Latecomer

Chapter 5

Patricia

“Fine. I need money.”

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Jeyhu sa may hagdanan. Walang reaksiyon kong tiningnan ang mga gamit na nahulog sa sahig bago tiningnan si Israel. Iyong nagugulat niyang reaksiyon, biglang napalitan ng blangko at nagmadaling umakyat ulit.

“As what I have expected from you. How much do you want? Price it.” he said without showing any emotion. But I can feel his hatred towards me.

“50 million,” walang pagaalin-alangan kong sagot. And now, I can clearly see how angry he is. Oh, who cares?

“Biatch,” he angrily named me.

“You can't afford? That's good,”

Pagkatapos ko 'yong sabihin, naglakad ako palabas ng bahay nila. I heard his screams and shouts but I chose to ignore it.

Tahimik akong sumakay ng Taxi habang iniisip ang reaksiyon ni Israel kanina. I knew he's already there, listing me and Jeyhu's conversation.

It's up to the two of them kung seseryosohin nila 'yong sinasabi ko. I said those intentionally and silently observed their response and reactions. It's priceless, though.

“Saan ka bababa, miss?” I heard the driver asked. As I answered him with the name of the hospital, he just nodded.

Nang makababa na ako ng taxi, dumiretso na ako sa room kung saan ang kapatid ko. Naabutan ko itong nakahiga at tulalang nakatingin ng palabas sa TV. Sinuot ko ang takip sa aking bibig at lumapit sa kaniya.

“Patrick,” mahina kong sambit sa kaniyang pangalan and to let him know that I'm here.

“What are you doing here again? Hindi ba't sinabi ko na sa 'yo na 'wag ka ng babalik dito? You're just wasting your time here.” he said without even looking at me.

Every time I visit him, sobrang lamig ng pakikitungo nito sa akin. He'll just look at me without any emotion and then tatagilid ng higa.

Hindi ko pinansin ang kaniyang sinabi at umupo sa couch. Tahimik ko lang pinagmamasadan ang kaniyang likod.

“You can now leave me alone.” dinig kong sabi niya. But I'm too tired to mind his words. Too tired.

“How's your feeling?” mahina kong tanong sa kaniya. Just enough for him to hear.

“Why do you care?”

“Just answer me.”

Kaunting katahimikan ang namamagitan sa amin bago niya ako sinagot, “Never been better.”

I just sigh and closed my eyes. “Bukas na 'sila' dadating. What should we do?”

“Never tell them,” napabuntong-hininga ulit ako sa kaniyang naging tugon.

I had no choice. That's what he wants. Ayaw niyang ipa-alam na may sakit siya. Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? Maybe, none?

Patrick's my brother. My twin brother, actually.

“Umuwi ka na ng bahay,” ani niya at tumingin sa akin.

“Mamaya na,” Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kaniya sabay higa sa kaniyang kama. “Feels good.” mahina kong sabi at ipinikit ang mga mata.