Beneath Thin Ice

Chapter 1

Haru

"What are you doing now, Haru?" I just sighed deeply. Bored na bored na ako. Napatingin ako kay Kuya Elmo na looking good in his expensive suit. May hawak itong wine glass. Muli akong napanguso.

"I'm not a minor anymore, Kuya. I know how to drink. And besides, it's just wine, not some hard liquor." Pagmamaktol ko rito.

"Kahit na, Haru." I tsked. Kahit kailan talaga itong si Kuya, napaka-protective. I hate it. I'm not a kid anymore. He spoiled me this much tapos kapag gumagawa ako ng kaartehan, nagagalit siya. I don't really understand my brother sometimes. Iniisip ko nga na sana ay magkaroon na siya ng girlfriend para hindi na palaging sa akin ang atensyon niya.

Nasa second floor kami ni Kuya and we are just watching the guests interact with one another. Hindi talaga dapat ako pupunta rito. Why would I? It's full of old people. Mabuti sana kung may mga pogi rito pero kanina pa ako rito and I haven't seen any. Sayang naman ang pagpapa-ganda ko rito. Though I'm wearing a suit right now, I still look beautiful.

"That's Mace Mazariego and his younger brother, Race Mazariego." Si Kuya.

I looked at the two brothers. Pogi, I must say. But not really my type. Atsaka maraming nagsasabi na mayayabang daw ang Mazariego. I hate mayabangs. Ugh.

"Irereto mo ba ako sa kanila?" I teased my brother.

"What? No. I'm just telling you. Dapat lang na makilala mo ang mga taong 'yan, Haru. It's for your future."

"Future? Magaasawa ako ng mayaman, Kuya, para wala akong gawin in the future. I just want to laze around in my marriage life." I rolled my eyes. I don't want to work. Dagdag stress lang iyan sa beauty ko. Ayoko ngang mai-stress ng bongga like Kuya na may mga dark circles around his eyes. Panda. Ew.

Kuya sighed. "You should change your attitude first. Sila na ang mismo ang pipila sayo if that happens."

"Are you saying that my attitude is terrible?" I can't believe that my own brother said that.

"Hindi ba?" Nagtaas siya ng kilay. "Whether you marry or not, kailangan mo parin makihalubilo sa mga taong iyan, Haru. It's good to have connections."

Napairap ako. I have a lot of connections.

Natapos ang party and kahit wala kong ginawa, I was pretty exhausted. Nag-part ways narin kami ni Kuya because he lives alone now. Habang ako ay nakatira parin with my homophobic Lolo. Kahit na minsan ay sinasaktan niya ako verbally and sometimes physically, I still don't want to leave Lolo. Beside my Kuya, siya nalang din ang natitira kong pamilya. I really haven't met my parents since I was very young when they passed away.

Kinabukasan, I decided to visit Yohan. Wala akong magawa kaya kukulitin ko nalang siya.

"Wala akong pera, Haru." Bungad sakin ni Yohan pagkabukas niya palang ng pinto. Na-offend naman ako ng slight.

"I'm not here to borrow money from you, gaga ka talaga. I'm just here to hang out. And what the hell happened to you?" Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa itsura niya. Pumasok ako sa pinto and I locked the door. He looks wasted and shit.

He rolled his eyes. "Kulang lang sa tulog. I was up all night to finish my article. Alam mo naman kung gaano ka-demanding ang boss ko."

Yuck. That's my immediate reaction when I saw his living room. Ang laptop niya ay nasa lamesa at maraming papel ang nakakalat sa paligid. May limang tasa ang nakapatong sa lamesa. Nagkalat din ang maraming tissue sa lamesa, sahig at couch niya.

"Parang hindi lang paggawa ng article ang ginawa mo." Nakangiwi kong saad.

"It's not what you think! Ang OA mo. Nagkasipon ako last night kaya maraming tissue riyan." Agad niyang depensa.