Make It Yours

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MJ's POV

"Beshy!!! You have a visitor! A handsome visitor, may I add!!"

I furrowed my eyebrows. Visitor? Handsome? Sino naman yun? Mula sa pagkakaupo sa harap ng lamesa sa kitchen, lumingon ako. Unfortunately, there's a wall that separating the kitchen and living room at sa gitna nun ang maliit na hallway from my door.

"Huh?"- I utter as response to Eliza.
Narinig ko ang mahihinang tili at tawa nya na nagpalala ng pagkakunot ko ng noo.

Srsly?
Maya-maya nakarinig ako ng sunod sunod na yapak sa sahig papunta sa direksyon. Binitiwan ko yung chocolate cookie na kinakain ko at matamang inabangan kung sino man ang taong bisita ko sa dulo ng pader.

My eyes widened as I look at him. He's staring at me and concern is obvious on his eyes. He's wearing a denim jacket and white shirt inside. His long legs fitted the black pants partnered with converse shoes. My eyes brimmed with tears as I stood up getting ready to ran towards him. I glanced at Eliza smiling at me and standing beside him. I missed him so much so I ran.

"Kuya El!"- I exclaimed as I embrace him tightly and started to cry. He automatically brushed his big hands on top of my head bringing comfort to me.

After a few minutes he pulled apart. Agad kong pinunasan ang luha sa mga mata ko. I can sense that my nose were red as ripe tomatoes dahil sa kakaiyak.

"How's my princess?"- his deep voice asked me tenderly as if he was afraid I might cry again.

"I'll leave to get some foods, excuse me."- Eliza interrupt tsaka tinungo ang gate palabas ng apartment ko.

I watched his features as I am being emotional freak for missing him. I miss my Kuya El. Gin Kiel De Guzman is his fullname. Close friends and relatives lang ang tumatawag sakanya ng "El." He's been my comfort bringer ever since we were kids whenever I am going through bad things. He never left me until I feel alright.

"I-i'm good Kuya..."- I managed to say after swallowing a lump in my throat.

"You're lying, Ey. And I knew it."- he said as a small smile playing on his lips.

Blinking my eyes I started to hug him again... Crying. Hindi pa rin ako nagbabago, tulad ng dati, iyakin ako masyado pag kaharap ko si Kuya.

Naramdaman kong gumalaw sya papuntang living room. Inalalayan nya ako hanggang sa marating namin yung maliit na sofa at marahan akong iniupo dun. As soon as we seated there, I buried my face to his chest like I'm a kid crying over a candy.

"Kuya, natatakot ako eh. Feeling ko nakatingin sakin si Sam. H-he's even in my dreams."- I said while sobbing and sniffing.

"Ssssh. Don't be, Kuya will be here to protect our baby. Tahan na."- he said the exact words he is saying back when we were kids kapag nagsusumbong ako sakanya. I sighed deeply to stop the tears.

"Want to hear a story?"- he said breaking the silence between us. I nodded as a response while hiccupping. His arms tighten the embrace as well as mine.

"Once, there's a caterpillar living in a green place. Lahat ng bagay sa paligid nya kulay green. Kahit ang katawan nya, kulay green"

"One day, the caterpillar got bored of her life. Palagi na lang daw kasi green, nakakasawa na"- he said caressing my head. Nanatili lang ako sa posisyon ko and then he continued.

"So she got her way to get out from that place. Because she wants to change kaya naman sinabi nya sa sarili nya na dapat kayanin nya ang lahat ng pagsubok para makaranas ng matinding tagumpay,"

I stay frozen between Kuya's arms while listening to his story. Maya maya lang din, humiwalay sya sa yakap and lifted up my chin para tumingin ako sakanya. He smiled at me with courage.

"And for being aggressive to pursue that goal, the caterpillar found herself blooming with different colors. She fly away with freedom. She had overcome her struggle."- Kuya El added and kisses my forehead.

"Kung yung caterpillar, nalampasan nya yung problema. Ikaw pa kayang tao, Ey?"- tanong nya sakin, this time lumapad ang ngiti nya sakin.

I shakes my head no and smile a bit.
"I will, Kuya."

"Where would you want to go, Ey?"- tanong sakin ni Kuya El nung nireready nya yung single motor nyang Kawasaki.

I smiled sheepishly as I watched him climbed on his motor. Na-miss ko yung ganitong moment with my brother. Yung ini-spoiled nya ko at treat nya lahat ng gastos. Naisip ko tuloy sila Ate Mira, yung asawa nyang kasundong-kasundo ko sa kakulitan.

"Uhm, saan ba maganda pumunta? Wala akong ideya Kuya eh, but you can bring me somewhere na lang basta may cotton candy,"- I said with my infamous eyesmile before grabbing the sky blue helmet na inaabot nya sakin. Sinenyasan naman nya akong sumakay na sa likod nya.

"Kuya, si Ate Mira kamusta na?"- tanong ko sakanya habang sinusuot yung helmet. I heared him chuckle.

"Ayun, busy sa trabaho nya. Don't worry about her. Kaya naman nyang lumaban kung nadedehado sya."- sabi nya bago umiling.

Yep, right. Kahit kasing bata ko kung mag-isip si Ate Mira sa edad nyang 22, black belter naman yun sa taekwondo. Kinuha ni Kuya yung dalawa kong braso tsaka iniyakap sakanya.

"Sabi din nya sakin kaninang umaga, she might come here with us."- he added. Wow.

"Weh?! Us?! Omg, edi magtatagal ka dito sa apartment ko??"- excited na tanong ko sakanya habang pilit na tinitingnan ang muka nya. Nagsuot na din sya ng helmet.

"Yep. Three months to be exact. Kailangan din kasi namin ng Ate mo na bumalik sa kanya kanya naming trabaho. Si mama ang nagpadala sakin dito."- sabi nya tsaka tinignan na din ako ng may malaking ngiti sa labi. I grin widely at him.

"Omg! Can't wait to see her Kuya!"
"I'm sure, sya din."

Pumunta kami sa Luxes Park sa kabilang barangay. Nung makabili kami ng cotton candy, inubos namin yun habang naglalakad-lakad sa buong park. Sa mga gilid may iba't-ibang stalls na nagtitinda ng kung ano ano. Inaya ko sya na bumili kahit isang item lang dun sa mga stalls.

"Ayun, kuya! Puro keychains----"
"Ano namang gagawin sa keychains?"
"Hay Kuya, nawalay ka lang sakin naging shunga ka na. Malamang palawit sa bag!"- sagot ko sakanya tsaka sinuksok yung cotton candy sa bunganga ko bago sya tuluyang hatakin papunta dun.

Nung makalapit kami, inalok agad kami ng tindera. May iba't-ibang designs yung mga keychains---araw, cake, crayons, animal figures, at kung ano ano pa.

"Wow, kuya. Ang ganda oh! Lalo na tong cake, nakakagutom~"- comment ko ng makita ko yung mga keychains. At hindi ako nagbibirong nakakagutom yung keychain na cake.

Narinig kong tumawa si Kuya ng mahina at naramdamang umiling ng marahan bago kinuha yung keychain na tinitingnan ko.

"Magkano po ba to?"- tanong ni Kuya El sa tindera.
"20 lang lahat ng klase."

Nangningning ang mata ko, wow! Ang mura!! Balak ko na sanang ipapakyaw kay Kuya yung lahat ng keychain na cake kaso natanaw ko yung bilog na may feather sa ilalim. Napatitig ako dun kasi first time kong makakita ng ganun. Ang ganda naman nun kasi. May net sa loob ng bilog tas sa gitna may bead na kumikinanang. It's the only one keychain colored in white. Yung feather dirty white with brown spots.

"Ate, ano pong tawag dun sa keychain na yun?"- tanong ko sa tindera habang nakaturo sa keychain na bilog na may feather.

"Dream catcher, hija. Bilhin mo na last na lang yan. Makikilala mo kung sin---"- hindi na natuloy ni ate yung sasabihin nya dahil sa dami ng bumibili. I just shrugged and get the keychain already.