decoding the boys ✔️

6 - don't get involved || edited

Nakauwi na kami. Walang umiimik sa kanila kahit na nakapasok na kami sa bahay. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang bigat at tensyon. Hindi ko tuloy malaman kung ano ang gagawin ko. Naiilang ako. Kahit kasi ang makulit na si Mathev, nananahimik lang. Ano kayang nangyari kanina no'ng iniwan ko sila?

I heaved a sigh. Pinanood ko na lang na iritadong umupo si Kuya Jacob sa sofa na kagad namang ginaya ni Kuya Onyx. The rest of us, kung saan-saan lang muna. We didn't want to get in Kuya Jacob's way. He's got the temper of a mad ape. Destructive.

Halos mapasigaw sa gulat ang mga kasambahay namin nang makita ang hitsura no'ng dalawa. Good thing they didn't ask. They rushed to get some ice packs and ointment instead.

Nanay Rosing tended to Kuya Jacob habang inaasikaso ni Nanay Gina si Kuya Onyx.

"I'm okay," Kuya Jacob grumbled, pushing the wet towel away.

"Pero Jacob-"

"I said I'm fucking okay!"

"Jacob!" saway ni Kuya Travis, clearly frustrated. "Don't vent on them."

Kuya Jacob frowned and crossed his arms. Hindi na siya umangal. Kahit na badtrip siya, he knew his limits.

Habang inaasikaso sila, nilapitan ko ang ibang kasambahay namin para bigyan ng instructions na ayusin yung guest rooms.

I glanced at my cousins. "Sa guest rooms ba kayo o sa kwarto na lang namin?"

Mabilis na sumagot si Kuya Onyx from the sofa. "Do'n ako sa dati kong kwarto! Jav, wag kang papayag na may maka-share ako!"

Ngumuso ako sa kanya. "Oo na. Kayo?" tanong ko sa iba.

"Sa guest room na lang din ako," sagot ni Kuya Nick.

"I'll share with Kuya," dagdag ni Gian.

Bumaling ako sa kambal. "Kayo, paano? Taken na yung dalawang guest rooms?"

Mathev shrugged. "I can stay in your room. I really don't care."

"May sofa bed sa kwarto ko. You can stay there," Kuya Travis told them.

"Tabi kami nito? Ayoko nga," Mathev replied, making face.

"May sofa bed din si Kuya Andrei. E di doon ka na lang. Ang arte," I suggested.

"Now we're talking," sagot niya, sabay ngising parang bata kay Kuya Andrei. "Ano, tol, okay lang sa 'yo?"

"Sige lang, but I'm not sharing my bed," Kuya Andrei said, chuckling.

Hindi pa man kami tapos sa usapan, may narinig akong footsteps sa hagdanan. When I looked up, I saw Mom and Dad coming down. Their eyes widened as soon as they saw Kuya Jacob and Kuya Onyx.

"Jacob! Onyx! What in the world happened to you?" Mom exclaimed, paling at the sight and rushing down to approach them. She checked their faces and sighed when she realized it wasn't anything serious.

Dad crossed his arms. "Jacob, nakipag-away ka na naman?"

Kuya Jacob looked away. Tahimik lang si Kuya Onyx at nakatingin sa sahig. Thank goodness napigilan niya ang dila niyang sumagot.

Mom sighed loudly. "Ano ba'ng gagawin ko sa inyong mga bata kayo? Hindi na kayo natuto! Ilang beses na namin kayong pinagsabihan, hindi ba? Bakit-" Mom was cut off by Dad's hand on her shoulder. She looked at him questioningly. He just shook his head.

Dad cleared his throat. "You boys look like you had a rough night. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Magpahinga na kayo. At kayo," Dad pointed his gaze at us. "Magsitulog na rin kayo. I don't like what happened but it's too late to be discussing this."