Kabanata 25...
Unhealthy
"You've been smoking a lot lately," I said after shutting my car door, glancing at Apollo who immediately smiled at me.
He shrugged. "I just felt like it..."
"Got a penny for your thoughts?"
Apollo merely gave me a single shake of head and another smile. "I'm fine, really."
I'm not sure if it's me, he's convincing that nothing is bothering him, or just himself. There's certainly something going on in him, but it's not like I can force him to open up.
Sinuklian ko ang ngiti n'ya at bahagya s'yang niyakap bago tinungo ang papasok sa bahay.
Hindi pa nakakalapit ay namataan ko na si Alessandro sa aming portiko na may kausap sa kan'yang cellphone. Nang makalapit ay ibinaba n'ya iyon at sumabay sa'kin papasok ng pinto.
"Got a lot of huggings today, huh?"
I only gave him a side glare and was about to roll my eyes when I noticed his bruised lips. Kumunot ang noo ko. Abot ang pamumula noon hanggang kan'yang pisngi.
It looks like... someone punched him.
"Did someone punch you?"
Nasa hamba na kami ng pinto nang tumigil ako sa paglalakad.
He didn't answer, he clicks his tongue instead and looks away before walking right past me. Tatawagin ko pa sana ito nang makita naman si Carson na nasa aming sofa kasama si Jyair na nakaupo sa kan'yang tapat, at si Zyair na nakapamewang at kunot ang noo na nakatayo sa kanilang harapan.
What the hell happened while I was gone...
Nang makita ako ni Zyair ay agad nitong itinaas ang kamay at tinawag ako papalapit na nagpalingon din kay Carson ay Jyair sa kinaroroonan ko.
Carson's quick to avoid my questioning eyes and stare right back at his hands while I walk to our living room.
"Anong nangyari?"
"That's what we're trying to know. Pagkababa ko, nagsasapakan na sila." Paliwanag ni Zyair.
I throw a glance at Alessandro, who has just approached us.
"Nagsasapakan? Bakit isa lang ang may pasa?" At ang isa'y hinahagod ang kan'yang kamao, pero hindi ko idinagdag 'yon.
Marahang umiling si Carson, pero nakatungo pa rin ang ulo. Kitang-kita ko ang pag igting ng panga n'ya.
Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Jyair kaya nagkatinginan kami.
Tumango ako at nilingon din si Zyair. "Okay na, Kuya. I'll take care of this. Go ahead."
Ibinalik lang ni Jyair ang tango ko bago ito pumanhik palabas. Si Zyair naman ay ipinag-krus pa ang braso habang umiiling. "Don't give my sister another headache. She already has a lot on her plate."
Agad nanlaki ang mga mata ko.
"Kuya! Go na," pilit kong isinenyas dito na umalis na bago pa n'ya 'ko sinunod.
"I'm sorry," Carson's now looking at me with pure guilt.
"I don't think I'm the one who should hear that?" I said, glancing at Alessandro.
"I don't mind getting punched," Alessandro said as he settles on the adjacent seat from me, facing Carson.
Masama ang tingin na pinagmasdan ko silang pareho. Kitang-kita ko ang namumuo na namang inis kay Carson kaya s'ya ang pinagtuunan ko ng pansin.
BINABASA MO ANG
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