When Will It Be My Turn?

chapter 17

"Kuyaa!" I called.

"Celii!" My brother called back as I run onto him and hugged him tight.

"Kuya, I missed you." Sambit ko at mas hinigpitan ang yakap ko sakanya.

"I missed you more, my bunso. But nagtatampo ako sa'yo, 3 days na 'ko nandito sa pilipinas pero ngayon lang kita nakita, you promised me na ikaw ang bubungad sa'kin sa airport but you didn't show up. And also you didn't even tell me na hindi ka makakapunta, halos hinanap kita doon nagulat nalang ako nang may mga lalaking lumapit sa'kin at pinasusundo mo raw ako." Mahaba niyang pag angal at tinarayan ako pero nginitian din naman ako pagkatapos.

"Kuya, It's a long story pero babawi ako sa'yo I swear. kaya nga ililibre kita ngayon e." Pang uuto ko sakanya.

"Siguraduhin mo na kakayanin ng budget mo pakainin ako because I have so many thing to tell you." Ngiti nito at muli akong niyakap. 

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"So you have a girlfriend?" Muli kong tanong, hindi mawala sa isip ko ang sinabi niya.

"Heck, Celine. That's your fifth time asking me that." Irita nitong turan at umiling iling.

"So you have one na nga? totoo ba?" Tanong ko uli at tila hindi ko talaga kaya maniwala sakanya.

"Oo nga, Celine." Napabuntong hininga ito at tinignan ako ng seryoso.

"Omg, may pumatol sayo, kuya? It's unbelievable, ginayuma mo siguro 'yon." Pang aasar ko at umakto pang gulat na gulat sa nalaman ko.

"Ah ganun?" Tanong nito at bigla akong hinabol, syempre tatakbo ako hinahabol ako e.

"Kuya, joke lang!" Sigaw ko at tatawa tawa pa habang tumatakbo palayo sakanya.

"Lagot ka talaga sa'kin kapag nahabol kita!"

We're now here at his condo, hindi na rin kami nagtagal sa restaurant kanina dahil nagiging masyado na kaming maingay kaya napagdesisyonan nalang namin dumiretsyo sa condo niya at dito magkwentuhan. Dito kasi makakapag ingay talaga kami kahit anong oras pa namin gusto.

"Hey, I just realized." Tawag nito at tumigil sa paghahabol sa'kin kaya tumigil na rin ako sa pagtakbo.

"Yes, kuya?" tanong ko ng hindi siya nagsalita agad.

"What happened when I was away for 6 years? 24 ka na ngayon and the last time we saw each other was when you're only 18 and first year college ka. also I didn't get any update from you these past few months which is very unusual, I was worried you know. Mom and dad didn't even bother to tell me something about you, they all say the same thing "Masaya na siya sa buhay niya." What does it even mean?" 

I was stunned, I- I don't know what to say. Masaya ako sa buhay ko? Do I look happy right now? Happy being the mistress even though I'm the wife? Kasal sa taong hindi naman ako mahal? Mukha ba 'kong masaya? 

"Hey Celine, are you alright?" Hinawakan ni kuya ang kamay ko at pinisil ito.

"Yes, kuya." 

"Tulala ka, okay ka lang ba talaga?" He asked worriedly as he checked on me thoroughly.

"I'm okay, kuya. May naalala lang." Pagsasawalang bahala ko and thank God he bought it.

"So.. what really happened to you these past few months?" Pag-uulit niya ng tanong niya.

"I was.. I was okay, like what they say I'm very happy right now." I said as I smiled ear to ear but it didn't reach my eyes.

"Halata ngang masaya ka, ni hindi mo nga ako sinipot 3 days ago." Sambit nito at tinalikuran ako.