Everything in Between

Chapter 37

Favio

12

I pressed my lips together when I saw my father teaching my other two brothers how to ride a horse. I don't know if I should be proud for myself that I can ride a horse without any guidance at the age of ten or I should be envy because he's spending his rest time teaching my brothers. Sometimes I wished I never know how to ride a horse so that I can spend time with my father. I felt an arm hold my shoulder that made me look at my back, there I saw my twin brother, Franco. He's always cold and serious, I don't think he cared if our father is spending more time with my other kuyas. 

"What are you thinking?" he asked me before sitting beside me. We're sitting down the terrace of my room. Franco doesn't need any care because that's what he wants while me I think I always like attention. I have good grades, good at riding horse. I know I shouldn't be jealous because Kuya Flavio and Fabian are joining equestrian and they need to win. 

"Nothing." I said. 

"Abuelo wants to see you in his office." sagot nito bago tumayo at iwan ako sa kwarto ko. Nang lumabas ako ng kwarto ko ay naabutan ko si mama, she's carrying our little sister, Marina. Huminto ito sa tapat ko at hinalikan ang noo ko. Marina held my cheeks and smile at me. May laway pa itong tumutulo mula sa labi nito. I can't help but to smile because of her. 

Kumatok ako ng dalawang beses sa pinto ng opisina ni Abuelo bago ako pumasok sa loob. Abuelo's office is big, he has his own bookshelf with full of different titles. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay agad itong ngumiti saakin bago ilahad ang upuan sa harap ng lamesa nito. Nanatili akong tahimik habang hinihintay ang sasabihin nito. Abuelo doesn't scared me but Abuela does. 

She's strict but I love her. 

"Pinatawag kita dahil nalaman kong kaya mo nang mag patakbo ng kabayo, is that right?" hindi ko alam pero natuwa ako dahil napansin nito na marunong na akong mangabayo. Tumango ako sakanya ng ilang beses. He smiled widely before nodding his head. 

"You know that your Kuya Flavio and Fabian are joining a contest, I think that maybe you should join too." napaawang ang labi ko dahil doon at biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Am I hearing it right? "What do you think?" he asked me. 

Agad akong tumayo at niyakap ito. "Thank you, Abuelo." masayang sabi ko. I heard him chuckled before nodding his head. Kinahapunan noon ay sama-sama kaming tatlo nina Kuya Flavio na mag ensayo para sa contest. Hinaplos ko ang ulo ng kabayo ko na si Artax, it's a black stallion. 

"Favio, let's race!" malakas na sigaw ni kuya Flavio. Kuya Flavio has brown eyes and slight curly hair. Tumango ako sakanya bago sumakay sa likod ng kabayo at agad itong pinatakbo. Nakarating kami sa kapatagan, huminto kami doon at agad tinali si Artax sa isang puno doon. Humiga kami sa damuhan habang nakatingin sa langit. 

Maliwanag ang buong kalangitan at malayang nagliliparan ang mga ibon. "I heard Abuela earlier that I'm marrying a girl I don't even know." napatingin kaming dalawa ni Fabian kay Kuya Flavio nang marinig namin iyon na lumabas sa bibig niya. Kuya Flavio is just 16 years old to be married. 

"Are you okay with that?" I asked him. For me marrying someone you don't know and don't even love is stupid. How can you make a happy family if you don't love each other. I'm fully aware of our tradition but if I'm going to marry to someone I don't even love I would run away and never go back home. 

"I don't know. Maybe if the girl is pretty, I would marry her." I rolled my eyes before looking away. He's also stupid! 

"How about you Fabian?" he asked. 

Fabian shrugged his shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe I would run away with other girl." tumango-tango ako dahil sa sinabi nito. Good thing he's thinking right not like Kuya Flavio.