decoding the boys ✔️

48 | Àirén

"Why are you here, Angelo?"

I raised a brow at the grinning boy who suddenly showed up at our doorsteps. Mapormang maporma at may dala pang dalawang galon na ice cream at chocolate cake.

"Mom invited me," sabi niya sabay pasok sa loob ng bahay.

"Mom?" tanong ko confusedly. "Your mom?"

"Yours," simpleng sagot niya bago inabot sa 'kin ang mga paper bags at dumiretso sa living room.

My jaw dropped at the casual way he invited himself in. Sanay na sanay siya sa loob ng bahay at sa interaction niya pa kina Mom and Dad, you'd think na taga-dito siya.

Huh. Angelo was closer to my parents than what I'd imagined. He easily blended in na iisipin mong parte talaga siya ng pamilya. Mom was more than happy to take him in. Kung pwede lang yata, she would keep him as her own.

"Nasa bakuran sina Kuya Jacob," I told him when he asked. "Nasa gaming room sina Kuya Travis at Kuya Andrei."

He nodded and quickly vanished into the gaming room. Naglalaro ng Xbox sa loob yung iba. Nasa dining room ang mga matatanda at kumakanta naman sa living room sina Tito Matthew at Tito Osen.

Nandito halos ang lahat. Ang pamilya lang nina Kuya Nick at Gian ang wala. Doon sila kina Zoey Chen magce-celebrate ngayon.

Tumulong ako kay Mom sa pagluluto sa kitchen. Nung may sumabog sa bakuran at naghalakhakan ang boys, pinalayas din ako nito.

"Check your cousins. Baka masunog nila ang bahay."

So I went to the backyard to watch over them. Nahuhumaling sa mga maliliit na paputok ang boys. Kinakabahan ako na baka madisgrasya nila ang isa't isa. Ang haharot kasi, bato nang bato kung saan saan.

Kuya Andrei and Angelo emerged into the garden, too, both of them holding imported beer.

"Gian's getting serious. No fun!" sabi ni Kuya Onyx, pinaglalaruan ang baso niyang puno ng whiskey.

"It's only right. He needs to own those words or else, he'll sound like an empty can to his dad," sagot ni Kuya Paul na sumisimsim ng beer.

"Damn, can you imagine it? Magiging tito na talaga tayo," reklamo ni Kuya Jacob.

"Can you shut up? The sooner you accept it, the better it will be for all of us. Besides, I have this theory you're adopted as well, Jacob," natatawang sinabi ni Kuya Chris.

"If that's the case, then ang swerte n'yo naman pala. Naging ka-apelyido n'yo ang isang tulad ko."

A peal of laughter escaped my lips.

"Anong adopted kayo d'yan. No one is adopted," Mom said. Sumilip sila ni Dad sa bakuran para i-check ang paglalaro ng boys. "Jacob is mine," Mom defensively said.

"What if may anak pala sa labas si Dad?" tanong ni Kuya Chris.

"Your dad won't do that to me. Takot niya lang." Then Mom glared at Dad immediately.

Dad chuckled nervously and turned to Kuya Chris. "What are you saying?"

Mom placed a hand on her hip. "May dapat ba akong malaman?"

"Wala, hon. Ano ba?"

"Make sure lang, Jaime."

Tumingin si Dad sa amin, asking for rescue. Isa isang pumasok ang mga pinsan ko at pinagtatawanan siya.

"Bahala ka kay commander, Dad," sabi ni Kuya Jacob at iniwan siya sa labas.

"Mga anak mo ang nagsabi no'n, hindi ako. Bat gano'n? May gawin ako o wala, nagagalit ka sa 'kin."