The Perfect Boyfriend List

Chapter 36

[Chapter 36] Explanation

We ended up on the rooftop. Ito lang kasi yung lugar sa buong St. Ignatius na walang taong maaaring mang-abala at makinig sa pag-uusapan namin. The students are far sure busy doing something that they can't have enough time to go here.

I'm desperate. Gusto ko lang naman malaman kung ano ang nangyari. Kung anong naging incident that made Kuya Troy hate Wren.

I was curious. Kung ayaw nila Kuya Troy at Wren na sabihin sa akin kung ano man iyon, I'll find my very own way to know the answers myself.

The breeze was cold enough. It's so fresh that my stressful problems start to slip off my mind.

"Ayokong magtagal dito," Ram said. He's leaning on one of the bricks next to me. "So I will tell you the whole story."

Huminga siya ng malalim and looked afar as if reminiscing the past.

"A few years ago, may nangyaring hindi inaasahang aksidente. And at that time, Black Haywire was ready to debut," he answers.

"Black Haywire?" Yung banda ni Kuya Troy?

Kuya Troy is a pianist. He is a pianist of a popular band named Black Haywire. Nakakagulat nga yung katapangan niya eh. He stood all by himself. Pinandigan niya kay Daddy that being a musician is the path he would like to take.

Kahit na ayaw ni Daddy, nagpumilit siya. Daddy even disowned him. Nakita ni Daddy na napakapursigido ni Kuya so wala na siyang nagawa but to support him and his choices.

"Yeah. At that time, I was not a member of the band yet," he says. "Wren was. Siya yung dapat na magiging main guitarist ng grupo."

That's why Wren was so good at playing guitar. May banda pala ang ugok dati eh.

"Because of that accident, Wren was forced to quit being a member of the Black Haywire," he continued. "Dahil doon, nagalit si Kuya Troy mo."

Napaisip ako. Is it possible that the reason he quit was because his mom died? Pero parang hindi din eh. Kasi Wren told me that his mom died when he was too young to handle the world. Kaya nga siya napunta kay Lola Prescilla.

Then what could be that accident that forced Wren to quit?

"Do you know what's that accident?" I asked. It looks like it was connected to mine.

"No," he answered. "Troy never opened the topic. It was one of those topics that are forbidden for all the members of the Black Haywire to open, you know?"

I shrug. "Ayan. Nasabi ko na lahat. Can I go now? Kailangan ko pang kausapin si MJ." Ram added. "To clear things up."

I smiled. Sana understanding ang girlfriend nito. "Sorry. Nakadagdag pa ako ng gulo sa'yo. Ako na nga itong nakiusap na i-kwento mo yung story na hindi niyo pinag-uusapan nila Kuya." I sincerely said.

"Aba dapat lang!" he said that made me startled. "I was just kidding. It's no problem, Rachel. Besides," he shove his hands to his pockets. "Even though Troy is not a good friend of mine, I still care for him. Hindi man aminin ng Kuya mong ugok, alam ko din naman na nand'yan siya in-case na ako naman ang magkaproblema."

I chuckled. "That I could approve. Hindi lang talaga sanay si Kuya na nagpaparamdam ng mga unexplainable feelings. Matigas din ang ulo nun e."

He smiled. "Yeah. That we could both approve. Pa'no ba yan? I have to go now." Akmang tatalikod na siya nang bigla niyang kunin ang isang cellphone sa bulsa niya. "By the way, give this to Wren."

Inabot niya sa'kin yung cellphone. Kinuha ko naman iyon.

Nginitian niya ako. "Nice wallpaper."

Naguguluhang inopen ko yung cellphone only to surprise myself by seeing the wallpaper.

Yung picture na akala kong idinelete niya!

Bago pa ako mainis sa sobrang galit, tinalikuran na ako ni Ram. Nagmamadali siyang tumakbo papuntang exit.

"Thanks! Pakisabi sorry sa girlfriend mo!" Sigaw ko.

Nilingon niya ako. At sumigaw din siya pabalik. "She's not my darn girlfriend!"

Sus. Bakit kailangan mong magpaliwanag sa kanya kung walang kayo? Ano yun family issues?

_____

I decided na hindi sumabay kay Liesl. Usually, she drops me off in front of my house. Kuya Troy doesn't want me to use the car. Sabi niya, baka daw maaksidente ako. Hindi daw ako marunong mag drive. Tss. Madali lang naman yun eh.

I just walk from school to my house. It was a walking distance anyway. Hindi ito gaano kalayo sa school.

Over protective si Kuya Troy especially when it comes to me. I also wonder kung bakit parang tunay na kapatid ang pagturing niya sa'kin. I wonder if what's his own reason as to why he love me so much. I'm the aftermath of his father's one night stand with my mom. It was my fault as to why his father remarried after his mom died.

I was really happy to have a brother like him. He's everything a girl would ever wish for a brother to have. Gusto ko lang talaga na magkabati sila. Kasi at some point, ako din yung nahihirapan e. I'm the one who's miserable kung napaka-awkward ng mga usapan namin sa bahay especially kung hindi magkasundo yung dalawang tao na naging importante na rin sa'kin. Not that Wren is important. But he really is. He's been a friend of mine.

Napabuntong hininga ako when my feet stopped in front of our house.

Before I talk to Ram, akala ko their whole story will help me to find a way para pagbatiin yung dalawa. But I assumed wrong. Parang mas lalong gumulo. My mind go blanched. Wala akong maisip na ibang dahilan para mangyari ito sa kanilang dalawa. Mas lalo akong naguluhan at na-curious about that accident that happened years ago.

I opened the gate and I entered.

Hindi pa ako nakakapasok sa kwarto ko nang bigla akong nakarinig ng mga sigaw. "Gago ka talaga! Wala kang pinagbago! Mukhang yung parusa sa'yo ng Diyos, wala din palang kwenta! Lumayas ka nga sa bahay namin!" it was Kuya Troy's voice.

Oh damn.

Natulala ako when Wren's voice shouted back. "Hindi naman ikaw yung nagpatuloy sa'kin dito eh! Kaya hindi din ikaw ang magpapasya kung kailan ako aalis dito! Hindi ikaw ang magpapalayas sa'kin!"

Nagtatangos akong bumaba sa kinaroroonan ng boses. I found the two of them, exchanging glares. Buti pala at hindi pa sumasabog ang bomba. I can stop the countdown.

"Kuya Troy!" pagsuway ko as I drag him away from Wren. Pero dinuro niya ito.

Nanlilisik ang mga mata ni Kuya Troy na nakatingin kay Wren. Kahit nga si Wren ay ganun din makatingin sa kanya.

Hindi na nakakapanibago na galit si Kuya Troy. Palagi naman siyang galit sa mundo eh. Ang pinagkaibahan lang, galit na galit siya sa kung ano man na hinding hindi ko maiintindihan.

"Tangina mo talaga Wren!" pagsigaw niya.

Wren didn't snapped back. Nagpapasalamat ako at hindi siya gumanti. Kung hindi, baka riot ito.

"Kuya, stop it!" I commanded.

Bumitaw siya sa akin. "Bakit? 'Yan pa bang ugok na 'yan ang kakampihan mo?!"

"Kuya, wala akong kinakampihan--"

"Wala naman pala eh!" sigaw niya. I flinched. Ngayon lang ako napagsigawan ni Kuya Troy nang ganito. Kahit na may gawin akong kalokohan dati, never niya akong sinisigawan ng ganito. Pinapagalitan, oo. Pero ganito... He's a like a monster. "Then don't act like you're siding with him!"

"'Wag mong idamay si Rachel dito, Troy. Sa ating dalawa ito." singit ni Wren.

I looked at him with pleading eyes. Utang na loob. Wag ka munang maki-epal ngayon.

"Hell, yes!" Kuya Troy snapped. "This war is between the both of us!"

Yumuko si Wren. "Ano bang gusto mong gawin ko?"

I saw Kuya Troy viciously smiled. Ngayon ko lang nakita ang side niyang ganito. May mas dedemonyo pa pala ang ugali niya. He's like a monster in my eyes. Hindi na siya ang Kuyang kilala ko.

"Evacuate out of this house. I don't want to see you ever again. And don't come near my sister."