It Feels Great To Be Home

A Place Like Home

by Eleventh

KYRO LEVIN DEL ROSARIO POV

It feels great to be home!

I miss everything here.

I miss my room. I miss the big window where I can see the moon.

Aaaah! The moon. Beautiful as ever.

I miss my cousins too.

I just got back in Santa Barbara from Pampanga two weeks ago and my home quarantine ends today. My cousins were my childhood best friends and the thought of being reunited with them after being gone for 2 years excites me.

I miss them a lot.

From my room, I could see our ancestral house. It’s where we used to live when Nanay was still alive. It used to be the grandest mansion in Santa Barbara. Its walls were painted with bright colors. Its gardens were decorated with yellow and red gumamelas. And it’s always filled with laughter and boisterous chitchats because Nanay’s ten children and their children live under the same roof.

I remember we always play hide and seek in the Del Rosario mansion because it was too spacious. And I take pride in being the last person to be found. I feel like I’m the master of hiding.

Yet now, the mansion is nothing but a scary ancestral house. The walls are covered with moss and vines. The garden is filled with grass and dead leaves.

Tiyo Andres, my Papa’s brother, lives there with his notorious daughters, Amber and Freya. It’s just sad that the people who stayed in the mansion are lazy and messy. I’ve been watching them from my room and I never saw them rake the dead leaves scattered in the garden. Not even once since I was in quarantine.

And the mansion is always dark as if nobody lives in there.

However, tonight, the mansion is oddly bright and lively. I could also see some of my relatives hanging around. There seemed to be… a celebration!

Curious and excited at the same time, I went downstairs to ask Mama and Papa. I was expecting they’re getting ready to join the “party” but they were lying on the sofa with their pajamas, watching the news.

“Mama, what’s the occasion?”

“What are you talking about, Lev?” Mama answered without even looking at me.

“Our relatives are in the Del Rosario mansion. They look like they’re having a party.”

Koric, my younger brother, passed by me all dressed up.

“Alissa’s home and they’re throwing a welcome party for her.” He answered.

"They threw a party for the prodigal daughter?” Mama said uninterestingly. Her eyes were fixed on the news on the TV. “And they’re gathering around despite the pandemic? Tsk! These people are foolish!”

Papa didn’t say a word. He was playing candy crush on his phone.

Koric didn’t mind.

“Aren’t you coming?” he asked.

“Uhm… you go ahead. I’ll change clothes first.”

“Okay. See you, bro!”

Then Koric left.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure about going. I don’t know what to feel. The Del Rosario clan knows I was home too but they never thought of throwing a party for me. But Alissa? She left and had forgotten about us for 12 years and yet they welcome her like she never did anything ungrateful.

I shouldn’t be surprised.

She has always been the family’s favorite. The favorite grandchild. The favorite niece. The favorite cousin.

Alissa is as old as me. But I am better than her in so many ways. I have talents she doesn’t have. And I am sure I am smarter too. She’s funny but I can be funny too. I just don’t get why everyone likes her. She’s arrogant and sarcastic. Or am I the only one who can see her true colors?

Nevertheless, I have decided to come and join the party. It’s been 12 years. Perhaps, she changed. Perhaps, she’s no longer the Alissa that I despise.

After I changed my shirt, I immediately walk my way to the Del Rosario mansion. I would admit that I missed this kind of gathering. When I entered the gate, my uncles who were in the garden drinking, saw me and called for my attention.

“Heeey, Lev!” Tito Jem called.

I suddenly felt anxious. He is very friendly when he is sober but extremely scary when drunk. Eight years ago, during my cousin’s birthday, he was so drunk. When he learned that my cousin, Eric, was punched in the face by an old man who lives in the next street, he took an ax and went to his house. Gratefully, Papa was able to stop him.

He should do something about his temper. Tsk!

“Yes, Tito?”

“Where are your parents? Haven’t seen them around!”

“Uhm, they’re coming.”

I have to lie. Or else the questions will keep coming and I won’t be able to handle them.

Tito Jem let me go. Thank God!

When I got in the living room, our uncle's wives were gathering around for some tea. By tea, I mean the latest gossip in town. I hate it when they do that. If gossips can kill, no one would stay alive in this town.

While searching for my cousins, Aunt Ingrid noticed me. She puffed some smoke from her cigarette and smiled at me, showing her black teeth.

"Hey, Lev! Come over here!"

When she called, all my aunties' attention was on me. I obediently went over where they are and kissed their hands to show my respect.

"Oh, wook who's heeer! Isn't tis our dear Levin? Our vewee handsome and intelligent, Levin!" Aunt Julia was so drunk already. She cupped my face and kissed me everywhere.

Ever since her husband left her for another woman, she never stopped drinking. In fact, I couldn't remember when was the last time she was sober. Ugh! Look at her! She's a mess. She smells reek of alcohol. Her hair is long and uncombed. And she has aged a lot! Eric and Rikko must have felt miserable for her.

Aunt Talitha prevented her from doing anything funny or stupid so she made her sit on the couch. She let her head rest and seconds later, she dozed off. Aunt Talitha was the most motherly among all the wives. She never drinks so basically she was just there to watch over the drunk and clean up their mess.

"Sorry about your Aunt Julia! She has been drinking since 2 in the afternoon." Aunt Talitha apologized.

"Ugh! She was never sober!" Aunt Ingrid added as she puffed another circle of smoke.

"So, how are you, Lev? We heard you were home two weeks ago." Tita Jenny, Tito Jem's wife, is the youngest among them, and also the prettiest. But she had the attitude too.

"Uhm, yeah. I just finished my home quarantine actually."

"Oh, is that so? Welcome home, then!" Aunt Ingrid smiled again. Ugh! Her black teeth disgust me. "By the way, where's Christopher and Vera?"

I scratched my head. "I don't think they're coming."

"We're not surprised." Tita Jenny sniggered. Her smile is so sly. We all turned to her for an explanation. " I mean, they're oldies. Pretty sure, they would prefer to rest. Am I right?"

I gently nodded my head.

Yes, it's true that they were old but that's not a valid reason to miss an occasion. Tita Jenny was just being sarcastic. What she really meant to say is that my parents wouldn't want to celebrate the homecoming of someone they considered as dead.

An awkward atmosphere filled the air. Aunt Talitha broke the ice.

"If you're looking for your cousins, they're in the balcony."

"Thanks, Aunt Tali! I think I should be there. Excuse me."

I excused myself. And as I slowly walk away, I can overhear them talk about my parents!

Ugh! Tounge-pads!!!

My cousins were sitting on the floor, gathering around Alissa. As always! I was happy to see all of my cousins once again, but of course, except for her. Drew, the most boisterous, noticed me. He was my favorite cousin actually. Though he can be annoying and his jokes are sometimes insensitive, I’m at least thankful that I don’t feel invisible because of him.

“Heeey!!! Levin is here! Whatsup, bruh! How you doin’? Oooh good thing you’re not wearing crappy shorts anymore. You finally look human with your outfit! Come! Come!”

Everybody laughed at Drew’s joke except Alissa. That was weird. Alissa used to laugh at Drew's jokes no matter how corny they are. Anyway, Drew loves making fun of people. I don’t wanna kill the vibe so I’m trying my best not to get offended.

I joined the circle and sat against Alissa. There she goes with her vultures eyes again, staring at me like I was her prey. Then, seconds later she scoffed.

I hate it when she does that. She seems like she's looking down on me. But I won’t let her get the better of me. I won’t let those eyes affect me and lose my cool.

“Glad that you’re back. Welcome home!” I said.

She smirked. “Do you really mean that?”

“Of course I do!!!”

She jeered again. “Hey! Chill! You don’t have to be so heated.”

“I’m not angry, okay!”

“Is that so? Drop the crinkled eyebrows then!”

One thing I don’t notice about myself is my facial expression. My friends and my cousins kept telling me that I always look grumpy because of my eyebrows. They seemed to crinkle all the time. But I don’t do it on purpose.

Alissa kept looking at me with her vulture eyes. I know she’s doing it purposively, provoking me with her smirks and arrogance. Yet, I can’t stop myself from getting irritated by her presence.

Am I the only one seeing this?

I looked around and nobody is paying attention to our little conversation. Each has its little world of catching up and chitchats.

“It’s been a decade and two, yet you haven’t changed a bit, Levin! You’re still such a hotheaded baby.”

“I’m not a b…”

I am losing my cool and it’s satisfying her. But I don’t wanna give what she wants, so I held my tongue and tried to calm down. I clenched my fist to hold my temper and she noticed it.

She smirked and said. “Wanna punch me? Really? We’re 28, dude! We’re not kids!”

WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?

I wanna shout that in her face but I couldn’t. Everyone will wonder and in the end, I’m gonna be the loser again. Whoever gets pissed off always loses the game.

But I don’t know know how to respond to Alissa. I feel like she’s trying to make me look like a fool.

“Hey, Lev!” Drew sat beside me and placed his arm around my neck. He just broke the ice, just like his mother, Aunt Talitha. “I didn’t know you were back from Pampanga. When did you get here?”

“Yeah, Lev! You should have told us you were coming home. We could have set a welcome party for you too.” Rikko added.

These two always make me feel welcomed. That is why they are my favorite.

“I had my home quarantine two weeks ago. I had my results today and turned out negative.”

“Really?” Eric spoke after drinking his glass of beer. “That means you and Alissa arrived on the same day. Where were you confined, Alissa?”

“In the nearby city.”

Koric sat beside Alissa bringing a platter of cake.

“Why didn’t you ask for a home quarantine too?”

“Because she doesn’t have her own house, does she?” I answered my brother. “I mean, the mansion is a common house. And unlike me, I have my parents to rely on while she didn’t have anyone to take care of her. Her mom isn't here and... well, she doesn't have a father, does she? hahaha!”

Everyone was quiet.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Alissa didn’t look happy too.

Did I say something off?

I was just saying stating facts.

Alissa gulped the bottle of soda that Koric brought from the kitchen and stared at me with a cold look for a brief moment.

“Let me correct that, Lev! I don’t have my parents here but I’m pretty sure I could count and rely on almost everyone in this family except for those who didn’t find me likable... for example, you and your parents.” she was smiling but it was mischievous and her voice, unfriendly. “If it isn’t obvious to you yet, most of our Aunts and Uncles love me to the point of throwing a PARTY to WELCOME me.”

She emphasized the words party and welcome just to slam in my face that nobody did that for me.

I hate her arrogance! I really hate it.

She softly placed the bottle on top of the table and thought she was done talking but she kept on hammering me with her insults.

“The truth is, Tito Jem bugged me to be confined in their house but I don’t want to be an inconvenience to anyone. But, hey! I’m not saying that you’re inconvenient. I’m sure you’re not because of course, your mother would love to take care of you. After all, YOU ARE HIS BABY! Riiight? Cootchie-cootchie-coo!”

Koric and my cousins burst into laughter and begin to recall embarrassing moments of my childhood. She meant this to happen.

“Lev is such momma’s boy, isn’t he?” Drew started the recollection of stories. “Do you remember when we were teenagers? We were playing basketball and then Tita Vera just suddenly screamed at him because he didn’t have a towel on his back? And then she made him stop playing because she wanted to wipe his sweat and put a towel on his back!”

Everyone burst into laughter again.

“I remember that!” Eric was ecstatic to add to the story. “The towel was so cute. It had a Tweety bird drawing on it.”

Koric laughed along with them. “You guys saw that? Ooof! Mama really treats us like a baby and I hate it when she does that towel thing. Especially if she uses the yellow towel with a Tweety bird design.”

I wonder why Koric doesn’t get annoyed when our cousins laugh at what our Mama does. I mean, isn’t that supposed to be normal? She’s our mom and she’s just concerned.

Sometimes I get jealous of Koric for being able to handle things calmly. He’s so chill and he gets along well with Alissa too.

Alissa noticed that I was quiet. I know what’s going to be her next move. She’s going to pretend nice and concerned.

“Come on, guys! I know putting a towel with a Tweety bird on a sweaty back seemed to be too much of a gesture for a mom to a 16-year old kid, but she’s just being a mother. We have to understand that Tita Vera cares a lot for her sons. Right?”

Everyone agreed.

They all think that she’s making a point but they just can’t see that she’s just being pretentious... and sarcastic.

And I hate that I’m the only one who can see it.