I Would Hate To Be You

Chapter 26 [late-night talks]

Chapter 26

Guain was the one who drove the car going home. Japheth, as usual, was just quiet on the shotgun seat. He didn't initiate conversations, but he responded to all of Guian's stories and shenanigans.

But aside from that, the ride going home was silent, in general. Because Jonas was sleeping. Sobrang napagod siya sa lahat ng activities na ginawa namin sa araw na 'to. His head is on my lap and I'm tousling his hair—just like how his Kuya Japheth does it. And he loves it. I know because when I tried to stop to check my phone, he quickly looked for my hand and put it back to his hair.

For dinner, we decided to stop by another McDo drive-thru and ordered fries again, for the three of us. And no, I didn't have another iced coffee. Baka kasi lalo akong hindi makatulog. Ngayong nalaman ko pang . . . 

"We're here," announced G. Nandito na kami sa tapat ng bahay nina Japheth. Sila ang unang ida-drop off. Next ako.

Japheth unbuckled his seatbelt and alighted.

"I'm sorry. Were you uncomfortable?" he asked me when he saw Jonas still sleeping. 

"Hindi," sagot ko habang umiiling.

"Thank you so much, Atom," he said, smiling. He leaned closer and gently tousled Jonas' hair. "Jonas," malambing na tawag niya sa kapatid habang mahinang tinatapik ito.

I couldn't help but stare at him while he does that.

After almost a minute, Jonas finally woke up. When he sat down, his eyes are still half-closed. Antok na antok pa siya.

"Let's go, Jonas?" mahinahong tanong sa kaniya ni Japheth.

The kid smiled at him, then he looked at me. He gave me a surprise hug and said, "Thank you, Ate Atom!"

Hinaplos ko ang buhok niya. "You're welcome. See you soon," I told him while rubbing his back. Mas humigpit lalo ang yakap niya sa'kin. I don't want to let him go.

He finally loosened his hug and smiled at me before alighting the car.

Jonas waved at me and said, "Bye, Ate Atom!"

"Bye, Jonas," I told him, smiling. I looked up to his brother and said, "Goodnight, Japh."

Half-smiling, he returned it to me, "Goodnight, Atom." He looked at G and said, "Guian, ingat. Text me when you get home."

"Ito naman, sobrang clingy. Magpa-miss ka naman," biro ni G sa kaibigan. Sobrang kulit.

Japh just blew air on his cheeks and bit his lower lip.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang matawa.

He held Jonas' shoulder and they both walked toward their gate.

Lumipat ako mula sa likod papunta sa shotgun seat. Bago ko sinarado ang car window, nag-wave ako sa kanilang dalawa. Tinaas ko lang ulit nang tuluyan na silang makapasok sa bahay.

When they already got in, G started maneuvering the car.

Tinanong ako ni G kung gusto kong magpatugtog ng kanta mula sa phone ko, sabi ko hindi na. Sinandal ko lang ang siko ko sa bintana habang bumabiyahe kami papunta sa bahay. Nakatingin ako sa labas ng sasakyan at pinagmamasdan ang mga kotse na kasabay namin.

Nawala lang ako sa pagkakatulala ko nang mag-vibrate ang phone ko.

Kuya: San ka na?

Kanina ko pa ka-text 'tong kuya ko na sobrang paranoid. Sina Mama at Papa nga dalawang beses ko lang sinendan ng messages. Para sabihin na nasa Tagaytay na kami at no'ng pauwi na kami.