"I'm sorry, Summer. Sobrang busy lang talaga ako. Marami akong ginagawa na mga requirements para sa acads ko. I'll make it up to you after this. I promise."
I sighed. This is like what? The fifth time that he gave me the same excuse.
"I get it, Andrew. Alam kong busy ka. But you could've told me earlier na hindi na naman tayo tuloy ngayon. Hindi yung nakabihis na ko and all at kailangan pa kitang tawagan!" hindi ko na naitago ang inis ko sa kanya.
Palagi na lang kasing ganito. Him being busy. Yung mga lakad namin ay hindi natutuloy dahil busy sya. I know that I don't have the rights with his time since I am not his girlfriend but he should inform me beforehand that he can't come! Nakabihis na ko at nakapag ayos na tapos hindi naman pala tuloy!
"I'm really sorry, sweetheart. Babawi talaga ako sayo pagkatapos nito. I promise. I'm sorry."
Napabuntong hininga na lang ako nang ibinaba ko ang tawag. Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? He's busy because of school requirements since graduating na rin naman kami. Pero kahit naman busy ako ay nakakapagbigay pa rin ako ng oras para sa kanya.
This is just so unfair.
"I told you that man is not good for you, Ate."
Napalingon ako sa likod ko para makita kung sino ang nagsalita. I saw my little brother leaning on the doorjamb while drinking Chuckie, his favorite drink.
"Were you eavesdropping again, Zrain?" I asked.
He shrugged bago nya inubos ang Chuckie na iniinom nya. He even crumpled its box and he didn't stop drinking hanggang sa maubos nya ang kahuli hulihang patak.
"I'm not eavesdropping." he said at itinapon ang box ng Chuckie sa basurahan na nasa may banyo ng kwarto ko.
"Hanggang saan ang narinig mo?"
"Everything. That jerk being busy and you being stood up again on your date."
"And you said you weren't eavesdropping!" inis na sabi ko sa kanya. Palagi na lang syang nakikinig kapag nakikipag usap ako kay Andrew!
Nilagay nya ang dalawang kamay nya sa bulsa ng pantalon nya at muling sumandal sa hamba ng pintuan. He had a serious look on his face when he speak.
"I am not eavesdropping. First of all, your voice is too loud. Second, it's like you were announcing to everyone what you and that jerk were talking about. Third, your room's door was wide open. Hindi ko na kasalanan kung marinig ko ang sinasabi mo."
Sa sobrang inis ko ay itinulak ko sya palabas ng kwarto ko. His face remained stoic while I was pushing him. Parang wala syang pakialam kung ipagtulakan ko sya. Nang sa wakas ay nagawa ko ng itulak sya ay lumabas na din ako at isinarado ang pinto ng kwarto ko. Hinarap ko sya at napansin ko kaagad na magkasing tangkad lang kami kahit na fifteen years old pa lang sya.
"What were you doing in my room anyway?" I asked.
Sa halip na sagutin nya ako ay tinitigan nya lang ako. I can't help but to think how mature my little brother was. Kung minsan ay sya pa ang umaaktong nakakatanda sa amin ni Winter. Sometimes he's acting like a Kuya that I will never have.
"I saw Andrew with a girl yesterday when I went to the mall. Yun ba ang busy?"
Natigilan ako sa sinabi nya. Kahit na nasaktan ako ay hindi ko iyon ipinakita sa mukha ko. Ilang beses na sa akin sinasabi ni Zrain na may kasamang babae si Andrew kapag nakikita nya. Nararamdaman ko din naman iyon pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasan na umasa para sa aming dalawa ni Andrew.
"You didn't become a Gallagher just so that jerk can hurt you, Ate. No one should dare to hurt you."
I saw the danger in his eyes when he said that. Para bang may gagawin syang masama sa mga taong mananakit sa akin. And I know that he can and he will do it. He was not trained by my father's friends for nothing.
