The Archer

Chapter 7

"She's so childish!" Inis na sabi ni Zari.

Nakaupo kami sa pool area dahil wala ng ulan, si Ate ayon tinakasan si Zari hindi ko alam kung saan na siya nagpunta.

"I'll talk to her later, halika na. Magpalit ka muna ng damit, basang-basa ka oh."

I stood up first then nilahad ko ang kamay ko para tulungan siyang makatayo.

Her face lit up, tila tuwang-tuwa siya sa narinig.

"Where?" She asked.

"In my room?"

"Let's go then!" Excited niyang sabi at nauna pa siyang maglakad sa akin.

As soon as we enter my room, Zari's eyes started to roam around.

"You should stay here, Ven. It looks more spacious and better than your apartment." She commented.

Totoo naman, hamak na mas malawak ang kwarto ko. The reason why I don't want to stay here is I feel so lonely here, lalo na kapag wala sila Mommy at Ate. This place doesn't feel like home anymore.

We used to live here as a family, My dad, my mom, Ate Kaia and Kuya Knoa.

Yes, we had a brother who died 6 years ago. Since then, everything has changed.

A month after my brother's passing, my parents separated. My dad cheated on my mom, we found out that he's planning to get married and that his mistress is already pregnant with their first child. I couldn't imagine how painful it was for my mom, I hate him so much.

The struggle that my Kuya had to go through, he pressured him. Halos hindi na natutulog si Kuya nun sa dami ng trabaho, habang siya nagpapakasaya sa kabit niya.

Until now ay miserable pa rin ang buhay namin dahil sa kanya, hindi ko maiwasang isisi sa kanya ang pagkawala ni Kuya.

[FLASHBACK - 6 YEARS AGO]

"Avi, how's your studies, honey?" Kuya asked while we're eating lunch together.

"Good, Kuya! You didn't read my messages 'no?" Pag-dadrama ko.

I'm pertaining to the picture na sinend ko sa kanya, iyon yung mga medals na nakuha ko.

They all laughed.

"Of course, I saw that. Let's go out of town. Your birthday is in two days, you deserve a break." He said.

"You're spoiling her, Kuya. Hindi naman halata na si Haven ang favorite mo 'no?" Pabirong tanong naman ni Ate Kaia.

"You already know the answer to that, Kai." Pang-asar naman ni Daddy.

That's what happened, Kuya decided na we'll go hiking and camping, I'm so excited since our friends are also coming.

We stayed sa camping site na si Kuya ang may-ari, he loves to go hiking and camping kaya bumili siya ng sariling lupa for camping/hiking.

"Happy birthday, honey!" Kuya greeted, he's smiling so widely while holding a cake.

I'm so happy, it's my 16th birthday and I can say na ito ang pinaka-memorable na birthday ko.

All my friends are here, my family, wala na akong hahanapin pa.

After naming kumain ay inaya ako ni Kuya na pumunta sa gilid ng bangin dahil may ipapakita raw siya sa akin.

"Where's my gift, Kuya?"

"It's over there, look, Avi." He said then pointed the modern house at the top of the mountain at nag-iisa lang 'yon.

Wow, ang ganda.