Hidden Star (Engineer Series #1)

▪ thirty-one

I had a bad day for the whole day. Hindi ko kinakausap si Kuya because of my pride and I guess, Gaius is avoiding me... and I don't know why. When I am trying to talk to her, mabilis niyang tatapusin ang usapan namin.

She transformed into someone who loves doing make-up on her face and likes to flirt with other boys. But I kept my mouth shut because I know in myself that she's doing that because she's moving-on but guess what? I was wrong. Hindi ko alam na 'yon na pala ang way niya para lumayo sa akin.

"Gaius. . ." I called her name to have her attention.

She's busy talking with our classmates. Noon, ako lang kakausapin niya pero ngayon, ayaw niya na akong kausapin. Iba na ang gustong kausap.

She raised her index finger for me to know that I should have wait because she's still talking with Kirsten.

"Gaile Ausea!" I called her complete name. I am already pissed. Hindi naman siya ganito noon. Pinagkatiwalaan ko siya and then iiwasan niya ako for unknown reasons? "We need to talk."

Kirsten gave me an amiable smile. I know that she sensed that something's up between us. Lumayo siya kay Gaius kaya nabaling ang kan'yang atensyon sa akin.

"What, Eutychus? If it's about your brother, I don't care about him anymore. You get me?" She stood up. Lumabas siya at sumunod ako.

I gripped her arm to stop her from walking. Maarte niyang tinapik ang aking kamay, senyas na tanggalin ko iyon. Matalim ko siyang tinitigan. I gritted my teeth because of uncontrollable anger.

"What the fuck is our problem? As far as I remember, wala akong ginawa. Why are you avoiding me?" Pilit kong pinapakalma ang boses pero lumalabas pa rin ang inis.

Her face was distorted with guilt but she's too good to hide her emotions. Madali lang sa kan'yang pawiin 'yon. Binitiwan ko siya dahil sa nag-uumapaw na tensyon sa pagitan naming dalawa.

"We don't have a problem. I am the problem here." Tinaas niya ang index finger niya, para pigilan ako sa pagsalita. "At wala akong planong sabihin sa 'yo kung ano 'yon. And please, Euty, can you do me a favor? Layuan mo na lang din ako, please?"

I am in the verge of tears. Tumingala ako at huminga nang malalim. "Why would I do that? Okay pa tayo noong bago umalis si Kuya. Please, what's our problem, Gaius? Tell me." Nanghihina ko siyang tiningnan. Umiwas siya nang tingin at mas pinanindigan ang pagiging manhid.

"I'm sorry. I am really sorry, Euty. You are a good friend. Sorry dahil hindi ako gano'n." She left me speechless.

We don't have a prof for the two last subject so I decided to bother Achaicus because I have to refresh my mind. I lost a friend. Kuya and I were not in good terms. I felt a little melancholy. I feel empty. I need Achaicus to cheer me up.

When he saw me standing behind his door, mabilis niya akong pinuntahan at hinagkan. He cupped my face and kiss me on my nose. He began to worry when I broke down and sobbed like a child.

"Baby, what's wrong?" His voice softens when he asked me.

I can't speak properly. I hugged him tight and cried my heart out on his chest. I ruin everything. I ruined my relationship with Kuya. I ruined my frienship with Gaius but what did I do? I was upset because of them!

"Tell me, what's bothering you?" He caressed my back. He kissed the top of my head.

"Kuya and I fought. Gaius told me to stay away from her. I asked her what's our problem pero ang gusto niya lang lumayo ako." I said in the middle of my sobs. "Achai, I can't lose them. I don't want to lose them." Fear was evident in my voice.

"Stop crying. You're hurting me." I can hear the pain in his voice.

He gently wiped away my tears. Huminahon ako nang nginitian niya ako. He pulled me toward the sofa. Pinasandal niya ako sa kan'yang dibdib. He strokes my hair and showers me a kisses on my face.

In that moment, nakalimutan ko ang lahat nang bumabagabag sa akin. Na kay Achaicus lang ang buong atensyon ko. I focus on how his lips move when he's talking. I was tempted to kiss him, but didn't dare.

"I'm always here," he whispered. "You won't lose me."

"Do you remember the time when you told me na nag-sketch ka ng bahay natin? Mahal na mahal mo talaga ako, 'no?" Nagmamayabang niyang tanong sa akin, trying to lighten up my mood.

I gave him my phone and showed him the picture. Pinicture ko noon ang sinabi kong dream house ko para sa aming dalawa. Ise-sent ko dapat sa kan'ya noon kaso nakakalimutan ko dahil sa pagod.

"This is our tree house. This is the swimming pool. The garden... our room and our children's room. . ." Napapaos ang aking boses.

He chuckled. Happiness is evident in his eyes. He traces my lips and kissed me there dahil hindi na niya ako natiis.

"One day, I'll build your dream house using my own money."

"It is just a dream, okay? You don't have to do that at saka, malay mo, sa ibang lalaki ko pala 'yan magagamit. Malay mo, hindi tayo ang end game."

Kinagabihan, hinatid niya ako sa bahay. Umalis siya nang senyasan kong umalis na siya dahil nakita ko si Kuya na nakasandal sa pintuan na halatang may hinihintay. Halos magkasalubong na ang kan'yang kilay at nakakunot ang noo. Mukhang galit na galit.

"Where have you been?" Singhal niya sa akin nang makita niya ako.

"Uh, Achaicus' condo?" Awkward kong sagot. Alam kong hindi pa kami magkaayos.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. Maglalakad na sana ako papasok nang hilahin niya ako pabalik.

"Bakit hindi ka nagsabi sa akin?" Ginulo niya ang kan'yang buhok because of frustration.

"Magkaaway tayo." Maikling sagot ko sa tanong niya.

"Bakit? Hindi mo puwedeng ibaba pride mo?"

"Puwede naman." Pabalang kong sagot.

"Bullshit." His jaw clenched. "I'm sorry, Euty. Hindi ko dapat nasabi at nagawa 'yon." Mas lalo niya pa akong hinila palapit sa kaniya para mayakap nang mahigpit.

He caressed my back. Hindi ko na naiwasang hindi tumulo ang mga luha ko. Naramdaman 'yon ni Kuya kaya agad niya akong inalo.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry. Hindi na uulitin ni Kuya. Hush now." Mahinanong bulong niya.

I wiped my tears. "Sorry rin, Kuya. Tama ka naman, hindi ko masasabi kung sino ang gugustuhin mo."

Sabay kaming pumasok pagkatapos no'n. Okay na ako. At least, naayos ko ang kay Kuya at nabawasan ang bigat ng loob ko. Ayos na sa akin na magkaayos kami ni Kuya dahil alam ko naman ang kasalanan ko sa kan'ya, pero ang kay Gaius? Haha.

"Dalaga na 'yong inaalagan ko lang noon. Naunahan pa ako. May boyfriend na, oh. Tapos noon, inis na inis kay Achaicus pero ngayon baliw na baliw." Natatawa niyang saad.

"Ano ba, Kuya?" Hinampas ko siya.

"Kaya wala ng oras sa akin kasi puro na lang kay Achaicus." Umirap siya kaya natawa ako.

"Inaaway mo kaya ako," nagtatampong wika ko.

"Hindi kaya kita niaaway." He mimicked my voice.

"Kuya, alam mo ba, friendship over na kami ni Gaius. Siya naman may gusto eh." I shrugged my shoulders.

"What reason?"

"Ewan ko sa kan'ya. Ayaw sabihin. Sabi niya, siya ang problema."

"Give her a time to think. Kung kaibigan talaga kayo, babalik at babalik 'yon sa 'yo." Kinurot niya ang pisngi ko kaya malakas kong tinampal ang kamay niya. "Don't mind it for now. Ang mahalaga, andito ako. I can be your pinakaguwapong brother in the whole world and your bestfriend."

Hinagis ko ang unan sa kan'ya. Kung sino mang magiging girlfriend ng Kuya ko, ang suwerte niya. Sa amin pa nga lang na kapatid niya, mahal na mahal kami, paano pa kaya ang makakasama na niya habang buhay?