Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 35

This will be the last chapter before the epilogue.

"Kuya Gavin!" salubong ko kay Kuya na kapapasok na kapapasok lang sa bahay. He carried me by my waist while we're both chuckling.

"I'm sorry for arriving this late. Nandito na ba sila?" tanong niya.

I shook my head, "Don't worry about it! You're early pa nga, eh."

Sumilip ako sa likuran niya, dahilan para pagtaasan niya ako ng kilay.

I expected that I'd meet his girlfriend personally now since I didn't really have the chance to meet her because of everything that has happened, but he's surprisingly alone.

Nakakapagtaka naman. "Is everything okay with you, Kuya Gav?" I asked, genuinely concerned because it's not everyday that I get to be with him and ask him this.

I still have Gavin. I want to take care of him as much as I can.

He smiled, "Oo naman. Don't worry about me, Gem. You look scared, by the way."

Pinunasan niya ang namumuong pawis sa noo ko.

I chuckled awkwardly.

Napansin niya pala.

Kahit ang mga paa at mga kamay ko ay nagpapawis at nanlalamig na dahil sa kabang nararamdaman ko!

Kaba nga ba o excitement?

Ewan. Basta nasa dalawa. O baka pareho.

"Why would you be nervous, Gem? They already love you, and our parents love him. This is basically just a formality at this point."

Tumango-tango ako para subukang pakalmahin ang sarili ko.

Nagtungo na kami ni Kuya Gavin sa living room kung saan naghihintay rin sina Mommy.

"Gavin!" masayang sambit ni Mommy at Daddy nang makita si Kuya Gav.

Parang bata siya na niyakap nilang dalawa. "You look beautiful, Mom."

"Of course! When did I not look beautiful? Lalo na ngayon na makikilala na natin ang parents ni Nikolai."

Paano ba naman, mas magara pa ang suot niya kaysa sa akin na nakasimpleng bestida lang. Siya, may maliit pang headpiece na gawa sa perlas.

"Right, right." pagsang-ayon ni Kuya Gav.

Nagkumustahan muna kami ni Kuya sa kusina dahil may kaunting oras pa naman bago dumating sila Nikolai.

"You know what? I miss you." sabi ko.

Natigilan siya sa pagbubukas ng ref pero agad rin siyang nakabawi. "I miss you too, but care to tell me why?"

"I don't know why. Maybe because I grew up with you and wake up with you in the house every single day and then one day, it all stopped."

Ngumiti siya, pero hindi tumitingin sa akin. Patuloy lang siya sa pagkuha ng prutas, tapos inihanda niya na rin iyong chopping board.

"You miss the good old days, Gem."

Umupo ako sa island counter. "Yeah, I romanticize our childhood a lot. It was fun with the three of us. Don't you think?"

"It really was. It was fun."

"We were so happy when you were born."

I pouted because I'm getting more and more emotional by every passing second.

"Gael promised, cross his heart and hope to die, that he'd be the best brother. He really was the best. Not just to you, but also to me."

"Do you miss him?" tanong ko.