decoding the boys ✔️

22 - interested || edited

Madaling araw ang flight namin. I was having a good sleep until someone sang real loud in my room, rousing me awake.

With an arm, I batted my pain-in-the-ass brother away, but he evaded and leaned closer to my ears to piss me off.

"Bangon na, aalis na tayo," Kuya Jacob sang.

Frowning, I checked the clock with half-lidden eyes. Hinampas ko siya ng una nang makita kung anong oras pa lang.

"It's barely three yet, Kuya, ano ba! Saka when I said wake me up, I didn't mean sneak into my room! Dapat tumawag ka na lang."

My brother snickered. "Where's the fun in that?"

Binato ko siya nang unan at umakmang babalik sa pagtulog. Umakma akong babalik sa pagtulog. Kuya Jacob suddenly lifted me up from my bed, making me shriek.

"Fine! Fine! Mag-aayos na! Put me down!" I yelled while hitting him on the back.

Nang binaba niya ako, agad ko siyang tinulak palabas ng kwarto. I could hear his laughter even as he went down the stairs. There were other voices downstairs, too. Gising na rin yata sina Kuya Chris, Kuya Andrei, at Kuya Travis.

Nagmadali na akong mag-ayos. When I was done with my morning rituals and put on a light makeup, I donned a black cropped top, shorts, and matched it with black high-cut chucks. To finish my outfit, I wrapped a denim jacket around my hips.

My brothers were all ready by the time I stepped into the living room. Kuya Travis and Kuya Chris were on the couch, both browsing on their tablets, while Kuya Andrei was idling at the door, may kausap sa phone.

"About time. Ang tagal," bungad ni Kuya Jacob na kita kong nakaupo sa mini bar at nagpapatugtog ng mahinang kanta.

"'Di ka excited 'no? Excited lang for Cebu?"

Kuya Jacob smirked. "No, sis. Cebu is excited to have me."

I made face at him. Unreachable talaga kahit kailan ang confidence level ng isang 'to.

"Where's your bag?" Kuya Travis asked when I sat on the arm of the couch he was sitting on.

"Sa taas pa, Kuya," sagot ko. "Outside my room."

I packed big kasi ngayon. Hindi biro ang Cebu, a. Anything could happen in our stay there lalo na kilala ko ang boys. I knew how spontaneous and adventurous they could get. Just to be sure, nagdala ako ng dress, several bikinis, and basic casuals.

Kuya Travis nodded and went up to get my things.

In a few minutes, kasabay niyang bumaba sina Mom and Dad na nakauwi na kahapon pa from the States.

"Handa na ba mga gamit n'yo?" Dad looked at all of us.

We all nodded, and then we set off to the airport. Kumpleto na ang mga tito at tita ko when we arrived. Ang pamilya lang ni Kuya Onyx ang wala dahil nauna na sila doon no'ng isang araw pa. Kuya's been busy. Ang alam lang kasi ni Tita, sa Crown Royale kami magse-celebrate ng birthday niya. Simpleng buffet dinner kasama ang pamilya sa gabi at pasyal-pasyal na lang sa mga susunod na araw. But Kuya had other plans.

From what I heard, may hinanda siyang surpresa sa Lantaw, isang floating restaurant din doon. He reserved the entire place for her and even contacted her close friends to attend the surprise.

We boarded the plane at exactly four a.m. Tatlong SUV naman ang sumundo sa 'min sa airport. Kasama ko ang mga pinsan ko habang ang iba, doon sa dalang sasakyan ni Tito Osen sumakay.

"Ngiting-ngiti, a," bati ko kay Kuya Onyx nang mapansin ko na busy siya kakatingin sa phone niya.

His chinito eyes lit up as he looked back at me. "It's a happy day."