Ozone Amiss

Chapter 9 : Brotherhood

                                                                                            KARINA

Graham said he'll be working in his room kaya pagkapasok namin sa unit nila ay doon kaagad kami pumunta. Pumasok kami sa kwarto niya at nadatnan namin siyang ginagawa ang mga relo namin. He waved at us and he returned from working.

"Uh, thank you nga pala sa kanina, Karina", he said at tumingin sa akin. "Ano'ng meron?", tanong ni Cynthia. "She fixed my room for me. I'll consider it as payment na lang", he said and smiled. Muli itong bumalik sa kanyang tinatrabaho. Cynthia showed me a mischievous grin na siya namang kinahiya ko.

Tumayo siya sa tabi ni Graham habang pinapanood siyang magtrabaho while I sat in his bed. Napagawi ang tingin ko sa bedside table niya. Kinuha ko ang picture frame na nandoon at pinagmasdan itong mabuti. It's a picture of the three of them, Lionel, Graham, and Inoichi. Nakangiti silang tatlo at magkaka-akbay.

"Kailan pa 'to", tanong ni Cynthia na hindi ko namalayang nasa tabi ko pala. Muling tumingin sa amin si Graham. Inayos niya muna ang salamin niya saka nagsalita. "Weeks ago, bago pa man kayo dumating. May tig-iisang kopya kaming tatlo. It was taken by Quiver."

"Weeks ago?",

"Lima pa lang kami niyan dito." Matagal na nga. "Quiver and Tyson were the first. Lionel came next. Inoichi, then me", dugtong niya. "--- then Silver, followed by Winchester. Next up is Angelo, and then, Edmund. Yang and Yin were next. Miho went next, followed by Odette. I followed her, and now you, Cynthia", paliwanag ko.

Cynthia nodded at mukhang na-gets niya ang sinabi namin ni Graham. I stared at the picture for a bit longer. I remembered that hugging scene earlier. "You do love them very much, do you?", I asked him.

Tumigil ito sa kanyang ginagawa at bahagyan humarap sa amin. Napangiti ito at tumawa ng mahina. "When a man says he loves another man, ang bakla pakinggan 'di ba. But for them, sige, I'll let you call me gay", he said. It is confirmed. He loves them.

"Hindi ko alam kung may kapatid ba ako sa outside world, pero dito ko nakaramdam ng brotherly love", pagkukwento niya. Napaupo na rin si Cynthia sa kama at nakinig sa kanya.

"Inoichi, despite of his height, acts like the eldest brother. You know, pasmado ang bunganga niya at minsan nakakabastos na. But believe me, iba siya magmahal. Behind that bitchy attitude, he cared for us two all along, aminin man niya 'to o hindi. Lagi niya nga akong pinapaalalahanan na kumain na at maligo. Siya na rin minsan ang nag-aayos ng gamit ko. At kapag nakakatulog na ko sa sobrang pagod, he puts me in my bed and sometimes kisses me good night."

"Lionel acts as the second oldest. He may look like a narcissist, pero I've seen him cared hindi lang sa'min ni Ino, pero sa lahat ng kasama namin. He's positive thinking, alongside with Angelo and Silver, has cured our depressions. He can be a shoulder to cry on, a pillow to rest, and a diary to keep your secrets.

"Sabi nilang dalawa, ako ang bunso sa'ming tatlo, well I believe that. I've showed my immense affection and love among the two of them like a youngest sibling should be. I'm always supportive to them and will cheer for their every achievement, big or small."