At the Tips (Villa Aurin Series #2)

CHAPTER 10

"Get out of that house. Susunduin kita ngayon din!"

Sa tono ni Kuya, alam kong hindi siya nagbibiro. For sure, he's mad and worried. I kinda expected this reaction of his. That's why kahit sa kaniya, hindi ko kayang sabihin na rito ako pupunta.

"K-Kuya, it's a group project. Hindi ako pwedeng umalis."

I heard him sigh heavily. "Let me talk to Renz."

Umawang ang labi ko. "What? Ano naman ang sasabihin mo sa kaniya?"

"Just give him the phone."

"He's eating, okay?"

Sinulyapan ko si Renz at nakitang nakaangat ang kilay niya sa akin. Nakakahiya. Naglakad ako palabas ng balcony, papasok ng kaonti sa mansyon.

"What are you going to tell him, Kuya? Wag mo na siyang idamay."

"Anong 'wag nang idamay? Nasa bahay ka nila!"

"And what? N-Normal naman pumunta sa bahay ng kaklase."

"Kung hindi siya Luna," walang pasubali niyang aniya na ikinatigil ko. "You should not be there, Eryn. What were you thinking?"

My chest turned heavy. Alam ko naman iyon pero bakit medyo masakit marinig sa mismong kapatid ko? It hurts hearing it from the person who has same limits like me.

"Bakit kailangan mo pa kausapin si Renz kung pwede naman ako na lang ang kausapin mo?" malamya kong tanong.

"Is that Gino?"

Halos mapaiktad ako sa pagsulpot ni Renz sa gilid ko. He arched his brow, waiting for me to answer his question.

"Hindi ka na dapat tumayo."

"I'm done eating. Si Gino?" tanong niya ulit.

"Y-Yes. Sorry. Matatapos na rin 'to. Magsisimula na ba ulit ng gawain?"

It was hard dividing my attention. Lalo na't maging sa kabilang linya ay tinatawag na ako ni Kuya. Hindi ko siya makausap dahil nasa harap ko si Renz.

Imbes na sagutin ang tanong ko, inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin. "I heard my name. Gusto niya akong makausap?"

Hindi ako makasagot. Hindi ko kayang magsinungaling nang harap-harapan. Kaya ko kung wala akong ibang pagpipilian at hindi nila tinititigan ang mga mata ko. I can't do it while looking at someone's eyes. Not in these situations. Not when Renz was looking at me straightly in the eyes.

"Let me talk to him."

"Ayos lang kahit hindi. Ayokong makaabala."

"It's okay."

I sighed and gave him my phone.

"Gino," he greeted.

It didn't seem that I was needed there so I excused myself. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gustong sabihin ni Kuya kay Renz. He's angry and worried right now. So I was praying hard that he would not direct his anger to Renz.

Bumalik ako sa balcony at nakitang hindi pa sila tapos kumain. Nang makaupo ulit ako, hindi ko maiwasang tingnan pabalik ang loob ng mansyon kung nasaan si Renz. I was anxious. Kuya's fond of Renz and I didn't want to be the reason for that fondness to change. Especially that they are teammates.

"Nasaan si Renz?" tanong ni Ino.

"Ahm... may kausap."

Sinarado ko ang lunchbox ko kahit hindi pa ubos ang pagkain. I lost my appetite. Siguro mamaya na lang ulit ako pag-uwi kakain.

"Sino? Kapatid niya?" kuryosong tanong ni Rica.

I was hesitant to say it but she looked like she would not leave me alone until she got an answer. "Kapatid ko. Sa phone."