"Kuya Raf, how do you say I love you?" Andreia asked him.
Nakahiga silang pareho sa kama nito. Naglalaro ang kapatid niya ng game sa iPad habang siya naman ay nagbo-browse sa facebook. He's actually looking at Faith's photos. Again and again.
Sumulyap siya saglit sa kapatid at nakatingala na ito sa kanya.
"Why, baby? Do you have crush in school?" he teasingly asked.
"What is crush, kuya?" inosenteng tanong ni Andreia.
Napakamot tuloy siya sa ulo. "Um...crush is when you are attracted to someone." maiksi niyang paliwanag. He shouldn't have said that word. Andreia knows nothing about it. He's only making her curious.
Tumango naman ito.
"So, what is I love you then, kuya Raf?" she asked again. "I wanna tell mommy I love you in Portuguese!"
Raf smiled. Nilapag niya ang kanyang phone sa kama at hinila ang kapatid niya para akbayan ito. Ipinulupot naman ni Andreia ang maliliit nitong mga braso sa kanyang katawan.
"Okay, listen, baby girl. It's eu-te-amo."
"Eu...te...amo," Andreia repeated.
"Que é certo!" he lauded.
Tuwang-tuwa naman si Andreia at inulit-ulit nito ang pagkakasabi hanggang sa parang nabubulol na itong magsalita. Natatawa tuloy si Raf.
"Eu te amo, kuya!" Andreia said sweetly and hugged him.
Napangiti naman siya. His little sister is really the sweetest.
He cupped her face and kissed her on the lips. "Eu tambem te amo, bebê!"
Andreia grinned widely, her big, brown eyes were shining in delight. Kumalas na ito sa pagkakayakap sa kanya at hinablot ang phone niya. She unlocked it and Faith's pictures came into view.
"Who is this, kuya?" tanong ni Andreia.
Raf smiled. "Her name's Faith."
Inalalayan niya sa paghawak ng phone ang kapatid.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" tanong niya rito habang isa-isa niyang pinapakita kay Andreia ang mga pictures ni Faith.
Andreia nodded. "But I am more beautiful, right?"
Raf chuckled. "Yeah. You are both beautiful, baby."
"No! I am more!" she insisted.
Lalong natawa si Raf at ginulo niya ang buhok nito. "Okay, okay. You are more beautiful," pagsang-ayon na lang niya.
"Is she your crush?" Andreia asked afterwards.
Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya. Hindi niya inaasahang tatanungin siya nito ng ganoon kaya hindi siya agad nakasagot.
"Kuya, tell me!" pamimilit ni Andreia.
He sighed.
"If I say yes, you won't get mad?"
Tumingala si Andreia at umiling ito. Napangiti naman siya.
"Okay. Yes, she is my crush." he admitted as he bit his lower lip.
Andreia's eyes widened. "Did you say I love you to her?" sunod na tanong nito.
Natawa siya sa tanong ng kapatid. Andreia was obviously not aware of what she's been asking to him.
But as an answer to that, yes, he did say I love you to Faith. Raf could still remember how her face flushed red when he said it. It may not been formally said but it was really for her. But Raf wasn't sure if Faith took it seriously. She might consider it as a joke again. He sighed. How can he make her believe in him?
