Carrying the Real Trophy ✓

Chapter III

III: Identity

"Ito na ba 'yon?"

A door could be found right in front when I got to the second floor. Maybe this is Ruth's bedroom. Hindi niya alam na alam kong magkatabi kami ng bahay! He'll certainly be shocked, I'm sure of it!

I opened the door with excitement. "Surprise!"

"Ay, tang ina!"

"Puta!"

"Who the fuck?!"

My body tensed in horror when I witnessed males lifting weights while only wearing athletic shorts and shirts. They're shockedly glancing my way.  Right. . . I was fucking right. Na-surprise nga. . . sila!

I nearly lost my balance when I met the eyes of the man who effortlessly took my breath away. He is performing his routine on the squat rack, stretching, and smiling as he stares at me.

Shit, so embarrassing!

"Mug?" mapang-asar niyang tanong.

Oh, fuck, no, please. God! Why?!

Nang bitawan ni Rafael Gonzalvez ang buhat niyang weights ay padabog kong sinarado ang pintuan at mabilis na lumipat sa kabilang hagdan. Running from that door, I was cursing myself! 

Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip na kumatok, binuksan ko kaagad ang pintuan ng kuwarto ni Ruth Gonzalvez. I bumped into him who was ready to leave the room.

"Riki? How did you arrive here so quickly? Pumasok ka pa talaga ng kuwarto ko," he asked, frowning.

I gave him three headshakes before shutting the door of his room. "Rafael is your cousin, right? Pinsan nga lang ba? Eh, bakit parang dito siya nakatira? I saw him working out with his friends. . . doon sa kabilang hagdan!"

Rafael Gonzalvez possibly lives in this village because I once saw him in the covered court. Pero hindi ko naman alam na nakatira pala siya rito! Or was I thinking too much? Baka nakigamit lamang ng gym dahil wala silang ganoon sa bahay nila?

"Bakit ba naisip mong doon pumanik?" natatawang tanong ni Ruth.

"Well, naligaw ako! The helper didn't give a detailed explanation of your room!"

Sobrang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko! Goodness gracious! Nahihiya na naiinis ako sa sarili ko at lalaking iyon!

"Too bad for you." He chuckled.

"Bakit kasi dalawa pa ang hagdanan niyo papunta ng second storey?"

"Hindi ko rin alam. Ganito na 'yan nang mabili ng parents ko ang lupa."

I nodded. "So, uh, you didn't answer my first question. Dito ba nakatira si Rafael Gonzalvez? Ang pinsan mo?"

Kinuha niya ang bag niya sa kaniyang kama at lumapit saakin upang buksan ang pintuan ng kaniyang kuwarto.

"I lied to you, Riki. He's actually my brother. . ." He bit his lips. "My older brother."

"What—" I covered my mouth to prevent myself from shouting.

What have I gotten myself into? Why do I keep seeing that monkey Rafael Gonzalvez? At bakit sa lahat na lang ng magiging kaklase at ka-partner ko ay ang kapatid pa niya?

Triple shit!

"Saan ang punta mo, Ruth? Kasama mo pa ang babaeng ito." Rafael the monkey blocked us from leaving the house, so I stopped moving.

He was drinking water from his tumbler and smirking at me. Pawis na pawis siya ngunit naaamoy ko pa rin ang likas na amoy ng kaniyang katawan. Manly. Powdery. Refreshing.