That Summer Night of August

Kabanata 16

AUGUST 1

Ibinagsak ko ang librong binabasa ko sa aking study table. Tinignan ko nang masama si Gabriel na nasa likuran ko, sinasamahang maglaro si Terry. Ang ingay niya. Mas malakas pa ang kanyang tawa kaysa sa bunso kong kapatid. Inosente siyang tumingin sa akin nang mapansin ang mga titig ko sa kanya.

"What? Are you going to scold me again? Come on, I am just playing."

"Playing while obviously annoying me? Lumayo ka nga sa akin. Nakakaumay iyong tawa mo." Sabi ko sa kanya saka ibinalik ang aking atensyon sa libro.

I overheard him giggling with my youngest brother. If you listen closely, you can hear him whispering to Terry about how my nose releases smoke when I am angry. I sighed in irritation. He came all the way here specifically to just annoy the living daylights out of me.

What happened during the shoot was kept strictly between me and Gabriel. When my brother saw me crying, he became extremely concerned, but Gabriel assured him that it was simply a situation that needed to be resolved. Possibly because he was aware of my sentiments for Gabriel, Timothy agreed to use that justification.

"I'm hungry," biglang sabi ng bunsong kapatid ko kaya't napatingin ako sa kanya.

Right. Tutulungan ko pa palang magluto si Manang Teresita. Nakabalik na siya sa bahay dahil naging maayos na ang kalagayan ng kanyang asawang nahospital. Labis din ang kanyang pasalamat kay Tita Tiffany dahil sa pagtulong nito. Dapat lang din na tulungan namin si Manang Teresita dahil ilang taon na itong nanatiling manilbihan sa pamilyang ito.

Tumayo ako saka lumapit sa kapatid ko at ginulo ang kanyang buhok. "Stay here with Zachary. Tutulungan ko muna si Manang."

"You called me in my second name," he said in disbelief.

"Iyon ang sabi mo na gusto mong tawagin kitang Zachary. Sinusunod ko lang." Sabi ko saka nag lakad papuntang pintuan.

A small smirk appeared on his lips. "It's sexy though."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin bago pabagsak na  inisara ang pintuan ng aking kwarto. Napangiti ako sa sarili ngunit agad ding inalis iyon. Bumuntong hininga ako saka umiling at nagsimulang maglakad pababa. Simula nang maging okay ulit kami ni Gabriel ay hindi niya binuksan ang usapan kung bakit ako lumayo. At mas ayos na rin iyon dahil ayaw ko rin naman sabihin ang dahilan kung bakit. Ayaw kong sabihin na dahil may nararamdaman ako sa kanya kaya ako umiwas. Mas nakakahiya iyon.

It's preferable if he doesn't find out. It's preferable to do it this way. I wouldn't put our friendship at jeopardy simply because I was feeling a little unsure about something. This is the first friendship I've ever had, and I'm not going to let it go to waste.

Some of the books in my room have always been about this subject, and I have always read them in this way. It all started with the main characters being friends, then they fell in love with each other, putting their years-long friendship at peril. That's something I would never do. This is something I will not part with for the sake of a little period of bliss.

Nagulat ako nang makita si Manang Teresita na nagmamadaling umakyat sa hagdan papunta sa akin. Natataranta ako nitong hinila pabalik sa hallway kung nasaan ang mga kwarto namin ng mga kapatid ko.

"Nandito ang lolo mo. Manatili ka nalang muna sa kwarto mo, hijo. Sinabi kong natutulog kayong dalawa ni Terence kaya't sigurado akong hindi iyon aakyat dito." Dire-diretsong sabi ni Manang. "Gusto niya raw kayong makausap dalawa ni Sir Timothy kaya siya nandito ngayon."

Lolo was a lot stricter than Dad. He desired to have complete control over everything. He wanted everything to be flawless. He instilled in us the desire to be the best... to be the type of person who would take over their parents' roles once we reached the appropriate age. Tim will follow in the footsteps of his mother, Tita Tiffany, whereas I will follow in the footsteps of my father.