Gadget Freak

I’m listening to my favorite song while sitting on my bed.

I can’t wait a moment more
Tell me quando, quando, quando
To say it’s me that you adore
And then darling tell me when…

I don’t know why I like that old song very much that I can hum it every second everyday.

As I look out to the window, the sun hasn’t come out yet, I know I’m too early this morning, but who cares. I was planning to do yoga cos I bought the book yesterday with a really cheap price and it’s completed with real person’s pictures step by step. It’s worth it!

I was on my way to stretch into a Snake Pose, when suddenly Mom knocks on the door. “Sugar? You there?”

“Yes!” I reply, putting both hands together as the end of this 4-steps-yoga due to the disturbance. I click the door open and Mum is there, wearing her suit, ready for work.

“I and your dad will be late today. I will be attending a wedding and accompany one of my client choosing cakes. Could you please take care of your brothers?” she asks in a concern face.

“What? They’re old enough to take care of themselves!”

“No. really, I want you to take care of them, or just make sure they’re not going out with your permission and you know, just look after them.” Mum insists.

“Okaay…” I say lazily.

“Good! Ok then, I have to go. The twins haven’t wake up yet. Breakfast is in the fridge, just heat them up. Bye, Sweetie!” she kisses my forehead and strolls down the stairs. I just realize, Mum looks more fashionable these past days. she even wears a white long coat today and boots! Dang! I will ask her later where did she buy it and how much, and of course, can I borrow it?

I wash my face and go down the stairs. All my senses wake as my barefoot touch the cold ceramics on the backyard porch. I sit myself down on the chair while waiting for the pizza to be ready in the microwave. And for now, I got this nice cup of coffee. And I should really enjoy this time because the twins will wake up anytime and if they…..

“Sugaaar!!!!!!!!” Nathan’s voice booms.

Damn! There they’re!

“Whaaat?!” I reply, standing up and get inside the kitchen.

“Where’s Mum?” Nathan asks, running down the stairs still with his pajamas.

“She’s left. Dad too. Why?” the microwave ‘ding’ and I reach for the plate and fork.

“She said she will take us to the mall!”

“Well, but she cancelled it. Ok, come on, have some breakfast, I have heated these pizzas. I’ll hunt you if you don’t eat it.” I say uninterestedly.

“Nichooo!!!!” he screams and runs upstairs hysterically. What he thinks I am? A monster?

At least, I’m a good sister cos we finally sit quietly around the kitchen table, reading magazine, playing PSP, and heating more pizzas for the whole morning that takes to 11 a.m. and both of them, annoyingly, beg me to take them to the mall. They say there’s this game festival or something that they should come. There will also be a launching of new gadget and if we buy the door prize ticket, there’s a possibility we can win the new gadget.

Honestly, I’m not interested. I mean, at all! I prefer to stay in the house or go somewhere with Ian, or with Vi….

Oh shit, now I remember the whole sucks feeling toward Vi. I can’t control it anyhow, it keeps bothering me! And about Mum’s advice, I think it’s not the time yet for me to really think that Vi never means to hurt me. Cos she must have known, it’ll hurt me! And like it or not, I am now really curious about the picture of the boy.

Is he Vi’s old boyfriend? but she doesn’t have to be really discreet and everything about an old boyfriend, isn’t it? Or maybe her parents want her to marry him? No, no, no, impossible. Or is that……

“Sugar!” Nathan cries from upstairs.

“What?!” I dry my hand on the apron after washing all the plates and tidying up the kitchen table while the twin took their shower.

“Come on! We must be hurry, or the bus will be full!” he replies.

“Alright, alright!” I say halfheartedly and drag my body to the second floor.

Mall.

I hate mall.

Because they’re bunches of people whirring around.

Not that I hate crowds, I love crowds more than anything.

But I hate people strolling around the mall. Why? Because they think they’re beautiful people! They dressed up like they’re going to Academy Award or something and sometimes, they’re more into….quirky.

And most of all, they always act like they’re some kind of popular people, which is not. They dress like fashion magz does! Not that I hate fashion magz, they’re brilliant, except that some people just dress from head to toe, exactly like how they do in the glossy pages. Yeah, right. Well, that’s my opinion, don’t get offended.

And now, we’re trapped in the middle of the crowd where they hold the Gadget Festival and I have to keep my eye on the twin so that they don’t wander off my sight or I’ll get into trouble. Moreover, I’ve been pushed by this woman standing next to me! She elbows me and hell knows how much she eats everyday! She can swallow three me, or maybe four!

“Nathan!!” I scream. Oh my god! Now, this will get me into trouble! He has gone! And Nicho too!

“Nicho!” I quickly turn to let myself gulped by the crowd, where are these naughty boys? I push my way among these “mall people”, dang! Those boys won’t let me not get to trouble, aren’t they?

I end up at the side of the main stage, where I can people are packing up in front of the stage. And I’m sweaty and tired and….thirsty! the twins can be just anywhere in this huge area of festival. They’re people lining up in front of a stand where they sell the grand prize ticket, and they’re also kids packing up and screaming in front of the stage and they’re lots of stands here!

Where might they be?

“A gadget freak?” a voice makes me jump in my worry. As I turn, I see a familiar face, the ice cream man I met the other day. He wears a t-shirt and jeans with a baseball cap and he’s eating his hotdog.

Dang! What’s his name?

I let out an easy laugh, “no. not me, it’s my brothers.” He raises one of his eyebrows interestedly, “ah, I see.”

“Well, you?” I ask while racking my brain, searching for his name.

“Yes I am. A gadget freak.” He says, biting his hotdog.

“Yea well then…I have to search for my brothers. See you around!” I wave my hand to avoid him before something unwanted happened, like for instance, he tests me what his name is? Which is a little impossible, but who knows?

“Your phone.” He suddenly says.

“What?” I stare at him blankly.

“Your phone.” He points to my pocket, “ringing.”

What?

Oh right! My phone’s ringing!

How could I be so stupid!

“Oh yeah. I was just going to pick it up when you mention it.” I say, taking my phone carelessly and push the green button before I see the caller.

“Hi!” I greet.

“Hi, Sugar!” Ian’s voice sings inside my ear.

“Oh, hi!” I say.

“Just wondering, what are you doing?” he asks gently.

“Oh, well, I’m searching the twin, they’re disappearing! I’m at the mall, actually!” I say.

“Oh, ok. Should I come there and help you?”

“no,no,no. I’ll be ok.”

“Ok then. By the way, Hayley called me.”

“What she want?” I suddenly become more alert.

“Easyy….she asked about the perfume launching event. It’s a week away. She just wanna make sure we can make it there.” he says.

“Well then tell her I’m not coming.” I say ignorantly.

“Why?”

“I just don't want to see Vi.”

“Oh come on, Sugar! Grow up! You two are best friends!” he cries.

“Alright. Well if you come, then I’m too.” I say at last.

“Ok, great! See you later!” he says.

“Bye Hun.” I reply.

“Bye my Cutiepie.”

“What? Cutiepie? I prefer to be….ummm….sweetheart?” I giggle.

“Sweetheart? It’s sooo old!” he replies, giggling too. “Well, I have to go. Bye Mrs. Somers.” He says and he hangs up the phone.

I stare at the phone disbelievingly. Mrs. Somers? Not bad!

“Your boyfriend?” the ice cream guy asks. Why the hell is he still here? And now that I look into his eyes, I remember Vi!

“Yu-uh.” I reply. “I hate to search for the twin.” I say.

“You seem like it. Why don’t I help you search for them?” he offers.

“But you don’t know what they look like!”

“Well, they must be two boys, with naughty face, and they look alike. And they look like you.” He says.

I roll my eyes, “Yeah whatever you say. come on.”