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Chapter 34
Brother
Agad na inawat ni Jax ang dalawa. His eyes were furious but when he looked at me, agad na nagbago iyon.
"Cal, pasok ka na sa lib. Ni-reserve kita ng upuan," Jax said and smiled.
Dahan-dahan akong tumango kahit medyo naguguluhan pa rin. What's the commotion all about?
Galit na hinarap ulit ni Jax iyong dalawa. "Guidance."
Pumasok na ako sa loob ng library. I saw Gelo, Xuri, and Theo together. Lumapit ako sa kanila at nandoon nga ang ni-reserve sa akin ni Jax na upuan.
"Buti na lang at na-suspend sila. It served them right for doing things like that..." saad ni Xuri. "Dapat nga 3 days pa!"
"I really don't get it. Sobrang insecure naman nila kay Cali!" si Gelo naman.
I learned that Claire, Violet, and Jenny was suspended for a day under false accusation. I just hope that this won't happen again. I had enough! I would never ever steal!
Nagulat naman ako sa tahimik na si Theo na nasa tabi ko. He is never quiet! Agad din akong nag-alala sa kanya. Is there something wrong?
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
Sinilip ko pa iyong kanina niya pang tinititigan. And I was so shocked when I saw it. Agad naman niyang itinago iyong papel.
"You're gonna–" I stopped myself and asked Theo to go outside so we can talk about it.
Nasa labas na kami ngayon ni Theodore. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin, pero alam ko iyong nakita ko.
Malungkot ko siyang tinignan.
"I saw the dropping form, Theo..." I told him.
He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Cali... Sabi ko pa naman sa 'yo, ga-graduate tayo ng sabay at ako ang magiging Attorney na laging nasa tabi mo."
I can feel the heavy water in my eyes.
"Where are you going?"
"Cat..." he answered. "I'm going to find her. May lead na ako."
I slowly nodded. Naiintindihan ko siya at alam ko naman na darating din ang araw na 'to. I just can't help not to feel sad about it. He's the only person I know when I first went here in this school. And he's always been there.
"Pero hindi pa naman agad-agad," he said and ruffled my hair. "Secret muna natin kay Jax. Baka umiyak pa 'yon."
Natawa ako at mahina siyang hinampas. "We're gonna cry pareho!" I told him.
Ako na lang ang bumalik sa loob ng library. Sobrang curious naman ni Gelo at Xuri kung bakit kami lumabas. Ang sabi ko si Theo ang tanungin... I'm not in the position to spill anything. Kaya ayun, dali-daling nagtakbuhan iyong dalawa para habulin si Theodore. My gosh!
I was in the middle of reviewing something when Jax arrived and sat beside me. Kasama niya rin si Lancer.
Parang buhat ni Jax ang mundo kung titignan siya.
"Pumipitik 'yong ugat ko sa leeg dahil do'n sa magpinsan," Jax whispered something but it was not loud enough for me to hear it.
"Is there a problem?" I asked him.
Agad siyang umiling at malaking ngumiti. "Wala naman," aniya. "Kausapin na natin si Kuya Kairon bukas."
I nodded.
Bigla namang naubo si Lancer. Kaya naman sabay namin siyang tinignan ni Jax.
"Good luck," Lancer said. "Sabihan mo na lang ako kung saang ospital ka bibisitahin pagtapos."
Agad akong napalunok. Why am I suddenly scared?
"Hoy! Gusto ako ni Kairon!" laban ni Jax.
Lancer looked at me. "You have no idea, Cali. Ang daming dakdak ng Kuya mo sa 'min bago kami makalipat."
Agad nag-loading ang brain ko.
My forehead creased. "What's dakdak?" I asked him.
Lancer's face turned red like he was containing a hard laugh. "Conyo nga talaga," he whispered something to Jax.
Naningkit ang mga mata ko. What is it? Bakit ba sila bulong ng bulong?
"Ay, bilin lang 'yon, Cali!" Jax said positively. "May mga bilin lang sa 'min ang Kuya mo."
Oh my, really? Ano kayang mga sinabi ni Kuya? He never told me anything about it!
Masama naman siyang tinignan ni Lancer. "Bilin? Hindi bilin 'yon! Pagbabanta 'yon, e!"
"Alam mo, lumipat ka na nga!" sabi pa ni Jax.
I sometimes wonder what Lancer really wants to do with his life. Sigurado na ang paglipat niya sa ibang school pero kakalipat lang din niya rito.
I already told my parents that we will be having lunch with Jax later. Inayos na rin ng Daddy ang restaurant reservations. Nasabihan na rin ni Mommy ang Kuya.
Because there's no sign of any danger like before, Kuya can now go home every week. Their school rules have been lifted. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung matutuwa ba ako roon. Mas kinakabahan ako sa magiging reaction ni Kuya kaysa sa magiging reaction ni Dad.
I immediately opened my phone when a chat from Jax popped up.
Jax Pereira: Bb.tots :(
Jax Pereira: I'm kaba :(
I pouted when I read his messages.
Aw my bb.
Kuya Kairon likes him naman siguro? He's best friends with his girlfriend! For sure he likes him!
Before I could even type a reply, he immediately sent another message.
Jax Pereira: CHAR IM OKI! JAX LANG MALAKAS!
We are now on the way. Si Kuya naman ay susunod na lang dahil manggagaling pa siya sa school. I just really hope that everything will be okay.
Mom, Dad, and I were already at the restaurant. Ilang saglit lang ay dumating na rin si Jax.
He looks very formal. Jax is wearing a white polo and his sleeves were folded up to his elbows.
"Good Afternoon po, Tita... Tito."
Jax paid respect to my parents. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang Mommy dahil nakita niya na ulit si Jax.
I'm actually very nervous myself and I don't know what to say to Mommy and Daddy. Paano ko ba 'to sisimulan?
Our food was served and I can't even get something to eat. Para kasing nabusog na ako dahil sa kaba.
"We should say it na," I whispered to Jax.
"Alam na namin!" si Mommy iyon.
Agad akong napalingon sa kanya. Gulat dahil doon sa sinabi niya. What? Anong alam?
"Huh?" I asked cluelessly. Tinitignan ko silang tatlo. Anong alam nila na hindi ko alam?
"That you're together!" Mom said happily. Napapapalakpak pa siya.
"Nagpaalam si Jax sa amin na manliligaw siya sa 'yo. Hindi ko naman alam na sasagutin mo agad-agad," si Dad iyon.
Natawa pa ang Mommy. "Wala pa raw atang segundo 'yun, Dy."
Mabilis akong nakaramdam ng hiya. Seriously? Bakit naman sobrang honest ni Jax?! And when did he talk to my parents?
I immediately looked at him. "You didn't tell me that you asked their permission..." I said and crossed my arms.
"Your parents' permissions are very important," aniya at ngumiti sa akin.
I was very touched. It was such a very sweet and respectful gesture.
Nang makita ko si Kuya Kairon na papalapit na sa amin ay mas tumindi iyong kaba na nararamdaman ko. My chest was pounding like crazy! He's always the one with a violent reaction!
Paglingon ko naman kay Jax ay bigla siyang pinagpapawisan. Teka, is it hot ba?
"My, Dy!" Kuya called from a far.
Sa bawat hakbang niya ay parang napapalunok si Jax. Why naman kasi he's scary and strict? I don't want him to scare Jax away! If he do that, I'll scare Ate Paige away too! An eye for an eye!
"Am I late?" Kuya asked and his eyes were fixed to our parents. "Hindi po kasi sumasagot 'yong kaibigan ko na gusto ko sanang ipakilala sa 'yo, My."
"Friend?" Mom asked him.
Hindi ko alam kung pre-occupied pa si Kuya kaya hindi niya kami napapansin ni Jax na siyang kaharap lang nila Mommy.
"Wait a sec," Kuya said and dialed something on his phone.
Nagkagulatan na lang kami nang biglang tumunog iyong phone ni Jax.
Jax scratched his head. "Ay, hehe. Natawag ka, Commander?"
"Why are you here?" Kuya was so shocked upon seeing him. "Did you receive my text?"
"Ah–"
"My, he's the Pereira that I'm talking about." Kuya said.
Kumunot ang noo ni Mommy. "But he's an Yrreverre, right?"
"His last name is Pereira, Mommy." I told her.
Saka pa lang na-realize ni Kuya na nandoon ako. He looks utterly confused about everything that's happening right now.
Agad na napatayo ang Mommy at lumapit kay Jax. "That's why there's a resemblance... That's why," Mom cried and hugged Jax. "You remind me of Calix."
"Tito Calix?" Jax seemed very surprised.
Mommy was so happy. You can see it through her eyes.
I don't know if this is just a coincidence or maybe, just maybe, it's fate... What are the chances that everything seems to be connected? Mommy's best friend is Tito Calix, Jax's uncle. While Jax is best friends with Paige, Kuya Kairon's girlfriend. The two of us will meet either way, but we met in Sapphire Academy... Without knowing any of these connections.
We are now eating. I can't even eat properly because I'm observing Kuya! Pabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa phone niya at kay Jax. What's his problem?
"Hindi pala na-send ang text ko sa 'yo, Pereira. How come you're here?" Naningkit iyong mga mata ni Kuya habang umiinom ng juice.
"That's the purpose of this lunch, son. We want you to meet Cali's boyfriend," Daddy said cooly.
Agad na naibuga ni Kuya iyong iniinom niya. "What the fuck?!"
"Watch your mouth, Kairon Pierce Gonzalez!" asik naman ng Mommy.
Oh my gosh! This lunch is going to be a disaster!
"How's the airline doing?" Mom asked Jax.
"I think it's doing good, Tita," he answered.
"Tita?!" violent reaction ni Kuya. He's even chewing the steak aggressively!
"Sa totoo lang po, matagal ko nang hindi nakakausap ang Papa. My Mom and him are not really okay po."
Agad na binago ni Mommy ang usapan. She's now asking about acads.
"Wow! Jaxith here is the top of the class," Mom said like she was so proud.
Tumango naman ako habang nangingiti. I'm such a proud girlfriend!
Pag baling ko kay Kuya ay kitang-kita ko 'yong masamang tingin niya kay Jax. Napatingin naman din ako kay Jax na mukhang mabait na sisiw sa gilid ko. My poor bb!
Ni hindi siya makasubo ng maayos! I can't take this anymore!
"Kuya–"
"Not a word, Calixta!" agap ni Kuya na parang siya si Dad! "Jax, let's talk outside."
Nakakatakot talaga si Kuya lalo na nong lumabas siya. Sumunod naman si Jax sa kanya.
"Be careful!" habol ko sa kanya.
I'm so worried, okay!
Kitang-kita ko ang pag-uusap no'ng dalawa mula sa malayo. Both of them looked so serious.
I crossed my arms. "I can't believe Kuya. He's a lot more strict than Dad!"
Mommy and Daddy laughed at me. How can they even laugh at this point? I can't even smile!
"Hayaan mo na ang Kuya mo. Alam mo namang little sister ka no'n," Mommy said.
"Jax is a nice person..." sabi ko pa.
"He is..." Daddy said. "But for your big brother, no one is nice enough for you."
I pouted. Jax is still nice!
Pagbalik no'ng dalawa, nag-aya agad si Kuya na mag-shopping dahil gusto raw niyang mag-renovate ng room. When did he even plan that?!
Nauna na sina Mommy dahil naiwan sa bahay ang kambal. Mamaya naman ay sa bahay din kami mag-didinner kasama si Jax and unfortunately, Kuya too!
Kanina pa kami paikot-ikot sa home depot. Kuya keeps on getting random stuff that doesn't even match at all! Parang may makuha lang!
Napatingin ako kay Jax na nasa likuran namin at may buhat-buhat na malalaking vase. At kailan nahilig si Kuya sa vase?!
"Kuya, bakit mo naman biglang naisip mag-renovate ng room? You're barely home!" I told him.
"Anong barely? Uuwi na ako lagi. Boyfriend boyfriend pala, ah..." papaliit ang boses niya at dama pa rin ang sama ng loob.
Mabilis akong umangkla sa braso niya. "Don't be mad na... We met even before you met him! Plus Mom and Dad already liked him since then!"
Seryoso akong tinignan ni Kuya na parang kahit na anong sabihin ko ay hindi uubra sa kanya.
"He's very nice, Kuya!" subok ko pa.
Naaawa na kasi ako. Kung anu-ano ang pinapabitbit ni Kuya kay Jax. Kanina mini ref, cabinet, wooden table, whole body mirror, sofa bed... Ngayon naman naglalakihang vase!
"I know..." Kuya said. "But I'm not a very nice brother."
Tumalikod siya at pumipili naman ngayon ng double deck bed. At para saan? Dalawa ba ang katawan niya para mag-double deck?!
In times like this, I hope Ate Ariyah and Kuya Shawn are here. They can make him sane! I sometimes miss the trio's friendship, they're do or die. Sayang lang at hindi na ganoon ngayon. Things are really changing when feelings start to get involved.
"Lintik lang ang Kuyang walang ganti," naririnig ko pang sabi ni Kuya.
Napailing na lang ako. He's really determined na pahirapan si Jaxith! Did he suffer from his girlfriend's brother?!
Lumayo ako kay Kuya saglit habang busy pa siya. I immediately got my phone and dialed Ate Paige's number. She should stop Kuya from being baliw!
"Cali?" she answered. Ate Paige sounded very surprised that I called.
"Kuya is being so mean to Jax!" bungad ko.
"What? No!" aniya na parang Ate siya ni Jax.
Napangiti naman ako roon. "Can you come over to our house, Ate? We'll be having dinner and I think Kuya won't let this go..."
Ate Paige agreed to come over. Thank the heavens! Humanda talaga si Kuya kay Ate Paige! I made sumbong na!
Mom prepared everything already for the dinner. Pero hindi ako makapaniwala na imbis nag-bobonding kami ni Jax ay nandoon siya sa kuwarto ni Kuya at nagbubuhat ng mga gamit!
"Kuya, you can ask help from our house helpers!" sabi ko pa pero hindi niya ako pinapansin.
"Kairon, didn't you heard your sister?"
We were all surprised when we heard Ate Paige's voice.
"Pie!" Kuya called. Biglang naging malambing! Aba!
"Paige! Huhu!" si Jaxith iyon na parang batang paiyak na habang nagbubuhat nang computer table.
"Bitawan mo na nga 'yan, Jax!" Ate Paige said and binalingan niya si Kuya. "Kai, stop this!"
Napagkasunduan na tatapusin na lang ang iilang gamit na kailangang ipasok tapos ay he'll let Jax go na.
Ate Paige and I waited in the living room. Sana hindi na matagalan sila Kuya para makapag-dinner na rin kami.
"Cali..."
Agad akong bumaling kay Ate Paige. "Hmm?"
"I don't know if I should say this, but Jax really likes you a lot."
I was startled. Nanatili akong tahimik at hindi alam ang sasabihin.
"He didn't like me that way," she said and smiled. "Gusto ko lang na maging malinaw."
I slowly nodded at her.
Because back then, I really thought he did.
"We're friends but he never wrote a bucket list of things to do with me..."
I suddenly remembered the bucket list that he have on his phone before. I think that's really, really sweet. I just ignored the kilig feeling back then.
"He never sing a song for me," she added.
"Sing– What?!" si Kuya iyon na nakapamaywang pababa ng hagdan. "Fucking asshole! Nagpaturo sa 'kin tapos kapatid ko pala ang kakantahan!"
Muling umakyat si Kuya. Ang pababa sanang si Jax ay tumakbo na pataas. To make the long day short, it was truly a disaster!
It's Monday morning. Dapat ay excited ako ngayon... Jax and I are now official, we can go to school together... But Kuya decided to be the kontrabida and ruined it!
Bakit niya ako ihahatid? May pasok din naman siya? Never naman niya akong hinatid sa school!
"Kuya, this is so petty..." I told him when I entered his car.
It was supposed to be the big day!
"I'm still not talking to you..." he said.
He's still mad na sinagot ko si Jax without asking him first! He's a major tatay!
"Last time, I punched Ace in the face. Who should I punch next? Hmm..."
My eyes widened because of what he said. Ace... He mean Chance?
Speaking of, I totally forgot about it! That's a problem pa pala when I go to school! Paano ko sasabihin kay Chance na hindi niya ako pwedeng ligawan?
I am now walking down the hallway. Nasaan na kaya si Jax? He's not replying to my messages yet.
Agad akong nagtago roon sa may malaking statue nang makita ko si Chance na naglalakad din sa hallway. Hindi naman sa iniiwasan ko siya, pero hindi ko pa kasi alam kung paano siya kakausapin. Sumilip ako pero nakikita ko pa rin siya. Oh my gosh naman!
"Hiding from someone?"
Sa gulat ay na-out of balance ako sa pagkakatayo. Mabilis naman akong nasalo ni Grant para hind tuluyang bumagsak sa sahig.
"T-Thank you..." sabi ko nang makatayo na.
Agad din naman akong binitawan ni Grant.
"Ba't ka ba kasi nagtatago?" he asked. Ang dalawang kamay niya ay nasa bulsa na ngayon.
Sumilip din siya sa pinagsisilipan ko at pareho naming nakikita si Chance.
"Is he making you uncomfortable?"
"I-It's not like that..." Hindi ko lang kasi talaga alam kung paano ko siya kakausapin!
"Then why are you hiding?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you mad at him?" tanong ko kay Grant para lang maiba ang usapan. "Because of a girl?"
Nagkuyom ang panga niya. "Yeah... And it's happening again."