Losing Control

Labing Apat

"You can't force Gigi to feel something she doesn't."

"Maybe for now, pero who knows in the future?  Babalik ako dyan at liligawan ko sya."

"I told you not to play around with my cook, Zo," medyo frustrated na ang tono ng boses ni Ashton.

"Eh bakit, ba, Kuya?  Bakit ba parang ayaw na ayaw mo?  Bakit ba kanina ka pa tumututol dyan?" nagtatakang tanong ni Enzo.

Bumuntong hininga si Ashton.  Hindi nya alam kung paano nya sasabihin sa kanyang kapatid, pero alam nyang dapat nyang sabihin.  Hindi naman sa natatakot syang sabihin, pero ayaw nya lang saktan ang damdamin ni Enzo.  Di naman nya sinasadya pero nangyari na eh; sabay silang nahulog kay Stephanie.

"We've never fought over a girl before," Ashton said quietly, his words heavy with meaning.  He looked down at the sleeping Stephanie.  He reached over to where her one arm was folded on top of her stomach and weaved his fingers on top of hers.  

"Bro naman, walang ganyanan.  Alam mo naman na may gusto ako kay Gigi," Enzo said exasparatedly.

"I know you do."

"O baka naman nachachallenge ka lang.  Nachachallenge ka kay Gigi.  Nachachallenge ka sa akin..."

"Bakit ba pareho kayo ng sinasabi ni Gigi? Na nachachallenge lang ako?" he said through gritted teeth.  

"Dahil siguro totoo!"

"Bro, alam mo namang hindi ko kayang saktan ka, pero my feelings are real.  My feelings for her are so intense.  Siguro hindi mo lang napansin kasi sya lang ang napansin mo habang nandito ka.  Pero sinabi ko na sa kanya.  Alam nya na na gusto ko sya.  In fact, nagsimula na nga akong manligaw."

"At talagang hinintay mo lang akong umalis bago ka gumawa ng diskarte mo," Enzo rolled his eyes.  "Anong sabi nya?" Enzo swallowed.  His throat suddenly felt dry.

"Basted na daw ako," natawang sabi ni Ashton.

"Eh yun naman pala eh!"

"I'm not going to stop na ganun ganun na lang."

"Kuya Dan, masasaktan mo lang sya in the end.  Ikakasal ka na, remember?  Yeah, you're just hiding from the truth, but the truth remains the same!  Ikakasal ka na!  Kaya tigilan mo na si Gigi.  Tigilan mo na sya habang maaga pa.  Tutal basted ka rin naman eh.  And kelan ka pa pumatol sa empleyado mo?"

"Zo, stop it!" Ashton said, his irritation rising. "I know my situation, and I don't want to hear it.  Alam mo namang hindi ako payag sa gustong mangyari nila Dad kaya walang kaso yun sa akin.  And yes, hindi ako pumapatol sa mga employees ko, pero ever since I met Gigi, marami ng nagbago.  Marami na akong self-imposed rules na brineak ko."

"Bro, I don't know what to tell you.  Gusto ko rin si Gigi."

"I can't change the way you feel, bro.  Gusto ko lang malaman mo.  Yun lang."

"Ang lupit mo talaga, bro," natawa na lang ulit si Enzo, kahit na bitter laugh lang yun.  "Bakit si Gigi pa talaga eh?!"

"Hindi ko rin alam," he squeezed her hand tight.  "Ang alam ko lang, nahulog na ko sa kanya."

"It's a small consolation, pero thanks for telling me," Enzo said sadly.

With a heavy heart, he ended the call with his brother.  Pinatay nya ng tuluyan ang movie na pinapanood nila kanina and just stared down at Stephanie's face.  For you I'm willing to fight my brother.  He lifted her head from his lap carefully and placed a throw pillow under her head.  Kumuha sya ng kumot from the linen closet sa second floor.  Bumalik sya sa home theater at humiga na sa tabi ni Stephanie.  Humarap sya kay Stephanie at hinaplos nya ang buhok ng dalaga at napahinto lang sya ng tumagilid si Stephanie unconsciously to make more room for him on the couch next to her.  He put the blanket over the two of them, making sure her legs were covered kasi medyo tumaas nanaman ang laylayan ng duster ng dalaga.  Her legs were fast becoming his favorite parts of her body.  Mas lalo pang sumiksik ang dalaga sa kanya kaya niyakap nya na lang din ito.  He kissed her forehead and rested his chin on top of her head bago sya natuluyang makatulog na lang din ulit.