My American Stepbrother (BxB)

- C H A P T E R * * T E N -

"No, Mrs. de Guzman, it's not a problem at all." He smiles at my mom.

"Thank you, and please just call me Sarah."

"Thanks, Sarah."

"Have a safe trip,"

With a smug look still plastered on his pretty face, Isaiah saunters too happily just to piss Dylan off. While my mom is still around, Dylan can't help but to just smile even though I know he's dying inside to yell at Isaiah. I kiss my mom's cheek before walking towards Dylan's car, waving over my shoulder.

Isaiah sits at the back while I sit on the passenger seat. Good thing Isaiah's brain works in the morning because if not, they'd just bicker throughout the entire ride. I mean, I know they're always going to bicker at each other. But if Isaiah is in the passenger seat, chances are, we'd up dead before we even arrive at our destination.

Dylan, as he climbs into the driver seat, glares at Isaiah but Isaiah is oblivious to it. Without saying much, he revs the engine. He turns on the radio and a song I don't recognize comes blasting off the speakers. I look at Isaiah through the rear-view mirror, and notice that he's just spacing out while looking through the window, but he bobs his head along the beat. Meanwhile, Dylan just drives ahead without saying anything.

Dylan and Isaiah in one place is a total disaster. Bad things happen if they are in the same place; a catastrophe waiting to happen. But at least, at the moment, they are caught up into their own world. That means I'm going to be safe.

Remembering that it's also Friday in the Philippines, around 6 in the afternoon, I decide to call Max. It rings for a minute before Max answers, then he requests for a video chat. I accept the request and grin once I see his face come into view.

"Hoy, puta ka." My best friend greets me as he grins widely. I put the phone on speaker and set the volume to medium so there wouldn't be too much noise. "Kumusta ang US, anong balita sayo?"

"Okay naman kami dito ni mama." I reply, aware that Dylan and Isaiah are both listening to my conversation with Max. But hey, if they can't understand it, I can freely speak. "Nag a-adjust pa rin kami, pero so far, okay naman. Ngayon nga, kasama ko yung bagong kaibigan pati na rin yung anak ng kinakasama ni mama. Pareho silang mga baliw. Pano ang hilig mag-away. Di magkasundo, bes. Lagi na lang nagbabangayan. Yung isa nagmamaneho, yung isa naman nasa likod ko, nakatunganga. Pero pareho silang nakikinig. Di nga lang nila maintindihan."

Max laughs out loud at my statement, shaking his head.

"Gusto ko silang ipakita sayo kaso lang baka sobra kang tumawa," By this time, I see Isaiah leaning forward from the corner of my eyes. "Tsaka bes, mga gwapo tong mga to. Baka ikamatay mo."

"Hoy, bakla ako, pero di ako ganon ka bakla." Max rolls his eyes playfully, grinning. I can see that he's outside, probably hanging out with his friends. "Tsaka kahit gwapo yang mga yan, di naman ako interesado. Alam mo naman kung kanino ako nababaliw ngayon."

"Tangina nito, siguraduhin mong maayos yan ah. Wag kang patol ng patol." I remind my best friend, who nods his head in agreement. Max knows that I deeply care for him, and I treat him as a brother. So any men who come into his life must go through me. Unfortunately, I'm in the US right now, which means I don't get to judge the guy who likes him. "Pakilala mo sakin yan. Kahit video chat. Tignan ko kung maayos."

"Wag na, baka takutin mo lang."

"Papunta kami ngayon sa Greensville. Magca-camping kami." Max seems more excited than me. "Send ko sayo mga pictures."