Attain The Sky (Engineer Series #2)

▪ eight

"See? Inggit kayong lahat, 'no? You don't have a sister like mine!" Kuya Cleve said proudly to his friends as I served them the snacks and drinks that they want.

I rolled my eyes. Kaya lang naman ako nandito para hindi na siya magsumbong kay Daddy na may dinala akong lalaki sa kuwarto ko. Dad hates it pero ayos lang sa kan'ya na manlalaki ako kung sa ibang lugar. Ayaw lang niya na ako pa 'yong nagdadala ng lalaki sa kuwarto ko.

It was an awkward moment for the both of us, lalo na no'ng nahuli pa kami ni Kuya Cleve na gano'n ang posisyon. I realky want to forget it but it keeps on flashing back in my mind. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan na hindi mamula.

"Puwede ba 'yang ligawan?" Josh asked in a joke way.

"No!" Mabilisang sagot ni Sky.

I bit my lower lip as I putted down the tray at the table. I can't help but to smile. Hindi naman 'yon malaking bagay... but kung si Sky na ang magsasabi na bawal akong ligawan, talagang hindi ako magpapaligaw.

"O, someone's territorial," Josh smirked.

"Do you want some hard punch on your face, Josh? Stop teasing Sydney or I will tear your brand new shirts," nagbabanta ang tono ni Kuya.

Sky mocked Josh. Tuwang-tuwa pa siya dahil napagsabihan ni Kuya Cleve sina Josh. Natigil din naman ang pagkakantyaw nila sa akin dahil nagkaroon silang bagong topic– girls, hanggang sa mapansin nilang kanina pa ako tinitingnan ni Sky kaya bumalik na naman sa akin ang kanilang atensyon.

Sky's eyes widened in shock when he realized what he's doing. Nabalik siya sa ulirat at mariing nakagat ang pang-ibabang labi upang mapigilan ang pagsilay ng ngiti. Hinampas siya nina Leon at napahalakhak silang lahat, including Kuya Cleve.

"Cleve, may naamoy ako! Ikaw rin ba, Leon?"

"Oo, hindi lang naaamoy, nakikita pa! Parang may gustong kumagat kay Sydney! Rawr, rawr!"

"Ipakagat kita kay Ashtrid. Arf! Atf!" Sarkastikong sabi ni Kuya kina Leon. "Gusto mo tawagin ko si Ashtrid, Leon? Tingnan nga natin kung sinong mananalo, ang Lion kaya o ang dog," humalakhak silang lahat.

"Cook a pancakes, Sydney! Doon kayo mag-moment ni Sky!" Inis na sinabi ni Kuya at tinulak kami palayo.

Inasar nila si Sky. Hindi nila ako maasar dahil ka Kuya. Alam nilang may nag-aabang na Ashtrid sa kanila kapag inasar nila ako. I remember, one time... Kuya's dog, Astrid, Ashtrid's mom, bit Robert, my classmate who bullied me when I was grade four. Sinumbong ko 'yon kay Kuya tapos sakto namang kasama niya no'n si Astrid kaya nagulat na lang ako no'n... malakas nang umiiyak si Robert.

Napatingin ako kay Sky na mahigpit na napahawak sa aking braso habang tinatahak namin ang daan papuntang kitchen. My heart beats rapidly and I shook my head to distract myself. I smiled sweetly to him and he just gave me a nod with a smile on his lips.

"You look more beautiful if you don't have any make-up. Maybe I should visit you often to see your bare face everyday," he said, almost a whisper.

I smiled awkwardly, don't know what to say. Am I beautiful with no make-up? No anything– I mean, no lipstick, no eyeshadow, no blush-on? I don't have to do my eyebrows because my eyebrows were naturally thick at maayos ang pagkakaayos niya, hindi siya magulo.

"Really? Mas maganda ako kapag walang make-up?"

"Uh-huh... you are always beautiful for me... with or without make-up," he shrugged his shoulders.