Bunch of MENDOZAs

Chapter 21

Ganadong ganado lahat silang kumakain bukod sa isa.

I keep on staring at him but he glued his eyes on the plate. Si Breii pa nga ang naglalagay ng pagkain niya.

There's something wrong with him.

"Boys, bili tayo mamaya ng school supplies. Okay lang ba?" I gently asked them.

It took seconds but they all agreed but him who didn't even react.

Bakit naka-jacket? Gano'n ba kalamig?

"Xyzzy I think I'm not going." Breii said and looked at Brile.

"You should go." Brile said and stood.

"Ano na namang problema no'n?" Raven asked.

"May sakit siya. He has a fever." Breii answered.

Kaya pala.

"Nagkakasakit pala demonyo?" Zahir sarcastically said.

Breii sighed. "I know he had caused so much trouble but he's still my brother."

"Ni hindi ka naman tinuturing na kambal ah? Just because you left him for months he will act like that." Zahir answered.

"I can't blame him. What happened was not simple." Breii whispered. "Umakyat na kayo ako na mag-aayos."

"Malamang katulong ka-"

"'Wag ka nang sumabat Raven." Pagputol ni Rain sa sinasabi ni Raven at hinila siya paakyat.

Umakyat na din silang lahat at bago pa makatayo si Breii pinigilan ko na siya.

"Can you tell me what happened? If you don't mind." I said.

He looked at me for seconds.

He sat down and nodded. "I went to Harvard for a year... And I don't know what happened to Brile. Aminado naman ako na talagang gago na siya. But when I came back home because of an accident, I met a different Brile." He looked away.

"What happened?"

"He uhm... He was shot. On his left shoulder and arm. Actually daplis lang pero kasi may nakaaway pala siyang member ng syndicate." He smiled weakly. "Dad was so furious. To the point na ipapadala na siya dito to be trained as another person in Mafia."

And I saw how his eyes started to shine.

"I begged to dad. I begged him that I can still tame him as long as he's with me. I walked out of Harvard for him. Pero pati sa 'kin hindi na siya nakikinig unlike before. He said, sana hindi daw ako umalis, sana hindi siya naging gano'n. He said I was his inspiration but I left." His eyes watered. "I didn't know. I thought he supported me with my dreams. I thought it's okay." He shook his head and the tears away. "Kaya araw araw bumabawi ako sa kanya. I always make him feel my support."

"So it's like, he just wants to be with you." I said and held his hand.

He nodded. "Siguro. Pero tinutulak naman niya 'ko kung kailan ako bumalik."