Pretending with the Snob (Pyxis #1)

Chapter 28

Tinawid ni Troy ang pagitan nila Tyler. Walang kahit anong yabang o ngisi sa mukha. "You wanna punch me? Go ahead. I deserve it."

Kumuyom ang kamao ni Tyler at umamba ng suntok, "Mabuti alam mo."

Bago pa man tumama kay Troy ang kamao ng kapatid, muli akong pumagitna. Iniharang ko ang katawan ko upang sa akin tumama ang suntok.

Hindi ako masokista, okay? I know it's a stupid idea, pero iyon lang paraan na naiisip ko para matigil si Tyler.

My chin and jaw hurt like hell! Muntik pa akong mabuwal. Ang lakas ng suntok niya! Ito na yata ang pinakamasakit na suntok na naranasan ko. Walang-wala sa mga bugbog na natamo ko mula kay Yumi at sa mga alagad niya noon.

"Alisson, why the fuck did you fucking do that!? Fuck it!" mabilis na umalalay sa'kin si Tyler, "Shit! Are you stupid?! Bakit ka humarang?!"

He's right. I'm stupid, bakit ko ba ginawa 'yon? I shake my head to come to my senses. Naalog yata ang utak ko, at na-dislocate ang panga ko. "I'm okay, Tyler. Listen to your brother. Kaya ko na 'to—"

"I will listen." he says firmly, inilayo ako kay Troy at iniupo sa sofa. "But I won't talk to him if you won't let me treat you."

"Kaya ko na nga sabi eh. Sanay akong mabugbog at masuntok—"

"Saan masakit?" dahan-dahan niyang hinawakan at sinipat ang mukha ko. "Fuck. You're bleeding. You're fucking bleeding—"

"Tyler, okay lang ako." putol ko sa panic mode niya, "Kailangan n'yong mag-usap ng kapatid mo."

"I will talk to him. Later. I'll get the first aid kit, stay there." Tyler stands up, glares at Troy and walk past him.

Nagkatinginan na lang tuloy kami ni Troy.

Tyler's back in a heartbeat, dala ang kahon ng first aid kit. He really knows the things around the house. Hinatak niya ang coffee table upang makaupo sa harap ko.

"Stupid, and stubborn. Nasaktan ka tuloy." he remarks habang ginagamot ang pumutok kong labi. "Are you that desperate?"

"Yes." I answer as I stare at him in the eye. "Because it's my business too, Tyler. You are my business. Kaya damay talaga ko. "

Pansamantala siyang napatigil, unti-unting nawala ang kunot sa noo. He stares back at me, deeply... with the softest eyes I've ever seen in him. Parang hinahalukay pati ang kaluluwa ko. The corner of his lips slightly curved as well, to form a small smile.

Troy clears his throat, sabay pa kaming napalingon ni Tyler sa kanya. "Sorry, did I interrupt your moment?"

Marahang dinampian ni Tyler ng ointment ang gilid ng bibig ko bago muling hinarap ang kapatid niya. "I'll ask again. What did you tell Alisson? How and why did she believe your manipulating and lying ass?"

~*~

Flashback to the end part of Chapter 25.

I check the Morse code again dahil baka namamali ako ng decode.

- .... .. ... .. ... - .-. --- -.-- ·-·-·- -- . . - -- . .- - - .... . --. -.-- -- -. .- ... .. ..- -- ·-·-·- .- .-.. --- -. . ·-·-·- .-.. . - ... - .- .-.. -.- .- -... --- ..- - -- -.-- -... .-. --- - .... . .-. ...

But it clearly says: this is troy. meet me at the gymnasium. alone. lets talk about my brothers.

Troy? Seriously? He doesn't have to use Morse code to text me that. Ano bang trip niya?