Nahihiyang ngumiti ako nang ayain niya na akong umalis. "T-thank you uli,"

"Yeah," He simply answered without looking at me. He just fixed his front hair habang nagtitipa muli sa kanyang cellphone.

Tahimik lang kaming naglalakad. I'm not used to opening a conversation with anyone kaya naman nag-aalangan akong kausapin siya. He looks uninterested too kaya tahimik na lang akong sumusunod sa kanya.

"Don't you have cellphone?" biglang tanong niya sa kalagitnaan namin ng paglalakad.

Napatingala ako sa kanya ngunit ang direksyon ng paningin niya ay deretso pa rin. "I have... a-ano hindi ko lang dinala k-kasi.." nauutal na sagot ko.

Sasabihin ko bang akala ko hindi ko kelangan? Thinking of that, it's too petty. I just realized it, pero 'yun talaga ang dahilan ko e...

Dumungaw siya sa akin, taas ang isang kilay. "Kasi? You're here for vacation yet you don't bring a phone with you? Sounds odd,"

Napanguso ako, " yun dahilan ko.. I thought I wouldn't need it... kasi nga nagbabakasyon naman kami rito,"

Tuluyan na siyang lumingon sa akin, there's a hint of confusion in his eyes, "Take photos?" he asked.

"a-ano.. sa camera.."

He shook his head at muling tumingin sa daan. His wavy hair slightly dance when he lightly grabbed my wrist, nangunguna sa akin tumawid.

Bahagya kong kinagat ang labi ko sa isiping para akong bata na kailangan gabayan sa pagtawid. Sa bagay ay bata pa ako...

"I didn't expect you to be Duke's sister," He said with a monotone voice. His voice is manly enough to get you intimidated.

Napatingala ako sa kanya,"B-bakit?" nahihiya kong tanong. I am glad that he's talking to me but I still feel nervous of the strictness visible in his voice.

He shrugged, "I don't need to answer that. I'm sure you know," deretsong saad niya habang hindi inaalis ang atensyon sa aming harapan.

Napatikom ako ng bibig bago saglit na nag-isip. Kuya Duke is a confident person, he knows what he can do and always ready to go for a challenge. That's how I saw him and I'm always a proud sister of him but whenever Duchess, kuya's bestfriend is the one to comment--she always say kuya is all-knowing, paepal at papansin.

I don't know why though. Pero ngayon, she's always irritated even with the mention of kuya's name. We invited her to come with us but she declined.

"Ate!"

Napalingon ako sa di kalayuang lamesa dahil sa boses ni Clane. I saw how they eagerly get up at agad na lumapit sa akin, their faces formed relief as they walk towards me. Agad ko rin silang sinalubong at yumakap.

"Our princess, where did you go? Kanina ka pa namin sinubukan tawagan," bakas ang pag-aalala ni Dad sa boses niya while mom is still hugging me.

Saglit ako umusod para maluwangan ang yakap bago napabuntong hininga. "Susundan ko sana si kuya but I got lost," pag-amin ko, hindi itinatago ang lungkot dahil pinag-alala ko sila.

I don't know where I did the courage to do that.

"Don't do that again. You should have informed me na sasama ka," masungit na pagsasabi naman ni kuya, he's always like this but we all know that he cared a lot.

I nodded at him and smile na agad niya lang inikutan ng mata. Humarap muli ako kay mom, hindi pa rin nawawala ang bakas ng pag-aalala niya. Nakaka-guilty tuloy...

"Are you okay?" Mom started asking.

Muli akong tumango at ngumiti,"Sorry for making you worry,"

Mom just sighed and carresed my hair. Isiniklay niya saglit ang dulo ng mga buhok ko at iniligay sa gilid kong balikat. She always remind me to tie my hair, hindi ko lang madalas maalala gawin.

"I'm glad you're okay ate," Clane said kaya muli akong ngumiti sa younger brother ko.

Dad patted my head at binalingan ang naghatid sa akin.

"Thank you for helping my daughter. Glad to know that you're my son's friend," aniya ni Dad sa kanya. Magkasing-tangkad lang si kuya at si Dad and that made Kuya's friend the tallest.

"He's actually our mentor or instructor whatever," biglaang singit ni kuya habang nakahalukipkip. Kunot-noo akong napabaling sa sinabi niya, a mentor?

Napaikot naman ito ng mata kay kuya bago muling nilingon si Dad. "No problem po," pormal na sagot nito. Walang emosyon ang mga mata niya ngunit may respeto pa rin ang paraan ng paningin niya.

I hope I didn't disturb him.

"Bakit hindi ka na sumama sa amin kumain? We're glad to know who's Duke's friends are," pag-aaya ni Mom.

Hindi naman na nakatanggi ito, ngumiti na lang ako ng kaunti sa gawi niya kahit wala ang atensyon niya sa akin.

Nagsisimula na kaming maglakad nang marinig ko ang bulungan nila Mom and Dad. I don't know why they need to whisper at each other, is that a secret?

"This scene's familiar," Mom whispered to my Dad na naabot pa rin ng pandinig ko.

Napakunot ang noo ni Dad at binalingan ang kaibigan ni kuya bago saglit na sumilip sa akin. Nagtataka lang akong nakatingin nang umiling ito. "Don't be silly, hon. Our daughter is too young."

My mom chuckled. "What? Hon, I'm just saying the scene's familiar."

--

Nakarating kami sa isang family apartment kung saan tumutuloy si kuya. Sinadya ito dahil nga simula ngayon ay parati na kaming dadalaw dito. Medyo may kalakihan ito dahil nga pampamilya ang nasabing kwarto, he needs a big space too for his study because of the sewing machines, mannequins and a bunch of fabrics.

My mom is a chef, she's always in charge of cooking for the family. Tinutulungan siya ng bunso kong kapatid ngayon para maghanda ng pagkain.

Saglit kong nilingon ang paningin nang maaninag ko naman na may tao sa may tabi ng bintana. Sa tangkad at pantay na mga balikat niya, alam ko na kung sino ito.

I am contemplating to go or not.. pero pinili ko ang nauna. I wonder if he's really okay going with us, I wish na hindi talaga siya napilitan...

Pagkalapit na pagkalapit ko ay ang agad pero marahang paglingon niya sa akin. Kaagad kong ibinaling ang tingin sa tanawin bago humugot ng lakas na loob magsalita.

"Salamat pala uli uh.. k-kuya.." Nag-aalangang panimula ko.

Mom told us to call ate/kuya to people older than us. Hindi naman siguro masama.. alam niya naman siguro iyon dahil may lahi siyang Pilipino. Isa pa, I still don't know his name.

Napatawa siya ng pagak sa akin, taas ang dalawang kilay na para bang ang imposible ko. "Inikutan na kita ng mata't lahat. You'll still call me kuya?" He said with now disgust in his face...

Namula ata ako sa biglang narinig. I got what He meant. Should I call him ate instead? Nakakahiya...

"Sorry.." saad ko.

He rolled his eyes on me, "Arczeno Imperial is my name but call me Zen. I don't need honorifications, walang bakla ang gustong i-kuya nang hindi naman kapatid. Your brother didn't even bother to treat me as their mentor."

Matiim ang tingin niya sa akin habang sinasabi iyon. Samantalang malikot ang mga mata kong pinagmamasdan ang ibang parte ng kanyang mukha, intentionally neglecting to meet his eyes.

Napakagat ako ng labi bago tumango. Bumuga muna ako ng hangin bago nagpasyang makipag-usap, "Uh.. paano kayo naging magkaibigan ni kuya?"

"We're not," simpleng sagot niya.

Nagtataka akong napabaling sa kanya. Huh? Hindi? eh ano-

"What are you thinking?" He asked while his one eyebrow lifted. "Before you assume anything, I'm one of the mentors in the university. I'm not inclined directly to teaching but since I'm still art incline, I was given the opportunity to be part of the uni."

Confusion left my face to what he said. Ganon pala... but why would kuya not treat him in that manner, I mean I would be anxious to even speak with my teachers.

"B-but kuya Duke is so...." pagsasalita ko muli. I don't know what's the exact word to use kaya hindi ko maituloy ang sasabihin ko.

He's currently facing the view in front of us nang magsalita siya, "So?"

Hindi muna ako sumagot. I don't want to assume anything but his tone of speaking make me feel unwelcomed. It sounds unfriendly and uninterested kahit pa tinatanong niya naman ako.

Napanguso ako bago umiling na lamang. I am currently at his side, palagay ko ay kita naman niya iyon dahil matangkad pa siya kay kuya ng ilan.

"I don't mind the impoliteness of your brother. He's aware of his credentials and I am not bitter to discredit him. Pareho-pareho rin naman kaming mga bakla, we can be friends for real in the future," He said answering my thoughts from earlier.