Guarded Soul (The Brats #2)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Free

And now, how can I get my phone back? Should I message him? Pero ayaw kong ako ang maunang mag-message.

"Bakit bigla kang nawala? Hindi ka pa nagpaalam?" si Madz nang pumunta sila sa bahay kinagabihan. Nasa sofa kaming lahat, kumakain ng ice cream. "Ang sabi pa ni Rejo, naiwan mo ang phone mo sa counter."

I sighed. Tumingin ako kay Kuya Trev na kinausap ko kanina bago dumating ang mga pinsan namin.

"Kuya Trev picked me up. My stomach ached so I had to use the bathroom. I wasn't comfortable using the public bathroom so..." I shrugged and spooned my cup of ice cream.

I saw how Ashanti tried to falter her chuckle. Umiling-iling pa.

Good thing my brother always has my back. Kapalit nga lang ng pagpayag n'ya na gamitin ko siya ay ang buong storya tungkol kay Rejo. Now he knows, too. But at least he's not OA. Hindi gaya ng isa kong Kuya.

"Legit. Kahit pa elite yung golf club, I still wouldn't try their public bathroom. Buti na lang nadaanan ka kaagad ni Trev," Madz trailed off, so clueless that I was lying.

"Yeah. I was out for a group study near the golf club. She was lucky," Kuya said and winked at me before he went to the kitchen.

"By the way, your phone..." she said again. I thought she had it! "Hindi naibigay sa 'kin ni Rejo. Maybe he forgot. Baka ipadaan na lang kay Mooze if they'll meet tonight."

Maybe he forgot to really give it to my cousins? O siguro gusto n'ya na siya ang magbigay para rin mapag-usapan 'yong nangyari sa golf club? I acted paranoid, and I think he was worried and freaked out at the same time.

Ano ba kasing masama? Rejo and I have been casual friends since he's friends with my brother. At saka, it's not that I was literally alone with him. We had friends with us, nasa golf course nga lang. It's so easy to tell Tita Nelle na magkakasama kami, pero nag-freak out ako.

It's because... I was certainly guilty. I know to myself that I like Rejo, kaya gano'n na lang ang naging reaksyon ko. I felt like I was betraying Marinelle, including her family.  Kasi close ko sila.

I sighed and twirled Kuya Trev's swivel chair. Nasa kwarto n'ya ako since wala pa sila Mommy at Daddy. Si Kuya Mooze naman, busy kung saang lupalop ng Pilipinas.

I sighed and reviewed my brother's room. Very manly. Royal blue is dominating all over the area. The ground is wooden, and the ceiling is white. May malaki siyang bookshelves na lagi n'yang inaayos. May collection din siya ng mga resins. He's not actually a fan of them. He just likes its aesthetic. I think okay lang naman ang gano'n.

"If Mooze will know that I am supporting this ridiculous idea of yours, we will surely have war," aniya, umiling-iling habang inaayos ang bed sheets n'ya.

"So, you support me?" natatawa kong tanong dahil excited.

"Mooze will also support you if you'll tell him about the secret you've been gatekeeping."

I rolled my eyes. "If I tell him, he'll tell it to Rejo. Magkakagulo habang walang malay si Marinelle. I want her to be part of the chaos since siya naman ang bunga ng lahat..."

Nagtaas ng kilay si Kuya.

"And... I am not yet ready to see people's hearts get shattered. I love them so much, Kuya."

Naging malungkot ang tono ko kaya binigyan ako ni Kuya ng mabilis ng forehead kiss. I sighed and watched him laid his back gracefully on his bed and hugged a pillow. He looked at me and sighed.