Between the Rainbow (Strawberries and Cigarettes Series #1)

Chapter 1

Burned

Sinagot ko ang bumalandrang FaceTime ni Mommy. Kakapasok ko lang sa kuwarto at kakaligo lang din. I placed my duffel bag on the bed as I put some of the things I needed for my gym today.

"Where is he? Be good to him, Brent. I hope you watch over him since you're older than him," agarang lintanya ni Mommy.

Watch over him, huh? Am I a what? A babysitter for that... boy?

Umangat lamang ang aking mga kilay. "Yup. And guess what? We'll bond today. We're hitting the gym." I said just to give a nice impression that I am not being a bad influence.

Sumilay agad ang ngiti sa kanyang labi.

"That's good! Kung nalaman ko kay Shiloh na maayos ang pakikitungo mo, I'll increase your allowance."

Oh shoot. That's all I needed.

"Mom. I am the most sociable in school. Malaki ang circles ko. Leave him to me; in no time, he would tell you a lot of good things about our bonds."

"Thank you, Brent! I hope you could help him start over for in new environment. Baka manibago siya. It's better if you will guide him at least."

Tumango ako at ipinasok ang towel sa duffel bag. Nagpatuloy sa kakasalita si Mommy habang hinihila ko ang t-shirt sa likuran at nagbihis ng plain black t-shirt.

"So please, just watch over him. He's an introverted boy, just like what your Tita Solene said. Sabi ko naman, you are extroverted, and you might help him get along with the others..."

Tumango akong muli at hinila ang zipper pasara. I wore the strap slantly as its bag hung loosely at my back while I fixed my hair in the camera.

Ngumiti si Mommy habang pinapanood ako. Her sweater told me that it's snowing outside.

"I gotta go, Brent. Please don't even include him in your troubles with girls." Halos maningkit ang mga mata ni Mommy sa akin.

I only laughed and waved my hand a bit to say goodbye. I slipped my phone into my pocket, took the car key off the bedside table, and went out of my room.

Wala na siya sa sala. Mukhang nagkulong na sa kuwarto. Luckily, my condo unit is big enough for him to have his personal space.

So... he's an introvert, huh? Kaya ba ganoon ang kilos? It's like he's very reserved.

I stood at his door and knocked. "Hey shorty!"

Hindi siya sumagot kaya pinihit ko ang pinto at pumasok. Ang pagaspas ng tubig ang nagsabi sa akin na mukhang naliligo pa siya.

Namulsa akong naglakad sa kuwarto na guest room ko lamang. Mukhang nailagay niya na rin ang kanyang mga gamit.

Tumigil ako sa bedside table at kinuha ang frame na nakalapag. My brow raised when it was a young picture of him beside an old lady who was showing a basket of strawberries while he was grinning. His eyes almost disappeared the way he smiled.

"He looked like a happy puppy here..." I murmured.

Tiningnan ko ang isa pang frame. It was his high school friends, I guess. He's surrounded by boys, and they're all putting their arms into each other as they aligned and smiled.

That snob is friendly? O namimili?

Itinaob ko iyon at narinig ang pagkakabukas ng pinto ng banyo kasabay ng pagmumura niya. Nilingon ko siya at nakitang hawak na ang noo, mukhang nabagok pa ata sa pagkakagulat.

"You're coming with me today, and you can't say no."

Namilog ang mga mata niya at nanatili pa sa siwang ng pinto. He was only wearing a cotton shorts as he hid himself on the door. Kumunot ang noo ko kung para saan iyon lalo na't hindi niya naman kailangang itago ang meron din ako.