Obsessive Love Disorder 1

Chapter 5

"Gomez, eto na pala 'yong notebook mo. Salamat," nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya.

Kinuha niya iyon. "Sige, walang anuman."
Pagkasabi niya no'n, umalis na siya.

•••

Ilang oras ang lumipas at umuwi na kami. Pagkalabas ko pa lang ng gate, nakita ko na sina Illy at Clai. Ay, Diyos ko. Ano na naman 'tong drama nila?

Lumapit ako sa kanila, nakapamewang pa.

"What's your problem, ATE?" irita kong tanong kay Illy.

Agad niya akong hinila palayo kay Clai. Napansin kong hindi pa rin ako tinitingnan ni Clai kahit isang beses. Pinagalitan ba 'to? May nag-away bang mag-ate? Again?

Nang makalayo-layo na kami, binitawan niya ako at hinarap ako.

"Avia, pwede mo ba akong tulungan, please?" nagmamakaawa niyang sabi.

Alam ko na 'to. Magpapatulong na naman sa lovelife nila. Break kaya muna kayo? Char. Joke lang.

"Alam kong nagtatampo na si Nathan. Gusto kong makabawi sa kanya. Pwede mo bang bantayan si Clai? Doon ka muna sa bahay namin tumira, pleaseee~"

Naiwas ako ng tingin. Well... hindi pa naman uuwi si mama. At ang boring din sa bahay pag ako lang.

"Sige," sagot ko.

Agad niya akong niyakap. "Salamat, Avia!"

"Walang anuman."

She pulled away and hurriedly began to speak. "Ikaw na bahala kay Clai! Hiramin mo na lahat ng gamit ko! Bye!"

At bago pa ako makapagsalita... umalis na siya.

"What the—" napabuntong-hininga ako at tumingin kay Clai.

Nakayuko siya. Tahimik. What could possibly be wrong with this kid?

Lumapit ako. "Clai, doon muna ako titira sa bahay mo hanggang hindi pa nakakauwi 'yong ate mo."

"Why? Where did she go?" he asked, still refusing to look at me.

"Pumunta siya kay Nathan," sagot ko habang nagsimula kaming maglakad.

Tahimik pa rin siya. Sobrang unusual kasi hindi naman siya ganito dati.

•••

When we entered their house, I slipped off my slippers. The house was beautiful—bright, clean, with floral accents along the ceiling. It looked straight out of Pinterest.

"Wow... your house is actually beautiful," I said in awe.

He still didn't answer. I was worried, but I decided not to push him.

"Which room is your sister's?" I asked.

He started walking, so I followed him. When we reached the room, he opened the door. The moment I stepped inside, I was amazed again.

The room was decorated in pink and white. Fairy lights lined the walls. Everything was soft and aesthetic—like an ethereal princess's room.

Okay, I already have an idea for my own room's design.

I opened Illy's closet. The clothes were gorgeous—almost influencer-worthy. As I picked through the clothes, I could feel Clai staring at me. The kind of stare that felt like he was scanning me from head to toe.

But I ignored it. I was busy.

"You never told me that you went out with Nathan yesterday."

I froze.

I looked at him, my brows furrowing.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"Ang saya-saya niyo. Pwede na kayong pagkamalang magjowa," seryoso niyang sagot.

Natawa ako. "Hahaha, are you jealous?"

"Oo. Nagseselos ako."

Natigil ang tawa ko. Ang seryoso ng mukha niya. At bakit parang inaakusa niya akong nag-che-cheat? E hindi ko naman siya jowa. Tsaka—yuck. Ayoko nga sa bata.

"Clai, kaibigan ko lang si Nathan. May problema kasi siya kahapon kaya pinasaya ko lang saglit." Then I mentally paused. Wait... bakit ba ako nag-e-explain sa kanya? Hindi siya sumagot. Kita sa mata niya—hindi siya convinced. "Clai, matanda na si Nathan. Nineteen na siya. Ako? Fourteen pa lang—"

"Age doesn't matter," cold niyang sabat.

Napahinto ako. Natawa ako nang marahan pero lumabas din agad—dahil iba ang tingin niya.
Para siyang may balak pumatay.

"Clai, hindi ako pumapatol sa matatanda."

"Eh sa bata?"
Diretso niyang tanong.

Napatingin ulit ako sa kanya. Weird. Pero wala na siyang galit sa mukha—ang hinihintay na lang niya ay sagot.

"Lalong-lalo na sa bata," sagot ko.

I could see it on his face—he was hurt. Bigla niya akong niyakap. Mahigpit.

"Kung magiging mature ba ako, ate... mamahalin mo ba ako?" bulong niya.

"Clai, hindi mo naman kailangan magbago para mahalin kita." Kumalas siya, kita ko ang gulat sa mata niya.

"Mahal kita, Clai." I smiled.

As a friend, syempre.

•••

As always, natutulog kami nang magkayakap. Normal na 'yon sa amin—sanay na.

"Ate... I love you," he whispered before I fell asleep.

I assumed he only meant it as sibling-like affection, so I didn't think much of it.

"I love you too, Clai," I replied.

"I'm happy..." I heard him whisper.

I didn't think much of it and simply went back to sleep.

•••

I woke up to the sunlight streaming through the window. When I opened my eyes— he was already staring at me.

"C-Clai? Why?" I asked nervously.

"No matter what you do, Ate... you're still beautiful," he said, his gaze steady.

I rolled my eyes with a smile. "Well, I was born beautiful."

He suddenly hugged me.

"I'll make sure you never leave me," he whispered.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm still here in the Philippines."

But I'll be going back to Japan after a year...

"Yeah, you're here now. But I have to stay alert... because someone else might take you away in an instant."

Napatingin ako. What. Ano daw? Ang weird talaga nila magkapatid. Confirmed.