Their Love Schemes

Those days we were swept away.

"I'm sorry Ate for bothering you a while ago." Her brother Eno started as soon as he entered her room. Magpapalipas siya ng gabi sa ancestral house nila. She turned to see her brother towering over her room. Kung dati-rati'y nahihirapan pa itong abutin ang doorknob nya, ngayon nagmimistulang dollhouse na lang ang loob ng kwarto nya dahil sa presensya nito.

"It's okay Eno. I know I should have said something to you. Di tamang di mo alam." sagot nito sa kapatid at naupo sa gilid ng kama.

Lumapit ang kapatid sa may study table niya at tinignan ang mga picture frames na nakapatong doon. Dinampot nito isa-isa ang mga litrato pero hindi nagkokomento. Pinagmamasdan lang ni Cielo ang kapatid.

"And?" tahimik na tanong nito. Alam nya ang tinutukoy nito. Wala na silang magagawa pa pero hindi ibig sabihin nun hindi na masakit.

"We lost it. Your 10% shares is still intact though."

"How about yours?" nakakunot-noong tanong nito habang may tangan-tangan na picture frame. Nanatiling nakaupo naman si Cielo pero nacu-curious kung alin sa mga picutre frames ang hawak ng kapatid. It had been ages since she last looked at those.

"I still have my 5% don't worry. And I will be staying in the company." she said nonchantly.

"What? Are you okay with that? I mean...I heard sina Kuya Rax ang bumili ng company...." He trailed off once he saw his sister's reaction. "I'm sorry about that, Ate." Whatever he's apologizing for, Cielo had no idea.

"Don't worry about me little brother. I have to represent you, you know." mahinang sabi niya. Tinignan lang ng mataman ni Eno ang ate niya.

"Sell the shares ate. Please. I don't care about the company anymore. Ang tagal na nating nakakulong diyan...It's time to live your life Ate. I don't want to see you like this anymore. I wanna see this girl again." Lumapit ito sa kapatid at pinakita ang hawak-hawak na picture frame.

Cielo took time looking at the photo. Eno's right. She had never smiled like that for ages. She, Eno, and Raxen looked so happy and unconcerned to the things around them on that picture. And it brought that pain back to the surface again. A solitary tear escaped from her left eye and Eno saw the sadness resurfacing again in his sister's eyes that he hadn't seen for a while. Kapag tinitignan niya ang mata ng ate niya for the past few years, all he can see is emptiness. Ngayon, a wave of suppressed emotions are lurking in her. And he feels remorse for causing every hurt she had felt.

"I am sorry ate..."

Sensing that Eno will talk about the past yet again, she cut him off by holding his face dearly in her hands.

"Do not, for one minute, torture yourself because of that. Hindi mo kasalanan yun. Si ate yun. At hindi ko pwedeng ibenta ang shares. I already told that to Abuelo and he was mad about it."

"Hanggang kelan ka ba magpapa-kontrol sa kanya ate? You're a great baker! Pero hindi mo magawa-gawa dahil ayaw niya. HIndi ka makawala-wala sa kumpanya, dahil utos niya! Hindi ka masaya ngayon dahil pinipigilan niya! And now, magiging miserable ka na naman dahil pinipilit ka nyang makisama sa kay Kuya Rax! Ate naman!" Eno said every word with controlled emotions. Siya ang nahihirapan para sa ate niya pero para silang nasa hawla at hindi makalabas dahil tinatago ang susi.

"Sshh Eno. Tama na yan. I am doing this for you, okay? I am doing this for the family. And I am okay, okay? Ate's gonna be alright."

Exasperated, Eno stood straight and stared at his sister's ceiling. "I hope ang pagkakasama niyong ulit ni Kuya Rax will lead into something." He said then gave the frame to her ate, kissed her on the forehead and headed to the door.

Cielo, while holding the frame, laid her back on her bed then looked at the photo once again. She was 18 on that photo, Eno was 10 and Raxen was 21. She smiled sadly and focused on Raxen's eyes...those piercing brown eyes that look at her like no one else does. And suddenly she was transported back to that day when she first known his existence.