My phone is ringing none stop since last night. Hindi ako umuwi sa amin. Wala namang mag-aalala. Ah meron pala, si kuya. And he is the reason why my phone is draining. I picked up the phone bago pa sumabog yun kaka-ring.
"Ishia! Where are you? I've been calling you for a hundred times since last night. You're making me worried and seems like you don't care!"
"Ayos lang ako. Buhay pa kaya wag ka nang mag-alala." Naiintindihan ko na ganyan sya. I am the only family he have and he is the only family I have too.
I heard him sighed deeply. Mukhang pinag alala ko nga sya talaga ng sobra. I can't help but to smile thinking that my brother is having a hard time understanding me. Laging syang ganyan kala mo bata pa ako kung tratuhin.
"Buhay ka pa nga talaga dahil pinasakit mo na naman ulo kong babae ka! Alam mo bang wala pa akong tulog kakatawag at kakahanap sayo? Asan ka ba? Umuwi ka na. Siguraduhin mo lang na pag nakita kita maayos yang itsura mo at wala akong makikitang kahit isang gasgas o sugat man lang. Dahil kung hindi makakatikim ka ng batok sakin!" Napapikit akong nilayo ang phone sa tenga ko. Nagalit na nga talaga siguro sa akin 'to. Kung pagagalitan nya kasi ako dati laging kalmado palibhasa doktor.
"I'm sorry kuya. Don't worry uuwi na ako tsaka matulog ka na rin."
"Hihintayin kitang makauwi bago matulog. Mag ingat ka sa pagda-drive" Kalmado na sya habang nagsasalita.
"Sige kuya, bye" pinatay ko na yung tawag at tumayo na sa higaan. I faced the mirror, I can't see any traces of tears last night. Good. Baka lalo pang mag-alala si kuya pag nalamang n'yang umiyak ako ng sobra kagabi. I walk to the bathroom and open the shower. I felt a little sting from my hand nang mabasa ito ng tubig. May maliliit na sugat 'yon and I think I know where it came from. I went to my personal gym last night and used the punching bag without any gloves to release my frustrations and anger. I guess I have to hide it para hindi makita ni kuya baka mabatukan pa ako n'un.
I choose to wear a black long sleeves sweater that covers my hands and a white jeans with a sneakers. I was walking my way to the condo's elevator when a man bump into me.
He looked at me without saying anything and go straight to the open door of the elevator. Jerk. Hindi man lang nag sorry. So instead of bothering myself, I just followed him and enter the elevator too. Pinindot ko ang ground floor button at sumandig sa walls while crossing my arms. Nasa harap ko yung lalaking bumangga sa akin. He is tall maybe around 5'10 or '11. He looks like a businessman in his formal gray suit. Hindi ko masyadong nakita ang mukha nya dahil mabilis lang n'ya akong tiningnan kanina. He looks good though from the back view but still a jerk for me.
I heard the familiar ting sound and the elevator's door opened. The man walk outside but before the door closed he turn to me and plaster a smirk that gave me chills all over my body.
O...kay? What was that?
WEIRD. I was driving my car on my way home and still thinking about that guy. At first I thought that he is a jerk. Now for me he is weird. A weird jerk.
I park the car inside our garage and stay a little longer, contemplating about what happened a while ago. Honestly, that guy has the looks. And that smirk literally gave me a sudden goosebumps. There is something about him and I don't know what it is.
My deep thoughts was disturb by the man outside my car, knocking repeatedly . Nginitian ko s'ya pero sinimagutan n'ya lang ako. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan at hindi na nagulat ng bigla akong niyakap ni kuya. This is the comfort that I need. After the unexpected talk with that old man hindi na ako mapakali simula pa ka gabi.
"Ikaw na babae ka kung hindi lang kita kapatid talagang ikakadena kita. Kung saan saan ka na lang lagi nagpupunta."
"Maayos naman ako kaya wag ka ng highblood. Pumasok na lang tayo sa loob at matulog ka na. Hindi ka na gwapo dahil sa mga eyes bags mo. Ipagluluto na lang kita ng lunch mo pagkagising mo. Peace offering ko sayo."
"Siguraduhin mo lang na paborito ko yan. At ipapaalala ko lang sayo, kahit may eye bags, gwapo pa rin ako. Sige na pasok na tayo." Ang yabang ng doktor na 'to. Sige pagbigyan baka umiyak pag tinutulan.
Sabay kaming pumasok ni kuya sa bahay. Dalawa lang kaming nakatira dito. And every weekend lang din may pumupuntang katulong para mag linis. I was heading to the kitchen and he was walking upstairs when suddenly kuya called my attention.
"Ishia"
I face him.
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?" I didn't expect that. Am I okay? I don't know. But I choose to lie to him. Ayokong mag worry pa s'ya lalo sa akin.
"Of course kuya! Ako pa ba?"
He smiled at me gently.
"Kuya is always here for bunso. Remember that Shia" I nodded to him while smiling. I know kuya. I know. You never left me and you always chose me every time. And for that I am thankful to have you as my brother.
BINABASA MO ANG
Not So Damsel In Distress
Azione"How can I stop holding a gun if they are all pointing arrows?"
