My whole weekend turned out great. Thanks to my dad and brother for bringing me to dates. Kahit si Atlas naaya namin ni papa mag manicure and pedicure. Nagpafacial din si bakla. Puro nga lang reklamo kunwari ayaw. Basta, everything went well until Monday night
Jake <3: electric bill is up. Hindi ko alam pano magbayad.
I received that message around 11pm while I was looking for job online. Gusto ko mag wala. I was expecting a message of apology or even anger from him yet all he did is asked about our Meralco bill? At the same time, may kirot sa puso ko. For 5 months, I paid the bills religiously; anything to helped him while he was broke and in probation on his new job. Nakuha na niya kaya ang permanent position? I know this is the final month for him. Kaya na kaya niya bayaran ang bills? Gawin ko na lang na online for now?
Before I did anything, I was startled by the loud noise of an engine. Napairap ako. That must be Atlas. Or Milo? Dumungaw ako sa bintana. Si Milp nga at ang maingay niyang motor. Hindi ko gets bakit gusto ng mga lalake ang maingay na sasakyan. Nakakabulabog kaya. But I won't complain that much right now. Kung hindi dahil sabihan kaniya, baka namessage ko na si Jake. Or worst binayaran ko yung bill.
"Lexi," tawag ni Milo.
I let out a small gasped. Lumilipad ang isip ko kaya hindi ko napansing nakatingin pala siya sa akin. Kaagad namang napakunot ang noo ko ng marealize ko ang tawag niya sa akin. "Where's your respect, Milo? Nakakalimutan mo atang matanda ako sayo."
"So what?" Bulong niya na dinig ko naman.
"At alam mo yung code ng gate namin? Dito ka naman rin nakatira?"
Tumango siya. "Basically, since you're gone." Pinark niya ng maayos ang motor nya sa front yard namin. Tinangal niya ang itim niyang helmet at ipinasok sa loob ng upuan ng motor. Without his helmet I can see his dishevelled hair. He looked so bad boy with leather jacket na hindi naka-zip kaya kita ko na nakasando lanv siyang puti pero yung slack pants and dress shoes medyo off sa image.
I can never understand gen z fashion but somehow it works. He looked so hot.
Wait! Erase! Erase! Ano ba tong iniisip ko.
"Anong nangyayari sayo dyan? Nasasaniban ka ba?" Pagbibiru niya nang makita akong biglang nangisay.
Bago pa ako nakasabat lumabas si Atlas at sinalubong si Milo. May sinasabi yung kapatid ko about how he hates working and then about sa Fornite game nila. Then he noticed that Milo was looking up, that was the time he realized I was there. "Gising pa pala ang bakulaw."
Nang init uli ang katawan ko. This time sa inis. Tinanggal ko ang sinelas ko at ibinato sa magaling kong kapatid. Nakailag siya kaya kinuha ko ang isang pares at ibinato iyon. Si Milo ang natamaan. Ops! "Kasalanan mo yan, Atlas!" Sigaw ko bago sinara ang bintana. Nakakahiya.
___
MILO
Napa-iling na lang ako sa nangyari. Pinulot ko ang slippers na binato ni Lexi. Hindi naman masakit ang pagtama ng slipper sa akin kaya natatawa na lang ako.
"Don't even." Sabi ni Atlas dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kaniya. He got this disguised and annoyed look.
"What?" I stood up and straightened my face. I hate when he looked at me as if he's reading me.
"Wag ka na magmaang-maangan sa akin. Simula ng dumating si Jake sa buhay ng ate ko, nag-iba ka. At first, I thought I was just being paranoid...." Napakamot siya ng ulo. "Milo, I beg you."
"Hindi ko alam ang pinagsasabi mo." I coughed. "Ibabalik ko lang to kay Ate Lexi" tinapik ko ang balikatniya. "Isang game lang tapos uwi na ako."
I went straight to the second floor to Lexi's room. Last time I was about to knock she opened the door. I was so taken a back. I haven't seen her for a long time so I felt embarrassed and amazed. She looked prettier now that she's matured and despite her haggard face, she looks—
And before I could finished what I was thinking the door burst opened. Si Lexi. She was panicking and about to cry. "Anong problema?" Tanong ko.
"Jake... nasa ospital si Jake." Nilampasan niya ako at nagmamadaling bumaba ng hagdan.
Pinigilan ko siya. "Calm down. Do you need a ride?"
Tumango siya. "Please. I need to be there right away."
"You... you're not his gir—"
"Ate Lexi," Atlas noticed us.
"Please."
"Pupuntahan mo si Jake? Hindi ako papaya—"
"Atlas, please. I need to be there right now." She said authoritatively kaya wala na kaming nagawa ni Atlas.
Sinabihan ko na lang si Atlas na magmomotor na lang kami para makarating kaagad. Sabi ko tatawagan ko na lang siya pag nakarating kami sa ospital.
Atlas handed his spare helmet to Lexi. Sinuot niya ito pero maluwag sa kaniya kaya inayos ko ang strap. Doon ko nakita ng maayos ang mukha niya. She was crying. Pinahiran ko ang luha niya. "Everything is going to be fine. Okay?" At least forher but hopefully not for the Jake guy.
Sumakay naako sa motor at inalalayan naman siyang sumakay ni Atlas. "Kumapit ka kay Milo ng mabuti." Sabi niya kay Lexi. Tapos ako naman ang tiningnan niya. "Bro, " tinitigan niya ako. "Umayos ka."
Bago pa ako makasabat, naramdaman ko ang braso ni Lexi na pumulupot sa bewang ko. I tried to not have any reaction especially in front of Atlas. Inunjust ko na lang ng helmet ko at pinaandar na ang makina. Kailangan ni Lexing makarating sa ospital kaagad.
___
Guys! This is completely unedited version. Title is just temporary. Pag may naisip kayong mas maganda sabihan niyo lang ako.
