Bunch of MENDOZAs

Chapter 60

"Zahir, na-contact mo na ba siya?" Tanong ko kay Zahir habang inida-dial ang number ni Brile.

"Hindi pa ate."

I hissed. "Ano ba kasing sinabi niya kanina na pupuntahan niya?"

Tinignan ko silang anim na nakaupo lang sa mga upuan nila dito sa dining area. It's 9 in the eve. Wala pang Brile Yu-Rhi na dumarating.

This is the third time na uuwi siya ng late simula nang ipatawag siya sa dean's office dahil sa nangyari sa library last week. Madalas mamamalayan kong uuwi ng gabing gabi tapos babangon kinabukasan ng masakit ang ulo.

"Basta ang sabi niya may kailangan siyang ayusin." Breii replied.

"Ate hindi talaga sinasagot eh." Zahir said and looked away.

"Eh bakit kasi hindi ikaw ang tumawag sa kanya?"

We all looked at Zaine with what he said.

"Beauty can always tame beast... I guess." He added softly.

I shook my head. "I'll call Ken to drive to the bar where he always go-"

"Siya pa talaga idadala mo?" Breii cut my words.

"Breii, ayoko nang ipaalam 'to sa papa niyo. But please just help me with him."

He stood and went in front of me. "Sure you won't Xyzzy. Ikaw naman dahilan nito."

"Breii really? I stopped him because you said I'm bad for him. Tapos ngayon na wala na 'ko sa kanya ganyan ang sasabihin mo?" I angrily asked him.

"'Cause you never thought about him!" He snapped. "Sure you thought about Zaine. You thought about your work, job, or career. You thought about your image. You thought about, you think about yourself. And what about Brile? Wala Xy! To think that with every after your decisions it's him who cries."

I stepped back as my eyes begun to water.

"Right?" Breii harshly pulled my arm and made me look at him with watery eyes. "Noong mas inisip mo si Zaine si Brile yung sobrang nasaktan. 'Pag kasama mo 'yang hilaw na Ken na 'yan halos mabaliw kapatid ko ah!"

"Breii that's enough." Rain gently pulled my arm away from Breii. "We need to find Brile. Saka na 'yan pag-usapan. Nandito pa si Zaine baka nakakalimutan mo, naririnig niya lahat."

Lumayo ako sa kanila at umupo malapit sa pinto saka nagpunas ng luha. Lord, give me one more reason to give them up... give me hundreds to stay.

Naririnig ko silang nag-uusap usap at kung ano ano pa pero hindi ko na iniintindi. Napapagod na rin ako sa kanila. Hindi nga naman pala basta basta ang may makasalamuhang mga Mendoza.

Agad naman akong napatingala sa tao na biglang nagbukas ng front door. Tumayo ako kasabay din nang paglapit ng mga Mendoza.

"Miss Xyzzy?" Nakangiting tanong sa 'kin ng lalakeng halos mas bata pa yata sa 'kin. "Forgive me for not knocking. I'm David Marcus ma'am, gentlemen." He introduced.

"David! The son of Mr. Dave?" Breii butted in.

"Yes sir." He smiled. "Pakipasok na si boss." Utos niya sa mga lalake pa sa likuran niya na puro mga nakaitim.

At maya maya pa inilabas na ng dalawang lalake si Brile mula sa sasakyan na halos wala nang malay.

"Pakideretso na siya sa kwarto nila." Malamig kong sabi.

Surely lasing.

"What happened?" I asked the young guy.

"Miss, the owner of the bar called us, since he knows the mafia, that boss Brile got involved in a trouble. So I rushed there and brought him here." He answered.