decoding the boys ✔️

32 - comfort || edited

Mom and Dad were home when I arrived. Wala sina Kuya Travis at Kuya Chris, but Kuya Jacob and Kuya Andrei were.

Dad was on the phone. Mom was sitting beside him, hand on his shoulder, listening to the conversation. Nasa mini bar sina Kuya kaya doon ako dumiretso.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and asked, "What's going on?"

Kuya Jacob didn't answer. His eyes were pointed at Dad.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Kuya Andrei. With my eyes, I tried to ask him. He only shook his head.

Finally, natapos na ang tawag kay Dad. Lumapit ang mga kuya ko sa kanila kaya sumunod din ako.

"Hon, ano daw?" nag-aalalang bungad ni Mom.

Umiling si Dad. "They are pressuring us," mariing sabi niya. "They want us to do something about Gian."

"What do they want from us?"

Dad looked at all of us and sighed. He closed his eyes and started massaging his head.

When he didn't answer, Mom continued, "What are we going to do? Gian might be wrong here, but attacking him? Hindi tama ang ginawa nila."

"Mas mabuti siguro kung si Nicollo muna ang kumausap sa kanya. Wala pa namang kasiguraduhan na sa kanya nga ang bata."

At the mention of that, my brows rose. I covered my mouth with a hand.

Oh, my gosh! Tama nga ang hinala ko! Was it possible na buntis nga si Zoey Chen? 'Yon ba ang dahilan kung bakit sinugod ni Yuan Chen at ng daddy niya si Gian?

"Dad. Yung...yung Chinese ba? Did Gian . . . " I paused, eyes wide, "Nabuntis ni Gian si Zoey Chen?"

Napatingin silang lahat sa 'kin na parang nagulat.

Pagod na nagbuntonghininga si Dad.

"Yes." He pinched the bridge of his nose.

Umiling ako. I was in disbelief. "Sabi na, e. I had a hunch pero 'di ko akalain."

Sumulyap sa 'kin si Mom. "Alam mo, Javee? You knew about this?"

Tumango ako. "I saw Zoey Chen. Nagmamakaawa siya sa 'kin. I think hindi na kasi siya kinakausap ni Gian even before."

"Kalat na rin sa school ang nangyari. Alam na ng lahat," dagdag pa ni Kuya Jacob.

Seryoso ang mukha ni Dad habang nag-iisip. Umiiling-iling si Mom.

I stayed quiet.

Alam kong malaking pamilya ang mga Chen. They are Chinese and they owned several big businesses in the Philippines. I knew din kasi lagi ko rin naririnig sa mga usapan nina Dad and his brothers kapag nag-uusap sila tungkol sa business.

The silence was cut off when Dad's phone rang again. Kumunot ang noo niya habang sinasagot ang tawag.

"Osen," bati niya.

That's Kuya Onyx's father.

There was a pause and then Dad signed again. "Damn, Nicollo. Sige, pupuntahan ko. Ako na ang bahala."

"Hon, what's going on? Bakit tumawag si Osen?"

"Tara na," agarang sabi ni Dad sa 'min. "Tumawag si Geanna kay Jackie."

"Bakit daw?" I asked, getting up. Palabas na kami sa parking.

"Binubugbog ng tito mo ang pinsan mo."

***

Tita Geanna was crying when we reached their mansion. Gian was already sporting a cut on his lip nang dumating kami. Nakatayo siya sa gilid ng living room nila habang pinapakalma ni Kuya Nick ang daddy nila.