Stonehearts 9: Sapphire

Three

"Are you okay, Firecracker? You look stressed." My big brother, Elliot Yno, asked as soon as I slid on the seat in front of him.

Firecracker is the nickname he picked when he was twelve and I was six. Mukha raw akong mabait sa una pero sumasabog kapag nakilala mo na ng husto. I was opposing him at first until it had grown on me.

"I'm okay, Kuya. Busy lang sa clinic lately." Sagot ko at agad na inabot ang isa pang menu sa mesa para lang maiwasan ko ang titig niya.

It's Thursday. At ang ibig sabihin ng Huwebes ng bawat linggo ay ang libreng lunch mula sa 'da best Kuya sa buong mundo.

"Sabi ko naman sa'yo, hire someone who will do the administrative tasks if you are adamant in getting into practice. Para at least, gumaan ang workload mo. Hind 'yong nag-do-doktor ka sa umaga tapos nag-pe-paperworks ka sa gabi. You'll exhaust yourself that way." He reprimand and by my peripheral vision, he's glaring at me.

I rolled my eyes, my sight still train at the menu as I flip pages. "Gagawin ko nga. In fact, I've already screened some applicants. But I won't hire until the extension is finished."

"Why wait? Matagal pa 'yon. 'Yong huling estimation niyo is a year and a half. Ano? Maghihintay ka ng ganoon katagal bago ka magpasok ng bagong taong tutulong sa'yo? Sinasabi ko sa'yo, Elora Ysabelle Sapphire. Mauuna ka pang mamatay niyan bago matapos ang clinic mo." Sermon niya.

I placed my menu down the table and groaned. His glare intensified. "Ayaw mo 'yon? Kapag namatay ako, sa'yo na lahat ng mana."

Mas lalong sumama ang tingin niya kasabay ng pagsipa niya sa'kin mula sa ilalim ng mesa.

"Aray ko naman, Kuya! Paka-bayolente mo, eh!" Reklamo ko habang pinupukol siya ng sama ng tingin. I was caressing my shin which is sore from his kick. Kapag ito talaga nagpasa, isusumbong ko siya kay Mama.

"Ipapakain ko sa'yo 'tong menu na hawak ko." Banta niya. I stuck my tongue out making him growl.

We got into a glower marathon but he soon activated the 'I'm more mature card' and was the first one to break it. He dusted off his dark suit from imaginary lints. This is his way of calming himself.

"But seriously, what's the problem?" he probed.

I raised a brow, carefully tucking away the panic burning inside me. "What makes you think there's a problem?" I retorted.

"Fire," he said with a 'you-can't-fool-me-I-know-there's-something-wrong' tone.

I sighed, giving up. Sasabihin at sasabihin ko naman talaga sa kanya, so might as well lay it all out.

"I'm short."

"I know you're short, baby girl. You're 5'2, hindi nga namin alam kung saan mo namana kapandakan mo. Must be recessive."

I rolled my eyes at him, "5'2 and a half." I corrected. "I'm short in cash. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano itutuloy ang construction."

That got his attention. He stared at me with incredulity swimming in his eyes. "Paano ka na-short? I did the financial planning and analysis for you. Malaki pa ang maiiwan even after the expansion costs. Anong nangyari?"

Ah, shit. Ano bang sasabihin ko? Tinangay ng gago kong ex 'yong pera ko? Fuck. If I say that he will spring into action and will immediately meddle with my affairs. And of course, malalaman ni dad. Ayaw ko naman mangyari 'yon.

I don't want to see the 'I-told-you-so' and 'you-should've-listened-to-me' expression on his face. And more importantly, I don't want him proving me wrong. Ayokong sabihan niya ako na dapat nakinig ako sa kanya at hindi ako naging pasaway.