AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF BLUE

03.

[Blue]

"'Nak, isabay mo na lang si Belinda pagpasok. Day-off kasi ni Leo, walang maghahatid sa kapatid mo," Mom said while putting all the dishes away from the kitchen table and into the sink. "Pababa na iyon, hintayin mo na lang siya sa labas."

Automatic na nagsalubong ang kilay ko. What? Isasabay ko ang bubuwit na iyon? No way.

"But-"

"No buts, Brendon Louie. Isasabay mo ang kapatid mo, tapos."

Shit. Mabigat ang mga paang tumayo ako at naglakad palabas ng kitchen hall, sakto namang pagbaba ni Belle sa hagdanan.

"Kuya, papasok ka na?" tanong ni Belle.

I showed her my backpack. "Obvious ba?" seryosong tanong ko.

"Sungit! Nagtanong lang, e!" nakangusong sabi niya. "Tara na, sabi ni Mommy, isasabay mo raw ako, e." Then she walked outside the house. I heaved a sigh. I didn't like the idea of Belle riding along with me. Inside my car.

She was a mess, Belle was. Last time she rode in my car? Well, nasira niya lang naman ang side mirror dahil sa recklessness niya. Sumabit kasi iyong strap ng bag niya at hindi niya napansin na side mirror na pala iyong hinihila niya. We all knew na hindi madali at basta-bastang nasisira ang kotse lalo na't mataas ang quality at well-known brand, but knowing Belle? Walang matibay na quality sa recklessness niya.

Feeling halfhearted, I got inside of my Ferrari F40 soon as I unlocked it. Throwing my backpack on the backseat, I fished the key from my pocket and roared the engine to life then set off to my destination. Belle on the driver's side, suiting herself comfortably while munching on her apple.

I threw her a nasty look. "Don't eat here, Belle."

Then she stared at me. "Seryoso ka ba, Kuya?"

"I'm serious."

"Weh? Apple lang naman, e," balewalang sabi niya at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkagat sa apple na kinakain.

"You better stop eating that now or I'll throw you out and you'll walk yourself to school. Alone. I'm dead serious."

"Kuya naman, e!" nakangusong apila niya.

"I said, now."

"But-"

"Now."

"Okay! Fine! Fine!" She grudgingly put the half-eaten apple back to the ziplock bag, slumping her back on the seat and then we drove silently. It took us thirty minutes bago makarating sa school.

Soon as I parked my Ferrari F40 ay nagmamadaling tinanggal ni Belle ang seatbelt niya at aktong bubuksan ang pinto ng kotse nang pigilan ko siya. Nakangusong humarap sa akin si Belle.

"Oh, ano na naman ba Kuya? I swear, mag-iingat na ako sa pagbaba ko ng kotse mo, no need to remind me."

"Ibigay mo 'to kay Symonne," kunwa'y walang ganang sabi ko habang kinukuha ang ilang notes at papers sa bag ko.

"What's this?" takang tanong niya habang nakakunot ang noo nang ilahad ko ang papers sa harap niya.

"Mga papel malamang," simpleng sagot ko.

Belle rolled her eyes, snatching the papers from me. "I know that! Ang ibig kong sabihin para saan 'to?"

"Notes and assignments."

"Huh? Bakit?"

"'Yan 'yong mga na-miss niyang school works nu'ng um-absent siya."

"Ganu'n? Bakit 'di na lang ikaw ang magbigay?"