The Brotherhood

Chapter 1

Erin

Today is my 18th birthday.

My grandma always says to me that it's the most important day in a woman's life. Not because I am now an eligible bachelorette but because I now have the freedom to do things that I am passionate on doing.

For her, freedom is the most important thing. Sabi niya sa'kin, I must fight whenever I feel that my freedom is taken away from me. Sabi niya, being free is being saved.

That's why my parents and our birthday planners did their best to make my debut a memorable one.

But it will always be a bad memory for me.

She died.

My grandma died on my birthday.

Just when the 18 dances were finished, I was told that granny died of a heart attack.

My granny, the one who taught me how to sing and play the piano. My granny, who takes me out of the house whenever my parents are fighting. My granny who I grew up with. My granny who loved me unconditionally. The only woman who saw my value as an individual, not just because I am my father's daughter.

My granny dies alone while I was celebrating downstairs.

I drove all the way to our beach house using Zyair's car.

This is also where she and grandpa taught me how to swim.

So, I swam to the ocean illuminated by the moon. Swimming, just swimming, never stopping... not even gasping for air.

I was sobbing. Crying. Dying.

And then giant a wave crashed on me. Pushing me to the sea floor. Drowning me.

Or so I thought.

I felt someone grabbed my arm.

I was half conscious when I heard his voice saying, "Erin, stay with me."

That was the moment I fell in love with him.

*phone rings*

Nagising ako dahil sa pesteng Pink Panther background music na ginawang ringtone ni Zeyn sa cellphone ko. Every time na nahahawakan niya 'tong phone ko, lagi niyang pinapalitan ang ringtone. Pink Panther this week kasi naka all pink ako nung isang araw. Parang tanga lang.

I picked up my phone, "Oh?"

It was Zyair on the other line. ["Airport, 15 minutes."] Aba, makautos naman talaga eh noh? 'Kala mo mas matanda siya sa'kin. I'm a year older than him. I'm still his big sister.

"Kapal, kakagising ko lang. 2 hours."

["Magsisimula na yung race in an hour."] Eto na nga bang sinasabi ko. Bukas pa dapat 'yang race na yan tapos naisipan na naman i-move bigla bigla. 'Di man lang ako ininform eh ako 'tong manager nila. Hay nako, sarap kaltukan ng leader nila.

"45 minutes."

["Magagalit si Raven. Ikaw pa naman mag-oopening sa vlog, diba? Dali na."]

Napa buntong hininga ako. Kung di ko lang mahal 'tong mga 'to lalo na yung isa... ewan ko na lang.

"You could've informed me last night. 40 minutes."

["Ngayong umaga lang din ako nainform, just so you know."]