Where It All Started (SOW #1)

08.

Dumiretso ako sa kusina pagkatapos kong mag-ayos. Konting damit lang naman iyon dahil babalik pa naman ako sa bahay tuwing weekend. Sabi kasi ni Kuya Jin, tuwing weekend ay nandito siya kasama ang asawa niya kaya pwede akong umuwi kapag weekend.

Hindi ko pa nakakausap si Victorious dahil hindi pa naman ako pumunta sa kwarto niya after what happened earlier.

"Leisheen, magluluto ka?" I turn around and saw Kuya Jin with his brother, Victorious who's holding his walking stick. Inaalalayan siya ni Kuya Jin hanggang makaupo siya.

I nodded and turn back to continue what I was doing. I heard footsteps at isang saglit lang, nasa tabi ko na si Kuya Jin. He smiled and took an apron from the rack on the left side.

"Ako na diyan." He said at hindi na ako nakasagot dahil nagsimula na siya. Nilingon niya ako at ang kapatid niya. "Samahan mo nalang muna si V. Doon kayo sa sala habang naghihintay. Get to know him," sambit niya kaya wala na akong nagawa kung hindi lapitan si Victorious. I stopped when I saw his eyes directly staring at me. Walang expression ang mukha niya at ang brown na buhok ay medyo magulo.

He's handsome and beautiful at the same time. Even with his colorless eyes, napakagwapo niyang tingnan. Hindi na ako magkakaila. I bet, he'll be more attractive when he smile. I shook my head and went to him. Nag-aalinlangan pa akong hawakan siya dahil baka magwala siya but, I still tried.

"Uhm, Victorious?" I called and taps his shoulder. He looks up but, his eyes are staring in front. Nasa gilid niya ako pero taliwas ang tingin niya.

"Gusto mong sa sala muna? Nagluluto pa kasi ang Kuya mo," sambit ko. Walang imik siyang tumango at tumayo kaya agad akong umalalay. Naglakad na siya habang ako nasa likuran niya.

He stopped and lifted his hand. Nilahad niya iyon sa harapan ko then he spoke.

"Hold my hand." His deep voice rings my ear. Agad kong hinawakan ang kamay niya pati ang braso saka nagsimulang maglakad. Mabilis naming narating ang sala dahil katabi lang naman ng kusina iyon. Naupo siya sa isang couch at ako naman sa kabila.

Pareho kaming natahimik. No one speaks. No one created a single sound. Just the sound of breathing and the ticking of the clock was heard.

Akala ko, mapapanisan kami ng laway dito pero nagsalita siya.

"Your name sounds familiar. Leisheen is your name, right?"

Napalabi ako at napatingin sa kaniya.

"Ah, I remember you now," he said and smiled a bit. "You are the girl who helped me in the park together with your brother," he said and suddenly smiled bitterly.

"I suddenly miss us being little," he said and sighed heavily.

Natahimik naman ako at pinakinggan ang sasabihin niya. Hindi ako nagsalita, hindi dahil sa wala akong masabi kung hindi dahil sa alam kong kailangan niya ngayon ay ang taong makikinig. I do not need to give him words that can lead to false hopes. I will listen to him and I think, that is enough.

"I miss running around the house with my Kuya chasing me. 'Yung nagbabaril-barilan kami sa may bakuran sa labas. 'Yung aakyat kami sa puno kapag nadumihan kami para hindi kami mahuli ni Mama." He smiles but the smile he is showing feels empty.

"I miss that." Napayuko siya at nagulat ako nang may luhang tumulo mula sa pisngi niya. Nataranta ako at napatayo para lumapit sa tabi niya.

"I miss seeing my brother and mother's faces. I miss seeing my friend's stupid faces." Natawa siya sa kabila ng pagluha. My heart broke at the sight of him laughing despite of his tears. Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip na isandal ang ulo niya sa balikat ko. He didn't complain also at mas lalo pang sumandal sa akin. He started sobbing and buried his face on my neck.

Hindi ko na kinuwestyon kung bakit nagawa niyang umiyak sa harapan ko. Siguro'y sobrang bigat na ng dinadala niya kaya madali na siyang magdamdam.

We stayed in that position for almost 3 minutes. Kuya Jin got out of the kitchen and saw us. His eyes instantly softened seeing his brother. He walked towards us and kneel in front of Victorious.

"Hey, bro. Kain na tayo. I cooked your favorite sinigang," he said. I can see in his eyes how much he loves his brother. How hurt he is while seeing his brother cry. I can tell that Kuya Jin is a great brother.

Victorious pulled away from me and went to his brother. Nilingon naman ako ni Kuya Jin.

"Sabay ka na sa aming kumain, Leisheen," he said. I watch as Victorious turn his head.

"Kuya is right. Sumabay ka na," he said, almost whispering. Kuya Jin smiled and nodded at me kaya sumunod na ako sa kanila.

Pinauna ko muna silang makaupo bago ako ang maupo. Victorious is in front of me and Kuya Jin is beside him. Sinandukan niya ng pagkain ang kapatid bago ang kanya saka niya inabot sa akin. I thanked him. I heard him uttered a shot prayer kaya hindi muna ako kumain. Maya maya ay natapos din ang prayer. I was about to start eating when a voice interrupts.

"Good morning, good afternoon, good evening." I looked up and my eyes widened a bit seeing a familliar guy entering the kitchen, looking like a model that came out from a magazine.

"Bakit nandito ka?" Victorious asked and I saw how Parker stood there. His hands went to his waist.

"Makikikain ako. Nandito si Kuya Jin eh kaya paniguradong masarao ang ulam niyo," aniya at tumawa. Victorious just shook his head while Kuya Jin chuckled and shook his head.

"Parker, sit down. 'Wag kang rumampa d'yan." Mabilis kumilos si Parker patungo sa upuan pero natigil siya nang makita ako. He pointed at me and his eyes widened.

"Ano ito? Meet the family kaagad? Napakabilis naman!" He exclaimed making me confused.

I heard Victorious sighed. "Parker. Maupo ka na lang. Daldal mo," he said. Parker sat down beside me and nudged me.

"Ang bilis niyo naman. Meet the family kaagad," he whispered kaya naman napuno ng pagtataka ang buo kong mukha. A spoon hits his face kaya napa aray siya.

"Aray naman! Anong akala niyo sa kutsara? Kasinggaan ng bulak? Stainless steel 'yang kutsara niyo! Masakit ah!" Parker complained. Napanguso siya pero napairap si Victorious at si Kuya Jin naman ay muling napailing.

"Sorry na, daldal mo kasi eh," ani Kuya Jin. "Saka, anong meet the family ka dyan? Ano sila? Magkasintahan?" I processed what Kuya Jin said. Magkasintahan? Kami? What the heck?

"Eh, akala ko lang naman, kquya," sabi ni Parker at nagsandok na din ng makakain niya.

"Remember what I told you last week, kuya?" Victorious said kaya nabaling sa kanya ang paningin ng Kuya niya. Kumunot ang noo ni Kuya Jin and I saw Parker beside me, facepalmed.

"Yung kinwento namin ni V sa 'yo. 'Yung araw na umuwi siyang may galos sa braso," Parker said and shove a spoonful of rice in his mouth.

Kuya Jin nodded. "Ah, yung nakangiti itong utol ko pag-uwi? May sugat sa braso pero nakangiti?" Natigilan ako at narinig ang pagtawa ni Parker sa gilid ko. What's with these people? Tawang tawa.

"Oo, kuya! Alam mo ba kung sino ang naggamot kay V noon?" Kuya Jin shook his head. Parker smirked and turned to me. "It's the lady beside me. Si Leisheen," Parker said. Nabaling sa akin ang paningin ni Kuya Jin.

He smiled and nodded. "So, ikaw pala 'yung dahilan kaya ngumingiti itong kapatid ko pag-uwi niya noon. Akala ko kung anong nangyari eh. Sa lahat ba naman kasi ng may sugat, itong kapatid ko lang ang nakita kong nakangiti," he said and continue eating. Nagpatuloy sila sa pagkain na akala mo ay walang sinabing kung ano.

So, they are saying that Victorious smiled because of me? I don't think so. Bakit naman siya ngingiti dahil sa akin?

Maybe, because of Louie kaya siya ngumiti noon.

Yes, maybe it is... or maybe not?