Chapter 10
There was a long silence the crept in inside his cars along with our stares to one another. I suddenly feel breathless with those stares he gives. Chance? With him? I may not be a party goer nor a socialite kind of person but I'm not that stupid when it comes to like this.
"Thanks for the ride." I said at dali-daling binuksan ang pinto ng kotse niya at saka bumaba na, leaving him there without answering his question. Why should i?
The rain already stop when I hopped out of his car. I was about to close the door when suddenly speak up.
"You still owe me something." he said referring to the handkerchief he returned the other day.
"Drive safely." that's what I said and shut the door close as I enter our gate and close it.
It's better to get away from him. I don't even know him that yet and he wants me to give him a chance? What chance? To know him better than the first thing I knew about him? The cr thing? Hindi na ata magbabago ang isip ko sa kaniya. He's not even my type to begin with. Oo, guwapo siya, sobrang guwapo na kahit sino magkakandarapa sa kaniya but, I prefer a man who don't do make outs in a public place.
Pumasok ako sa loob ng bahay and nadatnan ko ang kotse ni kuya sa garahe. He's probably home na, I wonder kung bakit hindi siya ang sumundo sa'kin kanina at bakit kailangan niya pang paki-usapan kaibigan niya.
Pumunta ako sa may sala and nadatnan na walang tao roon, I look up the stairs and found Kuya Ethan na kakababa lang ng hagdan. His hair was wet, looks like kakaligo niya lang.
"Kuya? Na-ulanan ka ba sa labas?" I immediately asked him when he step closer.
Nilagpasan niya ako at dumiretso sa sofa at umupo roon, nakahilig ang ulo sa backrest at nakapikit ang kaniyang mga mata.
"You're home. Kiel took you?" he asked ignoring my question. I rolled my eyes went to him.
"Yes. And why is that? You can pick me up there, kami ni Trisha." I snorted out.
He groan as if he's a bit tired to even open his eyes.
"May kailangan akon gawin kanina, that's why I ask Kiel to fetch you instead. Besides, kaka-uwi lang ni Mama rito, I need to settle things." he faltered.
"He did mentioned that to me." I said.
He shot a glance to me and I just realize that I am fully soaked because of the rain. Hawak-hawak ko pa ang jacket ni Jace.
His eyebrows met. "Whose jacket is that?"
Nagulat ako sa tanong niya, "K-kay... Trisha!" I stammered.
Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya and I saw his jaw clenched a bit. "Varsity jacket? Kay Trisha? Naglalaro ng basketball? Si Trisha?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong. I swallowed not wanting him to caught me lying to him. I'm sorry Trish but I need to save my arse right now in front of Kuya.
"Y-yes.. I mean, no! She does not play basketball. Silly of you kuya. A-ano, may nagbigay sa kaniya neto sa game kanina and when it rained, she offer it to me kasi naroon na raw yung friend niya na may sudden emergency kaya she went off first, leaving this jacket to me. Para hindi raw ako mabasa. It's useful kaya, kahit papaano." I explained as I avoided his gaze.
"Go upstairs and change your clothes. Darating na si Mama rito." he just said and I immediately went to my room and took a bath.
After changing into a comfortable t-shirt and a sweat pants, I charged my phone. I heard the sound of our car and immediately went downstairs. I saw my mom in her luggage and some stuffs she's carrying while entering the house. I smiled knowing that she's safe. I didn't have my dad anymore, he died when Kuya Ethan was 19 and I was 15 back then. He died in an accident, someone intentionally bumped his car when he is driving home late at night due to a business meeting. Yun ang sabi sa imbestigasyon na naalala ko at naintidihan ko sa mga panahong iyon. I was young and all I need to do is mourn for my father's death. My mom was devastated and heartbroken during that time. She barely eats and goes out of her room. Naging ganoon si Mama for almost five months but then she realized that she still need to live for us, para sa'min ni Kuya. That's why she went out again and took the business where my Father has left. She's an epitome of a great and strong woman that I know. Standing as father and a mother to us. I really love my mom, more than anyone in this lifetime.
It was really hard for her to do that, pero kinaya niya iyon para sa'min. She's attending meetings, trips everywhere just for the business and for us. Kaya naman ngayon, Kuya Ethan promised to help our mom sa business family namin. That's why he's the successor of the company and later he would take mom's position sa tamang panahon.
"Ma!" I screamed and went to hug her tightly. She laughed at my action and hugged me back.
"I miss you so much." I said still hugging her.
"Aw, I miss you more my baby girl." she said pulling me from the hug and gives me a sweet kiss on the cheek.
"How's the trip and the flight, Ma?" tanong ni Kuya sa likod namin.
"Tiring, son. The business trip went well, I get to sign the most eligible business tycoon for our business! Kaya there's a huge project that we need to take seriously and immediately." she said as she sat down on the settee and remove her heels. She's a simple business woman that do not want any single jewelry hanging on to his body or any expensive bag or shoes to bragged out. Siguro nga ay namana ko yung ganyang attitude ni Mama, simple lang ang gusto.
"Maybe you should take a rest muna, Mama. We'll talk later about the business and leave everything to me, in the mean time." Kuya said while placing his hands inside his pocket.
"Yes, I will. Thank you for being my son, Ethan." my mom said giving her sweet smile.
"You should rest. It's a long flight pa naman, Ma." I said and she nodded as she softly patting my head like I was a child.
"Manang, pakidala na lang po yung mga gamit ni Mama sa taas." utos ni Kuya sa aming kasambahay at tumayo na si Mama mula sa pagkaka-upo.
"I'll just take my rest and later we will eat dinner outside." she said and we just nodded. She give me a kiss on the forehead at ganundin kay Kuya. Nasa unang hakbang pa lang si Mama nang lumingon siya muli sa gawi namin.
She called Kuya's name. "Ethan, how's Cheska? Are you two going out well?"
Kumunot naman ang noo sa tanong ni Mama. I know ate Cheska for she was the girl that paired with Kuya Ethan during his first year sa college. It was a business dinner with my mom's closest friend that happened to be her business partner too. Tinutukso nila si Kuya at Cheska na magdate that time, pero they were still studying and I'm not interested that time. Pero I heard that naging sila during second year ni Kuya Ethan. I asked him one time, if he was sure na kay Ate Cheska knowing all the pressures and all from mom and her friend that time. He said na para kay Mama naman daw and para sa business so why not.
Pero I felt that napipilitan lang siya na pakisamahan si ate Cheska. He's not even taking her to dates, nagkikita lang sila sa school at tuwing may dinner kami with Tita Helen, Cheska's Mom. Kuya seems uninterested with her pero I felt bad for Ate Cheska too, kasi she told me one time na may slight crush daw siya kay Kuya noon pero Kuya didn't mind that though.
Kuya Ethan nodded, "She's fine. We're doing good."
"Naka-usap ko si Helen, when I was in London. She told me na bihira na raw lumabas ang anak niya. You know going out to date. You should often invite her going out sometimes." she said.
Kuya seems not to like mom's idea at all based from his looks. "I will. Magpahinga na po kayo, Ma." he said.
"Okay." and she finally went to her room.
Bumaling ako kay kuya Ethan na noon ay naglalakad na patungong kusina.
"I thought you guys broke up?" tanong ko.
He ignore me and open the fridge. "Kuya, akala ko ba wala na kayo?" tanong ko ulit.
He sighed. "We did broke up, Eunice."
"Then why did you lied earlier?"
"It is not of your concern as far as I remember. Kaya umakyat ka na sa kuwarto mo." he said getting a slice bread and a jam.
"Bakit hindi mo sabihin kay Mama na hindi mo naman pala talaga siya gusto from the very start? Like pinapahirapan mo lang ang sarili mo, Kuya. More likely pinapaasa mo lang si Ate Cheska and everyone around you." I said trying to sound calmly. He stopped for a while.
"Don't tell any single word to mom, Eunice. And hindi ko siya pinapaasa, she knows. Let me handle my own business at ako na ang kumausap kay Mama. I... just need time." sabi niya lang.
I finally heave a sighed and let him do whatever he wants to do with his life.
"Fine. Ikaw bahala, Kuya." I said and leave him there.
