Be With You

Chapter 5

"What's your unit floor and number?"

He sighed. "You know what, hindi mo kailangang gawin 'to. Ayokong magka-utang na loob sa'yo."

Hindi ko siya sinagot at lumabas na sa kotse niya at pinagbuksan siya ng pinto sa passenger's seat. I lend my hanx for support but he just slapped it away. Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako at hinayaan siya sa gusto niya.

Three steps and I'm behind him, preventing him from crashing down.

"Sabi ko-"

"Na huwag kang hawakan. Narinig ko. Pero hindi mo kayang maglakad, so stop saying na kaya mo. I have eyes, you moron."

Sa huli ay pumayag siya at hinayaan akong tumulong. We are in front of the elevator, his arms were on my shoulders for support.

"What floor--"

" 5th floor. Room 47."

I pushed the button and waited until the number 5 shows up.

With him still linked on me like a koala, we stepped out of the elevator. I was taking glances, left and right, to search where his unit is.

" Walk slowly, will you?" He snorted. Hindi ko napansing nahihila ko na pala siya. I murmured my apologies and do what he said, still looking for his room.

" It's the 3rd to the last one in the right side." I took a mental note on that and stopped right in front of his room after seeing it.

"Keys", I asked him. He glared at me, and with a bit of disgust on his looks. I was puzzled. May mali ba sa sinabi ko? I'm just asking for the keys.

"What? Give it to me already."

"The F, dude. Are you gay?" He panicked and blurted that out, making me stunned. He even pushed me, avoiding contact.

Para akong video sa YouTube na nagloading, natulala dahil sa sinabi niya. I only realized what he's saying when i caught a glimpse of redness on his cheeks.

Is he blushing? Or, mad? Maybe.

I smirked. I stepped closer to him, my hands in my pockets.

" I was asking for your keys. Is it that hard to give?", I mocked him more. He averted his gaze and I saw his Adams apple moved up and down. My eyes landed on that thing and smirked more.

"Why would you want my-"

"When I'm asking for your keys, what I mean is..." I lean in more closer, but not to the extent that I'll feel his breath, just to tease him, I guess. I slid my hand on his pant's pocket and get his keys.

"This." I continued my sentence while showing him his 'keys'. Ng tingnan ko ang reaksyon niya ay halos lumuwa ang mata niya at parang kamatis sa pula ang mukha niya. He's also speechless.

"I was asking for 'this'," I said pertaining to the keys. "Pero sinabihan mo na ako ng bakla. Ang layo." I chuckled. He snatched it away at siya na Ang nagbukas ng unit niya. Papasok na sana ako, pero agad niyang sinara ang pinto, leaving a small space to peak, he said, "You have done your part. Pwede ka ng umuwi." And with that, he closed the door right at my face.

What a sincere 'thank you'.

Umiiling na naglakad ako palabas ng building na yon at saka pumara ng taxi pauwi.

As soon as I stepped inside the house, a running Gianna rushed to me and hit memy chest.

"What the-"

"Anong oras na, Kuya?" She shouted. I looked at my wristwatch and innocently told her the time. "It's 8:05. Why?"

She stomped her feet and run to her room.

O--kay, what's the matter with her? Still clueless, I went to the kitchen to drink water , and what welcomed me are lots of foods on the table.

I almost spit the water I'm drinking when a thought came to me. I face palmed, kaya naman ganun ang salubong sa akin ng batang yon.

Nagpatulong ako kay Manang na ihanda ang pagkain sa isang tray at dalhin kay Gianna. Mahaba-habang pagsuyo na naman 'to.

Nang nasa tapat na kami ng pinto ng kwarto ni Gianna ay sinenyasan ko si Manang na siya muna ang tumawag sa kapatid ko.

"Gianna, anak, kumain kana raw sabi ng Kuya Leon mo. Masarap daw yung mga niluto mo, kaso, dahil nagtatampo ka, nauna na siyang kumain. Pinapahatiran ka na lang ng pagkain." I silently hoped that she'll open the door, and when she did Manang was now walking downstairs.

She was about to close the door again ng iharang ko ang isang kamay ko.

"Aww, Gianna. Open the door." Nasasaktang sigaw ko at sa takot niya ay agad niya namang binuksan at pinapasok ako sa kwarto niya.

She keeps on saying sorry when she saw the tray of foods.

"Let's eat, shall we?", I pleadingly said.

"I thought you already ate, ba't ka pa nagtatanong?"

Placing the tray on her bed, I tild her the reason why I was late for dinner.

" There is this guy that needs some help. And me, as your helpful Kuya, helped him and wasn't able to get a 'Thank You'".

She just pouts and started eating.

"You're not believing me?" Tanong ko bilang paniniguro.

Nagkuwento pa ako ng ibang nangyari, habang siya ay kain lang ng kain. I just let her hanggang sa makita kong ngumiti siya ng konti. The thing that I love about my sister is that, hindi siya yung tipong magtatago ng hinanakit ng pangmatagalan. If she's angry, then she is. But, she easily forgives, pero, hindi rin ibig sabihin ay aabusuhin ko na.

I can't also help to think about Philippe. He's all alone in his unit, he's aloof even in school. Now, after that incident with the seniors, I guess, I really need to take a look at him, eh? Masyado siyang pa-cool kaya siya napagdidiskitihan.

"What's with the smile, Kuya?"

Nabalik ako sa sarili ko ng kalabitin ako ni Gianna. May nanunuksong tingin pa siya hindi ko na naman gusto ang pakiramdam kung saan papunta.

"You're smiling!" And now it's not a question but a statement already. Sinimulan niya na akong yugyugin na parang kinikilig sa kung anong dahilan.

Me? Smiling? Kailan pa?

"Who are you thinking and you're smiling, eh? The one you helped?" Sunod-sunod ang tanong niya na hindi ko na masundan.

"Yiieeee, you're smiling because of that guy!"

" I want to meet him!"

I was like, No way!

But, para saan ang sagot na yun? Sa gusto niya bang i-meet si Philippe o sa katotohanang ngumiti ako ng dahil kay Philippe?

I'll just take it for the latter.

Bigla siyang yumakap sa isang braso ko, with those dreamy eyes.

"What now, Gianna. I told you, I'm not smiling because of that guy." Dagdag ko pa.

"Ehh, Kuya, tell me more about it, hmm? I just want to know if how did you end up helping him? If he's handsome or cute?" She delivered so many questions. Arghh!

I look at her seriously," You're thinking of me in that way?"

"Kuya, you know I'm a fan of yaoi, right?" She started to act cutely to get an answer.

" I know, and I'm not stopping you. Pero, 'wag mo akong madamay dyan." I said with finality.

"But Kuya, just the details, please. I'll just think its not you, and just any other guy and the guy that you helped, please..."

Parang may pumitik na ugat sa ulo ko ng marinig ko ang sinabi niya. There's no way that there will be another guy than me!

I closed my eyes in frustration and shake my head. Damn it! What am I even thinking?

"No, Gianna. Let's just eat." And with that, I started to dig in.