[CELESTIAL ESCAPE: 70]
Note: You can skip this one if you don't like
(quick) narration. It has no bearing on your reading experience.
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
"Aray naman eh!"
Napadaan si Kit sa kuwarto ng kuya niya. Bahagyang nakasiwang ang pintuan nito kaya naman ay kitang kita niya kung ano ang pinagkakaabalahan ng kapatid. Whiskey was in front of his laptop, chords were visible on the screen, while holding the guitar that Kit gave to him last year. Hindi man niya kita ang mukha ng kapatid, sigurado siya na nakasimangot na naman ito.
Kit's eyes went down to his older brother's fingers. He shook his head when he noticed that they were wrapped with some small bandages. Halatang kanina pa nito inaaral ang kanta ngunit nahihirapan. But knowing his brother, once smitten, he would never care about himself.
Ngumisi si Kit at bumaba papunta sa kusina. It was already midnight, two days before Christmas, but his brother was busy with something else he couldn't understand. Inabot ni Kit ang jar ng powdered milk at nag-init ng tubig. While stirring the milk, he remembered what his brother said to him last time.
It was already late in the evening when Whiskey came home from Sugar's house. Naimbita sa birthday ng Papa ni Shu. Kit got invited as well but he had chosen not to go.
"Tubig, Kit," ani Whiskey.
Tumayo si Kit upang kumuha ng tubig nang walang reklamo. Pagkuwan ay inabot ito sa nakatatandang kapatid. Umupo si Whiskey sa sofa at mabilis na nilagok iyon.
"What happened kuya?" he asked.
Tila problemado, sinandal ni Whiskey ang kaniyang leeg sa backrest ng sofa. Humilamos ito gamit ang kaniyang palad at lumingon sa kaniya, namumula.
"Tinanong ako ng Daddy niya kung may gusto raw ba ako sa anak niya. Sabi ko, kaibigan lang tingin ko kay Yen," panimula nito. "Hindi raw si Yen ang tinutukoy niya. Si Sugar daw."
Umayos si Kit ng tayo. "Anong sabi mo?"
"Wala akong sinabi."
"Huh? Bakit?"
"Nabulunan ako. Gulat ako, e."
Kit shook his head and chuckled.
"Pero sabi ng Daddy niya, kung may gusto daw ako sa bunso niya, hindi niya raw ako pipigilan."
Dala ang tinimplang gatas, pumasok si Kit sa kuwarto ng kapatid. Nilapag niya ang baso sa ibabaw ng lamesa nito at umalis na walang binibitawang salita. Kit smiled when his brother took a sip on the milk, stops for strumming for a while, then proceeds on learning the chords.
When was the last time Kuya exerted so much effort for a woman?
Ah. Five years ago before Sugar came.
But looking at his brother right now, Kit thought no one would be able to stop his brother. Even a sailing storm, havoc in the sea, or the ponderous cats and dogs. It would be impossible.
Just like what he was to that woman who left him years ago.
"Sugar, please don't hurt my brother..." Kit whispered.
