decoding the boys ✔️

54 | boo

Being legal had lots of perks. For instance, I was free to date now that I received the golden permission from the parentals. Though I think napilitan lang si Dad dahil kinausap namin siya ni Mom.

Secondly, I was allowed to see my new car.

Come the next day after my debut, Dad brought me to some place and introduced me to my new baby.

Holy shit lang, really, because this beast was the most breathtaking Jaguar ever.

Iba ang feeling na makita ang sasakyan ng mga kapatid ko. Pero mas iba talaga ang feeling kapag ang tinitingnan mo ay sa 'yo na!

I bear-hugged my dad right then and there. "Thank you, Daddy!" I sang in glee.

Dad chuckled. "But no driving yet. Learn how to drive first. And certainly no drag racing."

I parted with him and gave a salute. "Roger, sir!"

And so, I ended up spending the next few weeks having driving lessons with my brother, Kuya Chris. Sad lang kasi bumalik na rin sa States sina Mom and Dad kaya hindi ko na masyadong naka-bonding si Dad sa roadtrips namin.

The news of my new thing excited not only me but the boys as well. Lagi nila akong inaaya lumabas. Ipasyal daw namin yung Jaguar but I knew my limits kaya lagi akong tumatanggi.

This night, the boys were gathered at our pool. Hindi naman sila umiinom, just taking a casual swim in the water. Stressed kasi sila dahil sunud-sunod na ang mga tests ngayon. The topic about my car was brought up again.

"Tara, Javee. Let's go for a test drive," anyaya ni Kuya Onyx.

"I haven't got my license yet," lagi kong sagot sa kanya which he shrugged off with his contagious laugh.

"So? Drive illegally. Everyone does it," napakabuting reply ng magaling kong pinsan.

Binatukan kaagad siya ni Kuya Jacob. "Idiot. Don't teach her how to be you."

Humalakhak lang si Kuya Onyx at pinagpatuloy ang pangungulit."What, why? What's wrong with me? I'm fucking amazing," magarbo niyang sinabi bago nagseryoso. "But seriously. Roadtrip ulit tayo. Us boys." Before I could even correct him na babae ako, he added, "Toxic ng buhay ngayon."

"Kailan ba?" asked Kuya Paul from the edge of the pool. Busy ito sa phone niya kaya hindi siya nakatingin nang sinabi niya 'yon. I was even surprised na nakikinig pala siya sa usapan.

"Gusto n'yo bukas na, e! Let's unwind, yeah?" Kuya Onyx swept his eager eyes over the rest of us.

The boys voiced out their assent. Si Kuya Travis at Kuya Nick lang ang humindi dahil may mga nakaplano na daw silang lakad.

Nag-inat si Mathev. "Sige nga. Napupurga na ako sa sermon ni Mama, e."

"Pa'no kasi puro ka lakwatsa," sita ni Kuya Jacob sabay ngisi. "'Di mo ako gayahin. I'm the new Albert Einstein."

"Ulul." Mathev flipped him off.

Lumingon sa 'kin si Kuya Chris.

"How about you?"

"Pass," mabilis kong sagot.

I had classes tomorrow. Nakapangako rin ako sa girls na sa kanila naman ako makikipag-bonding. Nagtatampo na kasi si Anjo. Puro si Racel na lang daw kasi ang lagi kong kasama.

"At bakit?" tanong ni Gian. "Sumama ka na. Isasama ko si Zoey."

"May klase ako. Hindi pwede."

"Then after your class. We'll pick you up. D'yan d'yan lang naman tayo sa tabi."