Clarity (A SANDRO MARCOS FANFICTION)

55. Piece

VINNY

When we were kids, we would come in this beach and play with the locals. I'd often get teased because I was chubby. I would cry but Sandro would be there to make me feel better. He's always the kuya he was even when we grew up. It was cute to reminisce things that remind me of my childhood. Maybe I'll take Airi to this beach and tell her one of those stories.

"What is it Sandro? Mama asked us to buy ulam for lunch." I asked him. He was just standing here at the beach when I arrived as if he was thinking of something deep. I sat down on the sand. He did the same.

"Can you do me a favour, Vinny?"

"What?"

"Can I have Airi back again?" He asked, almost pleading. "I did you a lot of favours when we were kids. Can you please do me this one favour in return?"

"Sandro, Airi is not a thing. You can't treat her right for years then leave her when it's not convenient for you tapos makikita mo na okay siya, na masaya siya saka mo gustong bawiin," I sighed calmly. "That is so wrong in many ways."

"I know right." He mumbled.

"Akala ko ba ikaw ang kuya? I thought you are mature enough to know these things." I continued. "Why are you doing this?" I asked.

He looked at me. "Because I have regrets."

"Isn't it too late for that?"

He laughed bitterly. "I'm too late am I? You suddenly came in the picture and changed everything."

"So it's my fault now?"

Sandro shook his head. "No. I won't be in this position if only I made the right decisions years ago. I should have stayed, thinking it was just a phase because of the distance and pressure I had at work," He paused. I looked at him. He was on the verge of crying. "I should have gone back to London and made things right. I should have picked up the phone the twentieth time she called or when Simon was beating the shit out of me that Christmas."

I do remember him and Simon beating each other the night before Christmas. I was unaware of why they were beating each other but I felt it was something personal that I had to stop them.

"Sandro, I'm not giving Airi to you just because you have regrets and learned your lesson. I'm sorry for what you feel. I can drink with you if you want but I'm not giving up Airi. She's not something na kapag gusto mong balikan, ibabalik ko. Na kapag ayaw mo ulit, isosoli mo. It doesn't work that way."

"A night with her. A night with Airi, Vinny. Will you grant me that?"

"Sandro get your shit together," I stood up. "I'm letting this slip because you're my brother and I understand how you feel but I won't do the same the next time around."

I walked out and left him on the beach.

---

AIRI

"Baka nagsuntukan na sila!" Simon exclaimed. Sumimangot ako. Sana hindi ko na lang sinabi na dinaanan ni Vinny si Sandro.

"Can you please be more realistic?" I told him.

We were outside the house habang nasa loob yung mag-asawa na nanonood ng Kdrama. Nagsaing na din kami ng kanin. Ulam na lang kulang. It's been thirty minutes na lumabas si Vinny and kinakabahan ako. Iniwan pa niya phone niya kaya hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa kanya.

"Nagsuntukan nga sila. Kumbaga, kinausap ng ex mo yung bago mo tapos sabi niya, 'Ibalik mo na sa akin si Airi. Nagkamali ko. Mahal ko pa siya', tapos eto naman si Vinny, syempre hindi ka ipapaagaw, magagalit tapos susuntukin si Sandro sa mukha. Tapos si Sandro hindi magpapa-awat kaya susuntukin din si Vinny hanggang sa nagbugbugan na sila. Mukha na silang patatas ganon." Sabi niya with acting pa. Sana nag-artista na lang si Simon.

"Simon tigilan mo panonood ng Kdrama." I told him.

"Si mama kasi nanood ng Kdrama sa Netflix account ko. Tinuloy ko hanggang sa matapos. Tapos naghanap ako ng bago until eventually, I binge watched them."

I made a face. "Adik ka ba."

"No. Si Sandro adik sayo."

I rolled my eyes. "Gago break na kami."

"Official na ba?"

"Does it need to be official? Will he give me closure?" I asked him.

"Maybe."

"Hindi ka sure. You were there last night Simon. It doesn't look like he wants any closure."

"Baka naman mahal ka pa niya."

"Simon, he made a fool out of me for years. Nakita mo naman kung gaano ako katanga na naghintay sa kanya. Nakita mo naman yung iniyak ko. Nakita mo naman yung araw-araw tayong nalasing dahil sa kanya. You saw how broken I was. Uulit pa ba tayo Simon?"

"Ikaw kung hindi ka natuto pero huwag mo na akong idamay ha?" He replied.

I made a face. "I thought you are happy with me being with Vinny. Bakit parang kay Sandro ka kampi?"

"I'm neutral. Hindi ako kampi kay Vinny hindi rin kay Sandro. Sa LiNget ako kampi."

I made a face. "The hell is that."

"Liza at Bonget."

"Ang corny mo Simon."

"Wala kang choice ako lang friend mo."

I guess he was right on that part.

After joking around with Simon for minutes, Vinny came back home with ulam in his hands. Simon helped him while I joined him.

"Bakit matagal? Okay lang ba naging usapan niyo?" I asked.

He smiled. "Do you want to know?"

I shook my head. I rather not. "As long as you're okay, it does not matter Vinny."

Umakbay si Vinny at hinalikan ako sa noo. "I bought some kakanin dessert for us. I'm sure you'll like it."

"I like you more." Banat ko.

Tumawa siya. "Ilang baka ang gusto mo?" He asked.

My brows furrowed. "Baka? Para saan?"

"Hindi bas a culture niyo you give baka or pig to the bride you intend to marry. Like it's a term for engagement."

I laughed. "Saan mo naman natutunan yan?"

"A friend of mine married someone from Baguio and he went through that. Ako yung nagdala because I was the middle man."

"Yes we do a lot of those but sometimes, it's not really important," I told him. "Sino nagsabi na gusto ko nang magpakasal?"

"Ayaw mo ba?"

"Hindi sa ayaw Vinny but it's too early. I want to do things before I get married."

"Okay then. I'll ask you again tomorrow."

Nanlaki mata ko. "Grabe ka Vincent. Bukas ulit?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "You might change your mind overnight. Or pikutin na lang kita para wala kang kawala."

Tumawa ako. "Gago. Walang ganon."

"I would if the reward would be you, Airi," I was only looking at him. He smiled. "I like you. So much. I might even love you."

My heart throbbed.

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