Bangus

I woke up early this morning- considering that I have no class, I didn’t wet my pillow with saliva and the noisy machines of the construction workers are not functioning on Saturdays. I heard my mom said “god morning” and I just replied with a long and rasping “aaaaah…”

I was pretty excited to have my breakfast because I was expecting and been planning the whole week to eat hot padesal, strawberry jam and butter this particular morning. Uhm… Delicious… Almost. I was disappointed and so I spent more time talking and talking and talking.

“I don’t get it why he liked her so much in high school. Her lips aren’t pouting.  She has immensely thick lips and she has lice all over her hair.”

“Is she a member of the Bangus?” my sister asked.

“Yeah. Kapal nguso. I don’t know the name of the girl with long baba.”

“Also, although she’s friends with Farah, who’s considerably smart, she’s a little dense though not to the point of being an oaf. Promise.”

“You’re bad” my aunt interrupted.

“Ate” said my sister “according to the stoics, beauty attracts love.” I just can’t remember the exact words she said, but it’s something like that. “So you have to fix yourself…Make yourself beautiful.”

I could feel where the conversation was going. I was just waiting for her to say her eternal lines “I’m already beautiful. I don’t need to exert any effort- unlike you.” Great.