"You live here?" I couldn't help but comment that when we arrived.
Maliit na iskinita papasok sa bahay nila ang tinahak namin. Hawak-hawak niya ang pulsunan ako, mahigpit 'yon. Parang ayaw niya akong bitawan.
I was looking around his neighborhood, it was so different from the environment I grew up in.
May mga iilang lalaking walang pangitaas ang tumingin sa akin, may mga babae rin na mukhang may mga katandaan na. 'Yung mga bata...ang dungis tignan.
"Pasensiya ka na, Amore. Malinis sa bahay namin, don't worry" He assured me.
He pulled me to their small gate, he opened it without struggling before we entered. I looked around, may mga bahay pang katuloy. Parang...nangungupa siya dito?
His house was the first one and then there's two more along the way. May washing machine sa harap ng pinto nila.
"Franco!" Pagtawag ni Ali sa pangalang 'di pamilyar sa akin.
He knocked on the door about three times before it opened, revealing a boy that looked exactly like him. He just looked more...softer and younger.
Pinagtaasan ko ng kilay ang kapatid niyang si Franco nang mapansin ko kung paano nahulog ang panga niya nang makita ako.
Ali intertwined our fingers together to guide me inside. Nagtangal muna siya ng sapatos sa labas pero dire-diretso lang akong pumasok kahit na nakaboots pa.
"K-Kuya, bakit nagdala ka ng yayamanin dito?" I heard Franco whisper.
I sat on their wooden sofa that had a piece of cushion on it. May maliit na TV sa harapan at coffee table, the house wasn't even painted. It's just cement.
Adjacent to the living room was the kitchen and dining area. I assumed the bathroom was also downstairs since there's a door beside the kitchen and then beside that were stairs leading up to the second floor.
"Girlfriend ko 'yan, tawagin mo si Aya at Louis" Utos niya sa kapatid pagkatapos niyang maghubad ng sapatos.
"Girlfriend?! Nabaliw ka na ba kuya? Mas mukha pa 'yang mayaman kesa kay Ate Charlo-"
Hindi pa natatapos sabihin ni Franco ang sasabihin niya kay Ali nang takpan ni Ali ang bibig niya.
I leaned on the backrest of their sofa, my legs were crossed together and the same goes for my arms.
"They know Charlotte?" Taas kilay na tanong ko kay Ali.
Ali looked at me with pleading eyes before looking at his brother who still looked shocked. He removed his hand on his brother's mouth before slicking his hair back.
He walked up to me, slightly brushing his hands on his jeans. "Babe, si Franco, Franco si Amore...girlfriend ko" I confidently stood up.
He looked startled after I did that, he blushed before nodding awkwardly. Hindi pa man nakikita ng kuya niya ang reaksyon niya, lumabas na siya kaya nilipat ko na kay Ali ang titig ko.
"How are you able to live here? You can relieve yourself here..." I looked around while walking.
I touched the small wooden dining table with my index finger. "Eat here, cook here, shower here?"
Nagtaas lang siya ng kilay sa akin bago niya ako nilapitan. He sighed heavily before fixing the strands of hair that were falling on the sides of my face.
"Why? You think we live in a mansion? Baby, we're not as rich as you" My lips formed into a thin line before I nodded.
"If only, I can make you move in with me" He chuckled like I just said something utterly ridiculous.
YOU ARE READING
Awakening embraces of home (Youth Series #1)
Romance(Youth Series #1) Life was glamorous for Amore. Despite being alone throughout her young years, she was accompanied with wealth and extravagance. Her caprices, needs and wants were always given to her with just a flick of a finger. But one thing was...
