Sad to Belong

Chapter 24

"Kuya, I have one more thing to tell you." She softly said.

"What is it Zaye?"

"Uh... Ryder knows." Hindi siya makatingin sa kanyang kuya ng sinabi niya ito.

"Wait, what? You didn't really bump into him that day, did you?" nakakunot-noong tanong ng binata.

Zayelee just shook her head as an answer.

"I knew it. That bastard, I'm going to kick his ass!"

"Kuya!" saway niya at napatawa nalang si E.J sa reaksyon ng kapatid.

"I'm kidding!"

"Good. By the way, thank you so much for organising this holiday kuya. Sainyo ni kuya Blaise."

"No worries Zaye. We all need it. You specially." He replied with a smile. "O sige, take some rest na. I better go. You be okay here?"

"Oo naman kuya."

E.J is still fuming from Zayelee's confession. Naiinis siya sa sarili niya dahil wala siya sa kanila noon 'nung kasagsagan ng pagkawala ng kanilang ama. He should've been there to comfort his sister but he wasn't. Kaya ngayon ay nasasaktan si Zayelee dahil sa isang lalaki na diumano'y tumulong kahit papano sa kanya para makalimutan ang realidad. But he still highly doubts his intentions.

Pagkaalis na pagkaalis niya sa cottage ng kanyang kapatid ay dumiretso siya sa bar para uminom kahit kaunti lang. Ng makarating siya doon ay pinasalidahan niya ng tingin ang paligid ng bar at napansing marami-rami na ang mga tao rito. Pagkaupong-pagkaupo niya sa stool ay nilapitan na kaagad siya ng bartender.

"Bourbon please." He requested saka itinext si Blaise. He needs to talk to him about Zayelee and he thinks it's the best place to do it.

"Here you go. Enjoy!" inilagay ng bartender ang kanyang baso ng bourbon at nginitian siya bago pinuntahan ang kakarating lang na customer.

"Come on, Blaise." He muttered as he takes another sip from his bourbon.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na rin si Blaise.

"Finally! What took you so long?"

"Ah, just did something. What's up?" nakangiting tanong ni Blaise. Napatingin siya sa hinahawakang baso ng kapatid at napansing umiinom ito ng Bourbon. "Ooh, you don't look too happy and you're drinking bourbon... what's wrong?" he asked him seriously this time. Nakasanayan na kasi ni E.J na uminom ng beer kaya't para kay Blaise, seeing E.J drinking bourbon means something serious.

"It's about Zaye."

"Why? What happened? Did she finally tell you her problem?" It has been a mystery to the two of them since they laid eyes on their sister from the day the came back home. Hindi na nila tinanong pa ang dalaga sa takot na baka mainis lang ito sa kanila. Blaise persisted to talk to her about it but E.J stopped him.

"Oh yes, Blaise. She met a guy, like how every story starts, through facebook. They talked and he helped her with her situation, 'nung wala tayo sa tabi niya he made her forget about the reality. He confessed his "true feelings" for her and of course, ano ba naman ang alam ng kapatid natin sa ganyan? Eventually she fell for him but she saw the bastard kissing another girl right before she wanted to confess to him." Umigting ang panga ng magkapatid lalo na ni Blaise dahil noon pa man ay may hula siyang hindi lang tungkol sa kanilang ina ang problema ni Zayelee ngunit itong si E.J naman ay 'yun ang buong akala. Of course, it had always something to do with a guy. They should've known better!