Falling for Her [REVISED]

Elliot Nyle Xavier

"Parang bobo 'to. Ayusin mo naman tira mo!"

I just watched my cousins play billiards and call each other dumb. I don't get why they still want to play billiards together kung puro rin lang naman pala sila reklamo. They're weird.

"Hoy, Elliot! Sali ka rito! K.J. mo ah! Parang others." tawag ni Bria sa akin. She's so noisy. Siya ata sumalo lahat noong nagpaulan ng kadaldalan. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at lumabas na lang.

"Hayaan niyo na. Pagbigyan niyo nang maging malungkot at maging sentimental 'yang si Elliot. Single na eh, ikaw ba naman manggaling sa break up." dinig kong sabi ni Gray.

"Marinig ka no'n, Gray. May tenga pa man din 'yon." sabi naman ni Dior.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung bakit ko sila naging pinsan. I would really appreciate it kapag iba na lang ang mga pinsan ko. 'Yong hindi katulad nila. "Are you alright?" Bria asked me, sinundan pala niya ako rito sa labas. I didn't respond. Nanatili lang akong tahimik.

"I'm not against your relationship with Evan before, but I think it's just right that you ended it bago pa man malaman nila tito. You did an excellent job hiding it for a long time." tinapik niya ang balikat ko.

"But that's exactly the reason why he chose to cheat." sabi ko naman. Bria cleared his throat.

"I know nothing about you two, but he doesn't deserve you. You are a Xavier, and I don't get why he wasted you." she tried to comfort me. I scoffed and shook my head.

"That's the reason why he doesn't want to be with me anymore, Bria. Dahil isa akong Xavier. Dad is homophobic at alam niya 'yon. Maybe he got tired of our situation." I groaned in frustration. Bakit ko pa ba kasi kinakausap itong si Bria? She won't understand me. No one will.

"That's my point. If he can't love you for who you are, what's the point of being in a relationship with him? He doesn't want to be with you anymore dahil isa kang Xavier? Fuck him. I'm sure someone out there will love you no matter what your surname is, no matter what your situation is."

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi ni Bria. I'm tired of hearing everybody say that he doesn't deserve me and so on. Iyon naman palagi ang sinasabi na lang mapagaan lang ang loob ko. Pero wala nang epekto 'yon sa akin.

"Dad found out about you and Evan. It was a little late, but he still found out, and he was mad. Super mad." biglang niyang sabi matapos ang ilang minutong katahimikan.

"I expected it already." I scoffed.

"I'll go talk to them. You'll drive." sabi niya bago tinapik ang balikat ko at pumasok sa loob.

"What are you doing in this house?" mariin niyang tanong. "Hinatid ko lang si Bria rito. I'll leave immediately." sagot ko naman. "Did you eat already? May iniluto ako-"

"Leave." dad said, cutting mom's words.

"Dad, why are you so harsh to Elliot?!" biglang tanong ni Bria kaya naman tumingin si dad sa kanya. "It's probably for the best that you will live here starting today and not with your brother." sabi naman ni dad sa kanya.

"Why? Why are you so mad at him?" patuloy pa rin na pagtanong ni Bria sa kanya.

"It's because he hasn't apologized to me! To us!" dad almost yelled at Bria.

"For what? Why should he apologize to you? May nagawa ba siyang mali?!" I tried to stop Bria, but she was determined.

"He should apologize for being gay, Brianna! You're too young to understand all of this!" dad explained.

"Apologize for being gay? Dad, did you hear yourself? Why should he apologize to you for being gay? Huh? What's wrong with being gay?!" Bria began to yell, which startled our parents.