Secret Song

Track_05

JAVI

Cruel by Jeff Bernat

I realized sleep is for the weak. I am weak and I need sleep.

"Oh, the audacity to sleep in! Wake up, Javier!" my dear sister barged in my room as I laid in bed on my stomach. I'm still groggy from getting wasted last night, but I was forced to wake up by the rudest person in my life: Ate Jana. She pulled the drapes open, so sunlight flooded in my room. I almost got blind. "Wake up and fix the mess you made!" she bellowed and slapped my naked butt.

I rubbed the part where it stung the most and grabbed the duvet to cover my lower part. "Ugh. My head hurts," I mumbled as I lazily got up, squinting my eyes from the burst of light coming in through my windows and balcony.

I heard her scoffed. "That's nothing in comparison to the headache you're giving me right now," she said, massaging her temples.

My brows furrowed. "What did I do to you?" I asked, still in a daze. I looked at her with sleepy eyes.

She rolled her eyes and walked towards my bedroom door as if she's leaving. But then she turned to me and made circular gestures with her right hand, "Pull this shit together first and then we'll talk over brunch. Be downstairs in 10." She rolled her eyes and fluffed up her hair in a low bun, then left me dumbfounded.

I held my aching head as if to stop it from splitting in half. "Fucking hangover," I muttered as I stood to draw the drapes. I don't mind walking in my birthday suit in my room, any onlooker is welcome if it's on a normal day, but I want some privacy today. Plus, my eyes and my head ache from the brightness of the sun. After drawing the curtains, I went to the bathroom to take a bath. When Ate Jana says she'll see you in ten, she really means it. You wouldn't want to keep her waiting because otherwise, she'll turn into a monster even scarier than our mother. When done, I simply pulled a pair of underwear, sweatpants, and a plain white shirt, then wore my black leather slip-ons.

I was descending the stairs when I heard my parents and my sister talking. They're in the living room. "It's all over the news, dad," Ate Jana said, exasperated. "I can see that, but we need your brother to fix this on his own first, and then we help when he's out of moves," dad replied calmly.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked when I reached the bottom flight of stairs. "I need to fix what?"

Ate Jana threw her hands in the air and plopped herself down on the sofa. "The man is clueless! The alcohol probably ate away his remaining brain cells," she added and shook her head in disappointment.

I glared at her but she glared back at me. I sighed. "Exactly why I'm asking. Why don't you just tell me what this is all about?" I said and took a seat on the other end of the sofa my sister was seated. She looked at me like she's throwing daggers.

Mom sighed and sipped on her tea cup first before asking me, "Did you call Nicholette last night?" She's holding her cup with both of her hands as if it's going to break anytime.

My brows furrowed as I tried to remember if I did. And then it hit me. "Oh, shit!" I exclaimed as memories of whatever transpired last night flooded in. They all groaned, sighed, and palmed their faces at the same time.

"Jesus, Javi!" my sister exclaimed. "Why would— Oh, I can't even!"

Dad shook his head as he watched me. Mom closed her eyes tightly as though that would erase whatever mistake I made.

"Ese fue un movimiento estúpido, Javi!" Ate Jana continued. "What were you thinking?"

I palmed my face in dismay. "I was drunk, okay?"