Her Dearest Secret (V Series #2) (#Wattys2019) - COMPLETED

XXXI - His Heart

Brent's POV

Nagmadali akong lumabas sa restaurant after I bid my goodbye to Veronica.

I was panting when I got out. Kanina ko pa pinipigil ang iyak ko, I don't want to make a scene there kaya naman nang makapasok ako sa kotse ko ay inilabas ko na lahat ng luhang pinipigilan ko.

Fck. Fck. Fck. Ang sakit puta!

Mahal ko si Veronica. Mahal na mahal. Pero sa harap ko mismo, pinili niya ang kapatid ko.

I'm not mad at Veronica, hindi ko kayang magalit sa kanya. Hindi ko lang talaga maintindihan kung bakit 'yun ang naging desisyon niya.

"Bro, that's enough. Nakakailan ka na, ayaw mo bang umuwi ng maayos?" Saway sa akin ni Donny after I drank my seventh glass of tequila. Or eighth? I don't really know.

"Ano ba talagang nangyari, bro? Ang dami mo nang nainom." Sabat ni Liam. "You know what, Donny's right. Tama na, Bro. Baka hindi ka makauwi nyan."

"Guys, I'm fine. Ano ba?" Sagot ko when in fact, medyo nahihilo na ako. "I just want to celebrate, that's all."

"Bahala ka, I can't celebrate with you lalo na if it will cause me a throbbing head tomorrow." Donny told me. Ang kj talaga nito, palibhasa matanda na eh.

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at umorder pa ng isang shot.

"Brent." Napatigil ako sa pag-inom when I heard that voice. Pucha, bakit nandito siya?

Nilingon ko ang kapatid ko and I was greeted by his glare. "Let's go home."

"Can't you see that we're having fun? Get lost, Brian." Sagot ko. Tinalikuran ko siya pero hinarap niya ako sa kanya then he grabbed my collar.

"Brent, I'm giving you two choices. Uuwi tayo o babasagin ko 'yang mukha mo."

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako napasunod ni Kuya. Maybe because I've never seen him that mad before. I don't want to push him to his limits.

"Where's Veronica?" I asked habang nagda-drive siya.

Fck. Bakit ko ba tinanong yon. I just said that I don't want to push to his limits.

"She's already home. Kakatext lang habang papunta ako dito kanina." He answered bluntly.

Nanahimik na lang ako pagkatapos non. Baka kung ano pang masabi ko.

"Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo, Brent? Bigla kang umalis kanina tapos malalaman kong nagpapakalunod ka sa alak." Sermon niya. "Don't you know that it's rude?"

Here goes the perfect son again.

"Bakit? Kailangan ba ako don?"

"Of course, Brent!" His voice raised. "That's a family matter."

Hindi na lang ako sumagot because I'm sure that I'll throw up once I opened my mouth again.

●●●

Dad was waiting for us at the living room nang makarating kami sa bahay. Geez, I think I'm in trouble.

"Brent, let's talk." Malamig na sabi ni Dad.

"Ah, Dad. I think you should do this tomorrow instead." Sabat ni Kuya. "You're both tired. Hindi rin kayo makakapag-usap ng maayos."

Ito na naman siya, nagpapaka-super hero kahit na hindi ko naman kailangan ang tulong niya.

"Brian, son, just go to your room."

"Pero, Dad—"

"I said go, anak." Dad said calmly but you can sense the anger in his voice. "Your brother and I really need to talk."

Wala nang nagawa si Kuya kung hindi ang sumunod kay Dad.

"Napaka-bastos mo talagang bata ka." His voice was low pero sobrang diin ng pagkakasabi niya. "Umalis ka bigla kanina tapos ngayon, uuwi kang amoy alak? Paano ka ba talaga mag-isip, Brent?"

Hindi ako sumagot kay Dad. When he's this mad, arguing won't help me one bit.

"Bakit hindi mo gayahin ang Kuya mo, ha? Responsible, respectful, at matino—"

Dad was't able to continue what he's about to say when I shouted. I said I'm not going to argue but look at me now. Blame it on the alcohol.

"Eh di siya na ang perfect na anak! Ganyan ka naman, Dad! You only see my flaws pero 'pag kay Kuya, lahat tama!" Sigaw ko sa kanya. "Bakit, Dad? Dahil ba sunud-sunuran siya sa'yo? Is it because he agreed to work in our company?! Well, I'm sorry kung hindi kami pareho. Dad, may pangarap din ako! You don't understand me kasi you have never ever tried to!"

"Tumahimik ka, Brent! Wala kang karapatang sigawan ako! I'm your Father!"

"Then act like it!"

Isang malakas na sampal ang dumapo sa mukha ko when I said that. I can already taste the blood coming from my lips.

"Hindi mo rin ako naiintindihan, Brent!" Sigaw niya ulit. "Hindi mo naiintindihan kung bakit ikaw sana ang gusto kong mag-handle ng kumpanya natin."

The next thing I saw surprised me.

Tears started to stream down my Dad's face.

Never in my whole life I imagined na iiyak si Dad sa harap ko. I must have triggered something.

"Then make me understand, Dad." I said calmly. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. I want to hug him but it doesn't feel right.

"Y-You're brother's sick, Brent." Humihikbing sabi niya. And the next thing he said made my whole world crumble.

"He has a congenital heart defect, may butas sa puso ang kapatid mo, Brent."

Hindi ko namalayan na tumulo ang luha ko. Napansin ko na lang when I tasted it.

"Don't you ever compare my love for the both of you, Brent, kasi pareho ko kayong mahal. Ang pagkakamali ko lang ay mas minahal ko ang kapatid mo."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang bumalik sa akin to lahat ng memories ko kasama si Kuya. All the times na pinagtanggol niya ako, all the times na pinagtakpan niya ako, all the times that he patted my shoulder and told me that it's okay to fail and make mistakes.

All the times na pinaramdam niya sa akin na meron akong Kuya na laging nandyan para sa akin.

"But can you blame me, Brent? Masisisi mo ba ako kung mas binigyan ko ng atensyon ang Kuya mo dahil hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ko pa magagawa 'yon?"

Ngayon, mas naintindihan ko na si Dad. And no, I can't blame him.

My Kuya deserves all the happiness in this world and I'll do anything to give him that.

Even if that means letting Veronica go.

●●●

A/N: Good Night 😉