Emperyo Lazaro

11:

Nakaupo lamang ako sa patio noong biglaang may lalaking lumapit kay Manang Elaine.

Matangkad at maputi ito, katamtaman ang haba ng buhok ngunit may kulay ito ng pula, mahahaba ang pilik mata, his kissable lips are glossy, naglip gloss ang kuya mo, yung mata niya na puwede makapatay pag tititigan ka lamang niya, although he's wearing shades.

He's wearing a plain white polo with a vivid blue coat, his slacks made his bum stand out.

Nung umalis na si Manang, isinalpak na nito muli ang earphones sa tainga. ( tangina ba't ang cute? ) kinuha ko ang telepono ko at nagtitipa roon kunwari noong dumaan ito sa gawi ko.

He's singing!

maganda ang boses niya! Kahit may pagka-stoic ang ekspresyon nito nung nakita kong kausap nito si Manang.

Stoic and cute.

" You can pretend to type or scroll in your phone, but make sure the phone itself is open. Don't make a fool of yourself. " sabi nito, his voice is mellow yet cold.

" Kira! Why aren't you greeting our guest? " sabi ni Uncle, dumating na pala siya.

" What took you so long? Kala ko ba dadaan ka lang sa planta? "

Nagsalubong ang kilay nito, but he just shrugged.

" I did, i gave the workers their payroll, and i shut the plant down. "

He shut it down?

" I told you darling " ipinatong nito ang kamay sa aking balikat at tinapik-tapik. " For the better good. " sabay halik nito sa aking noo.

" Come, follow me. " pag-aya ni Uncle saakin at dun sa bisita naming masungit.

Kainis pogi nga sungit naman hmp!

" Have a seat. "

Si Uncle ay nasa dulo, ang bisita naman at ako ay magkaharap sa hapag.

Pota.

Dumating ang pagkain na ipinahanda ni Uncle, Filet Mignon ang unang course.

Kaya pala busy ang kusina-

" Kira, i haven't introduced him to you yet. "

Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Uncle, pero sa hindi ko inaasahang balita, naibuga ko ang aking iniinom.

" Kira, meet your brother, Asher. "

Napalaki ang mata niya, halos masamid ito sa iniinom.

" She's Kira? "

" He's Asher? "

Sabay namin napatanong ng kuya ko 'raw'.

" i thought my brother's good-looking, Uncle. "

" and i thought my sister's pretty and less of a brat. " sagot nito bago isinubo ang pagkain niya.

Sinipa ko na lamang ito, nakakapikon 'to ah.

" Asher! Kira! Itigil niyo yan! Stop acting childish! Both of you! "

Nanlilisik ang mata ni Uncle, his patience wore thin, ganoon talaga pag may panget kayong kuya, guys. Remember that.

Natahimik na lamang kami ni Kuya at itinuloy ang pagkain. After all these years, he hasn't changed. How come hindi ko siya namukhaan noong una palang?

His aura changed though, but it's still him, parang pokemon na nag-evolve.

" So, Asher. What were you up to noong nasa States ka? " tanong ni Uncle, habang naglalagay ng wine muli sa wine glass.

" Sort of things, like i joined the football team, and lacrosse team since i didn't get accepted in the Rugby team, i did some part time gigs along with my friends, too. Kaysa na humawak ako ng baril, mikropono ang hawak ko, Uncle. " sabi nito, hindi nakatingin kay Uncle, pero saakin.

" What about you, Kira? What were you up to noong wala ako? "

To be honest, i didn't finish my college, kahit isang semester nalang iyon.

" Archery team, got into nationals. And went target shooting with friends during free time, tried joining women's softball team but... " napakibit balikat nalamang ako sa huling sasabihin.

" Still the sporty Kira i adore. But what changed? "

" Got cheated on, then he just suddenly came back telling me all he ever think about is me after the split. Told me how much of an arsehole he was, which is he's not lying in the arsehole part, and mostly, got used. " napatingin na lamang ako kay Uncle at kay Kuya na nakatingin ng mariin saakin.

" and by the way, children. "

Tumingin kami sa gawi ni Uncle na naka-sandal nalamang kinauupuan nito.

" You're sleeping in one room, just for tonight, or the next three nights. The bed's already prepared. See you both in the morning. "

Pagkasabi niya ay umalis na ito agad.

Tumayo na ako sa aking kinauupuan at gayon din ang aking kapatid.

Sabay kami umakyat sa kwarto ng walang imik, until...

" Kira, are you okay? "

Biglaang yakap nito saakin, iba ang pakiramdam kapag nasa bisig ka ng sarili mo'ng kapatid, ramdam mo ang presensya ng magulang mo.

" I still see them, everynight. " ganting yakap ko sakaniya, hindi ko mapigilang maiyak.

Masakit, dahil wala siya noong pumanaw si Mommy at Daddy.

" It's not and will never be your fault, baby. Tahan na. I'm sorry. " ramdam ko ang pagdampi ng labi nito sa aking ulo, ramdam ko rin ang paghikbi ng aking kapatid.

" Kira, tahan na. Kuya's here, alright? You're safe with me, i love you. Tahan na. " he rocked me back and forth, his warmth made me feel safer than before. Iba parin ang yakap niya sa yakap ni Rio at Uncle. Ibang iba.

" Kira, tahan na. We're safe. I'm sorry i wasn't there when you needed me most. Mahal na mahal kita, tandaan mo yan. "

Napaiyak lamang ako lalo sa bisig ng aking kapatid. Hirap padin tanggapin ng lahat. Mahirap.

" Why does it have to be them, kuya? Why can't it be me? " sagot ko sakaniya.

I can feel his heartbreak. Sorry, kuya.

" Because you have a purpose, dulcinea. Always remember that. "

" How can you say that i have a purpose? Ano pa silbi ko kung yung pagsisilbihan ko buong buhay ko ay iniwan na 'ko? Iniwan na tayo? " i looked up to him, his lips tremble, his brown eyes brimmed with tears.

Sorry, Kuya.

" Then we serve each other. Kira, lagi mong tatandaan ito. " napahikbi ako, hindi man naabutan ni Kuya sina Mommy at Daddy, kahit na masakit sa damdamin, hindi nagkulang si Uncle na ipaalala ng ipaalala ang mabuting gawain ng magulang namin.

" You're a Lazaro, always remember that. You and I, we never gave up, right? If you can't fight anymore, then let me fight for you. "

Napatango na lamang ako sa sinabi ni kuya.

" Always remember that this Asher Forde Lazaro will always be by your side. Through thick or thin. " inilahad nito ang pinky finger. Our promise.

" Through thick or thin, Kuya. "