Still In Progress

Chapter 21

"Hi Breen! Good morning."

"Wow Alex. Ang aga mo naman ata?"

"Hmmm. There's something I want to do today." Then she smiled.

"Really? And what could that be?"

"I want to find some inspiration for my upcoming collection."

"Collection?" I'm impressed. Kahit pa gaano siya ka-brat, to be able to put up your own collection, that's something.

"Impressed? Don't be. Normal lang yan for fashion designers like me. I'm still waiting for my big break though."

"Don't worry. I know that will come for you soon. What you need is right time, and when that comes, seize every moment."

"You know what, I like you. Now I know why the boys are fond of you."

"Hahaha. You must be joking." The boys, fond of me? Alam ko si Brent, oo. Hmm, pati na din si Drake. Lately, mabait na din siya sa akin. And Chad? He's always been nice to me. Clyde and Keifer? Hindi ko ramdam eh. It's like what goes around come around with them. And Blue? para kaming si Tom and Jerry. Away dito, away doon. Minsan okay kami, pero mas madalas, hindi. Kung alam lang ni Alex.

"Hey everyone, I have good news for you."

"Really Chad?"

"Yung song ni Blue, certified Gold na."

"Song ni Blue? You mean my brother composed a song?"

"Yes Alex. And you know what, it's a ballad song. And super emotional song." Sagot ni Keifer.

"That's new. I need to listen to that. I'm curious kung anong klaseng song ang kinompose ng kapatid ko and I wonder para kanino kaya ang song na yun."

"What do you mean Alex? Do you think the song's for someone." Tanong ni Drake.

Tahimik lang si Blue pati si Chad. Nagkatinginan lang kami ni Brent. Alam kaya ni Alex ang tungkol kay Bea?

"Well, that's common isn't? Usually, you get inspiration from someone when you compose a song. So having Blue to compose a song, I'm curious, sino kaya ang inspiration niya."

Tama si Alex. I know the song was inspired by his relationship with Bea. Then bigla kong naalala, yung isang song kaya na narinig kong kinakanta niya, si Bea pa din kaya insipiration niya?

Nahuli kong nakatingin sa akin si Blue. Bigla naman niyang iniwas tingin niya. Nahalata kaya niya iniisip ko?

"Anyway, congrats Blue. Let's celebrate later. My treat."

"Wow Chad. Promise mo yan ha."

Hahaha. Napakababaw talaga ni Clyde. Mahilig kumain basta libre.

"Ah, about that. Hindi ako makakasama. I have other plans for today."

"That's new. Tinatanggihan mo yung offer ni Chad?"

"Blue, it's not always about Chad. By the way, okay lang ba isama ko Breen later?"

"Ha?" Sabay sabay silang nagulat. Actually pati ako, nagulat.

"Saan naman kayo pupunta?" Tanong ni Blue. Halata sa mukha niya ang disbelief. Hahaha, ano kaya naisip nito ni Alex para isama niya ako sa lakad niya.

"Well, kaya ako umuwi ng Philippines to prepare for my collections. And gusto ko gumala gala sa mga malls here. Baka sakali may makuha akong insipiration."

"But are you sure about taking Breen with you? Eh hindi naman siya mahilig sa fashion."

Wow, thanks Keifer for being honest.

"He's right, I think you should bring Drake with you instead."

"Hey, ayoko nga sumama sa kanya. Mabo-bored lang ako."

"See? Hindi ko pwde isama kayong mga guys kasi for sure mabobore lang kayo sa ginagawa naming mga girls when we're in the mall."

"Then good luck to you. I'm not sure if Breen will be of help to you."

And there goes Blue again. Umatake na naman siya.

And true enough, sinama nga ako ni Alex gumala sa BGC. Honestly, hindi ako masyado familiar sa mga shops here. Lalo na sa part na pinuntahan namin. Puro high-end boutiques.

"Ah, Alex, are you sure okay lang na kasama mo ako dito? I think puro socialites yung mga andito eh."

"Hey Breen, don't you see the difference between you and that girl there, wearing Balenciaga?"

"Well, first, just as you say, he's wearnig Balenciaga. Obvious na ang sosyal niya."

"See Breen, if you change that Balenciaga dress she's wearing to a simple dress bought from an ukay, do you think mapapansin pa siya?"

Tama si Alex. Nadala lang sa damit kaya naman pansin na pansin siya.

"And look at you Breen. You're wearing simple shirt and jeans. But still, people are looking at you. Can't you see now the difference?"

Wow, Alex sure knows how to give complement.

"You know Breen, you just need some confidence. I'm pretty sure madaming lalaking hahabol sa'yo. Hahaha."

"Hahaha. Thanks Ha. I don't know if you're being sarcastic or being honest."

"Well, bahala ka na mag-isip."

Kung saan saan kami nagpunta ni Alex. And honestly, I enjoyed her company. Mabait din siya, kahit na may pagka-brat. I got to know some things about her and Blue, na medyo unexpected.

"You know Breen, Blue has always been a good brother to me. Kahit na magkaiba kami ng father, he always protected me."

So that means, half-brother niya si Blue. But hindi yun obvious. Super close sila, kahit hindi sila parehong showy, it's still obvious that they look out for each other.

"His parents divorced in the US when he was 3. And our mother met my father and got married after. Blue and his father went back to the Philippines. When I was 5 years old, both of my parents died in an accident. No one from my close relatives in the US wanted to take me, kasi lahat sila busy and hindi afford ang magalaga na isang bata. So our grandmother who's living in the Philippines took me. Kaya umuwi ako ng Philippines. That's my first time makita ang Pilipinas and my mother's family. Alam mo, it's also the first time I found out about Blue. Pero, when we first met, I didn't feel any indifference. He became the big brother I never had. Actually, silang dalawa ni Chad. Kaya naman I felt at home in the Philippines, just like when I was with my parents. Honestly, Blue never told me even once that he hated his parents. Pero ramdam ko na everytime magkukwento ako about my parents, nalulungkot siya.  Wala siyang memories ng time na together silang family. Busy kasi lagi yung dad niya sa work that time. Yun din ang naging reason ng divorce nila. Time. Kaya when I have my own family, I will make sure na I have all the time for my family. Kaya ang usapan namin ni Blue, we will do all we want before kami magstart ng own families namin. Para siguradong quality time and mabibigay namin sa family namin."

Si Blue. Malalim pala siyang tao. Mapagmahal at thoughtful na kapatid. He longed for a family he never had. Kaya pala ganun nalang siya ka-heart broken ng marinig niya ang about kay Bea. He knows how it's is to grow up from a broken family.

"Breen."

"Yes?"

"I know you don't get along well with my brother. But by the fact that you are working with them, I consider you as family now. Just as how I consider the other members of Chronicles as my brothers. I hope, you continue to look out for my brother. If there are times na frustrated or disappointed siya, feel free to give him some sanity."

"Alex, don't worry. I know that often times he's cold towards me, pero habang nakikilala ko siya, naiintindihan ko siya."

"Thanks Breen. I don't know why, but I felt relieved simula ng maging part ka ng team."

Today, nakilala ko ang sweet na Alex and not the bratinella Alex.