One Last Time

Kabanata XXXVII: HALF-BROTHER

Half-brother.
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UMIGTING ANG PANGA KO. Mabilis akong nagbayad sa driver at nagmamadaling bumaba ng taxi. It's already 6:00pm. Galing ako sa isang café kung saan kami nagkita ni Rae. Gusto sana niya akong ihatid pauwi, pero tumanggi ako. Pagkatapos siyang magtanong tungkol sa nangyari kagabi, nabanggit niyang may dinner date siya mamaya. Ayokong abalahin siya, kaya sinabi kong sasakay na lang ako ng taxi pauwi. Wala naman siyang nagawa kundi ang pumayag.

Pagbaba ko ng taxi, agad kong nilapitan ang taong naka-squat sa tabi ng nakasarang gate, nakasukbit ang strap ng backpack sa isa niyang balikat at sa tabi naman niya ay isang malaking paperbag. Alam kong darating siya, pero hindi ko inaasahan na ganito kaaga. Sabi ni Tita Norin, isang araw pa bago ang operasyon ko ang uwi niya, and it's only Monday today!

Anong masamang hangin ang naging dahilan kung bakit siya napaaga dito sa Pilipinas at nandito sa apartment ko? Tanong ko sa isip ko habang papalapit ako sa kanya.

“I was expecting you to show up the next day. What made you come here all of a sudden?” I eyed him seriously as I stood in front of him.

He looked up and rose to his feet, not only making his black hair shine in the setting sun but also highlighting the difference in our heights. Despite being years younger, he towers over me now at six feet tall.

He brushed off his black pants, then fixed his familiar gaze, which mirrored the orange sky, on me and flashed a grin. “That's a cold welcome. Is that how you greet your half-brother after not seeing me for almost a year, Sis Keira? Your younger brother missed you, did you miss me too?”

Umirap ako. “Cut the crap. Just tell me what's going on and why you're here in the country so suddenly,” sikmat ko.

His grin disappeared. “It's Mom. She asked me to come check on you. She's really worried about you. You haven't been returning her calls for months.”

I gave a cold smile. Mag-iisang taon na, bakit ngayon lang siya gumawa ng paraan?

“Go back to Melbourne and tell her I'm fine,” seryosong sabi ko. Umalis ako sa harapan niya at lumapit na sa gate para buksan ito. Narinig ko namang sumunod sa'kin.

“Come on, sister. Don't be rude, I just got here from Melbourne. I'm tired from the long trip. Why don't you let me in and let me stay for one night?” Andrei asked from behind, bakas sa boses ang pagod.

“My place isn't a hotel. You've got money, so suit yourself in a hotel,” sikmat ko habang patuloy na binubuksan ang gate.

Narinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga niya mula sa likuran. “Please, sis. Just for tonight.”

I stopped after I unlocked the gate. Pinagdikit ko ang mga labi ko, nag-iisip kung pagbibigyan ba siya o hindi.

Pagkatapos ng ilang sandaling pag-iisip, I chose the first option. I opened the gate wide and stepped back, allowing my half-brother to come in.

“You can stay here, but only for tonight. Get that?” I raised my eyebrows as I faced him.

Andrei nodded, like a well-behaved child. “Okay. I got it,” aniya at komportableng pumasok sa gate na parang siya ang nakatira dito.

Pumasok na ako ng gate. Ni-lock ko muna ito bago ako sumunod sa kanya. Naabutan ko si Andrei na nakatayo sa harap ng nakasarang pinto ng apartment ko. Ang backpack at paperbag na dala niya ay nakalapag na sa tabi niya. Then he laid his palm in front of me.

I raised an eyebrow at him. He gave me a bored look.

“The key to your door. I'll open it for you,” aniya.