Bunch of MENDOZAs

Chapter 77

"Zaine?" I called and went beside him.

"Good morning." He smiled.

"Ang aga mo yata." I said and yawned.

Pagkagising na pagkagising ko tumanaw ako sa terrace at nakita ko si Zaine sa 'di kalayuan na nakaupo mag-isa.

He smiled more and looked away. "Hindi pa 'ko natutulog." He sighed. "Hindi ako makatulog na gano'n si Aki."

I looked down and didn't speak because I don't know yet what to say.

"Kailangan ba natin siyang dalhin sa doctor or someone there?" I aksed.

"Nope. He'll be fine, I know."

What happened last night isn't that easy to just sleep soundly. I can feel his pain. He's too good for things like those... and what happened with us.

"Zaine I understand na sobrang bait mo at halos sa pamilya mo lang umiikot ang mundo mo. But how about yourself? You- you didn't say a single word that'll tell that you're angry with Aki because of what happened. I never sensed anger in you when it comes to Aki." I worriedly said.

Honestly, nakikita ko nang napapabayan niyang sarili niya at palagi nalang siyang nagpaparaya. He's that 'hayaan-mo-na' type of guy.

He chuckled lightly and patted the empty space on the bench he's sitting on so I sat.

"I bet you know what happened between my mom and dad- you know, my family." He started and I hesitantly shook my head.

"Konti lang ang alam ko; kapatid mo si Aki sa ama habang kapatid mo naman si Jamie sa ina. Right?"

He nodded, still, with his sweet smile.

How can he smile the pains away? He looks so innocent. This guy...

"As far as I can remember, when we're young, Aki have been through a lot of therapists... a lot like a lot because of autism." He glanced at me. "I was always beside him, 'cause the doctor said I make him feel better. I make him smile. I make him laugh. And so the moment he became the happy Aki I promised God that I'll always be there still to guide him and more." He chuckled. "Sobrang nagseselos si Jamie sa kanya. Sabi ni Jamie once sa 'kin, 'bakit parang siya lang kapatid mo kuya? Kahit nasa ibang bansa tayo at ako ang kasama mo siya ang iniisip mo'. From that, I tried convincing and showing her every day that Aki needs me more than her and that I love her too damn much. But no. She's always been that jealous of Aki and would seldom smile at me."

The sadness is very visible on his eyes and voice. God! He's too precious.

"Kung gumaling pala si Aki bakit may sakit pa rin siya?" I asked gently.

"His anxiety and bipolar disorder?" He asks and I nodded. "He got bullied. Sa US siya noon nag-aral and I was studying here in the Philippines. The bullying has a big impact on him. He was very scared at things that made him anxious. That's also the reason why we migrated abroad. So I can be with him. Because he also said it himself that it's me who makes him feel protected and not just other Mendoza. Hindi rin kasi niya kasundo noon ang iba sa mga lalake na Mendoza. That's it. The moment I went closer to Aki was the same moment Jamie started hating me. Para akong pinagpili kung sino ang katapid ko sa kanila." And looked away as he sheds tears. "I can't lose them both."

"You're selfless, Zaine." I sincerely said and wiped his tears. "Magiging okay din kayo. I wish I can ease the pain though."

He nodded. "Maybe later I'll tell him that he should stop seeing Saphira." And he fixed his sit.

"Who's Saphira?" I asked.

Ngumit na siya ng nakakaloko na mas nagpakunot ng noo ko. "Yung girlfriend niya?"

"No. Si Saphira yung nakita ni Zahir na kasama ni Aki palagi at yung kahalikan niya... hindi si Sam." He said through his laugh.

Okay. Wait lang te! Sasabog utak ko.

"Zaine yung totoo nga." Pagalit kong sabi dahil hindi ko talaga maintindihan.

"Okay, ganito 'yon. Mavie has a cousin who looks just like her disregarding the hair and eyes, her name is Saphira. She lives in LAX and met Aki when I went in Sam's place and I was with Aki that time."

"So you are saying na hindi nag-cheat sa'yo si Sam? Iba yung babae ni Aki, hindi si Sam?" I asked, trying to confirm my thoughts.

"Yup." Zaine immediately answered. "Nagkamali lang si Zahir na si Saphira at Sam ay iisa. Kasama ko si Sam noong nakita ni Zahir na naghahalikan si Aki at Saphira sa back gate. Nauna nang nalaman ni Sam."

"Putang ina."

That was all left to say. Muntik ko nang isumpa na sasabunutan ko si Sam 'pag nagkita kami tapos ito pala yung totoo.

Zaine laughed at me cursing and so I glared at him. "Kaya pala hindi ka umiimik kagabi at hindi ka manlang nagalit kay Aki."

He nodded. "Nilandi lang talaga ni Saphira si Aki dahil may gusto na raw pala siya agad kay Aki the first time she saw him, according to Sam."

"Ano'ng balak mo ngayon?"

"Maligo at puntahan si Sam."

"Mahahampas kita Zaine alam mo ba 'yon?"

He laughed and held my hand. "Well, kakausapin ko si Zahir at Raven ng tungkol kay Saphira dahil kayong tatlo nalang ang hindi nakakaalam. Second, I'll deal with Raven and Casey, his girlfriend. She doesn't deserve Aki."

I pulled my hand that made him chuckle so I rolled my eyes.

"Don't be mean to Sam and Saphira. Wala silang kasalanan. I know Nainis ka kay Sam noong sinabi nila Zahir 'yon-"

"Nanggigil ako Zaine. Yun 'yon." Deretso kong sabi.

And his laugh got louder with that. "We're just too lucky to have you you know that?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's more than my job to love and care for you guys."

"By the way, nasabi na ba ni Andeng na matutuloy pa rin ang vacation natin kahit tapos na ang birthday niya?"

I frowned. "No."

"Yeah. Baka den kay Sam palang niya nasasabi." He stood and stretched. "I'm gonna walk inside now and take a bath so I can go to Mavie and sleep. It'll be okay?"

I nodded. "Of course. Wala namang pasok eh."

He sweetly smiled and kissed my forehead. "Thanks babe."

And I just laughed at that.  Nabunutan ako sa tinik sa dibdib. I swear! Akala ko babae pa ang sisira sa relasyon nilang magkapatid.

Tumayo na 'ko after a minute and about to get inside the house when my eyes caught a glimpse of a black car with a familiar man inside it that made the colors in me fade.

It's Ken. I'm sure of it. And I don't know kung matutuwa ba 'ko o ano nang makita ko siyang nagmadaling umalis nang nakita niyang nakatingin ako sa direksyon niya.

Oh god.