LEO STILLED and turned his head to the other side. Hindi na nagsalita. Tamad na sumandal si Rayos sa upuan at kinuha ang cellphone niya. Saka lang niya naalala na may usapan pala sila ng kambal na sabay silang uuwi.
Vyrlle wanted to visit their Café to buy a cake. Mukhang na-miss nito ang cake na binibigay ni Leo sa kanya.
Vraiose Cay: Ion, I'm sorry! May emergency group meeting lang kami. Nagpaalam na ako kay Kuya (:
Ionvyr: Samahan mo na lang ako bukas. I'm salivating, Cay!
Vraiose Cay: Bili na lang kita? Do you want?
Ionvyr: Sure.
The next thing she did was to text their brother.
To: Kuya
I'm going to Leo's house. He's sick. Ako muna ang magbabantay habang wala pa si Ate Pisces, ikaw na ang bahala kay Daddy? I love you!
Pinatay na niya ang cellphone at itinago 'yon sa bag. She cannot afford to have an argument with her brother, lalo na at kasama niya ngayon ang magkapatid na Zodiac signs.
"Leo…" Nagulat si Rayos nang bigla na lang magsalita sa harap si Pisces. Rayos caught her looking and smiled a little. "Nitong nakaraan, sobrang tigas ng ulo niyang kapatid ko na 'yan."
Rayos cleared her throat and asked, "Bakit po ate?"
"Hindi siya lumalabas ng kwarto niya. Palaging nakaharap sa computer at nagtatrabaho and after that, mag-aaral naman. He overworked himself and that made him sick. Hindi lang 'yon, napapabayaan na rin niya ang pagkain." Pisces sighed heavily. Bagsak ang balikat nito dahil sa pag-aalala para sa kapatid.
Rayos immediately felt guilty. Maybe, kung hindi siya naging mababaw at hindi niya tinuring si Leo na karibal sa top list, siguro ay hindi nito mapapabayaan ang sarili. He won't get sick.
She wanted to say sorry again to Leo. Lumingon siya kay at nakita ito na tulog. Nakasandal ang ulo nito sa upuan pero dumudulas naman 'yon kaya nagigising ito. He massaged his nape and tried to sleep again. His head hang low, hindi rin ito makasandal sa bintana dahil possible na masaktan ito.
Umusog siya papalapit. Rayos guided his head to rest on her shoulder, it was much better than let his head hang low. Hindi niya rin tinanggal ang kamay niya sa ulo nito. Rayos was enjoying herself caressing his jaw and patting his cheek.
Gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi niya nang makita na mas lalo pa itong sumiksik sa kanya. He even crossed his arms cutely.
"Vraiose?" Kuha ng kapatid ni Leo sa atensyon niya. Bumaling siya kay Pieces, nagtatanong ang mga mata. "If… If ever na manligaw ang kapatid ko sayo… may chance ba si Leo?"
Rayos stilled at that question. Mayroon ba? It's just a simple question but that made her shut her mouth. Bumaba ang tingin niya kay Leo na nakasandal ang ulo sa balikat niya. He's an adorable guy. He has the face and he also excelled in academic. Leo was a good catch.
"I'm sorry. I know how strict your brother is but I still asked you. Did my question make you feel uncomfortable? I am really sorry, Vraiose." Bawi agad nito. Bakas ang pagsisisi sa boses.
Mabilis siyang umiling at ngumiti.
"No, it's okay Ate. I was just thinking…" Mahinang sagot niya at lumingon ulit kay Leo.
Maybe, kung 18 na kami… I'll entertain that idea.
Her lips parted with that thought. Well, madali lang naman para sa kanya ang magustuhan si Leo. Her mind was filled of memories how gentle and caring he was towards her. Sa kanya lang.
But her priority was to make her father proud. Having a boyfriend was not part of her plans. Her heart pounded hard.
Tahimik lang si Rayos sa biyahe nila pauwi sa bahay nila Leo at hanggang sa makarating sila.
Lumapit sa kanya si Pisces. "I made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I won't say anything about my brother courting you again. I promise!"
Mahina siyang natawa sa kapatid ni Leo. She's silent because her thoughts was filled with her plans.
"Ate, I'm fine. I really am." Rayos assured her.
Pisces pouted her lips and glanced at Leo. Nauna na itong pumasok sa kanila sa bahay.
"Ahm, may katulong kami sa bahay. Just ask her anything you want and… please, feed my brother? Pilitin mo kung kinakailangan."
Rayos hugged his sister, Pisces, and gently patted her back.
"You can go now, Ate. Ako na ang bahala kay Leo," aniya.
Pisces hugged her back. She uttered how thankful she was before she pulled back and slid herself inside her car again. Hinintay muna ni Rayos na makalayo ang sasakyan bago siya pumasok sa loob ng kabahayan.
She's already familiar to the house. Papunta sa kwarto ni Leo. Bago siya umakyat hinanap niya muna ang katulong sa bahay na sinasabi ni Ate Pisces. And when she found her, kaagad siya na nagtanong kung may pagkain ba para kay Leo.
"Ihahatid ko na lang po sa kwarto ni Leo," anito at ngumiti sa kanya.
Nagtungo siya sa kwarto ni Leo at nakita ito na nakaupo sa harap ng computer nito. Rayos sighed. She crossed her arms against her chest and leaned against the door frame.
She cleared her throat to caught his attention. Tumaas ang kilay niya nang lumingon si Leo sa kanya. Napatigil ito sa pagbukas ng monitor ng computer nito. His face turned to his computer, pagkatapos ay bumalik ang tingin sa kanya.
"What are you planning to do?" kalmado na tanong niya. "Work?"
"Yes," paos ang boses nito.
Nailing siya sa sagot nito. Indeed, Leo was stubborn.
"Your sister is right. Hindi ka talaga magpapahinga," aniya. Marahas siyang nagpakawala ng hininga at bumaba ang tingin sa mga paa niya. "Hindi na ako makikipag kompetensya sayo. I won't avoid you, so, please… pahinga ka muna?" Rayos pleaded and glance at him.
"S-sige." He stammered cutely.
"Hindi ka raw masyadong kumakain. Kain muna tayo bago ka matulog."
"Sabay tayo?" Nanlalaki ang mga mata na tanong nito sa kanya.
She smiled at him. "Yes, Leo. Sabay tayo."
He bit his bottom lip. As if he was suppressing the smile to draw on his lips. It's been a while since they dined together. She missed it. Rayos missed how attentive he was towards her when they're eating together.
Katulad ng sinabi ng kasama ng mga ito sa bahay, hinatid sa kwarto ni Leo ang pagkain nila. Pinanood ni Rayos si Leo na maganang kumain hanggang sa matapos sila.
"Drink your medicine, Leo." Para siyang nanay na inutusan ang anak.
He happily obliged. They talked randomly as she kept on apologising. No amount of words and apologies can lessen the guilt she was feeling but Leo kept on assuring her that it was fine. It wasn't her fault. Rayos only smiled at him. Siguraduhin talaga niya na babawi siya rito.
***
WHEN LEO woke up, wala na si Rayos sa kwarto niya. Medyo magaan na ang pakiramdam niya kumpara kahapon. Maybe because he already had enough of sleep and it's all thanks to the medicine he's taking.
He slowly moved his body and sat up. Leo stretched his arms and yawned. He was aiming for his phone, pero iba ang nakapa nang kamay niya sa side table. Bumaba ang tingin ni Leo doon at nakita ang nakadikit na sticky note sa tabi ng cellphone niya.
"What the…" he trailed. Kunot ang noo na kinuha niya 'yon at binasa. "Meet me in the garden. I'll be in School at seven. Rayos." He read it out loud.
Unti-unti na tumaas ang gilid ng labi niya nang mapansin ang maliit na drawing sa gilid ng pangalan nito. It was a small teddy bear. Tumingin siya sa orasan at muntik na mapamura nang makita ang oras. Their class will start at ten in the morning, and she said she'll be in their school at seven!
He immediately stood up and picked his towel. Took a shower as quickly as possible. He dried his hair using the towel and brushed it up.
"Oh man, we need a haircut " Naiiling na singhal niya sa sarili. His brows furrowed as he brushed his hair neatly in front of the mirror.
Leo also sprayed his usual cologne and dressed up into their school uniform, pinatungan niya lang 'yon ng hoodie incase na ginawin siya.
"Leo! Breakfast first. Hinabilin ni Rayos."
Mabagal na naglakad papunta sa dining area si Leo at masama ang tingin sa kapatid niya.
"Why?" nagtataka na tanong nito. "May ginawa ba ako?"
"Don't call her 'Rayos' she doesn't like it." Suway niya sa kapatid. Kahit ang too ay ayaw talaga ni Vraiose na tawagin ito sa second name.
"Ha? Pero ang sabi niya sa akin kagabi I can call her Rayos or Cay, pinapili nga ako. I choose Rayos because only her family calls her 'Cay'."
Mas lalong sumama ang mukha ni Leo sa kapatid. How come she let his sister called her using her nicknames, habang siya… Leo sighed heavily and finished his breakfast.
As usual, his sister dropped him off at their School. His mind was wandering somewhere but his feet were walking towards their classroom. Ilalagay niya muna ang bag sa table niya bago pumunta sa garden.
Well, that was his plan but it seems like he doesn't need to go to the garden. Natulos siya sa kinatatayuan niya. Leo's heart tightened with the sight of a guy handing flowers to Vraiose.
"Date me, please?"
Leo scoffed when he heard his voice. May sakit siya pero hindi ibig sabihin noon ay hindi siya nakikinig kahapon. This was the same guy who told their teacher na kaya lang mataas ang score niya ay dahil kay Vraiose. And now he's asking Vraiose to date him? Pathetic.
"Oh, you're here," said Rayos when she saw him standing near their classroom. His heart almost jumped in joy when she pointed at him and said, "Siya lang ang gusto ni Kuya."
Leo pursed his lips.
"Just who the fuck are you?" Inis na tanong sa kanya ng lalaki.
His eyes seek for Vraiose and smiled widely before he answered, "Hi, I'm Cay's Zodiac."
☕