Moving Into My Brother's House

Chapter 43

"Woah, dude. Chill out, will you? We're just introducing ourselves. No need to be over the top with your reaction." The dude who just introduced himself said kaya mas lalong nag-init yung ulo ni AJ.

"AJ..." I told him, half-hoping that he would calm down when he hears my voice. But as expected, his fists were still balled and anger was still flashed on his face.

"AJ please..." I told him again. This time though, I held his hand tightly. Little by little, his face became calm.

"Let's go. Don't waste your time and energy on them." Even if it was against him will, AJ let me drag him away from those guys. I didn't even bother to look at their faces anymore. All that mattered at that moment was AJ. I wanted to calm him down so bad. I was thinking of ways on how to do that but my mind just went blank.

"Uy, anong nangyari?" Kuya asked the moment he saw us.

"Ay nako, kuya. Don't even ask. Muntik nang mapaaway 'to kanina."

"Ha?"

"Tarantado naman kasi yung mga lecheng 'yon e. Hindi na gumalang ng babae. Huwag ko lang talagang makita ulit yung mga 'yon. Kung hindi, tatamaan 'yon sa'kin." AJ said at halatang hindi pa rin humuhupa yung galit niya. Nagmakaawa na ako kay kuya using my eyes para tulungan ako kay AJ. Buti na lang at kabisado na niya ako. Imbis na sumagot pa siya sa sinabi ni AJ, inabot na lang niya yung shake na binili niya.

"Inumin mo na nga lang 'to para lumamig 'yang ulo mo."

"E kasi naman yung-"

"Lighten up, will you? Kaya na ni Kat yung sarili niya. Grabe nga kung bugbugin ako niyan e. You basically saw how she grew up. She wouldn't let anyone disrespect her at all." Kuya tried to reason out.

Actually, kaya rin naman ako nag-take ng lessons for martial arts before para sa mga ganitong situation talaga e. I wanted to be able to defend myself kapag wala sa tabi ko si daddy or si kuya. Well, I haven't really tried those moves to other people yet but at least, prepared ako di ba?

"Alam ko naman 'yon pero ewan ko ba. I can't help but be protective whenever I'm with Lauryn. I couldn't stand the sight of other guys looking at her like that." Akala ko, kumakalma na is AJ but oh boy, I was wrong. Hindi pa rin pala siya tapos sa litanya niya.

"Ikaw naman kasi e! Sabi ko sa'yo huwag na 'yan yung isuot mo."

"Anong gusto mong isuot ko? Long sleeves saka floor length skirt?" I tried to joke but I failed. Si kuya lang yung natawa sa sinabi ko. Nung sinamaan siya ng tingin ni AJ, tumigil din agad siya sa pagtawa.

Bago pa makabwelo ulit si AJ sa litanya niya, tinulak ko na agad yung shake papalapit sa kanya. After that, niyakap ko na rin siya kahit na ayaw ko sanang mag-PDA sa harap ni kuya. Naramdaman kong natigilan bigla si AJ sa pag-inom niya but I didn't bother to look at him.

"Finish that shake first bago ka magsalita ulit. Ang init na nga ng panahon, sumasabay ka pa."

"Bakit? Kasi ang hot ko?" Biglang tanong ni AJ kaya napabitaw ako sa kanya.

"Leche ka. Magsama na nga lang kayo ni kuya." Tawa nang tawa sina AJ at kuya dahil doon. Akmang maglalakad pa lang sana ako palayo nung hatakin ako ulit ni AJ papalapit sa kanya. I was waiting for another cheesy line or move from him but wala. He just pulled me close to him. At the back of my mind, maybe he was doing to show the world that he's my boyfriend. Well, just maybe.

***

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. Buti na lang din at nakalimutan na ni AJ yung nangyari kanina. We did not even bother to inform mommy and daddy about it. Tapos naman na kasi saka no harm done. Naiwas naman namin agad si AJ sa gulo.

When dinner time came, however, bigla namang naisipan ni daddy na uminom habang nagkukwento ng mga nakakatakot na mga bagay. Mommy was obviously against it since hindi siya pwedeng uminom at madali rin siya matakot. Well, ako rin naman takot pero hindi na lang ako makapalag. And so, I tried to make a way to save myself from this torture.

"Mommy, samahan na lang po muna kita sa kwarto." Mommy was all smiles when she heard my proposition kaso kapag may basag trip kang kapatid, maglalaho lang din agad ang mga pangarap mo na parang bula.

"Hep! Tatakas ka lang e. Bumalik ka agad dito pagkahatid mo kay mommy." I slowly made a face upon hearing kuya's words. Kainis naman kasi e. Bakit ba kailangan pa akong isama sa usapan nila? Saka minor pa kaya ako! Masamang impluwensya rin 'tong si kuya e. Gusto pa akong painumin agad.

"Bahala ka diyan. Dito lang ako kay mommy." Sagot ko sa kanya sabay belat. Hihirit pa sana ulit si kuya pero naunahan siya ni mommy.

"Kayong tatlo na lang diyan. Iinom kayo tapos isasama niyo pa 'tong si Kat. Pag-umpugin ko kayo e."

"Pero ma, mas okay nang kami ang kasama ni Kat uminom kaysa sa kung sino." Kuya tried to reason out but mommy just waved it off.

"Tigilan niyo na 'tong si Kat. She's not yet 18 so no alcoholic drinks muna."

"Ma, in case you've forgotten, kambal kami ni Kat so technically, wala pa rin akong 18."

"Just stop it. This conversation is going nowhere." Mommy said in finality tapos hinatak na niya ako papuntang kwarto. Hindi na nakaangal pa sila kuya dahil doon.

Pagpasok namin ng kwarto, I thought magpapahinga na si mommy. Nagulat na lang ako nung pinaupo niya ako sa tabi niya at nagsimula siyang magtanong ng kung ano-ano sa akin.

"I heard from your brother about what happened kanina." It wasn't a question. It was as of she waiting for me to open up.

I paused for a few seconds and tried to gather my thoughts. Saan ba dapat ako magsisimula? Paano ko ba ikukwento yung nangyari na hindi masstress si mommy? Ang daming tumatakbo sa utak ko at that time but mommy decided to break the ice.

"I think it's pretty normal for AJ to act like that. I mean, he's more than just a boyfriend for you. He's also a friend and a brother. Normal lang talaga na maging protective 'yon sa'yo."

"Alam ko naman po 'yon mommy. I'm actually thankful that he was there with me when it happened."

"Ayun naman pala e. Then why are you acting as if you're avoiding them?"

"Aside from the fact that I don't like to drink? Hindi ko na rin po alam mommy. Siguro, natatakot lang ako na baka may mangyari na naman na kung ano and I don't want that to happen." Mommy held my hand and gave it a little squeeze as if reassuring me that everything's okay. I looked up at her and I saw her smile.

"Don't overthink, Kat. Once you overthink, you won't be able to enjoy things. Lahat ng bagay magiging kalkulado. Where's the fun in that? Natuto kami ng daddy mo the hard way. Hindi sa sinasabi kong gayahin niyo kami pero Kat, you learn from your mistakes. Don't force yourself to be perfect. Hindi lahat ng bagay aayon sa gusto mo and that's okay. What's important is you made the most of everything and that you won't be regretting in the end for not doing something that you really like to do." Mommy said then she fixed the blanket and tucked me off to sleep.

Maybe, mommy's right. I really do need to lighten up and make the most of things. So tomorrow, I'll start with bonding with my AJ and my twin.

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Yey! Update! Haha. Ang tagal ko ring ginapang 'to. Haha. Really had to write everything down on my planner first. Lol. Next update will be for Moving into the Monster's House. ;)