Flickers

Chapter 34

Soft cloud is passing over my head
A cool wind is blowing in between

- The shower, IU

I looked out the window where the bright blue sky was becoming dominated by the dark heavy clouds that threatened to pour out their baggage into the lands again.

People ran out for cover when the hitter patter of the rain turned into a heavy downpour, the steel gray clouds obliterated the sun from its radiance and continued the cascading of water droplets that splashed on each and everyone's clothes.

It was August of 2017 and it was the start of the wet season, days where you wish you would just cope up in your room and get yourself a warm cup of coffee warming your hands, and then proceeds to watch your favorite Korean drama.

But no- as the only girl in this family, except my mother, I have responsibilities that my older brothers wouldn't be able to do- well more like they don't want to.

After I finished washing the rice, I poured the last batch of water and didn't measure it with my finger since I have become a master of cooking rice already.

(AN: Using fingers for measuring the broth for cooking rice was what Asians do to cook perfect, fluffy rice)

I then toasted some eggplants into the stove itself and skinned it after before pouring an egg with it and some seasonings. That's our meal for today along with some leftover Adobo mom cooked yesterday.

Everything was finished after an hour or so, my sweat stick to me and I find myself huffing so I sat down at the dining area and fan myself.

"Is the food ready?" My second brother, Ronnel asked and I just nodded at him, too tired to reply to his question. "It better be delicious or I'll order myself some McDonald's"

"Then don't eat then" I glared at him while he just laughed evilly at me.

The great of my brothers came surging in and I force myself to stand up otherwise I wouldn't be able to get myself some food later. They were all like hungry jackals after all.

Mom came in and asked my first neither Richard to get the Salompas at the top of the kitchen drawer. She then slapped it at her back and neck, I sometimes wish that mom would quit her job because of how dextrous it is.

(AN: Salompas is a medicine like plaster that you stick to your skin where you feel sore, for example, your back or your thighs)

"Let's eat now" 

We all took one piece of eggplant, some of my brothers on the other hand decided to clip one more making me sent a glare at them.

"Oh yeah mama, did you know?" Jhonrie, my fourth brother started and his eyes went in my direction.

I felt my heart beating loud at then, did they learn of Eric's existence? Are we busted now? Will I have to face all of my family as they interrogated me alone?

Sweat was dripping from my forehead as I bit my lower lip in both anticipation and fear at my brother's continuation of the story.

"Jhonnel have a girlfriend!" He suddenly announced and I almost collapsed like melted wax in my seat. Turns out it wasn't me he was looking at, I almost got myself a heart attack.

"Hey! We just started, I wasn't even supposed to tell ma about it!" Jhonnel swatted Jhonrie whilst he guffawed in laughter.

"I still couldn't believe it! Someone fell for this face!" He pointed at Jhonnel's face making him look pissed. He punches him in the arm then but Jhonrie just continued laughing.

"You're right, never thought that you'll have one and it's been like what? Five years since you've gotten another?" Ronnel mentioned making Richard snort in laughter.

"Hey, don't be like that to your brother" my mother glared at her three mischievous sons before continuing. "It was hard for him to get a girlfriend after all"

It was another bullet-like precise mention of how poor my brother's love life is and it was just fun watching him suffer- until it bit me in the ass.

"What about you then, Ange? I think I saw you with a boy yesterday afternoon"

"What do you mean? You're such a liar! I was at home all day" my eyes were wide and I could feel my life pulsing in my wrist, about to burst out if this conversation didn't stop. "Well, then I also saw you at Ate Linda's store smoking a cigarette!"

"Jhonnel! I thought you quitted smoking already!" Jhonnel's eyes were practically murdering me and I just showed my tongue at him playfully before returning to eat.

"I did! It was just one time!" 

***
Chapter 33 is up!

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