Just The Strings (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 44

#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 44

During the weekend, I wanted to visit Kuya's house but he said it wasn't time yet. Mukha kasing halos nagpapatayan pa rin sila nung babae kaya ayaw niya akong papuntahin. Ayaw niya ring sabihin iyong pangalan. It was like he shuddered at the sound of her name, so we settled on calling her Mars kasi galing daw sa Mars iyong babae. Si Kuya talaga.

"Dalhin mo na lang si Mars sa bahay, Kuya," I suggested. "Hindi ka naman siguro niya aawayin sa bahay natin."

Kuya scoffed.

"Asa ka pa. Sinisigawan nga niya ako sa harap ng katulong, sa harap ni Mama, sa harap ni John. Sarap busalan ng bibig ng babae na 'yun, e."

"Magkaaway talaga kayo?"

"Kita mo 'tong mukha ko? Puro na wrinkles dahil sa sakit sa ulo sa babaeng 'yun," sabi niya sabay turo sa mukha niya. Wala namang wrinkles, OA lang talaga si Kuya.

"Di ba siya galit na dito muna si John buong weekend?"

"I don't think so," Kuya replied. "I just called the house. Umalis na raw. Gumala na naman siguro," he said with a shrug.

Curiouser and curiouser. Saan ba nakilala ni Kuya si Mars? At bakit nagkaroon ng John kung ayaw na ayaw niya naman kay Mars? And I hadn't seen Mars yet, but Kuya's tales about her made me wince... Nakakaawa naman si Kuya kung totoo nga lahat ng kwento niya. Pero siguro good thing na rin 'to. Papa and Mama were really fond of John, ayaw na nga nilang pabalikin sa QC, e. At sina Finley at Riley din, feeling nila big brothers na sila dahil kay John.

"E Kuya..." I trailed. He looked at me and I wondered if I could ask him about Kath. "Si Kath, nag-usap na ba kayo?"

Hindi agad siya naka-sagot. Maybe I caught him off guard... But if I did... ibig sabihin ba nun, may gusto talaga siya kay Kath? That something was interrupted even before it began? Na kung wala bang Mars na dumating, sana ba silang dalawa? Kung ganoon nga, my heart was sad for the two of them. It barely even started... And they were both hurting.

"Nah. She wouldn't even face me, usap pa kaya?"

I tapped Kuya's shoulder.

"Kayo ni Santo, 'di ka ba pinapaiyak?"

I shook my head. Si Saint pa nga napaiyak ko, e.

"Good," sabi ni Kuya. "Kasi kung pinapaiyak ka, sabihin mo sa 'kin."

"Bakit? Ano'ng gagawin mo kay Saint?"

"Secret," he said and I leaned on him and hugged him. "Basta, 'wag kang papayag na papaiyakin ka 'nun."

"Hala, Kuya. Hindi naman ako papaiyakin ni Saint. He's a really nice guy, you know?"

I felt him nodding.

"Did you settle on him because he's nice?" he asked.

"No," I quickly replied. "I didn't settle on him, Kuya. I chose him."

I didn't feel comfortable talking about Saint with Kuya... But I felt like this was for the best. Para mawala na iyong kung anuman ang iniisip niya tungkol kay Saint. Hindi ko naman siya masisi kung hindi niya talaga magugustuhan si Saint. They were never friends and would probably never be. But at the very least, I wanted them to be civil with each other. Kasi pareho silang parte ng buhay ko... And I didn't want to give up on any of them. I was keen on keeping them both.

"So... you're really over Parker?"

"Ang tagal na, Kuya."

"Paano mo nalaman na wala na?"