Chapter 28
"Kuya!"
Ilang segundo bago ako naka-kilos nang makitang mabilis na sinugod ni Kuya Aiden si Malik. Bago siya tuluyang makalapit ay nagawa kong mahila ang kaniyang kamay. Malik's lifeless eyes bore on me, his jaw clenched and he stepped forward to us. I gritted my teeth and looked away.
"Tangina mo, nagtiwala ako sayo!" Sigaw ni Kuya Aiden at hinablot mula sa akin ang kaniyang kamay.
Mabilis ko ulit siyang nahawakan, ramdam ko ang panginginig niya sa galit. I was trembling inside too, with the mixed emotions piling up, I don't know anymore what to think first. But one thing I'm sure of is that I need to take my brother away. His anger might drive him to do something to be regretted afterward. He's too emotionally driven and right now, he's too unstable to think rationally.
"Aiden!" Ate Elira was between scared and angry as she meddled in the dispute.
Naasiwa akong tumingin sa kaniya, hindi komportable sa suot niyang isang manipis at hanggang hita lamang na twalya. My stomach churned when she stood beside Malik. The sight almost made me want to throw up. It burned something in me and the heat of the flame made me want to run away.
"Seryoso ba kayo?" The disgust and pain in my brother's voice resounded in the corners of the room.
"Elira..." may binulong si Malik na hindi namin narinig.
They looked at each other. Malik's expression was blank and dark and hers was concerned and scared. I was stuck in the sight of them that I wasn't able to stop my brother when he plunged forward and pushing Ate Elira away before punching Malik in the face.
Natulala ako sa gulat habang si Ate Elira ay napasigaw. Malik was already on the floor, holding his jaw. Nang makita kong susugod ulit si Kuya ay doon pa lamang ulit ako kumilos. With all the strength I have, I dragged him but I could only manage to pull him away in a short distance.
Mabilis na dinaluhan ni Ate Elira si Malik. He stood up on his own, pushing her away a little. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at hindi ko alam kung para saan ang galit sa kaniyang mga mata. Wala akong maramdaman kundi paninikip ng dibdib.
"Tangina niyo, kailan pa?!" My brother shouted and tried to lunge forward but I pulled him and almost got dragged.
"Aiden, tama na!" Nanginig ang boses ni Ate Elira, hawak hawak ang towel sa dibdib.
"Elira, pumasok ka na sa kwarto." Malamig at walang buhay ang boses ni Malik.
"Nagtiwala ako sayo, tarantado ka! Tapos ikaw pala itong manggagago sa akin?! May pasabi-sabi ka pa na mag-ingat ako pero ikaw pa lang tatarantado sa akin? Mga hayop kayo!" Tinuro ni Kuya si Malik.
Umigting ang panga ni Malik. "Aiden, huwag natin idamay ang mga babae. Sa labas tayo mag-usap-"
He couldn't finish his sentence because my brother attacked him again. Napaluhod ako sa sahig dahil sa lakas ng hatak ni Kuya. My jaw dropped when I saw him punch Malik again in the face. Ate Elira tried to meddle but she was having a hard time with her only thin piece of armor. Mabilis akong tumayo at sinubukang hilain palayo si Kuya dahil hindi pumapalag si Malik sa lahat ng suntok niya.
"Aiden, that's enough!" Ate Elira shouted.
Suminghap ako at malamig siyang tinapunan ng tingin. Napatingin siya sa akin, hindi maipaliwanag ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya. Halos bumaon ang aking mga kuko sa braso ni Kuya.
"Get changed, please." My voice could freeze every living being.
She swallowed hard and ran into the room opposite Malik's room. Mabilis kong binalik ang atensyon kay Kuya. Sa pang-apat na suntok ay doon na siya tinulak ni Malik. His eyes were starting to get livid too. His jaw was clenching so bad and his lips were already bleeding.
