Fit the Puzzle (Azcona Cousins #3)

17

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Chapter 17

"Oh? Bakit ang aga mo? Akala ko gagabihin ka na."

Si Kuya Alex ay nakahilata sa aming mahabang sofa. He grabbed the remote control of the television to switch the channel.

Umupo muna 'ko sa dulo ng sofa. Pinaypayan ko ang sarili. Cornered talaga ako kanina! Ayaw akong lubayan ni Piolo kanina dahil ni mawala-wala ang tunog sa telepono ko.

Pagkatapos kong magpahinga sa tabi ni Kuya, nagtungo ako sa kusina para kumuha ng malamig na tubig. I also took cube ice to dab on my cheeks.

I felt hot because of nervousness.

"Zian."

"Bakit?" abala pa rin sa pagpapakalma ng sarili. I'll just call Iverson later after dinner. Sakto lang siguro 'yon... tanghali pa naman sa United Kingdom. Bago naman ako pumasok ng bahay ay nag-text na 'ko sa kanya.

I just laughed off his dry and short reply to me.

Thousands or even millions of miles away from each other, I can still feel his annoyance. Hindi naman offending para sa akin. I am so used to seeing him annoyed or irritated. Ordinaryo na para sa'kin o sa mga nakapaligid sa kanya.

"Tumatawag daw si Brent sa'yo kanina pa... may gusto yatang sabihin," sabi niya habang ang kalahati ng atensyon ay nasa pinapanood.

I nodded.

"I'll just ask him later."

"Ngayon na," he ordered. "H'wag mo nang patagalin, nakakahiya."

I shifted my weight so I could let go of my smile.

Sus. Kaya no'n maghintay... kailangan niyang maghintay!

"Zian," my brother said with a faint warning. "Call him, it might be important."

"Hindi naman siguro, Kuya. If it's indeed important, he should've told you immediately... 'di ba?"

Umirap na lamang siya at pinabayaan na 'ko sa gusto kong mangyari. Hindi ako nagmadaling kumain. We have plenty of time to catch up. I did my usual routine every night before plopping on my bed. Matingkad na ngiti ang sinalubong ko sa isang nakasimangot na lalaki.

He's effortlessly beautiful with his casual outfit and tousled hair. Masyadong mahangin doon kaya 'di maiiwasan na gumulo ang buhok niya.

"I called you a while ago because we were inside a souvenir shop. I was thinking of buying your friends cute keychains or fridge magnets."

"Para sa akin?" biro ko.

"What do you want?" he asked, irritated. Nawala ng panandalian ang atensyon niya dahil kaway nang kaway si Kuya Atlas.

"Pahiram muna ng phone mo. Usap muna kami ni hipag."

Iverson hissed when his brother grabbed his phone. Kuya Atlas smiled and wiggled his brows.

"Hi, hipag!"

"Ako muna."

I laughed. Iverson was trying to get his phone back.

"How's the Philippines?" he queried like a foreigner. Iverson got more irritated when his brother walked down the street. Nakikita ko siyang naiinis habang sinusundan ang kapatid.

"Kuya Atlas... 'wag mo na siyang asarin," natatawa kong pakisuyo sa kanya.

"You don't have to worry about Brent's pasalubong. For weeks that we've been strolling around, Brent has bought almost every thing that reminds him of you. Hair ties, ribbons, sweaters, skirts... akala pa nga ni Yuli para sa kanya 'yung binibili ni Brent."