decoding the boys ✔️

37 - someday || edited

Ginugulo pa rin ako ng idea na may past sina Cari at Kuya Travis. The drag race happened a couple of nights ago but it was all I could think about.

My eldest kuya and my favorite influencer?

Truth be told, I'd put Kuya Travis on a pedestal. He's this amazing, nice and goody two shoes brother that I adored so much. The idea that he's had flings before-or even hooked up-sounded so preposterous to me.

I knew for a fact that Kuya never had a girlfriend or anything close after his last. So that only left me with one thing.

Flings.

Wala naman sa hitsura ni Cari na pang gano'n lang. And shit. Hindi ko pa rin makita si Kuya na pwedeng magkagano'n. Kuya Jacob, pwede pa. But not my super clean and super pihikan Kuya Travis. Kung tutuusin, had this been any other, hindi naman ako magtataka nang ganito. Say, Mathev. If it was Mathev, I wouldn't have been this curious. Alam ko naman na hindi siya nagseseryoso. But Kuya Trav wasn't like that, never had been; it was eating me up.

So being curious, I started digging around. I started asking my cousins. Yung pasimpleng tanong lang para hindi nila mahalata that I was snooping. You know boys. They don't tattle much lalo na if aware sila.

I first asked the twins. Tumawa lang sila at hindi ako pinansin. Second was Kuya Onyx, who basically did the same thing. Since busy si Gian kay Zoey at sa parents nila, hindi ko na sila ginulo ng kuya niya.

That meant my last options were my brothers. Which I doubt would talk.

Still, it was worth a try.

Over breakfast, I decided to open up the topic. Kina Kuya Andrei at Kuya Jacob lang naman. The other two left early for their work.

"Do you guys know Cari Ramirez? Yung vlogger? May something ba sila ni Kuya Travis?"

Kuya Jacob's reaction blew me away. His eyes immediately widened and his jaw dropped. Then he turned to Kuya Andrei quickly, surprise playing on his face.

Kuya Andrei looked surprised at the question and cautiously looked at me, as if gauging my thoughts with his ever perceptive eyes.

"Why do you ask?" tanong niya with his guarded tone.

"No reason. Nakita ko kasi sila sa Clark."

Kuya Jacob squinted at me. "Why were you in Clark?"

"Nanood ng race."

"And Cari?" Kuya Andrei asked.

"Nanood din. Kasama niya yung friends niya." I paused, realizing something. "Wait. So kilala n'yo nga siya?"

"Yeah," Kuya Andrei mumbled. He shrugged and grabbed his glass for a drink. Sa tono ng boses niya, parang hindi na siya magsasalita ulit about the topic. His behavior confused me. He was suddenly acting cold, refusing to look at me. Did my brother just indirectly shut me down?

I tried again.

"Mag-ex ba sila?" I asked, pushing my luck. It was a shot in the dark, since hindi madaling makakuha ng information sa kanila. Also, if I know Kuya Andrei, ibang usapan na 'yon. He's rarely mad.

At my question, Kuya Jacob suddenly burst into laughter. Our eyes landed on him. Calming a little, he raised a hand and said, "Don't mind me. But fuck, that's hilarious."

I narrowed my eyes at him, but Kuya Andrei cleared his throat and stole my attention back.

He was still not looking at me. Nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa breakfast. "No. What gave you the idea?"

"Wala. Medyo parang may something lang."

"Oh? What something?" Kuya Jacob prodded, leaning closer. Sumusulyap siya kay Kuya Andrei na tinapunan lang siya ng masamang tingin.