No Other Choice

Chapter 2

Time flew fast. It has already been 6 months since the first day of school. Kitty and I have adjusted na rin naman, but the people here? I don't think so.

I usually get the side eye look from a lot of people, especially when I am with my kuya and his friends. Ugh, I get it! They're probably just jealous of me because I am my brother's sister and his friends are my friends as well. Well, not all though. Joaquin always looks masungit whenever I'm with them but when it's just them, he always looks like he's having fun.

"Uy, Tamara," Chris called. "Sabay ka na samin mag-lunch mamaya."

"Uhm, sorry. Nagsabi na kasi ako kay kuya eh. Next time, maybe?" Sagot ko. Tumango naman siya agad at bumalik sa upuan niya. Good thing na he's not the type of guy na mapilit or else, kuya will have to handle him. Kuya's the protective type pa naman.

When the bell rang, Kitty and I went to the comfort room to fix ourselves up before going to the cafeteria. Kitty let me try her new lip tint, which was in pink. When kuya's friends noticed, they immediately teased me.

"Oy oy, Enzo! Tignan mo 'tong kapatid mo." pang-aasar ni Nicholas.

"Nicholas, you're too loud!" sabi ko sabay upo. Bakit ako kinakabahan sa magiging reaction ni kuya?

"Tamara, ano yang nasa labi mo, ha?" bungad ni kuya. Agad namang tumawa si Nicholas at inulit pa ang sinabi ko in his mocking voice.

"Nicholas, you're too loud! ka pa ha. 'Yan napapala mo." sabi niya sabay tumawa ulit.

"Mabulunan ka sana." bulong ko na mas nagpatawa naman sa kanya. He's so annoying!

Isang subject two subjects na lang at I'm done for the day. Hindi kami sabay ni kuya uuwi kasi may basketball practice raw sila. Intrams na kasi nila and kasama silang magkakaibigan sa team ng mga grade 12. Sasabay na lang ako kay Kitsch pauwi today but since it's Friday, I decided to go to her place. Mommy will allow me naman since she knows Kitty since we were young. Family friend din namin yung family nila.

When we got to her house, we stayed in her room.

"What do you think of Chris?" I asked her.

"He's fine. I mean, he looks nice and all, pero I don't think he's the serious-type when it comes to relationships. Why?"

"Wala naman, just asked." sagot ko at humarap uli sa phone ko.

"Oh no, don't think about getting into a relationship! We're still young! Your kuya's gonna kill your boyfriend din if ever." kabadong sagot niya.

"Girl, chill. I just asked kasi he always looks for ways to talk to me. And parang kanina, he asked me again to join them for lunch but sis, I'll never join them. I mean, their circle? Ha, full of fake people." napailing pa ako.

"I also noticed how his girl friends look at us lalo na when we're with your kuya's friends, ang lala girl. If looks could kill, matagal na tayong wala."

"Yeah, I noticed that too. Alam mo it's really a good thing na we're still together ngayon. I don't think I'll have friends at that school, 'no. I think a lot of people thinks that I'm a brat. I may be conyo, yes, but I'm not a brat!"

I continued ranting until tita called us for dinner. We talked about Kitsch and I's plans for our next school year. Hindi ko napapansin yung oras. Ilang months na lang, we'll be grade 8 na. Kuya and his friends will be in uni. I'm happy for them, but I am also worrying about Kitty and I. We got used to kuya and his friends having our back. Paano na pag they graduate?

After dinner, ipinahatid na ako ni tita sa driver nila. I thanked them before I got in the car. I immediately texted my mom to tell her na pauwi na ako.

When I got home, I texted Kitty and Tita para hindi sila mag-worry. I thanked their driver rin when I got out of the car.

When I entered the house, Kuya was still not home. Looks like he's coming home late.

Hinanap ko si mommy and I saw her in the office, doing some paperwork. I went to her and kissed her cheek.

"Mommy, what time raw uuwi si kuya?"

"I'm not sure, baby. But looks like he's going to eat with his teammates since late na. Why?"

"Wala naman, mommy. Sige po, mag-aayos po muna ako. If ever you need me, I'll be in my room lang po." sabi ko at lumabas na ng office.

I took a shower and changed into comfy clothes. I was blowdrying my hair when my phone beeped.

Kuya: I'm on my way home. Please tell mom.

Me: Okay kuya, ingat!

I immediately went to mom para sabihin na pauwi na si kuya. Wala pa rin si dad, ah? Parang ang busy naman ngayon nila mommy. Matapos kong sabihin na pauwi na si kuya, bumalik na uli ako sa room ko.

I was scrolling through facebook when I stumbled upon a photo na tagged si kuya and his friends. It was a post from his teammate. Picture nilang team with a caption "Prepping."

I checked the tagged people. Nicholas and Angelo are already my friends. I looked at the other people's profile but stopped when I noticed one name.

"May facebook pala 'to," I said as I clicked on Nicholas's account. I was checking his profile but got bored when I cannot see anything.

"Ano ba 'yan, napaka-private naman."

I was about to exit from his profile when I accidentally sent him a friend request. Nanlaki yung mata ko. I was trying to process what just happened when a notification popped.

Joaquin Cortez accepted your friend request.

Oh crap.