decoding the boys ✔️

64 | plans

On Saturday, I slept until noon. As if the skies were reflecting my current emotional state, this weekend was rainy and gloomy.

The first thing I did when I woke up was check my phone. I groaned when I saw the vacant inbox. Still no message. Frustrated, I threw it back on the bed and jumped off. I did my morning rituals as quick as possible, my mood relatively sour, and then I went down just in time to see my brothers making a crazy show in the living room.

Kuya Travis and Kuya Chris were home this weekend. Even Kuya Andrei went home last night kaya kumpleto kaming lima. And what were the rascals doing?

Singing. Shouting their lungs out. More like, Kuya Chris and Kuya Jacob were messing around while Kuya Travis watched amusedly and Kuya Andrei filmed the whole thing. Wala namang mic but they were singing this tuneless song na hindi ko maintindihan kung bagong kanta ba o gawa gawa lang nila.

As soon as they noticed me, they stopped. Syempre, no amount of shame on their faces. The devils wore cheshire grins that could put the infamous cheshire cat to shame.

Kuya Jacob nodded his head, as if greeting me and saying 'sup?'

"Kumain ka na. May nakatabi do'n sa table," sabi naman ni ni Kuya Travis habang tinuturo ang dining table. Ever the thoughtful one.

"Anong meron?" I said, gesturing to the video cam.

"Kuya wanted us to help him. He's composing a proposal song for Ara, apparently," Kuya Andrei answered.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Oh my God. Official proposal? As in?"

Kuya Chris shook his head. "Hindi. Naniwala ka naman d'yan. It's her birthday soon. Gusto ko lang siya bigyan ng special na regalo."

"You mean, gusto mo siyang haranahin?"

He grinned. "Yeah, parang gano'n na nga."

Natawa ako. "Piece of advice, Kuya. Para 'di ka mapahiya kay Ate. Make sure si Mathe ang tutulong sa 'yo at hindi sila."

"Hey!" the boys chorused in protest.

"The art of breaking your brothers' heart, huh?" Kuya Jacob told me with a teasing smirk.

Ngumisi ako. We've gotten past our differences in the last days. Medyo okay na talaga kami at nagbibiruan na rin.

I snuck out a tongue at him and went to the table to eat breakfast. Wala akong gana, honestly. But I needed to act as normal as possible para hindi nila mahalata na there was something wrong between Racel and me.

Kuya Andrei tagged along and sat beside me, his eyes focused on the video he shot earlier, his lips curling into a snicker.

Habang kumakain, sinisilip ko rin ang video. My God, was it horribly chaotic. Hindi naman kasi nila sineryoso ang ginagawa. Kumuha pa nga ng mic 'tong si Kuya Jacob at ginamit kahit na hindi naman naka-on ang sound system. Feel na feel niya. Silang dalawa ni Kuya Chris. Real idiots.

Napangisi ako. Well, we're finally back to how we were. Kind of. I liked it.

"Sama ka?" tanong ni Kuya Andrei habang nagtitipa sa phone niya.

"Saan?"

"Geon and I are going to chill tonight."

"To drink? Nah." I shook my head and sipped from my glass of juice.

"Dapat but if you're going then we can just go to Tags and eat somewhere. You'd like that."

Hm, tempting. But I suddenly remembered the cause of my current dilemma. I had a sharp intake of breath. Shoot! Si Angelo! Masyado akong naging caught up kay Racel, nakalimutan kong mag-apologize kay kumag.