decoding the boys ✔️

33 - overwhelmed || edited

"No. Nando'n siya sa kaibigan niya ngayon. We're going there."

Ah. Kaya pala. That's probably the reason why she didn't want us to go there. Nando'n ang kaibigan niya. I was willing to bet na galit 'yon kay Gian kaya iniiwas niya.

It took us hours before we reached Novaliches, courtesy of the heavy traffic jam. It was around three na nang natunton namin ang bahay.

Halatang nagulat si Zoey nang makita niya kami. Her eyes widened a fraction nang makita ako. I guess she didn't expect company. Her friend, I assume yung owner ng house, was standing beside her. Tama nga ako. By the way her arms were crossed, I could tell she's got bad blood for us. Gian, especially. Sagad ang pag-irap kasi. She's looking at us na parang one wrong move and she'd murder us.

Understandable naman but it unnerved me.

Zoey Chen quietly approached us and nodded by the way of greeting. Napansin kong mas okay na siya ngayon compared to the last time we saw her. She hadn't gained any weight yet pero may kulay na ang mukha niya. Unlike no'ng nakita namin siya ni Lhyle.

I smiled at her while Kuya Onyx nodded back.

Then, she turned to Gian.

Kalmado at hindi mabasa ang expression ni Gian kahit na agarang namula ang pisngi ni Zoey. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes. Nanginginig na rin ang kamay niya.

For privacy, Gian steered her to a spot a good distance away from us.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Zoey burst into tears. Nakapamulsa lang si Gian habang pinapanood siya.

I frowned. Such a jerk.

Sumandal ako sa pulang Alfa Romeo habang pinapanood sila, umiiling-iling. Ayoko sanang manood since private moment nila 'to, but I needed to keep an eye just in case may mangyari. Knowing my cousin's temper? Everything is possible.

Kuya Onyx went over to me. Diretso rin ang tingin niya kina Gian. "What an ass. One hug wouldn't hurt."

"I know. He's really an asshole."

Pinanood lang namin sila habang nag-uusap. Iyak nang iyak si Zoey while explaining kay Gian. I didn't know what they were talking about, but my cousin maintained a straight face the entire time. Then finally, he embraced her nang nag-break down ulit si Zoey.

I sighed in relief. Buti na lang. Masama pa naman na sobrang ma-stress out si Zoey especially since first trimester niya.

"Finally, some sense," Kuya Onyx said with a chuckle.

I studied the two. Gian and Zoey actually looked good together. They were young, but they'd make a great family, if only my cousin would stop being an asshole, and for once, start showing his care. Alam ko naman na deep inside may concern siya, ayaw lang ipahalata.

Looking at them made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Medyo weird. I suddenly realized na some time soon, one of us could have a family na. Parang 'di pa nagsi-sink in. The thought that Gian could be a father so soon still weirded me out. But he had to take responsibility. D'yan siya dinala ng mga ginawa niya.

"What if kay Gian talaga yung baby? Paano kaya?" tanong ko kay Kuya absentmindedly.

"Ayaw mo no'n? May pamangkin ka na."

Hm. True. After so many years, magkaka-baby na ulit sa pamilya.

I cocked my head. "'Gian is young though. He made a mistake pero naaawa ako sa galit na makukuha niya kina Tito."

"It's not like we can do anything about it." Kuya Onyx glanced at me. "He needs to take responsibility. That's the least he can do for fucking up. And we're not certain yet if the baby is his."