The Last Rule

Chapter 46 - Hate

After that dramatic walkout in front of everyone hindi ko na alam kung ano ang ginawa ni Dos after. I didn't ask. I didn't care enough to imagine it. Whatever explanation he had, whatever panic or confusion or regret if there was any. I shut myself off from it completely.

I turned my phone off and let silence swallow me whole.

I stopped talking to everyone. No messages. No calls. No updates. The world could keep spinning without my participation. The only people I allowed near me were my brothers. Brothers, plural. Because somehow, Astro included himself in that circle without asking permission and surprisingly, I didn't push him away.

I never thought Astro's presence would ever feel comforting. He was always too loud, too annoying, too much. But now, he was careful. He didn't tease or force jokes into the room.

Instead, he spoiled me in the strangest, quietest way.

Buying me anything, offering me foods  every hour. Drinks placed beside my bed without a word. Random things he bought "just in case." And kahit na ilang beses kong tanggihan, he kept trying and trying.

I didn't accept anything they offered, not because I was still sad and that was actually the scariest part.

I wasn't crying anymore. I wasn't even angry. I wasn't even hurt in a way I could name.

I was empty.

Napapagod din pala ang utak. Because the scenario that kept playing in my head over and over again stopped on its own. I felt like my brain totally stopped thinking. 

No thoughts. No tears. No rage.

Just nothing.

I stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling for hours. My body felt heavy, like gravity had doubled overnight and decided to stay.

My long time staring session with my ceiling got interrupted when I heard a knock on my door and bumukas ito.

There wasn't even a point in locking it anymore. When Kuya Calli found out I was locking myself in, bigla nalang siyang nagkaroon ng spare key.

Astro walked in na parang hindi niya alam ang salitang 'privacy.'

In his arms was Uno.  I want to change his name.

"Fresh from the bath!" he announced, like this was the most important update of the day.

He placed Uno on my bed, and my dog immediately ran straight to me, curling up against my stomach like he knew exactly where the ache lived. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Do you want to go on a nature trip?" Kuya Astro tried again. 

They had a system now. Salitan sila ni Kuya Calli sa pagpasok dito sa kwarto ko.

Kuya Calli came in quietly, checking on me, offering food, sometimes just sitting there with a book, not demanding anything. Astro came in louder but harmless, offering distractions. Kanina Mall and now a nature trip. Mamaya baka bigla na lang magyaya ng road trip or skydiving.

I didn't answer.

I already knew how this day would go.

After Astro leaves, Kuya Calli would come back with a tray of food and a book, sit somewhere in the room, and read without talking until I finished eating. After an hour, si Astro ulit. 

That had been our entire day. 

I even woke up that morning with Kuya Calli already sitting on the sofa in my room, reading like it was the most normal thing in the world.