ROGUE PRINCE

Entry 2: FREEDOM AT LAST! OR NOT?

SAI

Lumabas na ako sa kwarto niya at dumeretso sa kusina. Naabutan ko si kuya Ty nagre-ready ng dinner.

"So? How did it go?" Pangangamusta niya sa nangyari.

"Okay na. Pumayag na siya. With few conditions." Pag-inform ko.

"May idea na ako kung ano 'yun. Haha."

"Yeah. No need to mention." I sighed.

"You know, he's growing out of it. His syndrome. Kung iko-compare dati, mas nag-improve na siya ngayon." Comment ni kuya.

Kuya Shi has some psychological issue. Hindi in-expect ng parents namin na may sakit siya kasi he's been pretty normal before I was born. He didn't show any sign of complexity even when Ty was born. Basta na lang daw lumabas nung pinanganak ako. Sabi ni Mommy, he was very fascinated with me. They thought it was normal. But that fascination turned into addiction. He can't stop watching me. He always wants to stay by my side. Sa sobrang fascination niya, pati parents namin inaaway niya pag kinakarga ako. O kaya si Ty inaaway niya pag hinawakan ako. Our parents got worried. First, for my safety. Pero napansin din nila na iniingatan at inaalagaan ako ni kuya kaya hinayaan na lang nila. Kaya lang, ayaw niya na pumasok sa school kasi gusto niya katabi ako palagi. This time, our parents realized that there could be something wrong with him. So, they called in for a Psychiatrist. 'Dun nila nalaman na may Sister Complex Syndrome siya. His was a delicate case. Akala nila mababaliw si kuya noon at wala nang pag-asa. That they will have no choice but to send him to some mental institution. But the real issue is him being a threat to the family. 'Yung case niya pwedeng mag-result na maging psychopath siya. And that could be dangerous. But his Psychiatrist noticed some light in him so she suggested a therapy for him. Those were our difficult times. But somehow along the way, a miracle happened. Hindi man nawala 'yung syndrome niya, medyo na-tame naman. What we're thankful for is he grew up to be a normal person.

When I was younger, I thought he was my Dad. I used to call him 'Dada' back then. But our parents explained to him, he's kuya. Kaya tinuruan niya rin akong tawagin siyang kuya. Somehow, tinuloy niya pa rin 'yung schooling niya. Pero home schooled na siya kasi 'di niya ako maiwan. And it turned out, genius pala siya. He was able to finish a two-year curriculum in just a year. Akala ng parents namin mababaling na sa pag-aaral 'yung atensyon niya. Later on, na-realize nila na ginagalingan niya sa school para siya na lang magturo sa'kin. So, I wouldn't have to go to school. Later on, napilit siya ng parents namin na mag-aral sa actual school. He was admitted to High School at twelve, finished at sixteen.

He started tutoring me when I was three. I was able to finish the Primary curriculum at the age of ten. Pero hindi pa ako pinayagan na mag-High School that time. Kuya Shi just continued to tutor me. Actually, si kuya Shi may ayaw na mag-school ako. I was supposed to be home schooled for my Secondary Education. It took our parents two years to persuade kuya Shi that I study in an educational institution. Like kuya Shi, I started High School at twelve and now that I'm sixteen, I'll be graduating next week. I studies in an all-girls school. It's supposed to be a boarding school but kuya Shi didn't agree that I stay away from home. So, ang nagyari, umuuwi pa rin ako. Fine with me though. I don't like the idea of sharing rooms with a stranger. Plus, it's just a 20-minute ride from home.

Ty is right about kuya Shi growing out of his syndrome. Buti ngayon he can stay away for a few days. Dati talaga hindi siya maka-survive kahit isang araw lang na hindi ako kasama. Kaya ngayon hinahayaan ko na lang yung mga conditions niya. When I was old enough to understand things, our parents explained to me his case. Sila rin mismo ang nag-guide sa'kin kung pano mag-adapt sa syndrome niya. Most of the time okay naman kaya lang parang nakakasawa rin kasi minsan. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I wanted some independence. And going to college is one of my ways to showing kuya Shi that I want to be independent. Minsan kasi kahit sinasabi na sa kanya, 'di niya pa rin maintindihan.