Radicus has been holding my hand so tight. Hindi ko alam kung hindi niya namamalayan o ayaw lang talaga niyang makawala ako. We went out of the garden right after I played piano with Ethan. We waited for the countdown for the New Year.
Thaddeus is beside his father na mukhang malalim ang pinag-uusapan. Kami naman ni Radicus ay nasa likod. Batid kong pilit nitong hinuhuli ang mga mata ko. I just don't know what's wrong with me! I just felt..insecure all of a sudden. Buong buhay ko parati akong may kaagaw sa pamilya, bakit pakiramdam ko pati kay Radicus ay gayun din. This started because of that painting with a CMR!
"Just got freshen up and I'm ready for the countdown, wait, where's Ross?" Ethan suddenly appeared beside me. Mukha itong bagong ligo. He is in a cardigan shorts and a black vneck top.
Naramdaman ko ang paggapang ng kamay ni Radicus sa aking baywang. Napatingin ako dito. Our eyes met.
"Ross left. Hindi naman siya dito nakatira Ethan. How about you?" Radicus answered. Ethan didn't answer. He left us with a boyish grin before turning his back. Inakbayan nito ang daddy ni Radicus.
Radicus kissed my head.
"Do we have a problem?" His voice sends shivers. Masyadong malambing. I cannot put a word in it. My heart reacts easily. I am loving the feeling.
"Huh?" Maang ko.
"I don't like the way you and Ethan got closer earlier. I'll push away my jealousy towards my cousin. Just tell me..may problema ba tayo?"
"W-wala naman. Pagod lang siguro ako." I said.
"Gusto mong umakyat na tayo sa kwarto or wait for the fireworks?"
"I want to watch the fireworks please." I answered. I heard him sigh. His forehead is still knotted. Tumuwid ako ng tayo para abutin ang noo nito. I then hug his waist. His arm wrapped around my shoulder. We are this intimate. So far. Just this far. I wonder in his six years with his ex, how intimate they were?
"Happy New Year Maya!!" Ethan greeted me. He was about to hug and kiss my cheek when Radicus blocked his way.
"Sabi ko nga apir lang e." Ethan said as he reached me and gave me a high five. He winked at me na hindi na nakita ni Radicus. I greeted him back.
"Happy New Year Maya." Thaddeus said. It was a simple greeting but Radicus glared at his brother. I intertwined my fingers in his.
"I just don't get it. Ikaw ang binabati nila where in fact ako ang kamag-anak nila. They are seriously hitting on you." Radicus said. Natawa ako sa sinabi nito.
"Happy New Year po tito. " bati ko sa daddy nito. Niyakap ako nito but Radicus did not let go of my hand.
"Happy New Year iha. And to you my son, hindi mawawala si Maya dito sa mansyon. Bakit kung makakapit ka riyan ay para kang aagwan?" Tito teased Rad.
"Happy New Year dad. It's really not my fault that we have some womanizers here." He answered.
"Heard that! Hindi ako womanizer!" Thaddeus said.
I sat infront of a bar counter habang hinihintay si Radicus na kumuha ng makakain ko. I actually insisted and told him na busog pa ako dahil naparami ako ng kain sa bahay namin but he's not convinced.
"You drink?" Thaddeus suddenly appeared. He's holding a wine glass and even offered me but I declined.
"Radicus likes good girls. We are indeed totally opposites." I nodded. Kung ganoon, pareho kami ng attitude ni cmr? Why did I even assume that cmr is his ex? Gut-feels.
"Mag-iinuman kami mamaya. I made a tradition na kapag kumpleto kami, me, dad and Rad, nag-iinuman kami. You should have known we don't have our mom with us now. So, basically, we are all men, and we get drunk."
