He Was My Umbrella

30

"Wait, 'di ba ako 'yung crush mo?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Kuya sa akin.

"H-huh?" Dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa kaniya.

"You said you like someone, right? 'Di ba ako 'yung crush mo? So two-timer ka?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Ang gago mo, Kuya, no offense. I said I like the guy, hindi lang basta crush na lang," inirapan ko siya.

"So parehas kami? Tall, caring, welcoming, incredible, handsome, plays well kamo, faithful, good brother, good son, good friend. Hindi ba ganun din ako? O baka ako talaga?" He smirked at me.

How did he memorize every characteristic that I mentioned? Is it because it's his own?

"No," prenteng sabi ko.

"Type na type mo talaga ako, 'no? Don't worry, you are mine too. Hindi lang talaga tayo pwede, ano?"

Ha...

"Bakit hindi?"

"You know, the night that you confessed, ako din sana. Kaso naisip ko, 'wag na pala. Baka mag-isip ka na lang lalo, you know. In fact, I also have a bit of a crush on you. 'Wag ka ma awkward-an, ah. Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo. And, there's nothing wrong 'di ba? Is there?" He took one glance.

"For yours, there's none. But for mine, there is." I sighed. "Kuya, you got it."

"What do you mean?"

"Ikaw nga talaga." I gave him a very weak smile.

"You mean that I'm the guy you like?" He stopped the car in front of their house.

I nodded and looked down. My eyes watered, pero hindi ko alam kung bakit. I sniffled a bit, wala pa rin siyang imik.

"Huy," inangat niya ang baba ko at pinatingin ako sa kaniya. "Bakit ka naiyak?"

Umiling ako habang nakatingin pa rin sa baba. Bumibigat na ang paghinga ko pero hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit. Wala naman siyang sinabing nakakaiyak or what. Nababaliw na ata ako, e.

"Adi, bakit ka naiyak?" Hinawi niya ang buhok ko. "Sagutin mo 'ko, Adi."

"Hindi ko din alam, Kuya." Sinabi ko ng napaka hina.

Inuwi niya ako sa bahay namin pagkatapos kong kumain sa kanila. Binaba ko na ang mga gamit ko mula sa kotse niya at nasa tapat na ako ng gate.

"Thank you, Kuya." I gave a faint smile and then hugged me.

"We'll talk about everything on Sunday after the game, alright?" He tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Okay. Sure, Kuya. See you, then." I waved before I went the gate. I saw him sigh but I didn't mind it anymore.

Pumasok ako sa bahay at dumeretso sa kwarto ko. Wala pa si Daddy dahil wala pa ang sasakyan. Kumain naman na ako kaya binalak kong matulog na.

I laid down on my bed and thoughts attacked me. Why did I cry? Maybe it was because I thought it will affect our friendship. Maybe it will. We'll never know. But I'm praying it'll not. It's so petty. And he's immature. Bakit naman siya may crush sa akin? Ganun ba kababa standards niya? First of all, bata ako. Ba't naman siya magkakagusto sa isang bata? Kumbaga, hindi naman fit sa kaniya 'yung maturity ko. 'Di ba? Well, baka visual attraction lang. Tsaka, crush lang naman, e. Pero, 'yung akin kasi hindi na lang basta hanga. Gusto ko na siya.

A notification lit up my phone. I was afraid that it was Kuya Ren, but to my surprise, it was Cheska.

ffranchheska_: can i call

I replied,

adelaideclaire: shore.

Francheska is calling you.