Leanna Clavelle | COMPLETED

Phase Two

A fine Sunday morning came and obviously, we don't have class. For some other people, Sunday is a family day but sadly, for Daddy, there's no family day in his vocabulary and besides, dad's not here anymore for he is out of the country for business matters. Despite that though, Kuya Declan never failed to be with me every Sunday. He said that Sunday should always be our day for it is the only day of the week that he's free, except those days that he's busy with his studies. Pero kahit naman na busy siya ay gumagawa pa rin siya ng paraan para isingit ako sa kanyang time. He treasures me so much that he'd always support me with what I want. Pero hindi ako sigurado ako kung papayag ba siya sa gusto ko ngayon.

"Kuya please..." I pleaded at Kuya Declan as I stalked him towards the swimming pool.

I stopped when he stopped. He sighed and faced me like he was done with my being persistent. I smiled at him widely to convince him to agree to my bidding.

"Clavelle..." panimula niya sabay bagsak ng kanyang mga balikat. I projected my angelic face with puppy eyes just to get his sympathy. He bit his lower lip to halt his peeping smile, but he failed. "Stop that! It doesn't suit you." He chuckled then pinched my cheeks.

Slowly, my smile faded as my lips pouted. "Kuya naman!" maktol ko tapos inalis ang kanyang kamay sa aking pisngi at nilagpasan na siya. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad patungong pool area pagkatapos ay umupo sa isang sun lounger. I drew my arms across my chest and frowned. Hindi naman talaga ako nagtatampo kay kuya dahil sa hindi niya pag payag sa gusto kong mangyari, ang totoo sinusubukan ko lang naman siya kung hanggang kailan niya ako matiis.

Okay lang naman na hindi siya pumayag pero syempre mas magiging masaya ako pag pamayag siya.

Nung araw kasing may nakita akong may nagpaparenta ng room malapit sa school ay agad kong nipiktyuran ang mga detalye. I know it's impossible that Kuya Declan will let me but at least I wanna try.

Gusto ko sanang mangupahan sa isang room doon, I want to try to live alone. I don't know if dad will let it happen in the future, but I am sure that I will leave that house if the time comes where I can stand alone and be independent. Gusto ko nang sanayin ang aking sarili para hindi na ako mahirapan pag umalis na ako rito sa bahay. I don't want to be dependent on them but of course, if Kuya will let me. Nasa kanya pa rin ang desisyon at tatanggapin ko kung hindi siya papayag sa gusto kong mangyari.

Alam ko rin sa sarili ko na malabong mangyari ang gusto kong ito dahil sa oras na malaman ito ni Daddy, hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin. Kaya nga ako humihingi ng tulong kay kuya, pero kung ayaw niya talaga sa plano ko, wala akong magagawa. Ayaw ko namang mapahamak o madamay pa si kuya nang dahil lang sa pansariling kagustuhan.

Kuya Declan is three years older than me. In our own home, he's my shield from daddy, but in the end, I'll always stop him from defending me because I don't want him to be treated by dad like how I am being treated. He's so protective of me like how I am protective of him also.

Naramdaman kong umupo sa aking tabi si kuya at huminga ng malalim, problemado ata dahil sa akin.

"You really want to leave me here alone, huh?" He asked in a calm tone, but his words surprised me. Hindi ko inakala na iyon pala ang kanyag pagkakaintindi sa request ko. "I understand if you want to leave this house--"

I cut him off. "Kuya, hindi naman kita iiwan dito mag-isa, of course, I won't do that!" I paused and gazed at him. "Remember? We promised each other that we'll leave this house together." I smiled.

"Yeah, I remember." He said hoarsely while looking at me intently.

I sighed.

"The reason why I want to live in that apartment is I want to try to live alone and simply. It doesn't mean that I will leave you here alone. It's not permanent Kuya, okay? Tsaka lang naman ako doon titira pag may business trip si Daddy at wala siya dito sa bahay. Tapos pag uuwi na si dad, balik ulit ako dito para hindi niya malaman, diba?" I explained. "At isa pa, mahal na mahal kaya ako ni Yaya Gilda kaya alam kong pagtatakpan din niya ako kay daddy. You can always visit me there naman or much better kung tayong dalawa!" I continued to elucidate my plan. "But if you won't agree with me, okay lang din naman." I smiled to assure him that it's really fine if he'll still say no.