24 Chapter Twenty - Three

It's Monday. The three girls are ready for school. As they are done to prepare themselves for school, they go to the dining area to eat their breakfast. Naabutan nila, as usual, na inaasikaso ng mommy nila ang daddy nila. Maya thought it is a lovely picture to see when her mom taking care of her dad.

Pero, may asungot! Si Craig na nagmamadali pumunta ng dining area para abutin ang isang bowl ng oatmeal at orange juice para sa daddy nila.

Sabi ba naman niya, "Dad, I think it's time to watch out for your health."

Gulat naman ni Mrs. del Real, "Huh?"

At ang sabi naman ni Mr. del Real, "But, I am healthy, anak!"

Paliwanag naman ni Craig, "Nagpahanda ako ng oatmeal para sa inyo, Dad. Did you know the main cause of death in US is heart disease?"

At sumangayon naman si Mr. del Real kay Craig.

At heto naman si Mrs. del Real, nadismaya dahil nasayang ang hinandang pagkain niya para kay Mr. del Real.

But, Maya consoled her mother, "It's ok, mom. Kami ng mga kapatid ko ang uubos ng mga yan."

Sumangayon din ang dalawang kapatid niya.

"O, sya! Ano pa nga ba." sabi ni Mrs. del Real.

At sabay-sabay na silang kumain ng almusal.

At bago pa umalis sila patungong school, ito naman si Mr. del Real, binigyan siya ng packed lunch ni Craig.

"Dad, this is for you? It's chicken sandwich with a banana." sabi niya.

"Salamat, anak. Nagabala ka pa." pasalamat naman ni Mr. del Real kay Craig.

At ito naman si Maya nadismaya sa father and son scene, hinatak niya agad si Maita dahil nagmamadali na silang umalis. Ayaw na niya makita ang susunod pang eksena.

Sabi ba niya kay Maita, "Maita, tara na."

Pero, itong si Maverick, lumapit kay Craig. Tinanong, "Where's my lunch?"

"Oh, I have one for you!" sabi ni Craig.

At inabot niya ang packed lunch na chicken sandwich with a banana.

Sabi ba naman ni Craig, "I supposed to give it to your mom but I think she wouldn't like it."

"Ok." sabi niya. At masaya siyang umalis na may dalang packed lunch.

Nakita siya nina Maita at May dala ang packed lunch, gulat nila, "WTH?"

At sa school, nung oras na ng lunch period, as usual na magkasama-sama ang mga girls uupo sa isang table. Pero, mukhang wala ng puwesto para kay Maverick.

And Maya teased her sister, "Puno na kami, sa ibang table ka na lang."

But, Daniel is a kindhearted, he invited Maverick to joined them in their table.

Nang binuksan na ni Fredo ang kanyang lunch box, tuwang - tuwa siya sa pagkakita niya, "Wow! It's chicken and pork adobo with fried rice!"

Si Daniel naman, nang binuksan ang kanyang lunch box, "Yipee! It's beef tapa and fried egg!"

Tumingin sila kay Maverick, at inusisa, "How about you, Maverick?"

"It's chicken sandwich with banana." sagot naman niya.

"Ah! Nagbabaon ka na rin pala." sabi ni Daniel.

"Uhm! Bigay ni Kuya Craig sa akin. Yung half-brother namin." pakiwari niya.

"Awww... How sweet! Sana meron din akong kuya." sabi ni Fredo.

Napadaan si Chloe, at wala na siyang nakikitang puwesto sa canteen, tinanong niya sila,"Can I join?"

Maverick said, "Sure."

And, Daniel and Fredo just shrugged.

Kakagatin na ni Maverick ang kanyang sandwich nang biglang umentra itong sina Maita at Maya na may dalang tray ng pagkain.

"Sis, naaawa na kami sa iyo. Hindi namin matiis na inaapi ka ng dalawang kumag na yan?" sabi ni Maita.

Napatingin sa kanya sina Fredo at Daniel dahil alam niyang ang tinutukoy niya ay sila.

Sabi pa ni Maya, "We are sisters, so we should shared the same lunch. O, hayan, ha? Huwag ka na maingit sa amin. Binilhan ka na namin ng lunch sa canteen."

Nang nilapag na ni Maya ang tray sa mesa at inahain kay Maya.

Ito naman tumingin kina Daniel at Fredo with sterned look, sinabing, "It's Kare-Kare with a spoonful of bagoong. Nom-nom-nom!"

At natawa lang si Daniel, nakuha na niya ang pinahihiwatig ni Maita, "Wow! Ang sarap!"

Sabi ba naman ni Maya kay Maverick, "Go. Eat your lunch. And, I will throw this fucking chicken sandwich and banana."

Hindi komportable si Chloe sa scenario na nakikita niya. She stands up and looked for another seat.

Nang nakaalis na si Chloe, sinabihan niya si Maverick, "Later, my dear little sister, I will explain it to you."

And, it is 5:30 PM, sina Maita, Maya at Maverick ay nakaupo sa bench, habang hinihintay ang magsusundo sa kanila.

"Ok, Maverick, we are your sisters. You should trust us more than that stranger!" sabi ni Maya.

Taka naman ni Maverick, "Si Craig ba ang tinutukoy mo?"

"Craig is our half-brother but he is not on our side." patuloy pa ni Maya.

"Ok, tell me the whole story." sabi naman ni Maverick. At nakikinig din itong si Maita sa kuwento ni Maya.

"Craig is not a goodie two shoes like what you think. He is known a bully in school! Hindi ko malalaman na kapatid ko pala siya sa ama kung hindi ko inaway si Chloe. Chloe and I were childhood friends. Inaway ko si Chloe because I was too disturbed when I found out that her mom and our dad had an affair at siya ang naging bunga. Saka sumugod sa akin si Craig. He was in first year in high school, and I was in 3rd grade. Come to to think of it, he is big. Kinarkaga niya ako at inilagay sa grabage drum, and he sealed it. At yung garbage truck, kinuha ang garbage drum at nakarating ako sa payatas. Halos mamatay ako due to lack of oxygen. At may nakakita sa akin na basurero, dinala ako sa DSWD. Then, they contacted our parents. Yun ang kuwento. Now, do you still want to have Craig in our house?" paliwanag ni Maya.

Si Maita, naiiyak nang narinig ang kuwento mula sa kapatid niya. Dama niya ang malungkot niyang karanasan. Si Maverick naman ay naintindihan kung bakit nagkakaganyan si Maya.

"Don't worry, sis. I will join you in your battle." sabi ni Maverick.

Sangayon din si Maita, "Since the beginning, naging katuwang mo rin ako after the incident happened. At kakampi mo rin ako sa hamon mo."

At nagyakapan ang triplets.

Dumating na ang kotse na susundo sa kanila pauwi. And, her mom prepared their dinner.

They quietly sit on the table. And, observed the behavior of their half-brother as for now.

Ang hinanda naman ni Mrs. del Real para sa dinner, Chicken Tinola and Pinakbet.

Sabi pa niya kay Mr. del Real, "David, tikman mo itong Chicken Tinola. Masarap ba?"

"Yeah!" sangayon niya nang tinikman niya ang Chicken Tinola.

In somehow, Maya is enlightened to see her mom being thoughtful to her dad.

Taka pa ni Mr. del Real, "Where's Craig?"

"Uhm, nasa gym po nageensayo. Health conscious kasi." pabiro pang sagot ni Yaya Ising.

Natawa naman sa biro ni Yaya Ising itong si Mrs. del Real.

Dagdag pa ni Mr. del Real, "Craig should watch out for his expenses. Hindi habang buhay susuportahan ko siya while he is staying with us. I will talk to him later that he needs to find a job for the meantime before he will enrol in university next school year."

And the triplets secretly giggled of his comment about their half-brother.

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