Almost Feels Like Always (COMPLETED)

(NINE) The Third Season Of The Year

DINAMPOT ko ang clutch bag sa aking kama at pinasadahan ng tingin ang sarili sa salamin bago tuluyang lumabas ng kwarto. Naabutan ko si Austin na tutok ang mga mata sa TV habang nanonood ng Harry Potter sa HBO. Ang bunso naman naming si Audrey ay nasa kusina, abala sa paghihintay na tumunog ang oven kung saan nag-bake ng cookies si Yaya Daisy. I kissed the top of her head.

"You're going, Ate?"

I smiled at her. "Yes. You behave, okay?"

"Okay." Lumingon siya sa bintana na para bang may masisilip siya doon, eh nakababa ang drapes. "But Kuya Reese isn't here yet."

"He's not going to pick me up. Doon na kami magkikita sa restaurant."

My 7-year-old sister wrinkled her nose. "I really don't like him. He's not gentleman like Dad!"

"He's a busy man, you know."

She rolled her eyes that I find so cute. "He should adjust. I don't like him talaga."

Natawa na lang ako. She's a brat to people she doesn't like. And she only dislikes people if they behaved badly. That's why I can't blame her if she hates Reese. I'm not saying Reese is a bad person but he didn't do anything good either to prove my family wrong.

"I don't like him, too. He doesn't know how to take care of her woman." Came my brother Austin's stern voice.

Nilingon ko siya na nasa doorway na ng kusina. His face was serious. Well, he's always serious. He's too cold for a good-looking 15 years old guy. I gave him a smile but he frowned.

"You should break up with him."

"We're not together, Austin." I said, laughing.

"Then, stop seeing him. He's not worth your attention. He doesn't even give you his."

I sighed. Kahit sabihin ko sa kanilang wala ako sa posisyong mag-demand ng atensiyon sa kanya dahil hindi nga kami, ay hindi nila maiintindihan. "You guys should give him a chance."

Lalong nalukot ang mukha ni Austin. "He has all the chance in the world and he's not doing anything."

"Right!" Mataray na segunda ni Audrey.

I saw Yaya Daisy smiling because of the two. Napailing na lang ako. Muli kong hinalikan si Audrey para magpaalam na. Nang hahalikan ko na sa pisngi si Austin ay mabilis niyang nilayo ang mukha sa 'kin. He looked at me with a disgusted expression on his face. I burst out laughing.

"Binata na talaga ang Oz namin! Ayaw na pa-kiss kay Ate!" I teased as I puckered my lips to annoy him more.

"Stop it, Ate!" Nandidiring asik niya sa'kin. Tumawa na lang ako. May pinopormahan na kasi 'to kaya ayaw na magpa-lambing.

"I'll call a cab for you."

Aww...

Kahit kailan talaga napaka-gentleman ng kapatid ko. He's cold but he knows how to care of girls. Especially her girls. Just like what Audrey said earlier, Dad is a gentleman himself. Austin learned how to treat a girl right because of him.

He phoned the guards from the main gate to call a taxi. Hanggang sa labas ng gate namin ay hinatid nila ako ni Audrey at sinamahang maghintay sa pagdating ng cab.

"Why don't you ask Mom and Dad for a car? They'll give you one, you know. It's so inconvenient and dangerous for a girl to commute."

Nakangiti kong nilingon si Austin. "I can handle myself. No need to worry, okay?" I assured him.

Actually, our parents have tried to offer me a car on my 18th birthday but I said no right away. Ayoko na kasing gastusan pa nila ako. 'Yung pag-kupkop pa lang nila sa'kin at mabigyan nila ng pangalan ay malaking bagay na. Tama na sa'kin na nakakapag-aral ako. My tuition fee is not cheap anyway.