"I have a new girlfriend." I heard him but I chose not to react.
Isinandal niya pa ang likod niya sa tagiliran ko bago muling nagsalita.
"I have a new girlfriend." Ulit niya pa sa sinabi. He stretched lazily beside me.
Pinanatili ko ang atensyon sa librong binabasa at hindi siya kinibo. Pasasaan pa't kusa din naman siyang magkekwento kahit na hindi siya tinatanong. Plus I'm not interested.
I've lost count of how many times we had this kind of conversation. Sa tantya ko ay more than half of the university's female population dated my brother.
"We already had sex by the way." Parang may usok na lumabas sa ilong ko dahil sa narinig.
I mentally shook my head. Are brothers supposed to talk about this stuff with their little sisters?
Kanina pa siya nagpapapansin pagdating niya ng bahay. He was talking on the phone when he found me sitting on the living room couch. Pagkakita sa akin ay agad niyang pinutol ang tawag at lumapit.
"What are you reading?" Bulong niya na para bang bawal marinig ng iba. Inilapit niya pa ang ulo sa libro at nakibasa. Sa halip na ang mga nakasulat sa libro ang makita, all I see his massive head.
"Fine!" Isinara ko na ang libro dahil sa inis at tinignan siya ng masama. He wouldn't give up until he gets what he wants. He sat up straight and gave me an innocent look. Nanlaki pa ang mga mata niya at ikinunot ang noo. As if he didn't do anything to make me mad.
"Tell me about your new girlfriend" I sarcastically said bago siya inirapan. He clapped his hands in glee at naupo ng maayos.
Napailing na lamang ako. Ilang araw na ang lumipas since the fight he had with Dad at tingin ko'y ayos na ulit sila.
Sa aming dalawa, mas mapagkakamalan pang ako ang mas matanda dahil sa ugali at kilos ni Kuya.
"Are you sure?" My left eye twitched dahil sa pagpipigil ng inis. He bit his lip to stop a laugh from escaping. His mischievous eyes are as dark as a starless sky. Pinaglaruan niya ang itim na hikaw sa kaliwang tenga bago tumikhim. He just loves to annoy me every time he gets the chance.
He played with the black earring on his left ear habang nakanguso. He squinted as if he's in deep thought. I know that look. May naalala na naman siyang kahalayan. I hit his face with my book kaya napadaing siya at sinimangutan ako.
"She's actually a professor."
"What the hell?" Hindi makapinawala kong sabi. Bumalik ang pilyong ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.
"Don't worry. She's not one of my professors." Nagkibit balikat pa siya as if it's no big deal. He's in his fourth year in law school. Yes, he managed to get through law school. He maybe irresponsible but he's smart. He's more than just good looks kaya rin siguro napakaraming babae ang nahuhumaling sa kanya.
Sinimangutan ko lamang siya.
"But she's one of your professors." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. "Her name's Rose Lagdameo."
Nabulunan ako ng sarili kong laway. He looked so smug with what he told me, I almost strangled his neck. May pilyong ngiti ang naglalaro sa kanyang labi.
With him, changing girlfriends is like changing clothes. Walang ni isang nagtatagal sa kanya ng higit pa sa isang linggo. It's a select and collect process for him. He's only dating girls for the sex.
