Stolen || COMPLETED

01

The next morning, I woke up with swollen eyes. I didn't mind it, though. I just went straight to the cr to take a bath so I could go to school.

When I was done with everything, I checked myself on the mirror first before getting downstair. Naabutan ko sila Mommy, Daddy, Kuya at Jian na kumakain na sa hapag. Tahimik akong lumapit at tumabi sa kapatid ko.

"Ate!" Niyakap ako ni Jian. Napangiti ako dahil doon kaya niyakap ko rin siya pabalik. Si Jian na lang ang kaisa-isang dahilan kung bakit kahit papaano ay sumasaya at kinakaya kong manatili sa bahay na ito.

I can't wait to be successful so I could leave this miserable house.

"Jian, eat your food." Utos ni Mommy.

Ngunit ang kapatid ko ay tila walang narinig. Patuloy lang siya sa pagtitig sa akin. Tinagilid niya ang ulo niya at nanliliit ang mga mata, like as if he's examining me.

"Something is wrong with your eyes. Did you cry, Ate?" Inosenteng tanong niya. Tipid akong ngumiti at umiling.

"Puyat lang," sabi ko na lang.

Nang matapos ang breakfast ay dumating na ang school bus ni Jian kaya hinatid ko na siya sa labas. Diretso na sana ako sa kotse kung saan naroroon si Manong Edgar kaya lang tinawag ako ni Kuya Adam.

"Get in," utos niya at sumakay na sa kotse. Kunot-noo akong pumasok sa may shotgun seat ng kotse niya.

"Bakit?"

"Anong bakit?"

"Bakit mo 'ko tinawag? May sasabihin ka ba? Hinihintay ako ni Manong. Mali-late na ako,"

"Silly, ihahatid na kita,"

"Ay gano'n?" Awkward akong tumawa.

"Pinagalitan ka ulit?" Tanong niya habang nakatingin sa daan. Tumango ako.

"Ano bang bago?"

Si Kuya... okay naman siya, e. Hindi nga lang kami close tulad ng ibang mga mag-kuya. Kami 'yong tipong cool lang sa isa't-isa. Maybe because we did not grow up together. I was 7 when he went to the US for some reasons I didn't know. He was 11 back then. As far as I remember, close kami dati pero noong bumalik siya, I feel like I couldn't reach him anymore.

He's a snob, too that's why I'm afraid to approach him 'cause I feel like he'll just shoo me away. So I don't really talk or interact with him because he is really intimidating for me.

I'd prefer him approaching me first than the other way around.

"Hey, how was it? Uh-oh..." Lexie shut her mouth up when she saw my how fucked up my eyes are.

"Love you, bub. You'll be fine," Kesha put me inside a warm embrace.

"Guys, I'm fine. Don't worry," I smiled so they would believe me.

Magsasalita pa sana si Kesha kaya lang pumasok na si Ma'am.

"Good morning," bati nito kaya tumayo rin kami para bumati. Nagcheck si Ma'am ng attendance 'pagkatapos noon.

"Lacsamana?"

"I'm here, po," si Lexie.

"Mendoza?"

"Ma'am," tamad na sagot ni Kesha.

"Mortell?"

"Present," sagot ko.