ae8fy5
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrT6plQdvF
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IsqGmETq1
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArvZWlri0o
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTvxL6BSjA
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKJfotiuxn
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."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobrQqAkxZZ
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?447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQIJfCyVgr
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT1VWkaydz
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW9EFIZBMn
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKGgvw4Vso
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtR4ZpO5kl
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8x9eXyMg8
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOXCnuLwM3
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFjEdwbqx2
Oh. Brand-specific.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DTuaxSVgu
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4cueWV9i1
His brow arched.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FTcgMF1No
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT7b99laG1
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxumE1zlV58
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq7G9PF4kk
"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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwKR27ysIM
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhoDAMZU6V
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacR2eQFUIQ
"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?"447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdlTGYtSC6
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJsFpq7vEn
"I do," she answered.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr3T1SLSLV
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD1JGn4AaN
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt05gSoe7h7
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfxeXh3KJe
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp667cM1M3K
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw4kaSaw2P
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V1tMVIzOo
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3PFnHLHmv
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWIfE1ap4I
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPUzSWS0Ix
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?"447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouEmSwHiMM
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EddxGMh6U
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtOOEpWMKh
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8erzpHdCHJ
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE5MjBz4BQ
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...447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMWo4iSTcw
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZTGSIeOR5
"You did, you liar," he insisted.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARDLP17tCq
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAA1UjGo73
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Yzwmla0OS
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.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuZtFd04mo
