What's Your Order Mr. Billionaire

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"Ma-nang, ag-agriing kan. Na-bangsit tu ta ang-saw mon." Ate, Gumising ka na. Mabaho na mamaya ang hininga mo.

Instead of being irritated, I smiled as my brother strongly shook my arm and told me to wake up. He is mimicking how I wake him up; I tell him that if he doesn't get out of bed, his breath will stink.

My eyes were still closed, and I could feel him lying next to me. His lips pressed against my arm. Every morning, he kisses my arm. "M-morning, ma-nang." His words are soft, causing him to mumble on every letter, but I understand what he's saying because we've been together since birth.

When Josue was four years old, he was diagnosed with angelman syndrome. Kinukonsidera ang sakit niya bilang ‘syndromic’ form ng autism spectrum disorder. All these years, he is attending to speech therapy and received cognitive-behavioral therapy kaya medyo nagagawa niyang makipag-usap at makihalubilo sa amin. At the age of 10, doon pa lang siya natutong maglakad, mag-isa.

I can understand the hardships and exhaustion that my parents endured over the years, so I can't entirely blame them for abandoning us.

That memory made me smile bitterly. I also decided not to attend college because of my brother's illness. I was the one who looked after him. Sayang din kasi ang ibabayad ng mga magulang ko kung sakaling kumuha sila noon ng kasambahay. Pandagdag na rin iyon sa perang ipambibili ng gamot ng kapatid ko.

"Morning, ading ko. Nangan kan?" tanong ko sa kanya. I caressed his gentle face. He couldn't stop smiling and moving his hands while touching my left arm. Kumain ka na?

"W-en, Ma-nang," he replied, his hands flapping as he cast a brief glance at me. When he smiled, I noticed he had just brush his teeth, and I could smell his fresh breath. "Ha!" He laughed as he blew his breath in my face.

I laughed, stood up, and smacked him with my pillow. He also stood up and took my other pillow, then hit me again while laughing. Every morning, this is our routine, and I make an effort to interact with him before leaving for work.

When I told him I was going to take a shower, he agreed to behave. Mabilisan palagi ang pagligo ko. Fifteen minutes na kuskos sa katawan ko, ayos na.

Wala naman akong boyfriend na aamoy sa akin.

I put on my uniform, which is button-down shirt, a black vest, and black pants. Hindi pa kasi natuyo ang black skirt na inilagay ko sa likod ng refrigerator.

My make-up has always looked the same. My eyeshadow is a rose and blush shade. I didn't use mascara because my lashes are naturally long, curled, and dark. I only use a light foundation and a sun kiss blush on my face because I want it to be simple. I simply clipped a hairclip to both sides of my curly lob hair. Hindi ako nagwisik ng pabango.

Matapos kong kumain, inihatid ko si Josue sa plant garden ni Tita. Her "plantitarium" sells ornamental plants, orchids, and native plants. She also offers concrete pots, indoor fountains, pedestals, koi ponds, grottos, and wall fountains for sale.

Katabi lang naman iyon ng bahay ni Tita. Ilang steps lang. Doon nila inuubos ang oras nila sa maghapon.

"Sue, behave, okay?" paalala ko sa kapatid ko. "Walang Mcdo, kung hindi behave."

Mabilis siyang tumango at hinalikan ang braso ko. "Mmm. S-ue, be-have." He responded by waving at me as I prepared to leave.

"Anong gusto mong ulam mamayang gabi?" tanong ni Tita habang hawak na niya sa kamay ang kapatid ko. Minsan kasi, humahabol siya sa akin, gustong sumama sa trabaho ko. Nasa gilid pa naman ng kalsada ang puwesto ng "plantitarium" ni Tita.