His apology was 5 years late but I still forgave him. I always do.
"How are you?" he asked while flashing his boyish smile.
Diyan niya ako nakuha. Sa ngiti niyang 'yan. Ilang taon ko din 'yang hindi makalimutan. Ang hirap din kasi naman talaga niya kalimutan.
"I'm doing great. Ikaw?" I tried looking at his eyes.
He was doing great, I know. Even if I'm away, I've heard about his great achievements. I'm so proud of him for that. I just regret that I'm not with him while he was climbing to the top but I'm still so proud of what he became now.
"I'm good."
There was an awkward silence after that.
We weren't like this before.
But time and struggles made us awkward like this. Time made us silent like this, to the point that we can't even think of something to talk about.
"I honestly want to ask you about the things you did abroad, kaso naisip ko, wala na ako sa posisyon para tanungin ka. Hindi na naman tayo katulad ng dati." he even chuckled.
I smiled sadly because of that.
He really never realize his position in my life. Even if I tried so many times before to show him where he truly stands, he never really realize it. Hindi ko alam if it's my problem or it was his. Maybe it's mine.
Maybe all this time, the problem is really me.
"You can still ask me things like that. Ano ka ba naman. Parang wala tayong pinagsamahan."
After saying that line, I eventually remembered the first time I met him.
It was my brother's birthday party. He was 21 that time and I was 18.
Actually, we are three pero nag-aaral ng fashion designing si Ate Penne sa Italy. She's 23 and she actually went there almost a year ago and she's not even planning to go home just for a quick vacation. I miss her so much but I can't still go there because they won't allow me. Boo them.
Anyway, Ate Penne's fine there because we have family friends there to help her.
Dahil birthday ni kuya, pinayagan siya nila Mommy ng isang house party kahit sobrang ayaw nila Mommy ng gano'n dahil makalat daw masyado sa bahay.
Of course, he's the only son and almost everyone's favorite pa on our family. He's the firstborn boy apo so Mommy's really going to spoil that brother of mine.
Our house is not really that super grand but it can house a party with some guests. May garden si Mommy sa likod ng bahay namin but the front yard is spacious. Great deal for kuya's birthday celebration.
Hindi ko naman kilala masyado yung mga invited friends niya pero yung mga kaclose niya, medyo kilala ko naman but in case he wanted me to go down to meet some of them, I am already dressed up in a white comfortable vintage dress.
Mommy wanted me to wear at least a good pair of heels pero dahil ang weird naman na nasa bahay ako at nakaheels pa, I just wore my usual fluffy house slippers.
Later on, it was almost midnight.
Gusto ko nang matulog pero dahil maingay pa sila at medyo may kalakasan pa yung tugtog, I just realized I can't tune them out. Hindi naman siguro kami papadalhan ng letter of notice ng homeowners dito sa village dahil sa isang party lang ni Kuya na maingay.
So I got up from my bed and decided to leave my phone. Tulog na ang mga kaibigan ko kaya wala na akong kausap kapag ganitong oras.
Paglabas ko pa lang ng kwarto ko, I immediately heard the loud bass of the music. They are playing kuya's favorite songs.
