Embracing Your Poison

13

While talking to Tito Axel and Nigel my eyes is just on Amstel talking to my brother. Habang nakatingin sa kanila napapaisip na lang ako kung anong pinag-uusapan nila that will make Amstel laugh like that and my brother looks comfortable with him.

"I think tayong dalawa na lang Tito Axel ang mag-usap." Napatingin naman ako kay Nigel because of what he said at parehas na silang nang-aasar na nakatingin sa'kin.

"I'm sorry, what is it again?" I ask and they both laugh at me. 

"Wala Veron, okay na. Okay na okay na talaga masarap naman kasi talaga ang feeling ng mainlove." Nigel said at natawa na lang si Tito Axel doon at napairap na lang din ako.

Binalik ko yung tingin ko sa kapatid ko na kasama si Amstel and I badly want to know kung ano ba ang pinag-uusapan nila to make them laugh that hard.

After staring at them kinausap ko na talaga ng maayos sila Tito Axel at hindi naman daw ganun kalaki yung problema pero baka lang naman daw maurong yung tapos ng bahay because of the materials na hindi pa dumadating. Pero sana hindi dahil gustong gusto na umuwi ni Mommy and she already want to see the house.

"What about our rest house po?" tanong ko and he smile at me before looking at Amstel.

"Ask your boyfriend." he said na parang inaasar pa ako.

Nakita kong papalapit na sa pwesto ko yung kapatid ko at si Amstel kaya iniwan na ako ni Tito Axel and Nigel dahil may gagawin na sila.

"We should go to the site more often now, Ate. It's fun." Andie said at nagulat naman ako doon.

Nung dumating siya dito ang gusto niya vacation pero mukhang mas nagustuhan na sa site.

"Ikaw na lang, kumuha ka ng lisensya mo." I said and roll my eyes at him.

"Sungit mo," he said pero di ko na yun pinansin at nagtama yung tingin namin ni Amstel and he smile at me like may nalaman siya about me. Inirapan ko na lang din siya and that makes him laugh.

Anong akala niya nakalimutan ko na pinagawa niya sa'kin. We just flirt in front of my brother and his dad isama mo na din si Nigel. At ang matindi hindi naman talaga kami. And up until now I am still thinking why he wants me to call him babe all of a sudden. Hindi naman siya ganun dati even kahit nung nagsimula kaming magpanggap na kami.

Nakita kong iniwan kami ng kapatid ko at sinabing mag-iikot lang siya kaya naiwan kami ni Amstel ngayon.

"Ngayon ikaw na nagsusungit, Veronica?" he said at sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin.

"Of course, hindi lang naman ata ikaw lang ang may karapatan magsungit. And mas bagay naman sa'kin ang magsungit, not like you." I said and that makes him laugh bago lumapit sakin.

"Yeah bagay nga sa'yo, basta sakin ka lang ganiyan ah." he said and pinch my cheeks.

Tito Axel called Amstel kaya naiwan akong mag-isa dito na pinapanood lang yung paligid ko. At ganun na lang ang gulat ko ng biglang may nag-abot sa'kin ng makakain and when I look at that person it's my brother. 

"I know you're hungry. Kuya Stel ask me to get that in his car." he said at nagtaka naman ako doon. And when I open it, it's glazed chicken wings.

"Close na kayo?" tanong ko sa kanya at mabilis naman siyang tumango doon.

I know that my brother is good at making friends but it's not easy na masabing close na sila. I remember before when I ask him about one of his friends at sinabi niya lang 'we are not close enough to be called friends'.

At hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa din alam ang meaning ng close para sa kanya. And it shock me na ang bilis niyang tumango when I ask kung close na ba sila ni Amstel. Yung kaibigan niya nga na mahigit dalawang taon niya ng kasama hindi niya pa daw kaclose si Amstel pa kaya na ngayon niya lang nakausap at nakilala.