That Boystown Girl [COMPLETE]

31

"Anong pangalan ng kuya mo, apo?"

Tumingin si Duke sa lolo ko at saka sumagot. "Luuk po."

"Naku, anak," halata ang panghihinayang ng babae. "Kaaalis lang ng pamilyang kumupkop sa kuya mo."

Ginising ako ni Knight nang mas tanghali nang kaunti kumpara sa madalas na paggising niya sa akin. Nakahanda na ang mainit na tinapay at mayonnaise na may dinurog na nilagang itlog sa mesa nang ako ay makalabas ng silid.

Napahinto sa pagtitimpla si Knight ng Milo nang umabot ang tingin niya sa suot ko.

He looked away and mumbled, "At least remember to put on your bra first, jeez."

I snorted and sat across from him never really minding his disbelief.

"It's not like it's the first time you're gonna eat with me without my bra. You just didn't notice."

The tension was something else. The silence was not helping and I tried my best to ignore it as I began spreading the mayo over my bread. He pushed the mug to my right hand side and grabbed a piece of bread too.

"Siya nga pala, hindi pa makakauwi si Lolo."

"I know, he texted me and warned me of your menstruation."

Halos bumulwak sa bibig ko ang pagkain kung hindi lamang dahil matigas pa ang pandesal.

"How could you speak so normally about that?"

"Feeling's mutual with your bra," he said and glanced at me in a matter-of-fact manner.

I groaned in frustration and scolded myself for tolerating Lolo's closeness to Knight. How dare he tell this guy my weakness? And now that I recall, I am really delayed. And I do expect a really painful comeback.

"What did he mean about your menstruation?"

I deadpanned at him but he didn't even flinch. "Wala. Huwag mong pansinin ang sinabi niya. Masyado lang siyang dikit sa'yo."

"You sure understand why I did it, right?"

"Ano?"

"When we were kids."

I nodded and slowly realized that Hans said he was leaving the country. Dammit, he already left yesterday without my apology that he deserves.

"Pahingi naman ng number ni Hans."

I saw him stop chewing in my peripheral vision. He slowly tilted his head and stared at me. I pretended not to notice.

"Why would you want his number?"

"Kailangan ko siyang makausap."

He sounded nearly argumentative. "Use my phone to call him."

"Sige tapos pakopya na rin ng number niya."

"Bakit pa?"

"Para alam ko ang number niya?" I sounded sarcastic.

"You don't need him."

Hindi na ako nakaangal nang magtipa siya sa cell phone niya at saka inilapag sa mesa nang magconnect ang tawag kay Hans. "One minute," he told me and started counting the seconds from his wristwatch.

I rolled my eyes when that side of him resurfaces. The time freak.

"Oh, hi Kei. What's up?"

He nudged the phone to me so I cleared my throat and started. "Hans? Si Ren ito. I called to apologize for slapping you without any valid reason. I thought you were someone I hated back during my early age."

I heard him chuckling from the other end of the line. "My flight was cancelled. I'm here in Batangas at the moment. Anyway, I understand. Hulaan ko, umamin na si Knight?"

"Oo," I uncomfortably answered.

"So, what did you tell him?" he asked as I can hear a little amusement from him. It sounded more like teasing.

"I forgave him. I learned some things I didn't know and I have faults too."

"What are you talking about, Ren?"

"Our past childhood dispute."

He laughed again and this time, it was so free and he sounds like he's enjoying my answers. I can see Knight looking at me.

"That's not what—

The call ended when Knight snatched his phone. "One minute's up."

"Hindi pa niya ako napapatawad."

"It doesn't matter. I never knew you slapped him."

I stared at him and realized something. "Did he know about me?"

"Just when before you saw me strangling him," he shrugged as he grabbed another piece of bread.

"Why?"

"I want to be the first to admit everything to you, okay? So there'd be no additions and no omissions happening for further misunderstanding."

I nodded and went on to finish my breakfast.

"Go take a bath. I prepared a lunch box for you. I'd be back before three this afternoon. I'll just visit my youngest brother."

"Hindi mo naman kailangang pabaunan ako lagi eh."

"Hindi ba sabi mo simula nang nagpapabaon ako sa iyo, mas nakakapag-ipon ka na?"

"Oo."

"Then shut up, witch," mocked irritation lining his voice.

"Don't you miss them though?" I peeped in as I gathered my empty mug and plate.

"Hindi naman ako magmamanman nang palihim sa kanila kung hindi ako nagigiliw sa kanila. Most especially since CQ has special needs and he mostly wants to see familiar faces wherever he goes."

Nabanggit na sa akin noon ni Knight ang tungkol sa Asperger's Syndrome ng pinakabatang kapatid niya. Kaya pala sila papalit-palit ng taga-alaga dahil may mga particular na gusto ang batang iyon na taglayin ng taong makakasama niya palagi kahit na saan.

"Bakit ba hindi ka na lang mag-apologize sa mama mo nang hindi mo na kailangan pang magtago para lang makita sila?"

"You don't understand my mom. I don't know why she kicked me out either but I know that my actions were not the main reason. I can feel it. She won't tell anyone of course. My mom is cunningly secretive in an intelligent way. My dad doesn't need to cheat on her because she can smell motives hundred seconds even before it's planned."

I weighed the words inside my head. Is it probable that his mom just really wants to find out her son's sexuality?

"Hindi ka ba nahihirapan sa pamamaraan ng pamumuhay namin dito?"

Hindi laang iyon ang unang beses na tinanong ko siya n'on pero hindi talaga ako nakukuntento sa sagot niya.

"Pinapalayas mo na ba ako?"

I was taken aback. Usually, he would just tell me that I'm too naïve because growing up in New York in a dorm and having part time jobs on cafes is worse than this. I do not understand it but he surely does look so serious whenever he says.

"Hindi."

"Good. You should get used to live with me."

"Bakit naman?"

He looked at his watch and snatched the towel hanging from the hook near the post.

Bigla niya itong ibinalot sa aking ulo at saka ako itinulak papasok ng banyo.

"Umuwi nang maaga. May pupuntahan tayo mamaya."

I didn't know how exactly that affected me but I felt a weight being lifted off my chest when he said it. For the first time in a few years, I actually looked forward.