A Rose Hidden in The Thorns.

Chapter 29: Siblings.

I was about to close the door, when I flinched when Manang suddenly slammed the door open.

Manang's a much older maid here. I think she's around 58 years old? And also the oldest among our other maids.

Mukang nagulat din siya sa kaniyang ginawa dahil sa agad siyang umatras habang nanlaki ang mata. "S-sir miss, kaylangan nyo na pong kumain."

I sighed deeply as I massage the bridge of my nose. "I'm not hungry yet. Mamaya na." Pagwala na si Dad.

"P-pero, S-sir miss..."

My brows furrowed. "What is it?" I said as I lean on the wall.

"S-si Sir Aidan po k-kasi..."

I straighten my posture upon hearing my brother's name. "Why? What's with Aidan?"

"N-nasa hapag pa p-po. Hindi d-daw po siya kakain pag wala kayo."

My eyes widen, shocked. "Kanina pa?! Hindi pa siya kumakain?!"

The woman flinched when my voice got higher. "O-opo..."

I glance at the clock in my room. It's already 1:26, hindi pa ba siya kumakain?

"Simula kaninang umaga po, naroon lang s-siya..."

Like a broken machine, my body moved on it's own and went running to the dinning.

And there he is...

Alam kong nahihirapan si Aidan sa mga nangyayare sa bahay ngayon. Ilang beses niyang sinubukang pagsabayin kaming lahat kumain but he always fail. Kung gumana man ay agad naman kaming mag iiwasan at mag si-si-alisan.

But he still keeps on trying, and trying, and trying. Just to fix something he didn't break.

Something I made. Something in me. Or me perhaps.

"Ae..."

I saw how his lonely and sad eyes shined as a smile appeared on his lips showing his two shallow dimples the moment our eyes meet.

"Ate!" Tears formed in his eyes and he took a deep sighed. "Akala ko hindi ka na dadating." He said joyfully as tears falls from his eyes.

Aidan luis...

"Kain na tayo?" He tried to make his voice happy as he stood up and went to me. He pulled me to sit on a chair as my glance never left me. "Manang! Kakain na po kami, Manang!"

His tears never stopped from falling as his smile never dissapeared.

Oh, boy. What have I done?

I couldn't take it anymore. Like an installed application in my system, I stood up to hug my crying brother.

I could feel him hugging me back, as he bury his face on my neck, crying. "A-ate... Antagal mo... A-ate ko..."

My heart clinched upon hearing my brother's broken voice. "I-i'm.... I-'m sorry..." I shutter.

"A-antagal mo... Nagugutom n-na ko... Ang l-lamig, a-ate..."

Somehow my brother's voice was telling me something else. Something deep inside him.

"K-kawawa ako... K-kawawa si Aidan... Laging n-na lang Iniiwan... W-walang kasama s-si Aidan... A-ate... A-ang tagal mo..."

"I-i'm sorry... I'm sorry, baby. A-ate's here na, ha. Andito n-na ko... Andito na si A-ate..." I couldn't help but cry.

Aidan... Aidan ko... Kapatid ko...

We stayed like that for a few more minutes before Aidan let me go. He brushed his tears on his face using his hands, his smile not dissapearing from his face.