The Perfect Timing

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

"He proved me wrong." I chuckled to myself as I downed the last bottle of beer I stole from my brother's mini fridge. I hope he won't mind. After all, he'd know that I needed this. Badly.

I can picture him saying "I told you so" to my face. And I can't blame him. This is all my fault. Ang tanga tanga ko kasi.

"How could you be so stupid Max? How could you let him do this to you?", I stared at my miserable self in the mirror. I haven't slept and eaten for nearly two days and I am still wearing that stupid dress I wore to impress him and his friends. And since that night, I drank to my misfortune.

I can feel this lump in my throat; containing all these emotions: pity, anger, frustration; tormenting me for days. But the problem is, masyado akong mahina para ilabas yung mga emosyong yon. I am known for being a crybaby, but right now, I can barely shed a tear.

You're probably wondering how I ended up here. You're also probably wondering who I'm talking to. I'm probably talking to myself, maybe I'm being crazy and dramatic. Ganito nga siguro talaga kapag broken hearted ka, kakausapin mo na lang yung sarili mo. Tapos ikaw din ang sasagot. 'Paano ka nga ba napunta sa ganito kamiserableng sitwasyon Maxine?' 'Well, I believe my stupidity started a few years ago.'

'What are the chances na mabigyan ka ng pangalawang pagkakataong makasama ang pinakamamahal mong tao sa buhay mo? Would you grab that chance? Well, I'll tell you, my ex-boyfriend did just that.'

FLASHBACK TO 2 YEARS AGO (AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sit back and relax guys, because this is going to be a really long flashback.)

"Ang ganda naman ng kapatid ko," I turned to smile at my Kuya Joshua who was leaning at my bedroom door wearing his pajamas. "Pasalamat ka pogi kuya mo, kung hindi pangit ka ngayon," he chuckled as he plopped himself on my bed. He's two years older than me, yet he acts like a two-year-old. Don't get me wrong, I love my kuya. But he can be annoying sometimes. Most of the time actually.

"Tss. Ang ganda na ng mood kuya eh. Akala ko bumait ka na sa wakas, eh humirit ka pa. Panira ka talaga kuya," inirapan ko sya. I reached for my mom's locket on my dressing table. Binuksan ko yung locket and tinitigan yung picture sa loob. It was my Lola Esperanza, my mom's mother.

"That's mom's right? Nasa iyo pa din yan?", naramdaman kong tumabi sakin si kuya as we both examined my lola's picture.

"Of course. Bigay kaya sakin to ni Mom no."

"Tss. Itabi mo na yan. Malas sa love life yan, Max."

"Ang nega mo kahit kailan Kuya," I rolled my eyes at him. I think natuto akong umirap dahil kay Kuya.

"Tss. Amin na nga yan. Talikod ka dali," Kuya grabbed the locket from me at tumalikod naman ako sa kanya facing the mirror. Isinuot nya sakin yung necklace. Yeah, he can be sweet, rarely though.

"Kuya, malapit na summer ah, do you wanna go and visit Mom?", I looked at him using the mirror, busy pa din sya sa pag lock nung hook sa necklace.

"Ayoko. Ikaw na lang. Baka mag busy sa firm," Natapos na nyang ikabit kaya humarap ako sa kanya.

"Kuya, when will you ever forgive them ba? It's been years—"

"Gabriella Maxine. I told you na ayoko diba? Ano bang hindi mo maintindihan don?" Medyo napasigaw sya kaya napaatras ako. He can get scary sometimes as well. Napansin nya yata kaya nilapitan nya ako.

"Look, I'm sorry," he sighed as he held my shoulders. "It's not that easy for me Max. You know that, right?", I nodded. Sadness is visible through his eyes. I know he's hurting, but I hope he heals soon. "Come here. Give your kuya a hug," and I did.

"I'm sorry Kuya. Gusto ko lang naman na magkaayos kayo nina Mom eh," I hugged him tighter. Minsan lang kami magdrama ni Kuya ng ganito, so nilulubos ko na.

"I know Max. And you don't have to be sorry. It's not your fault okay? Maxine, you're my only sister and I love you. I may not be in good terms with Mom and Dad, but please know that I love you and I will always be here for you, no matter what, okay? Ayokong mapagdaanan mo yung napagdaanan ko. I'd do anything to protect you from every pain in this world, Max. Anything."

"Thank you, Kuya. You're the best Kuya in the world. I love you too," I can't help but cry. We stayed like that for a moment. Somehow, I can feel his pain. Maybe he feels like wala syang kakampi, or na ako lang ang family nya. And I understand that. Despite all those things na naexperience nya with Mom and Dad, he still made it possible to be a responsible Kuya to me.

"Parang waterfalls naman yang uhog mo Max. Basang basa na tong t-shirt ko oh." Lumayo ako ng konti para masuntok sya sa braso nya.

"Now, I hate you Kuya. You made me cry tapos aasarin mo pa ako?" Tinignan ko sya ng masama habang pinunasan ng tissue yung mukha ko. Natawa na lang sya.

"Tama lang yan no. Ako lang ang lalaking may karapatang magpaiyak sayo. Wala nang iba. Subukan lang nila at bubugbugin ko sila." He smirked and showed me his biceps "kuno".

"Tss. Kahit si Dad? Or si Lucas?"

"Lalong-lalo sila," natigil ang usapan namin nung kumatok si Nanay Rose sa pintuan.

"Max, anak. Nasa baba na si Lucas," ngumiti ito samin ni Kuya.

"Ay sige po Nanay, bababa na po ako. Thank you po," nginitian ko sya bago sya lumabas. We call her Nanay coz she basically took care of us simula nung mga baby pa kami.

"Speaking of the devil," Kuya smirked at nauna nang bumaba. Sumunod naman ako. Kuya and Luke were high school buddies, and now, they're workmates. They're both architects sa firm ng daddy ni Luke.

"Hey there, gorgeous. Happy 1st Anniversary babe," Luke gave me a hug and a kiss on my forehead and gave me this beautiful bouquet of flowers.

"Aww, Happy Anniversary baby. Thank you for this." I feel like I'm on cloud nine every time na kasama ko tong lalaking to. Ewan ko ba.

"Ehem," napatingin kaming dalawa kay Kuya na nasa tabi lang pala namin. "Luke, usapang lalaki. Iuwi mo tong kapatid ko ng maayos ha? Hanggang 11pm lang curfew nyan," I don't know why he's being so strict all the time, eh friends naman sila, he should trust Lucas. They've known each other for years.

"Of course, ako pa. Parang hindi mo naman ako kilala bro. Wala ka bang tiwala sakin?" Luke jokingly smirked.

"Wala. And pagdating sa kapatid ko, walang bro bro. Style mo bulok," He punched him lightly sa braso.

"Ulol. Parang ikaw lang din bro," Tinawanan na lang sya ni Lucas. Umalis na din kami papunta sa restaurant na nireserve ni Lucas for the both of us.

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Author's note:

Photo caption: Maxine with her Kuya Joshua  (Credits to the owner of the photo)

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