Chapter Eleven

Habang hinihintay kong bumaba si Kuya Taehyung ay hindi ako mapakali sa couch na inuupuan ko. Paulit-ulit kong nililingon ang hagdan habang paulit-ulit ding ipinapasada ang mga palad ko sa ibabaw ng mga hita ko, namamawis at nanlalamig ang mga iyon dahil sa kaba.

My heart was drumming nervously for what Kuya Yoongi might say.

Nang matapos ang lunch kanina ay hindi na nagtagal pa si Kuya Jimin dahil matapos niyang makatanggap ng sunod-sunod na tawag ay bumirit na siya ng alis. Ni hindi siya nagpaalam kay Kuya Yoongi dahil hindi pa rin bumababa ang isang iyon.

In normal times, I could have internally feasted because the cold man wasn't out here to watch out for my every act and I didn't have to be scared over him getting mad about something I clearly didn't know. Pero kasi bukod sa naninibago ako sa ugali niya, hindi ko maipaliwanag kung bakit hindi ako natutuwang may mga bagay siyang isinasantabi para lang kay Ate Mira.

I wasn't concerned about his health, he could stay in his room for all he wanted, starve himself and I wouldn't care. I just couldn't really understand what he had been doing inside his room when he used to always stick by my side when I was here. Kahit naman may pasok siya noon ay nagagawa niya pa ring punain ang kahit na maliliit na bagay na ginagawa ko pero simula kaninang umaga pa siya parang walang paki-alam na nandito ako sa Min Mansion.

I should be glad, right? Yes, I should be but I just couldn't stop thinking what could he possibly be talking with Ate Mira that it didn't seem like ending anytime soon.

Mataga-tagal na rin simula noong huli akong nag-stay rito sa Min Mansion, mayroon na rin siguro talagang mga nagbago sa buhay niya, isa na roon ang pag-uugali niya at malamang, maging ang mga taong nasa paligid niya.

He had all his time dominating me before, watching over me because he still didn't have Ate Mira to have his attention and his mind divert from me. Pero ngayon, ngayon ay may Ate Mira na. I could only see him being easy to me for until he had her by his side.

Was that a good thing? I hoped so…

Now I was nervous because Kuya Taehyung decided to take me out and I didn't know if Kuya Yoongi would be fine with that. Kailangan akong ipagpaalam ni Kuya Taehyung kay Kuya Yoongi. And if he was really changing for good… he would let us right? He could lock himself inside his room, and talk and talk and talk with Ate Mira, just so he let me go out with Kuya Taehyung.

It would only be fair. May pinagkaka-abalahan siya kaya dapat… dapat ako rin.

Naka-ilang lingon ako sa teresa sa second floor at naka-ilang beses ko ring ipinasada ang mga namamasa kong palad sa ibabaw ng mga hita ko dahil sa kaba bago ako makarinig ng ingay mula sa itaas. My head instantly snapping up again to look and it felt like my heart would leap out of my chest when I saw Kuya Taehyung frowning so hard while Kuya Yoongi was holding the collar of his long sleeve.

Hindi pa rin nagbibihis si Kuya Yoongi at magulo ang buhok, na kung hindi ko lang alam na buong magdamag niyang kausap si Ate Mira ay iisipin kong natutulog lang siya.

Kuya Taehyung harshly tried to get away from Kuya Yoongi's grip but the cold man, who was just staring lazily at him didn't let him get away. Maingat silang bumaba ng hagdan pareho at habang pinapanood ko sila ay alam ko na kung anong kinalabasan ng pagpapaalam ni Kuya Taehyung sa akin kay Kuya Yoongi.

Hindi maganda ang timpla ng mukha ni Kuya Yoongi. He looked sleepy like usual but his lazy kitten eyes weren't showing anything but irritation. I knew him that much to know when not to mess with him but I couldn't let him ruin what the charming man had planned for us! Hindi na rin maganda ang timpla ng mukha ni Kuya Taehyung!

I wasn't really used to seeing Kuya Taehyung frowning. Hindi maganda sa pakiramdam lalo na at mas sanay ako sa masaya at palaging nakangiting mukha niya.

"Now, go home and just come back here tomorrow if you want to see her again." Nang makalapit sila sa kinaroroonan ko ay marahas na binitawan ni Kuya Yoongi si Kuya Taehyung. The latter threw him daggers looks, lips pulled down in a pout while fixing his clothes, too obvious that he was annoyed.

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo, kahit na nanginginig ang mga paa ko dahil sa presensiya ni Kuya Yoongi at sa hindi magandang timpla ng mukha niya ay sinubukan ko pa ring maglakad palapit kay Kuya Taehyung. Meeting Kuya Yoongi's kitten lazy eyes, I almost stumbled half-way. Mukhang napansin niya iyon kaya nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya pero nagpatuloy ako.

I stood beside Kuya Taehyung, trying to bravely stay my eyes looking back at Kuya Yoongi's intimidating ones.

"I told you, you can come with us!" Pumailanlang sa kabuuan ng living room ang malalim na boses ni Kuya Taehyung na nakapagpatalon sa akin sa gulat. His voice had always been so deep but I never heard him scream so it seriously startled me while Kuya Yoongi remained unaffected, his kitten lazy eyes still fixed on me.

Mas dumilim pa ang mga mata niya nang makita ang pagkakagulat ko. It was months already since I last saw him, since I last visited Min Mansion so it was only right to notice some changes in him. He was now twenty-two years old, he was now too far from the young boy I last saw… he was now a man and his appearance and every being just proved every bit of it.

The way his jaws showed bones when clenching, the way those bones defined the shape of his face… it was every bit of manliness dripping from him. Nakakatakot isipin na kung siya pa rin iyong dating lalaking nagmamanipula sa akin, nakakatakot isipin na baka mas lumala siya ngayon.

"And I've told you so plenty of times already that I'm not taking your bullshits! You can't take Julie out of this mansion! Or if you don't want me to ban you from going here to see her, then get the hell out of my house!"

Hindi namin pareho inaasahan ni Kuya Taehyung ang pagsigaw na iyon ni Kuya Yoongi kaya pareho kaming napatalon sa gulat. Mabilis na napahawak si Kuya Taehyung sa isang braso ko saka ako hinila palapit sa kaniya na para bang umaasa siyang maipagtatanggol ko siya mula sa galit ni Kuya Yoongi gayong alam ko rin sa sarili kong hindi kaunti na lang ay babagsak na rin ako dahil din sa takot.

Hindi ko rin naman siya magawang itulak palayo sa akin dahil kapag ginawa ko iyon, baka sa akin naman magalit si Kuya Yoongi. Nagsisisi na tuloy ako kung bakit pinalabas pa namin siya ng kuwarto niya. Doon na lang dapat siya! Magkulong na lang dapat siya sa loob ng kuwarto niya at makipag-usap kay Ate Mira!

Hindi ko rin naman inaasahang ganito siya pati sa mga kaibigan niya. Kuya Taehyung was too nice to be treated this way. He was too nice, just like how nice to smell his good and sweet addicting chocolate scent.

He was too nice but then, Kuya Yoongi's bad attitude also applied to anyone, whoever that was.

"W-We'll buy… we'll buy you ice cream!"

Brows furrowing, I quickly raised a confused look at Kuya Taehyung. Ang buong akala ko ay natatakot siya kay Kuya Yoongi pero ang malapad niyang ngisi ang nagsasabing malayong-malayo iyon sa inaasahan ko. He was still holding my arm tightly and I didn't know what to expect from that. Ni hindi ko alam kung nagbibiro lang ba siya sa sinabi niya.

Why did he think that Kuya Yoongi could be bribed with ice cream? Hindi naman mahilig sa matatamis si Kuya Yoongi! At pambata iyon…

Kuya Yoongi exasperatedly sighed. "I still have a lot of things to do, Taehyung. Let go of her and get out of my house now." Nang akmang lalapit sa amin si Kuya Yoongi ay mas humigpit pa ang hawak ni Kuya Taehyung sa mga braso ko saka niya ako mabilis na dinala sa likod niya.

Suminghap ako pero nasulyapan ko pa ang tuluyan nang pag-iiba ng ekspresiyon ni Kuya Yoongi bago ko makita ang malapad na likod ni Kuya Taehyung. My eyes instantly went up to his nape to see the ends of his red hair, prettily covering the skin on his nape and his sweet chocolate scent just soothed even more within my nostrils.

Parang ang sarap-sarap yakapin ni Kuya Taehyung at pagkakagatin dahil sa bango niya.

"Taehyung." Kuya Yoongi's hard and deep voice in a warning tone.

"But she agreed! She wants to come with me!" Parang batang pagmamaktol ni Kuya Taehyung.

I couldn't believe I was seeing again another dimension of his behaviour. Alam ko namang noon pa siya weird, nakakagulat lang talagang isa-isang matuklasan ang mga ugali niyang ganoon.

"And you seriously expect me to let her go with you just because she agreed? Yah, Taehyung, I'm already losing patience. You ruined my deep and peaceful sleep for this, I'm still not over that." Hindi ko nakikita si Kuya Yoongi pero kung ako ang kaharap niya, siguro kanina pa ako nag-iiyak sa takot sa kaniya.

Naisip ko rin namang matagal na silang magkaibigan, they were always together at school or at everywhere they would go so maybe, they were already used to each other's attitude. Kuya Taehyung clearly wasn't scared of him plus Kuya Yoongi was miraculously coping up with Kuya Taehyung's weird attitude when he was very impatient.

Ngumuso ako nang malaman kong hindi naman pala siya nakikipag-usap kay Ate Mira, natutulog pala siya. I didn't want to hype up about that because I didn't know why would I do that but my heart unbelievably leaped over that information. He was sleeping! And not talking to Ate Mira! Bakit ko nga ba nakalimutang kayang isantabi ni Kuya Yoongi ang lahat para lang sa tulog?

Uh, I guessed not this one though. He woke up and left his sleep just to stop Kuya Taehyung from taking me out of the house.

"Let's ask her then! You should let us go if she wants to come with me!" Nakakatawa rin talagang ipinaglalaban ni Kuya Taehyung ang gusto naming mangyari ngayong araw.

"Didn't you hear me, bubblehead? I said whether she likes it or not, she'll stay here in this house. Umuwi ka na. Don't wait for me to call my men to forcefully drag you out." Halata sa boses ni Kuya Yoongi na napapagod na siyang kausap si Kuya Taehyung.

"I dare you! I'm not going without her!" matigas na pasya ni Kuya Taehyung, nanunubok ang tono ng boses niya.

In terms of appearance, it was clear that Kuya Taehyung was bigger and taller but in terms of demeanor, Kuya Yoongi surely looked scarier and more rougher than Kuya Taehyung.

"You asked for this, dumbass. We're friends but you know I don't take in your bullshits that involve Julie…" Kuya Yoongi angrily said. Hindi ko nakikita ang ginagawa niya pero naramdaman ko ang pagiging tensiyonado ni Kuya Taehyung sa harap ko at ilang sandali lang ay marahas na siyang umiiling.

"Don't! Don't! You know your guys are taught to be harsh! Noong huling beses na nakaharap ko iyong si Bosley, halos mabalian ako ng buto!"

I could have sworn, I was about to see Kuya Taehyung in tantrum. Kulang na lang ay maglupasay siya sa sahig dahil sa pagkatalo dahil hindi niya nakuha ang gusto niya.

"Madali akong kausap, Taehyung. Now, leave the girl alone and lead your stupid self out. Huwag ka nang babalik dito buk—"

"Babalik ako! I'm leaving now so I'll come back tomorrow!"

"No, I'm banning you from going here. Ipapabitay kita kay Bosley kapag nakita kita rito bukas."

"But you said if I didn't want to be banned I should leave—"

"Did you leave immediately?" Bumalik na naman ang tamad na boses ni Kuya Yoongi.

Gusto ko tuloy lumabas mula sa likod ni Kuya Taehyung para makita ang hitsura niya. I wanted to see from his face how he was already so eager to go back to his room so he could sleep.

Sighing deeply, I stepped aside, showing myself again to Kuya Yoongi. Pakiramdam ko malulugutan ako ng hininga nang muli kong makasalubong ang tamad niyang mga mata, tila malalaglag na ang mga iyon habang nakatagilid ang ulo niya. My heart also couldn't stay behaved knowing he had been waiting for me to show myself from Kuya Taehyung's back.

I would gladly be inspected by a shrink to see what was wrong with me. Nakaka-inis na kahit na may takot sa puso ko, nagagawa pa rin nitong mag-ingay dahil lang sa simpleng paninitig niya sa akin. Handa akong magpasabunot para lang magising na ako mula sa pagkakaroon ng kakaibang nararamdaman para kay Kuya Yoongi.

What was it? I didn't have any idea.

"I can't understand why you've always been overprotective of Fraye! She's already seventeen, and it's not as if being with me would bring harm to her. Siyempre hindi ko naman hahayaang may mangyari sa kaniya!" At hindi pa rin tapos si Kuya Taehyung sa mga ipinaglalaban niya.

To be honest, I didn't know what to do anymore. Ayos lang sa aking hindi na kami matuloy sa balak namin ngayon. I was already rest-assured that after this, Kuya Yoongi might come back to his room just to sleep and not do anything other than that.

"Taehyung, seriously, you're so stubborn! Ano ba talaga ang hindi mo maintindihan? Hindi siya lalabas ng Min Mansion, I believe that isn't so hard to comprehend. Your bubblehead might be saving up air again, you should use it sometimes you know." So that was how he low-key insulted his friends.

Noon pa lang talaga ay masakit na siyang magsalita pero wala pala talagang exemption iyon, ganoon din siya maging sa mga kaibigan niya.

Bago pa sila muling bumalik sa mga ipinaglalaban nila ay naglakas-loob na akong nagsalita. "K-Kuya Taehyung, it's f-fine. We can hang out some o-other time, when my parents are back from their business trip." Ngumiti ako sa kaniya nang nilingon niya ako.

Gaping, his deep hooded chinky eyes blinked at me for a while before his lips stretched for a boxy smile he was just so pretty at. Tuluyan na niyang itinuon sa akin ang buong atensiyon niya kaya hindi niya nakita kung paanong umigting ang panga ni Kuya Yoongi habang masamang nakatitig sa kaniya.

"For real? When's that? You know, I've been wanting to bring you to Happy Croissant! You heard about their walnut cookies? They're good like no other!"

One thing about Kuya Taehyung that I liked the most. He was so pure. He could be upset but it wouldn't take so much effort but just a flick of a finger to make him smile. Sobrang dali lang niyang pangitiin. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba iyon sa mabilis lang siyang nagbabago ng mood pero ang cute-cute niya para sa akin.

I wanted how his eyes would lit up from joy, the ends of his lips would stretch up and his cheekbones would show when he was clearly happy. There was really a reason why he was one of my favorite persons.

"Yes. I still don't know how long their trip would take but you can always visit me at De Asis Manor when I'm home." Tumango ako.

"Okay then! I'll go for now—"

"I need you here now, Bosley. I need you to immediately drag a peasant out of my land—"

"KUYA!" malakas na sigaw ni Kuya Taehyung nang makita naming may kausap na si Kuya Yoongi sa phone. Kuya Yoongi just stared lazily at him, his kitten eyes clearly challenging. "You don't need to have your men drag me out! I can lead my way out!" Hindi na niya hinintay pang makasagot si Kuya Yoongi dahil mabilis na siyang yumuko sa akin para patakan ng matunog na halik ang isang pisngi ko bago siya tumalikod at nagmamadaling tinahak ang daan patungo sa main door.

"TAEHYUNG KIM!" Kuya Yoongi angrily screamed which the charming guy just chuckled in response from the hallway, his deep voice blaring from the echoing narrow space and booming to our ears. "The hell he thinks he can do that in front of me?!" May ibinulong pa siya pero hindi na umabot sa pandinig ko.

Slowly backing away, I braced myself for the anger he would surely vent on me. Tatakasan ko na lang ang galit niya kaysa mahulog na naman ako sa parusa niya. I couldn't let him take my clothes off again and spank me! I was now a lady!

"You bad girl."

Napahinto ako nang marinig ko ang tamad niyang boses, tinawag na naman ako sa madalas niyang itawag sa akin. I slowly raised my gaze at him only to see him sleepily staring at me, his pair of kitten eyes almost falling but not really closing. He shouldn't be mad at me. Hindi naman kami lumabas ni Kuya Taehyung.

Curling tightly, my fingers clutched the soft fabric of the tail of my flowy dress, my heart drumming once again in nervousness.

My wardrobe here was filled with classic dresses so I didn't have a choice but to wear one. Ilang buwan na ang lumipas pero kasya pa rin sa akin ang mga damit ko dito dahil mukhang wala namang nagbago sa katawan ko mula noong nakaraang nag-i-stay pa ako rito sa Min Mansion.

"Come here," mahina niyang sabi. His head slowly tilted, his tongue appearing as it dangerously pushed to the side of his thin pink lips before leaving wet licks all over. He must have known how good he looked with that, he always did that to be honest.

"But I… I d-didn't do something. I was actually v-very behave," sagot ko. Ayaw kong sundin siya dahil hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isipan niya.

"You really want me repeating myself, Julie. When will you seriously learn?" he said in a growl. "Come here before I make you." Dumilim ang mga mata niya kasabay ng banta niyang iyon kaya kahit na natatakot ako ay dahan-dahan akong humakbang palapit sa kaniya.

Halos mapasigaw ako nang naubusan na siya ng pasensiya kaya mabilis niyang hinablot ang isang pulupulsuhan ko at malakas akong hinatak palapit sa kaniya. Mariin akong napapikit nang malakas akong tumama sa dibdib niya, bahagya pa siyang napa-atras dahil sa lakas ng impact. My front body hurt because of that, my chest that hardly bumped on his hard chest burning in ache.

His sweet strawberry scent instantly wiping the hint of Kuya Taehyung's sweet chocolate scent away from my mind and from my system, as it immediately soothed my nose. He always smelled so good…

Hindi pa man ako nakakabawi sa ginawa niya ay naramdaman ko na ang mga malalambot niyang palad na mariing sinasalo ang mukha ko para i-angat. Napagtanto ko lang ang ginagawa niya nang maramdaman ko ang mariing paglandas ng hinlalaking daliri niya sa pisngi ko… sa pisngi kong hinalikan ni Kuya Taehyung.

Paulit-ulit iyon na tipong may binubura…

"The hell! That annoying bubblehead! Who the hell! He thinks he is! To kiss you! The hell! I should have made Bosley choke him to death!"

Staring at his angry face while he harshly and firmly rambled about his frustration while he desperately wiped my cheek with his thumb, I realized why my heart was having weird reaction with everything he did. I was growing, and maybe, the short distance we had, for months that we didn't see each other… maybe my heart had grown to miss him and his assaults to me.

Nakakatakot isiping imbis na dapat ay mandiri ako at mainis ay tila nasisiyahan pa ang puso ko dahil sa mga pagbabago niya.

Nasaan na iyong Kuya Yoongi na kaunting pagkakamali ko lang, kakaladkarin na ako sa kuwarto niya at itatapon padapa sa kama? Nasaan na iyong Kuya Yoongi na huhubaran ako para paluin? Nasaan na iyong Kuya Yoongi na kayang buhayin iyon mga natutulog na pakiramdam sa kaibuturan ko?

I could see him but I couldn't feel him anymore. And my heart was unbelievably missing him.

Was that a good thing? No. It was scary and… real scary.

Hindi ko rin kailanman naisip na magiging ganito siya ka-frustrated dahil lang hinalikan ako ni Kuya Taehyung. He looked too lost and betrayed. He looked too angry and frustrated. I had seen him get angry already but not over something like this…

"K-Kuya Yoongi…" I uttered softly as I bravely held his wrist, my small and thin fingers only barely groped his hard and big wrist. Huminto ang kamay niya ngunit ang isa ay nananatiling nakasalo sa pisngi ko. "Why… why are you so f-frustrated?" takang-tanong ko, damang-dama ko ang init at hapding iniwan ng daliri niya sa pisngi ko.

Matagal muna siyang tumitig sa akin bago umawang ang mga maninipis niyang mga labi. He blinked several times, his pair of kitten eyes widened at the aching spot in my cheek before he harshly let go of me. Parang napapasong umatras siya palayo sa akin at tila ba binuhusan siya ng kamalayan kaya napagtanto niya kung anong ginagawa niya. Hardly biting his lower lip, he quickly turned his kitten eyes away from my confused ones.

It hurt to see him unsure about what he was just doing.

"I… you…" he uttered, lost and unsure. "I g-got you a sketch pad and a set of sketch pencils! In your room! At your closet!" Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata niya bago siya nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong-hininga at nang dumilat siya ay mas mabilis pa sa pagsibat ni Kuya Taehyung siyang nawala sa harap ko.

Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig ako sa likod niya habang nagmamadali siyang umakyat ng hagdan. My eyes watered as my heart felt like being squeezed within my chest. Naiiyak ako kasi ang gulo-gulo na niya. Ang sakit sa dibdib na hindi ko na magawang i-predict pa iyong mga ikinikilos niya o kung ano ang tinatakbo ng utak niya.

Why was he doing this to me? I seriously didn't know what was worst. The old Kuya Yoongi or the new Kuya Yoongi. I also didn't know what was this feelings for? For the old Kuya Yoongi or the new Kuya Yoongi?

Sa hindi ko na mabilang na pagkakataon ay bumuntong-hininga na naman ako, ang mga mata ko ay tamad na nakatitig sa maduming pahina ng sketch pad habang tamad na iginuguhit ng mga daliri ko ang imaheng nasa isipan ko.

One of the things I liked in this world was drawing. Hindi ko sinasabing magaling akong mag-drawing pero namana ko kasi ang talent ni Daddy sa pagiging magaling sa art. My father was a good artist, aside from being a successful businessman, he was also good in painting and drawing. He just didn't really pursue it because for him, business was more important.

Kapag wala akong ginagawa sa bahay ay nagbababad ako sa leisure room ko at nag-do-drawing. Iyong leisure room ko na iyon ay naging personal art room ko na dahil sa dami ng mga masterpieces kong naroon. At alam na alam ni Kuya Yoongi iyon kaya binilhan niya ako ng sketch pad at pencils.

I could stay in one room all day just drawing stuff and I wouldn't get bored, just like how he could stay in his room sleeping all day and it still wouldn't enough.

Staring intently at the messy image I drew on the paper, my frustration once again got into me when I thought there was something wrong again. Sa tuwing idino-drawing ko ang mukha niya ay pakiramdam ko, parating may kulang. My eyes would always bring me to how I sketched and shaped his pair of small kitten eyes, those eyes would always send me insecurity and inferiority for I couldn't seem to find what I lacked.

I had drawn his lazy eyes, their every details, from the curves to the eyelids, and from the lenses to the lashes but it always seemed like something was missing. Something was missing, something his eyes would always hide that my eyes would always catch but my mind was failing to grasp.

Katulad ng madalas mangyari, sa tuwing nakikitaan ko na ng pagkakamali ang imahe niyang iginuguhit ko ay nawawalan na ako ng ganang ipagpatuloy. Sa huli, itinabi ko na lang ang hindi pa natatapos niyang imahe saka muling gumuhit ng ibang bagay.

I also loved to draw nature. I loved how my hands could bring beauty and life to a monochromatic image of a nature. Talent nga siguro. When my parents said they would let me choose my own career when the time came, I considered taking up Fine Arts major in Drawing but even though they didn't tell me, I also knew that I was expected to handle De Asis Holdings so I still wasn't decided about what to choose.

Sa buong maghapong iyon ay nakatapos ako ng tatlong pahina ng drawing, hindi kasama ang unang iginuhit ko. Bumaba lang ako nang marinig ko ang pagdating nina Tita Belle at Tito Thomas. Sinalubong ko sila sa living room at hindi na rin naman ako nagulat na hindi bumaba si Kuya Yoongi.

The cold man wasn't really sweet to his parents, if anything, he was also cold and savage like how he treated other people. Nature na talaga niya ang pagiging salbahe.

"Fraye, your Mommy called. She said by the end of the week, they'd be home. Are you fine with that? Ayos ka lang ba rito?" Habang naglalakad kami ni Tita Belle patungo sa kusina ay marahan niyang hinahaplos ang likod ko.

Walang mga maids ang sumalubong sa kanila sa living room kaya nang manghingi si Tito Thomas ng tubig na maiinom ay si Tita na lang daw ang kukuha. Sinabi kong ako na lang pero hindi pumayag si Tita kaya sumama na lang ako.

"I'm fine po…" sagot ko, pinipigilang magsalita ng tungkol sa mga nangyari kanina. I was done with that part of my life where I just got tired of telling them about their son's assault to me but no one was really believing me.

"Good. I heard Yoongi came home early, I'm sure nagkulong na naman sa kuwarto ang batang iyon. Did he make you cry again?" she asked.

Sighing, I slowly shook my head. "He bought me sketch pads…"

Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Tita Belle dahil sa sinabi ko. "Really? That's so sweet of him. You see, Fraye, he really isn't that bad. Madali lang talagang uminit ang ulo ng Kuya mo kaya minsan napapagalitan ka niya." Nang makarating kami sa kusina ay iniwan na niya ako para magtungo sa countertop at magsalin ng tubig sa isang matangkad at malinis na baso.

Abala na siya kaya hindi niya napansin kung paano akong sumimangot dahil sa sinabi niya. First of all, their son wasn't sweet. Second, he was a bad-tempered cold man and that wasn't good, nothing was good about it. And third, I didn't like how she casually said 'Kuya mo' like the cold man was my brother.

He wasn't! Kung mayroon man akong ituturing na Kuya, si Kuya Yexel iyon!

Oh, how I missed Kuya Yexel. How I wished he was here. Madalas noon ay magkalaro kami sa living room, minsan nagtatawan kami habang nanonood ng cartoons dahil hindi katulad ni Kuya Yoong, si Kuya Yexel ay hinahayaan akong manood ng cartoon at hindi nililipat sa basketball broadcast ang TV.

"Tita, kailan po ang uwi ni Kuya Yexel?" tanong ko habang nakatayo ako sa doorway ng kusina. Ang ilang maids na naabutan namin sa loob ay abala rin sa kani-kanilang gawain.

"He's actually done with his MBA but for some unknown reason, he still wants to stay. He has been telling us about this girl from his university, I think it's the reason." Nang matapos si Tita Belle ay binilinan niya ang mga maids na ihanda na ang mesa para sa hapunan bago kami muling lumabas ng kusina.

"I miss him, Tita…"

Muli akong hinawakan ni Tita sa likod ko. "I'm sure he misses you too," she softly answered me with an assurance.

Sure, I hoped he would go home soon. I was getting afraid about this odd feelings that starting to rise within me… it felt good but scary.