Chapter 9

SVEN's  POV

                "Oh, Ven why so grumpy?" Tanong sa akin ng kapatid kong naka-upo sa dining room at nag-aalmusal ng agahan. "And how many times do I have to tell you na wag mong alisin- what the hell Sven? Anong nangyari at namumula ang face mo? Sino ang may gawa nyan? Who you fought with? Di ka naman pala-"

Histirikal na sunod-sunod na tanong ni ate Cassie ng tumingin sya sa akin mula sa katitingin nya sa phone nya while eating.

"Teka-teka... hinay-hinay lang 'te at di ako nakipag-away inaway ako!" Sabi ko habang naglalakad papunta sa kitchen area.

"Inaway? What did you do?" Sinundan nya ako at sya na ang kumuha ng ice pack.

Pina-upo nya ako at madiin nyang ipinahid sa akin ng ice.

"Aray! Ano ba masakit na nga dinagdagan mo pa." Reklamo ko sa kanya. "What I didn't do yan ang tanong. Mukha ba akong palaaway ha, ate?"

She just give a are-you-serious look.

"Really? Oh... come on! Hindi ako pala-away di tulad mo mahilig makipagpisikalan."

And that earn me slap sa braso feom her.

"See what I mean? Ouch! Teka! Tama na!" Babaeng 'to saktan ba ako bilang sagot.

"Are you saying I am such a brute woman?" Nakapamewang nyang tanong.

"Of course..." nakita kong tumaas ang kamay nya. "not! May sinabi ba akong brutal kang babae? Wala di ba? You're such a sweet and loving sister ate."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng ibaba nya ang nakataas nyang kamay ay maingat nyang pinapahid young ice pack sa pisngi kong nasampal.

"Do I look like a man?" Walang anu-ano kong tanong sa kanya.

"What?" Nagtatakang sagot sa akin ni Cassie at napahinto sa pagpahid.

"Sabi ko mukha ba akong lalaki?"

"Bakit mo naman natanong yan?"

"Sagutin mo na lang tanong ko hindi yong sasagot ka rin ng patanong." Exaggerated kong sabi. "You avioding to answer me means totoo nga."

"No! No you don't look like man baby Ven. You look beautiful and gorgeous! So anyone say otherwise are blind."

Binigyan ko lang sya ng doubtful look.

"Wag mong sabihing yan ang reason why your face is red! Don't tell me napagkamalan kang pervert at nasampal ka?" 🤨

Yeah... napagkamalan ako but not a pervert one!!! 😱

"Is that how you see me ate? A pervert?" 🤨

"Of course not! Sabi ko nga maganda ka and even if you are they should feel honored dahil isang Samañ-"

"Stop! Stop na... iba na ang lumalabas sa bibig mo! And for the second time hindi ako pervert!" 😡

"Well then, why you have a red face with a hand print on it? At magtatanong ka na lang bigla-bigla kung you look like a man."

I help but recall everything that made me ask this question.

"Ilang beses na akong napagkamalang si Michael." Blanko akong napatingin sa kanya. "Una sina Fointess at si Noreen that day (wedding day kilan ako nabaril) and then now isang babaeng bigla na lang sumulpot sa pinagsasapak ako thinking I am Michael. At yong sa ospital Marian? Mariam? Ah basta... tinawag akong gandangpogi ko raw. Now tell me di pa ba ako nyan matatanong?"

Nagpatuloy na ako magsalita dahil di makasagot si Cassie sa pinagsasabi ko.

"That woman whom Fointess are with earlier said because of how I look and the way I dress." Napatingin ulit ako sa damit ko. "Di ako girly type na babae but I don't dress like a man or act like one! To think na ilang beses na akong napagkamalang si Michael kahit na mahaba ang buhok ko at di gaanong katangkaran maybe that woman is right. Maybe need kong ichange how I dress. Need ko na atang-"

"You don't need to change how you look or dress Samañiego... you look okay the way you are."

Bigla ako napatingin sa likod ng marinig ang boses na 'yon.

"See tita? See what did your impulsive act did?"

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ISABELLE's POV

         "You don't need to change how you look or dress Samañiego... you look okay the way you are." I said as soon as I heard what Sven saying.

She is starting to doubt herself which is not her and don't suit her.

"See tita? See what did your impulsive act did?" Lingon kong sabi kay tita Helen. "You need to say sorry to her!"

Nakita kong mukhang aangal pa sya.

"You slapped an innocent person out of no where for no reason aside for you thought it was Michael and lastly she is the reason I am still alive and kicking." Pasigaw kong bulong sa kanya.

"Helen? I should have known when Sven said it was Kristine's friend ang nanampal sa kanya. Kailan ka pang dumating?" Mataray na tanong ni Cassandra.

"Kilala mo sya ate?" Takang tanong ni Sven.

"Hmm... yes, sya rin naman ang nanampal kay Michael one time."

"You know what Belle? Let's get out of here I don't even know why we're here aside for you wanting to chase after that girl." Inis na sabi ni tita. "Isa pa I think relatives sila ng ex mo if this woman infront of me was called ate by that she-man girl."

I did not like what I heard she said and the way she said it dahil nakita ko ang pagblanko ng mukha ni Sven. Magsasalita ako ng maunahan ako ni Cassie.

SLAP!

"I dare you to insult my sister again infront of me!"

What the? I know maldita, mataray at may pagkasuplada itong si Cassandra as I saw her many times na may ipahiya sya o may makaaway syang ibang tao but this is the first time na makita ko syang magalit ng tudo.

I think sore spot nya si Sven. Take note Isabelle don't cross the line when it comes to Samañiego kung ayaw mong makaaway si Cassandra.

Noted! As she is right now ayaw kong ako ang mapagbuntonan ng galit nya.

"I don't care kung pagsasampalin o insultohin mo si Michael as he deserves it!" There is no emotion in her face when she says that. "But insult my Sven is what I can't tolerate! So what kung may pagkasimilarities sila ni Michael? When in fact kahit saan angolo mo tingnan malayo ang hitsura nila sa isa't isa."

Um... I don't think-

At the first sight lang Belle but when you look again tama si Cassie.

Uh... right but I can't help but recall the second time I faced her formally sa hospital.

You are angry and was blind by it to see her. Who you saw is her brother's shadow.

"Were you that blind Helen? It's another thing if you slap her dahil akala mo si Michael sya but to call her a she-man ang kapatid ko? At sa harap ko pa? You're such a bitch to insult her when she has done no wrong at you!"

"Done no wrong sa akin? Kapal ng mukha mo! Her fault na relatives nya kayo, na relative nya si Michael! Na may pagkahawig sila!" Di rin nagpaawat si tita Helen.

"What Michael's fault is his family's fault! So that she-man's done wrong is that your bastard brother hurted and cheated my niece!"

I saw her na hinagod nya ng tingin si Sven head to toe then sneered.

"I won't say sorry for call names on her. No matter how you change your dress or look you will still look like a dyke! A licking carpet woman who thinks she can be a man! Whoring to any-"

I can't stand it anymore so-

PUNCH!

My eyes went wide the moment I saw my auntie stumbled down at napatingin ako kay Cassandra.

I was about to do something ti stop-

You are about to slap your own aunt not stop don't sugar coat it.

I was not! But to think na susuntokin ni Cassie ang tita ko? Unbelievable!

"DON'T STOP ME ALEXANDRIA! LET GO OF ME! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? ININSULTO KA NYA SO DON'T STOP ME! SHE INSULTED YOU HERE IN OUR VERY OWN HOUSE! SO LET GO! I'M GONNA KILL THAT WOMAN!"

Walang sabi-sabi si Samaniego kay Cassie at pinipigilan lang nya sya.

I am too embarassed sa inakto ng tita ko. I know na she love me to the point na kahit ako na ang may kasalanan ako pa rin ang kakampihan nya and I am thankful of her as I'd do the same to her but to insult someone who saved me and the innocent and clueless victim ni Michael?

"You dare to punch me Cassandra! Magkakamatayan na tayo- what the? Let go Isabelle! That woman and that dy-"

"Stop it already tita Helen! Nakakahiya-"

"Nakakahiya? The hell nakakahiya... sila dapat ang mahiya! They have humiliated you! Humiliated our family at doon pa sa araw ng kasal infront of many invited people!"

I don't know anymore what to do dahil bigla na lang sya nakawala at sinugod sina Cassie.

Nagsisigawan na sila dito and what happened to everyone here sa house na 'to? Nasaan sina tita? The maids?

Ayaw magpaawat ng dalawa kahit anong gawin namin ni Samañiego.

CRASH!

Napahinto kaming lahat at napatingin kay Sven. She is fuming red and her black eyes look straight sa amin.

"WILL YOU BI- SHUT UP ALREADY!!! AYAW KONG MAGALIT PERO PU***** GINAGALIT NYO AKO!!!" Sigaw ni Sven and this is the 3rd? time makita ko syang ganito kagalit when infact kahit di nakikita sa kanya she is actually a mapasinyang tao.

Why? Duh! Di dapat nakipag-away sya ng tudo kanina sa tita ko at gumanti sya ng sampalin sya ni Helen hindi yong umalis na lang.

"GUSTO NYONG MAGPATAYAN?" tanong nya at tumalikod... at naglakad kita kong may kinuha.

"O AYAN KUNIN NYO AT MAGPATAYAN NA KAYO! WALANG HAHADLANG SA INYO!"

Napaismid ako sa ipinahawak nya pagalit kina Cassandra at ate Helen.

Naglalakihan naman ang kanilang mga mata dahil sa ipinahawak nya sa kanilang dalawa.

Who wouldn't? Sven threw... uh-oh... I think an expensive vase na paburito ni tita sa kanilang harap to get thier attention then give them each a knife to kill each other.

"O BA'T KAYO TULALA? HALA MAGPATAYAN KAYO MANUNUOD AKO DON'T WORRY PIPIGILAN KO SI FOINTESS TO NOT STOP THE BOTH YOU."

"V-ven?" Nauutal na tanong ni Cassie sa kapatid.

"Hmm? Oh.. Cassie ayan na oh, may hawak kanang kutsilyo. Di ba sabi I'M GONNA KILL THAT WOMAN! Wag kang mag-alala di ka makukulong-"

"Cassandra is your sibling gone mad? I think she needs to-"

"Shut up bitch!"

"Why y-"

CRASH!

"Um... V-ven that was mom's fav-"

"Wala akong paki-alam sasabihin kong may pusang galang nakapasok at hinulog ang mga yan! So go na magapatayan na kayo I think it will be exciting and entertaining!"

Hindi ko alam kung seryuso ba sya o ano? Did she got possessed? Or did something snapped in her and gone mad kaya sya nagkakaganito?

Right now she is scaring us.

"Oh... ba't ganyan kayo makatingin? Kani-kanina lang eh di kayo mapagka-undagagang magpatayan tapos ngayon di nyo magawa?" Inis nyang tanong.

"She insulted me did that killed me? She called me a dyke, a carpet licking woman, so what? Did something happened to me? Would I die if she call me names or insult me?" Sunos-sunod nyang sabi. "You being angry is as if saying I am a dyke... eh, ano naman kung totoo akong tibo? Kilala ba nya ako para insultohin ako for me to be affected? I am not that uncivilized person para patulan sya so I ignored her thinking she is a crazed woman and I don't want na mapagkamalan akong luko-loko kung papatulan ko sya."

To think she would act like this... she portrayed like a matured person by repremanding her sister pero nagawa pa nyang insultohin ang tita ko looking calm as if this has nothing to do to her.

"Don't worry Cassie may mas lala pa dyan sa mga insulto binitawan nya baka nakakalimutan mo? Been there done that ate her insult is nothing compared to those people na minaliit na mismo pagkatao ko. Compared to miss Helen's insult? She is much more of an angel than them and I like her she is frank at nagawa pa nyang insultohin ako sa harap ko mismo."

What did she mean by that?

"Where do you think you're going? Aalis ka na lang after mo kong insultohin?" May inis na sabi ni Helen but unlike earlier it is mild.

"I am a Samañiego miss not a Madrigal diba sinabi ko na yan? Ayaw kitang patulan but people will think I am weak pag di ako gumanti if people like you came after me again for a second time."

Nawala na sya sa harap namin at nagtungo naman kami sa living room.

"What dis she mean she is not a Madrigal but a Samañiego Cassandra?"

"I still have not forgotten kung anong kahayupang ginawa mo Helen."

"Oh comw on Cassie I payed for it already when you slapped me! But you punching me is out of the question! My face-"

"Like I care about your face! You've done enough damage to my little Sven's fragile heart! Like what she said you don't know her so don't know vulnerable Sven just now!"

"What? Didn't she said my insult is-"

"Yes, your insult is nothing to her! But that doesn't mean she isn't hurt-"

"She said she is not affected-"

"Wala sa akin ang magsampalan o mag-insultohan tayo Helen since we've known each other ng matagal. I don't care kung sukdulan ang galit mo sa kapatid kong si Michael but right now there is no way I'll forgive you-"

"You know what Cassandra? Masyado kang apektado sa Sven she-man na- wait..." nanlaki ang mga mata ni Helen. "Oh my- don't tell me-"

I don't know what to do sa dalawang ito dahil lagi silang nag-aaway na nauuwi sa sampalan but still they stayed friends and bestfriend pa nga sila, eh... that's how weird their friendship is.

Pero ang mukha ngayon ni tita ay di maipinta as if she recall something when she saw how serious Cassandra is for not forgiving her but ever tita is going to say ay naputol yon ni Sven.

"Te alis muna ako pupuntahan ko si Noreen sasamahan ko sya sa ospital."

Yon lang ang sabi nya at lumabas na sya.

"Ven! Your- that damn girl! She did not again wear her sling!"

Did I hear her right? Noreen?

"Noreen?" Takang tanong ko.

"Yes, that Noreen. Sven saw her sa hospital pero di sila nagka-usap but saw her again here sa village the other day." Paliwanag ni Cassie.

"What? So ibig mong sabihin taga dito rin ang babaeng yon?"

"Hey, who is this Noreen?" Helen asked when she can't connect or don't know what we're talking about.

"The woman whom my good brother's lover and got her pregnant."

"What! And you say-"

"Don't start it again Helen baka di ako makapagpigil. And Sven is too kind for her own good but I won't stop her dahil alam nya ang ginagawa nya."

I don't know why but the thought of Sven being near to that woman does not bode me well as ot sicken me.

Without thinking twice I went after her.

"I'll go with her tita. Sasamahan ko sya so just stay here and catch up kayo ni Cassie."