decoding the boys ✔️

46 | i trust you

Okay. It could be worse. This was better than a brawl, right?

My cousins were sitting with me at the long table while waiting for our orders to arrive. Nasa Korean restaurant kami at ang awkward. Wala man lang nagsasalita sa kanila.

Even the boisterous De Villa boys were quiet, nagpapakiramdaman lang. Ang iba sa kanila, nakatutok sa cellphone at nagbubulong-bulongan. The Zobels naman-cough, Kael and Pierre, cough-looked ultimately bored and impatient. It sucked to sit with them. Parang gusto ko na lang lumipat kina Mom doon sa kabila.

To give them credit, my uncles were happy to see my cousins. Agad nilang kinamusta ang mga ito at tinanong tungkol sa mga parents nila. Even Kuya Zoren and Zian went out of their ways to try and strike up good conversation. Pero laging natatapos 'yon at napapalitan ng awkward silence.

I shifted restlessly. Bakit ba ang tagal dumating ng pagkain? Maybe that would set the mood lighter.

Kapag talaga naaalala ko yung nangyari kanina, nung unang beses na nagkita ulit 'tong mga ito, napapailing na lang ako.

Mathev and Gian were outright cold and rude. They didn't even bother to fake. Nung lumabas sila sa van na dala nila, tumango lang si Mathev sa amin at naglakad palayo. Si Gian naman, dinaanan lang sila.

In annoyance, Kael muttered, "Arseholes."

Akala ko magkaka-away dahil doon. Kael doesn't really take to disrespect quite well. I sighed in relief nang pinalampas niya at tahimik na sumunod papasok ng restaurant.

After the breakfast, we headed to the resort. Dahil marami kami, dalawang three-storey villa ang kinuha namin. Isa para sa mga matatanda, isa para sa amin. There were eight large rooms in total.

I watched with a laugh habang nag-uunahan ang boys para sa magandang room. Ganyan lang naman ang mga 'yan. Mag-aagawan pero in the end, magsisiksikan din naman kami sa iisang room lang.

Malalaki ang rooms, yes, but because of their built, malamang ay dalawa lang ang magkakasya. So by twos ang naging arrangement. Kael and Pierre, Kuya Zoren and Alec, Zian and Zander, Kuya Travis and Kuya Chris, Kuya Nick and Kuya Onyx, Mathev and Kuya Paul, Gian and Kuya Andrei, then ako and si Kuya Jacob. Sa kabila naman sina Kenji and baby Raf, kasama ang parents nila.

With the help of Kuya Jacob, I unloaded my bag on the master's bedroom. Hindi na nakapagtataka na sa amin mapupunta 'to. Kael would dare to claim it but he was too uninterested to do it. The rest of the De Villa boys naman, binigay na 'yon dahil dito daw ako at mamaya papanhik din naman sila. By the way, this room encompassed the entire third floor kaya malaki talaga.

Kuya Jacob whistled when he dropped his bag on the floor. "Living the royal life."

Ngumiti ako at tiningnan ang view sa labas. Nakikita ko ang private pool. It wasn't that big pero ayos na rin.

"Bakit ba wala akong pinsan na babae? O ate man lang?" I said in a sad tone.

"At bakit? Nagrereklamo ka na sa amin?"

I threw my brother a withering look. "Oo. Ayaw kitang katabi. I should've partnered with Kuya Andrei."

"Hep hep. What's wrong with me?" Humalakhak si Kuya at nag-angat ng kilay sa 'kin. "Ang daming babae d'yan ang nagpapakahirap para lang makatabi ako. Ta's ikaw, aayaw? Arte."

Binato ko siya ng unan. "Ang annoying mo."

Tumatawa pa rin siya habang iniiwasan ang mga binabato ko.

There was a loud laugh.

"Oh? Simula na ng gera?"

My eyes travelled to the doorway where Mathev and Kuya Onyx showed up. The amused smirk on their faces broadened nang makita nila ang mga nakakalat na unan. Apparently, narito sila para panoorin ang nangyayaring pillow fight.