Elezia

02

"Benjamin!" I already knew my Dad was mad at me because he called me by that name.

"What?" Inis kong sagot.

"Look, your brother graduated Summa Cum Laude in political science. Why can't you be like him?" Nagsimula na naman siyang i-compare ako sa kuya ko. Palagi na lang ganito.

"Because I am not him." Sagot ko naman.

"Kahihiyan ka ng pamilya natin! We are on politics and you? You fucking took psychology?! Tangina ano? Gagamot ka ng mga baliw?" He shouted at me.

"Dad, mental illness are just like physical illness. They are sick, Dad. They are not insane." Pag depensa ko.

"Stop your nonsense. Maybe you're just insane too." He said. I clenched my fist to stop myself from lashing out. Mental illnesses are real. Bakit ba hindi maintindihan ng mga matatanda 'yon?

"Just follow your brother's footsteps. 'Wag matigas ang ulo! I will no longer treat you as my son kapag hindi ka pa din nag shift." Dugtong pa niya.

I chuckled. "Huh? When did you ever treat me as your son?" Ever since I was a kid, their eyes have always been on my brother, Matthew. My brother is smart and always on top, and I am always hiding under his shadow. Palagi ko hinihiling na sana ay katulad din ako ng kuya ko. Maybe if I was born like him, I'd be treated better.

My Dad threw his book at me. He loves throwing me things. Sanay na din naman ako. I just walked out of the house para makalayo dahil nag-iinit ang ulo niya sa akin.

I booked a grab papuntang BGC tutal ay malapit lang naman sa akin dahil taga Taguig lang ako.

Group chat: "broskies"

Hoon: bro san kayo? i'm at bgc lang, join me if y'all are free

Won: wow, hoon! that's not so u bro

Jake: TARA SHAWTY HUNTING

Hoon: nah i'll just walk around here

Won: let's drink na din, tagal na natin di nag-iinom

They all agreed kaya naman nang dumating sila ay wala na kong choice kundi sumama sa kanila. Balak ko lang naman talaga sana ay maglakad-lakad, bakit naman nauwi sa inuman...

"Hoon, taas-taasan mo naman para kang kinder kung uminom!" Won said when he saw me dispense my drink into my glass. Ayaw kong malasing kaya naman konti lang nilalagay ko sa baso ko. Mapapalaban pa ko sa mga 'to halos mag-langoy na sila sa alak.

"Gago?! Umiinom ba mga kinder?" Jake gibberishly said, namumula-mula na siya dahil kanina pa niya iniinom yung tequila mag-isa habang kami naman ni Won ay tower.

"Ooh, hey girls!" Jake said in front of a group of girls sa kabilang table. Hawak pa niya ang shot glass niya, patango-tango at pakindat-kindat mukha siyang tanga kaya napapasapo kami sa noo ni Won.

Later on, one of the girls from the other table approached me. "Hi! I think you are my type!" She placed her finger on her lips and smiled.

"I think not." Irita kong sabi. Ayaw ko talaga yung mga typical hit up. It's so rare na makahanap ng genuine love talaga tapos aasa pang sa bar mahahanap.

"Woah, feisty. Do you have a girlfriend?" Umupo na siya sa tabihan ko kaya naman lalo akong naging uncomfy.

"Yeah, I have. Do you wanna see her?" I reached for my phone and searched for Elezia's picture from last year.