Steal Your Heart

Chapter 45: Fools

AXEL

"You were fucking trashed last night, bro..." salubong sa akin ni Kuya Leon nang ibinaba niya ang blueprint na pinag-a-aralan niya sa dining table. "Ininom mo ba 'yong energy drink na iniwan ko sa side table mo?" tanong niya pa.

"Yeah..." garagal na sagot ko. "Thanks, Kuya."

"Thank your friends. They were the ones who brought you home last night after you passed out," sagot niya. "Huli na 'yon, Axel. I'm banning you at Xela."

Binigyan ni Daddy si Kuya Leon ng thirty percent share sa Xela at kinuha naman siya ni Tito Kris sa car company kung saan may malaking share ang pamilya nila para mag-trabaho pero tinanggihan niya ito pareho. Of course, with all of our family's connections, he wanted to do something that is from his own hard work.

Right now, he's working with Brent in a construction company that has a good pay, and he owns a little share at Xela that he bought from his own savings. It's an investment according to him and yet he decided to use his power to ban me.

Damn.

"You don't have to do that," sabi ko naman pagkatapos kong uminom ng tubig. "I'm done. It's time to pick up myself from this mess."

"I guess your friends were able to knock some sense in you, am I right? Verbally and physically, if I may add," nang-a-asar niyang sabi habang nakatingin siya sa pasa sa kaliwa kong pisngi. Inakbayan niya pa ako at napailing na lang ako. "You know what, bro? You gotta stop being sad about it at some point," seryoso niyang sabi.

"I know, Kuya."

"You better," sabi niya pa bago siya humiwalay sa akin para ayusin ang mga papel at blueprints na nakakalat sa table. "And Xela's not wasting another bottle of whisky that's worth twelve thousand on you," dagdag at ngumisi na lang ako.

"I'll pay, don't worry. Just too drunk last night to take out my card," sagot ko. "Wala kang pasok ngayon, Kuya?" tanong ko pa habang inaayos niya ang mga gamit niya.

"I took a long weekend leave. I need to rest," maikling paliwanag niya. "My work resumes on Monday."

"Ah, I see..."

"Today's the launching of your extended play, right?" tanong niya at tumango naman ako. Ngayon din ang launching ng music video kung saan kasama ko si Addie. "No commitments for today? Tanghali na, baka late ka na."

"Nah. Rehearsals lang mamayang gabi," iling ko. "We're done with the press con for our third anniversary concert and I already talked about my EP in lots of interviews. I don't need to be present as they launch it in the market today since I'll be having a mall tour for my album signing after the concert," paliwanag ko pa.

"So, you'll be having your lunch here?" tanong niya at lumapit siya sa harap ng refrigerator para tignan ang mga flyers ng fast food chains na nakadikit dito. "Order na lang tayo."

"You go and order, Kuya," sagot ko. "I need to go. Nagpapasundo si Kai, eh. I'll just grab something to eat along the way. Kung gusto mo, sumama ka na lang sa akin."

"I think I'll pass. I'll just invite George and we'll have lunch together instead," sabi niya naman. "You guys go ahead and have fun. Ako naman ang chaperone ni Kai sa concert niyo bukas kaya okay lang."

"Sige, Kuya. Maliligo na ako. Half day lang daw siya ngayon, eh," sabi ko pa at muli niya akong tinawag bago ako pumasok sa kwarto.

"Axel?"

"Oh, Kuya? Bakit?" tanong ko.

"I know everything now. Brent told me," sabi niya bago siya yumakap sa akin. It's one of those rare brotherly hugs that I'm sure we'll never speak of again because it's just too damn awkward.