Chapter Five

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Cameron's POV

"Cam, galit ka ba?" Tanong niya saakin nang maiwan kaming dalawa dito sa balcony.

"Hindi naman. It's just, I'm not into fights, really."

"Thank you." She said and touched my hand. It feels like there's electricity comes rushing as our skin touched.

"Thanks for what?" I said before pursing the cigarette into my lips.

"For saving and defending me." She said. "Kaya ko naman kasi talaga. Ayaw lang ako payagan ni kuya lumaban. Baka daw masaktan ako, ewan ko ba!" sabi niya ng nakapamewang pa.

"Ayaw ka lang talaga masaktan ng kuya mo. Basag ulo 'yang kuya mo kung alam mo lang." Natatawang sabi ko. We laugh and talk about things hanggang malapit na lumubog ang araw.

"May I ask you a question?" I turned my head to her at nagtama ang mga mata namin.

"Sure." She smiled.

"Bakit hindi ka sumakay ng elevator nung nasa Roxas' Building tayo? I'm just curious." Her smile disappear and she lower her eyes.

"Ah. Iyon ba?" 

"It's fine. Don't answer it nalang." I said to calm the anxiety building inside her.

"Yung tatay ko kasi gago." She said. "Quiet ka lang ha. Hindi kasi alam ni kuya na nagmumura ako. Minsan lang naman eh."

"Okay? Continue." I chuckled.

"Nung 11 years old ako. I saw papa with another woman, I really have no idea kung anong relasyon nila. I even asked him kung sino siya but he said na secret daw namin siya. Me, as a kid, I don't bother it anymore. Until one day.." She paused. "I blabber it out to mama. Since, akala ko no big deal ang bagay na iyon. I saw them fighting that night. Iyak ako nang iyak, dad saw me and blame me for exposing her mistress to my mom. He put me in a narrow dark room, for the first time I feel suffocated and scared. I am really... until now." she cleared her throat. "And that's the day I lose my father and got into a broken family."

I reached her shoulders and squeeze them as a comfort. "I apologize."

"No, no, no. It was really no biggie na. Siguro sanay na kasi ako kaya hindi na ko masyadong nasasaktan about dun." We watched the sun sets and naramdaman kong nakatulog na siya.

Isinandal ko ang ulo niya sa balikat ko para hindi siya mahirapan. I stare on her face for a second and touch her face.

You are indeed fragile.

Aubrey's POV

Nagising ako at naramdaman kong nakasandal pala ako sa balikat ni Cameron na tulog na din ngayon. Madilim na dito sa balcony. Maya-maya ay tumunog ang phone ko at nakita ko ang pangalan ni kuya doon.

"Baba na kayo dito. Let's eat."

Napakatamad talaga ni kuya. Tatawagin lang kami dito sa balcony hindi pa magawa. Tumingin ako sa katabi ko at tinitigan ang mukha niya.

"Cam.." Tinapik-tapik ko ang pisngi niya. "Gising na." Umungol siya and I watch as his face crumpled before he open his eyes. "Let's eat na daw."

Bumaba kami sa dining room at nakita ang mga kaibigan ni kuya at kasama ang mga co-players niya.

"Skipper, paabot naman ng oriental chicken." sabi ng isang lalaki.

"Tumayo ka naman, tamad na tamad." kuya said in a pissed tone.

"Anak, don't be rude to your visitors." sabi ni mama.

"Ayos lang po, tita. Mabait naman po talaga si Brayden." Natatawang sabi ni ng lalaki. Kuya just mimicked his laugh in a sarcastic tone.

"Tita." We turned our heads sa lalaking kakapasok lang. "Sorry, I'm late."

"Kiko, it's okay kumakain palang naman kami ng dinner." sabi ni mama sakanya at in-offer ang bakanteng upuan.

"Nandyan po ba si Aubrey? May binili po  kasi ako para sakanya."

"Sino siya?" bulong saakin ni Cameron.

"Childhood friend na co-player ni kuya." sagot ko sakanya.

"Ayun pala siya!" mom looked at us sa taas ng hagdanan.

"Hi." I smiled to them.

"Hi, Aubrey.." Kiko smiled awkwardly, "Para sa'yo nga pala." sabay abot saakin ng isang box na nakabalot.

"Thank you, Kiks." I smiled and bit my lower lip.

Cameron's POV

Nasa labas kami ng bahay nila Brayden, dito sa malawak na garden harap ng swimming pool nila. Nagiinuman lang kami kasama ang mga players ng football.

Hawak ko ang isang bote ng beer at tinutunga iyon.

"Wala bang chicks dito, Skipper?" Natatawang sabi ng co-player niya.

"Ikaw madaming babae eh. Bakit di mo tawagan?" Bry chuckled and drink the beer he's holding.

"Maiba tayo. May boyfriend na ba yang kapatid mo?"

"Wala pa." He answered clearly.

"Bakit naman? Wala bang nanliligaw? She's pretty, bro."

"Takot lang nila kay Bry." Tumatawang sabi ni Byron. The five of us laughed since alam na alam namin kung gaano kahilig makipagsabong si Bry.

"Hindi pa pwede. Baby girl namin ni mama si Aubrey."

"Paano na 'yan Francis? Bawal pa pala." Biro ng isa pang lalaki.

"Kuya!"

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