"I am so sorry, Ballet." paghingi ng paumanhin niya dahil sa nangyari kagabi samin ng kapatid nyang basura ang ugali at mukhang hayop.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung nagmukhang pilit ang ngiti ko pero bahala na. "It's okay, really. It wasn't really your fault or his. It was mine." pag-aako ko.
Ramdam ko kasing kasalanan ko, pero masisisi ba nila ako? His brother bad mouthed my Mama, even called her names. Does he expect me to be polite and nice after all what he's said about Mama? Did he expect me to be weak and cry? G-ago sya.
"No, really."malungkot ang mga mata nya. "It's his fault. I'm sorry about his attitude towards you, he's just—," bumuntong hininga sya. "He's still adjusting with everything."
Right. If I'm adjusting to the fact na ikakasal si Mama, paniguradong sila din ni Carter. "I'm also sorry for the way I acted when you know, Carter said those things. But I just can't help it, your twin brother was bad mouthing my mother. I can't just stand idle and stay silent about it."
Tumango si Nick, tila naiintindihan ang point ko. "It's okay, I understand why you acted like that. If someone did that to our mother, I would beaten that someone to death. My brother's attitude is—I'm really sorry, Ballet. He deserves that punch." yumuko ito. I mentally laughed when he said he deserved the punch, I mean—he does deserve it pero hindi ko lang inexpect na maririnig iyon sa kapatid ng sinuntok ko.
"Hey," mahina kong sinipa ang paa nya na nasa ilalim ng lamesa kaya napatingin sya sakin. Ningitian ko sya. "I told you it's fine, I am adjusting living with you two just like you two are adjusting living with me. And," uminom muna ako ng tubig na nasa basa ko. "I may sound meanie but yeah, he deserves it. To be honest with you it is kulang,"
"You are nice," ngumiti sya sakin. "My brother just—something happened when we were kids, that's why he's acting that way." tumango ako.
"I understand, no worries. But do tell Carter to refrain himself from speaking things about my mother." sabi ko.
Tumango naman si Nick. "I will. Thank you for understanding, Ballet."
"Yeah," tumango at ngumiti lang ako sa kanya bago tahimik na nagpatuloy sa pagkain ng almusal na niluto ni Nick.
Nick and Carter.
Uncle Edward must have been Nick Carter's fan. Cute!
Bandang alas siete ako nagising kanina, pero alas nuebe ko na napagdesisyonan lumabas. Nung lumabas ako, nadatnan ko naman si Nick na nagluluto kaya tinulungan ko na. I and Nick were talking about my school and his college life before. He is fun to talk to.
"Oh, the good son and the step-daughter is having breakfast together?" sabay na napalingon kami ni Nick and saw his brother standing by the kitchen's door. Mukhang bagong ligo ito and he is showing his abs off. Sana lahat.
"Oh, did the bad fruit took a bath and now showing his abs off?" balik kong tanong sa kanya with the same sarcasm in my voice. "The view is quite," pinasadahan ko sya ng tingin. "Nice," at ngumisi para maasar sya. At hindi nga ako nabigo nung napalitan ng pagkaasar ang ngisi nya.
"Tss," inayos nya ang towel na nakasukbit sa balikat nya at naglakad na palapit sa gawi namin. Umupo sya sa tabi ng kapatid nya. "Give me a plate, woman." biglang utos nya kaya napataas ang kilay ko. "Serve me."
"Carter," bantang tawag ni Nick sa kapatid nyang tinaasan lang sya ng kilay. "Don't start."
"Who said I was starting, I was just politely asking for a plate." painosente pang sabi nito sa kapatid saka bumaling ng tingin sakin at ningitian ako. "Right, Ballerina?"
