This is it. Big day for Ben.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthC6oGgY9N
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx71XuibBSI
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yDv9KnZkt
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFFwv8uIRi
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ycMHUWRRK
"Alright. You're all set," I said, watching the bride admire herself in the mirror. "Ben's eyes will never leave you now."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv58GIRm9w
She faced me with an undeniable gleam in her eyes.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mylFVUxfX
"Thank you so much, Judy," she said, taking my hands. "You saved our lives, you and your family."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KRvQpB3pX
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvoalCYuws
"Um, Naya, is it okay for me to leave? I have something important to do," I said.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKLCC520Qy
"Sure."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43KKYBniqE
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNKrVfGHmv
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0zzSEo6XM
I snapped out of the thought when Lev, one of my elder brothers, called out.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyon6UjRLn
"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked. "You're supposed to be with the bride, right?"489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA6Mu6nJ2H
I controlled the urge to attack him at his downright insult.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkW39B7oDm
"I am done," I replied. "I'm here if you need help."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS85amBgRSY
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."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreGXAHlgB4
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?489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0KQEMIyFS
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xzpnkhvCz
"Even small ants can carry a big worm," Joe told the younger man. "Let him help."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJKhmTAPy8
"S-sure, man," Lev stammered and quickly returned to his task.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL4EtYtY5I
Joe walked over to me and handed me a wallet thick with bills.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfzMpAn3Ah
"We're out of liver spread," he told me. "Hurry up and buy some."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ79Mnm9W8W
I nodded. "Okay... How many?"489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wkC5gP1OZ
"As many as it can cover," he answered. Then he added swiftly, "Ram."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdDjTdq2CD
Oh. Brand-specific.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5oo8MfHIJ
"Eh... What if there's no Ram?"489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82kWXSmQIv
His brow arched.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7maIdeqGo
"No Ram, no caldereta. Now go."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVGhxVzSq1
I shivered. "Ah... Yes, sir!"489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy19kf1HNS
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUAUjGbTal
"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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJphzPr3Je3
"I do," my brother answered, his eyes beaming, and a genuine smile plastered in his face.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0F6Q5gp6c
The pastor turned to our new sister-in-law.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkYY60qaWh
"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?"489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3Dxk5tC5X
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G8TIjFWcF
"I do," she answered.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk23tQkGiC
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNKKau4ELB
I looked at Joe, who was clapping without a word beside me. His eyes glued at the direction of Ben's bride.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwR8M4zAY4
"Kuya," I called. "You kept looking at ate Naya. Don’t tell me she caught your attention too."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw4Im1TLv8
His brows furrowed. "No, but her headpiece did."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqulZeWbk0
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6q6fZ37JIU
For a man nearing his prime, Joe surprisingly had a pair of sharp eyes. I tried changing the subject to hide my cringe.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMipLosHvh7
"What about you, Joe, when will you set the long table?" I asked.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoTZ0oDGfs
Without moving his head, he shot me a deadly glare, and in an emotionless face, he replied, "If it happens."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTMQRPSvMT
His eyes went back to the happily married couple swarmed by relatives who were dying to take a picture.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1JItbnNBB
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?"489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAsXuIRYNX
A part of his upper lip arched in what looked like disgust, and his hands rested on his waist.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65236KVRAN
"If I did, who will provide for you? Mama?" His head shook disbelievingly. "Shame."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABZdrdHl1s
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeC0cYuAas
"I saw you eyeing one of the bridesmaids earlier," he said.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPohLmB6vV
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...489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ91boiS9V5
"No, I didn't." I denied, shaking my head like a dog out of water.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuuwxDTWMl
"You did, you liar," he insisted.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASPQI2Oq9S
One of my eyebrows rose, mimicking him. “So?”489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHhxosfVoV
"Why don't you ask her out?” he asked. “Looks like you’re the one itching to marry anyway."489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyfE8TnNpt
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.489Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAYG10wxSW
