That Summer Night of August

Kabanata 45

"Kuya!" Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa akin at nakita si Timothy sa hallway ng main building ng university.

Kumaway ako sa kanya saka naglakad papalapit. Timothy also enrolled at Montgomery University, and seeing him here added another layer of comfort in me. Pansin ko rin na pinagtitinginan siya ng mga estudyante, ang iba pa ay tumitili habang nagbubulungan, but he couldn't care less. We're used to it.

"Tapos na ba class mo?" Tanong ko at sumabay sa kanya sa paglalakad.

"Yeah, I was waiting for you," he replied with a small grin, a rare sight only reserved for me.

Just like Servelius said before, Timothy doesn't often talk to them. He was cold and distant to others, keeping to himself most of the time. Seeing him here, grinning even slightly, reminded me of how different he was around me compared to everyone else. He only shows this side of him to me and my Terence. He may be scary to other people, but for me, for Terence, he's the best brother we could ever ask for.

"Wanna go to my favorite café with me?" I asked him.

Tumango sa akin ang kapatid ko, "Sure."

Nagsimula kaming maglakad palabas ng building. Wala akong kasama ngayon sina Lawrence at Roni dahil kailangan ng council si Lawrence, habang si Veronica naman ay may kailangang tapusin kasama ang mga kagrupo niya. Mabuti na lang at natapos ko na ang report ng grupo namin kaya free ako ngayong oras.

Nasa loob lang din naman ng university grounds ang Moonlight Café kaya naisipan kong maglakad na lang kami. Alam kong magrereklamo si Timothy, pero bahala na siya—ito rin ang paraan ko para mapalayo kami sa ingay ng campus at makahanap ng tahimik na lugar para makapag-usap.

Habang naglalakad kami, naririnig ko ang bahagyang pagtapak ng mga sapatos namin sa sementadong daan. Nang pumasok kami sa café napansin kong napahinto sa may pintuan si Timothy. Nakatitig lamang siya sa lalaking nasa counter na kumukuha ng orders ng mga customer.

I nudged him, "Hey, are you okay?"

"T-that's Lucas, kuya," he whispered, almost tearing up.

I never forgot how my brother became so vulnerable after Lucas transferred school. He never even said goodbye to Timothy. My brother never got the chance to ask why. Seeing Lucas right now, I wanted to be mad at him for what he did, but I just can't.

I looked at the guy who seemed so focus on his work. Lucas has this black two-block hair, black eyes, and tanned skin. My look soften as I saw the dark circles around his eyes.

Tumingin ako sa kapatid ko, his eyes were locked onto Lucas, who was oblivious to our presence as he worked behind the counter. Kitang-kita ko sa mga mata ng kapatid ko na nadoon pa rin ang sakit, at agad iyon gumising sa kaloob-looban ko para portektahan ang kapatid ko.

"Tim," I began softly, "gusto mo sa ibang café nalang tayo? We don't have to stay here if it's too much."

Umiling sa akin si Tim, habang ang mga mata ay nanatiling nakatitig kay Lucas. I did not expect this encounter. Never in my mind expected to see Lucas working here. Iba pa ang nasa counter noong huling punta namin dito nina Lawrence at Veronica.

"No, Kuya. It's... it's fine." He answered. It was cold and distant.

Tumango ako sa kapatid ko. Naglakad kaming dalawa papunta sa counter kung saan naroroon si Lucas, the sound of our footsteps blending with the low hum of conversation in the café. As we approached, Lucas finally looked up, his eyes widening slightly when he saw Timothy.

I saw how my brother flinched. Lucas' effect on him was so obvious that I couldn't quite ignore. Kitang-kita ko kung paano natigilan ang kapatid ko nang magtama ang mga mata nilang dalawa.