It was indeed a sad life here in Crane. Except for the fact that it is cold, I also feel blue. It was -12 degrees celsius this morning and it doesn’t seem to change this afternoon. I am trapped here in our condominium because of the pandemic.
This whole quarantine behavior I have is becoming a routine. I don’t even watch the news anymore because I don’t want to know the casualties of the virus. My so-called family is not even contacting me. They can’t even ask how I am right now. I just hope they are suffering as much as I do.
2 weeks ago
I just woke up from 3 hours of sleep and the first thing I woke up to is Miranda asking me to save her ass in Crane. I just got home from that place that’s why I’m tired from driving and from her recklessness and stupidity. There’s a possibility of quarantine here in Main and she doesn’t want to be stuck there in Crane during the quarantine. She won’t be able to travel back to Main if that happens.
“Miranda, I just came from there remember? You also asked me to lend you five hundred thousand because you asked for money from your friend which you can’t even pay. I don’t even know why did you borrow such a huge amount of money when you don’t even know how to pay. And now you want me to go back there to fetch you?”
“Sunny please, this is going to be the last time I’ll ask a favor from you. I don’t know anything about this quarantine that’s about to happen.”
“Miranda, look, if you want to go here, then commute. You’re 25 for fuck’s sake. It is not my fault that your car broke. I already have many problems, so stop adding yourself and your petty excuses.”
I hung up and went back to sleep. I have not reached 10 minutes of peace when my Mom called.
“Sunny, please, pick your sister up in Crane. She doesn’t know how to commute and you know that she won’t be able to survive there in quarantine.”
“Was it my fault?”
“What?”
“Was it my fault that she’s useless? Was it my fault Mom? If you want her to go back here then fetch her yourself.”
”I’m sorry, Sunny. Just come home tomorrow, alright?”
“Yes, mom.”
I sighed. Miranda is not even my biological sister. Mom and Dad are both divorced in their first marriage. Miranda is already a brat when she was introduced by Mom. My biological father died when I was 7 then I met Miranda when I was 8 and she’s 6. I was so excited to have a little sister back then but, when I met Miranda I immediately changed my mind.
After I graduated from college, I went away to go with my boyfriend. We lived together until I found out that he already has a daughter from his high school sweetheart. Miranda keeps reminding me of that mistake more than Mom. She even called me stupid as if she's not stupid herself for letting his boyfriend steal from her. Since then, I started helping my Mom on our flower shop at Crane while Miranda keeps making troubles.
It’s almost 3 in the afternoon when I decided to go to my parents' house. Miranda is still insisting to pick her up at Crane as if it’s just 2 hours away. Tomorrow evening is the start of the quarantine and that stupid Miranda can't even think of ways on how to get here by herself.
“Where are you Sanirei?” she's impatient and I don’t know if it's because of me or other reasons.
“I’m stuck in traffic.”
“Will you be here at dinner? You could have gone earlier to avoid traffic.”
“I will, okay?”
“Your Uncle Roel will join us with his family. Your cousins are dying to see you.”
As if they’re ‘dying’ to see me. Might as well just die before I see them again. They are like little Miranda’s.
“Yes mom I'll be there, don’t worry.”
And I didn’t. I arrived at my parents' house with my Mom's dagger stares. Dad is just staring at me with disappointment as if I missed a special party and I'm the guest speaker.
I went up to them to kiss them on their cheeks. Dad even tapped my shoulder saying it’s okay.
“You'll come, Sunny? Seriously? You’re 2 hours late!” my mom's face reddened because of anger. I would have cried if I'm 10 years old but I’m 27 now. I'm not a kid to get reactions like these.
"It’s just a dinner mom. How many dinners have you had without me? Don’t make a big fuss about it.” I said stating a fact. Mom’s raging face turned guilty because I was right. I spent most of my days at Crane and I'll come here only if they needed business reports or any matter regarding our business. But they never called me to have a decent dinner with them.
“You go eat, hija. Your mom is tired and she needs to rest,” says Dad and assisted Mom to rest. As expected, I’m eating dinner alone.
I went to the kitchen only to see my two teenage cousins flirting with their boyfriends. The eldest of the two is Leigh, she’s 17, and the fact that she’s making out with her boyfriend, in our kitchen, disgusts me as well as her 15-year old sister, Mariana.
“Que pasa, hijo’s, hija’s?!” I shouted out of horror. They're surprised by my sudden presence and they started fixing themselves. These boys look rich but their attitude is poor. No class at all. I can see the horror on their faces especially Mariana who’s 15 for fuck’s sake!
“What is this Leigh? You are making out in the kitchen? Seriously?” I furiously asked. They are minors and to think that they already know such a thing is beyond my mental capacity.
They can't even look at me straight and they hold each other’s hand as if I'm about to announce who's the winner for tonight.
“How old is your boyfriend?” I asked and Mariana looked at me as if she’s about to cry. She looked at her boyfriend who’s wearing a polo shirt. Take note, he's also wearing leather shoes which means he came from a decent family.
“He's 18.” the way Mariana talks is still immature and acts as an expert when making out.
“18 hijo? You’re 18? Mariana looks like your younger sister! She’s a fucking minor! You’ll go to jail if Uncle Roel finds out!” after I said it, Leigh went berserk. She’s fuming mad and knowing her, she’ll definitely find her way out of this problem by pointing out my past.
“Don’t you dare tell Dad about this Sunny!” she shouted and went closer to me. “Miranda is way cooler than you!”
“You think Miranda is cool because she can tolerate you? Well, surprise Leigh! She’s dumb! And her boyfriend keeps cheating on her and she knows about it but here she goes, running after him. Stop thinking highly over someone worse than you!” I said. I just wish she'll realize that they're idolizing Miranda who's like this before.
“You’re just lonely Sunny! You don't have someone to make out with! You're just jealous of me and Miranda because you are sad and alone in Crane!” she went on in embarrassing me in front of her boyfriend, Mariana, and her leather shoe boy.
“One more word and I will definitely, and without hesitation, slap you in front of your boyfriend and your younger sister. Just so you know Leigh, you are 17 and I’m 10 years older than you. Do you think having someone to make out with is my priority? I graduated high school and college with flying colors. You think I envy you and Miranda when none of you had succeeded? Miranda didn’t even finish college cariña. You, dumbasses, are the reason why I don’t live here anymore because you’re an example of embarrassment, disappointment, and failure.” I saw tears fell down her cheeks. I guess no Miranda can save them.
“What’s happening here?” asked mom who’s on her nightgown and went to Leigh who’s crying now.
“These fellas are making out here in the kitchen. Why are they sleeping over here anyway?” I asked Dad who seems to be very curious about the situation. He did not answer.
“Call your Uncle Roel, Sunny. Let him punish his kids,” said Mom and went out of the kitchen with Dad. Leigh started crying and her boyfriend is too scared to comfort her. I rolled my eyes at the scene and immediately dialed Uncle Roel’s number and told him to come here because his children are troublemakers.
“I hate you Sunny!” Mariana said while crying. Hate me? Tell me something I don’t know.
Mom and Dad are waiting in the living room for Uncle Roel and Aunt Mina's arrival. They look disappointed, just as expected from their disappointing nieces. I went straight to my room.
Everyone told me that I possess an angelic face. Everyone who knew me isn’t sure about it because I’m not angelic at all.
