From Me, To You (Snippets)

[4] Lionhearts: Irvine Remembers Something

[4] Lionhearts: Irvine Remembers Something

It was one breakfast morning. The food was served by the house helpers on the long table. I was busy playing my lips using my fingers, eyes on my brothers.

"Z, do you want to come with me in a car racing event?" Pierce asked my younger brother.

Z's face immediately lit up. "When, Kuya?"

"Next week."

Jagger snickered. "Is it legal? I don't want to bail you out of the jail."

"Of course. Someone I know will host it."

Mabilis nakuha ni Pierce ang atensyon ni Lohan. Tumawa ito at pabirong nginisian si Pierce. "You have a friend?"

"I said someone I know. I think you have an impaired hearing." Maririnig mo ang disgusto sa boses ni Pierce.

Natawa ako at sinulyapan ang relong pambisig. Tuwing alas sais ng umaga ay sabay-sabay kaming nag-aalmusal lahat. Lagpas sampung minuto na pero wala pa rin ang dalawang nakatatandang kapatid namin—sina Byron at Giles.

That's why my younger brothers could talk loudly like this because they weren't still around. I heard they were talking about something very important. Kung kailangan naman nila kami ay hindi sila mag-aatubiling ipatawag kami.

They are more serious and strict than me. I, the third son of this household, isn't like that. I am more laid back. Kaya hinayaan kong mag-ingay ang mga kapatid ko sa hapag. Unti-unti nang napupuno ang mahabang mesa ng mga pagkain. Salit-salitang naglalapag ang mga kasambahay ng mga malalaking platong may lamang bagong lutong pagkain. Kumalam ang aking sikmura at gusto ko nang lantakan ang mga iyon.

But my eyes caught something. I saw Jagger winked at Ezreal, one of our young house helpers. My forehead slightly creased as I watched their exchange of heated smile.

I heaved out a sigh. This isn't new to me. I know there's something going on between those two. It's just that... it amuses me to see it first-hand.

And then a passing memories popped in my mind.

A wide grin spread across my lips. I leaned backwards and crossed my arms against my chest.

"It reminds me of something that happened years ago," I began and Raziel and Raji were the only one who cocked their head to look at me.

The others were busy talking animatedly about something. Tumikhim ako at natawa nang mahina.

"What is it, Kuya Irvine?" Raziel raised his brow.

Hindi ko mapigilang ngumisi nang nakakaloko. "When Lohan was a teen, I think he's seventeen that time?"

Nag-isip ako kung tama ba ako ng alala. Nakuha ko ang atensyon ni Lohan.

Nag ngising aso siya. "Bakit? Anong naalala mong ginawa ko noon?"

Napailing ako at hindi ko matigil-tigil ang pagtawa. "It was early in the morning and I bet no one was awake that time. Hindi ako makatulog noon kaya minabuti kong bumaba para magpahangin. Kaso may kababalaghan akong narinig sa dining area."

Nakuha ko na ang buong atensyon ng mga kapatid ko.

"Then?" si Jagger na may pagkachismoso.

"I thought the helpers were already preparing for our breakfast so I entered the dining area only to be greeted by something very indecent. Oh, my eyes..." Pag-iinarte ko pa at kunwaring kinilabutan.

One by one, their faces twisted in disgust as they glanced at Lohan. Ang malanding kapatid ko naman ay nanlalaki ang mga matang itinuro ako.

"Wait! Kuya—" I cut him off.

"Yeah. I saw you having a sexual intercourse with one of our young and new maidservants!" I chuckled.

Raziel rolled his eyes, the look on his face told me that he was really gross out. "I thought it was only Jagger who has a fetish over young maids."

"Hey!" Umalma si Jagger pero agad nanlaki ang mga mata. "Teka! Sinong maidservant iyon?!"

Saktong naglapag si Ezreal ng bagong lutong chicken soup. Lahat kami ay napatingin sa kanya. Tumaas ang kilay niya sa atensyong ibinigay namin sa kanya.

"Ikaw ba 'yon, Ezreal?" halos pabulong at nasasaktang tanong ni Jagger sa walang kaalam-alam na si Ezreal.

"Ang alin?" Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Hindi siya iyon!" asik ni Lohan.

Jagger tilted his head to gaze at Lohan, brows furrowed. "Siguraduhin mo lang, Kuya. Galawin mo na ang lahat huwag lang si Ezreal."

"Ano ba kasi iyon?" pabalang na tanong ni Ezreal kay Jagger.

Isang matamis na ngiti ang ibinigay ng kapatid ko sa kanya. "Nothing. Sige, bumalik ka na roon sa kusina."

Kahit nagtataka ay iniwan na kami ni Ezreal. Humalakhak ako. Isa-isang nagpahayag ng disgusto ang mga kapatid ko sa kababalaghang ginawa ni Lohan noong teenager pa siya.

"Kadiri. Dito pa mismo sa dining area? Ew?" Pain commented.

"Did the servants disinfect this area?" si Chrome. "Parang ayoko na kumain."

"Damn! That was years ago! And I was young back then, alright!" depensa ni Lohan sa sarili.

"As if naman tumigil ka. Palagi ka ngang hayok sa mga babae. Baka nga kapag nakakita ka ng posteng nakasuot ng palda, eh, pagnasahan mo rin. Ganoon ka kalibog," I said to tease him.

I couldn't see the usual teasing smirk on Lohan's lips. Naiinis na siya. "The fuck?"

"Where's the young maidservant now?" Raji asked.

"Why? Do you want to do her next?" Heaven spat.

Raji only laughed. "Just curious."

I shrugged. "Don't know. Maybe she got fired because she kept flirting with Lohan. Menor de edad palang sila parehas noon. What if he got her pregnant? Sinabi ko nga kay Kuya Giles."

"Sumbungero—" gigil na gigil na sabi ni Lohan pero natigilan siya. Para siyang tangang tumayo at dinuro ulit ako. This time, he was grinning widely at me, as if he's gone mad. "Fuck you! I remembered! Nakisali ka sa amin! Threesome iyon, tanga!"

Oh. Yes. Damn.

That was indeed threesome.

I fell silent. Ang mapanghusgang tingin ng mga kapatid ko ay bumaling sa akin.

"Threesome? Seriously?" Soul grimaced.

Pinagbabato ako ng mga masasamang salita ng mga kapatid ko na akala mo'y hindi ako ang pinakamatanda rito. Tumawa lang ako nang tumawa.

"Galit na galit, Lohan? Parang hindi nagustuhan?" sabi ko pa.

Natahimik lang kami nang biglang dumating sina Kuya Byron at Kuya Giles sa dining area. Para kaming mga tangang umayos ng upo at sumeryoso.

Tumikhim ako nang maupo sila at sa akin agad ang baling ni Kuya Giles. Nagsimula na niya akong pagsabihan.

"Pipe down, will you? Dinig na dinig sa buong mansion ang pinag-uusapan niyo. You're the eldest here, Irvine. Ikaw dapat ang sumusuway sa kanila at hindi dapat ikaw ang nangunguna sa kalokohan. At sa harap pa ng mga pagkain."

"I'm sorry," I said and glanced up at Kuya Byron.

Mukhang wala sila pareho sa mood kaya buong breakfast ay tahimik kami at nag-iingat sa bawat galaw at kilos.

Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag nang sa wakas ay matapos ang nakakatindig balahibong umagahan.

"Irvine, I want to talk to you about what I heard earlier. You were also part of it? You lied to me?"

I stopped from my tracks when I heard Kuya Byron's placid yet menacing voice. Blood drained from my face as I watched my younger brothers glimpsed at me with "buti-nga" look.

Oh, damn. This whole teasing thing really backfired at me.

01-16-2021