UNIVERSITY SERIES: TOTGA EDITION

Kabanata 13

"Can we talk?"

Nasa hamba ako nang pintuan ng kwarto ng kapatid ko, he's busy on his phone when he cocked his head just to see me. I heard him saying 'mamaya na lang ulit' bago tuluyang nagpaalam sa kausap niya.

"Ate," He says, as he sits on his bed.

Humugot ako nang malalim na buntong hininga bago naupo sa tabi niya. He's wearing ball cap, and black shirt, and pants.

What I've noticed is that, he changed his hair color. It's now ash grey, and have a lot of piercings in his right ear, and also a bruises on left side of his lips,

"Ayokong magtalo tayo, kaya gusto kitang kausapin nang maayos," panimula ko.

His reaction didn't change, instead he gets his sneakers.

"Tungkol saan? May...lakad ako ngayon," aniya bago yumuko at nagsintas.

I shifted a bit, "Saan ka pupunta? It's past 7pm."

"Just hanging out, babalik din ako."pagpapatuloy niya at tumayo na.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Hindi ka napasok, at ngayon may oras ka pang lumabas?"

Natigilan siya sa sinabi ko. He lazily looks at me,

"Pumapasok ako," He continues, I closed my fist, as my eyes drifted to him.

"Sinungaling. Galing ako sa school mo kanina at- napaaway ka raw! Kailan ka pa natutong magsinungaling sakin?"

His lips pursed, "I thought you don't want to throw fit with me?" He mocked,

"I'm trying to talk to you nicely, Brooklyn! Is it true?"

I saw his dark eyes gaze at me.

"Ano naman sayo kung totoo 'yun?"

Bahagya akong natulala sa sinabi niya. I felt like he was not my brother anymore.

"I'm your sister! Why are you acting this way huh! Wala na si Mama! If you're rebelling over this matter-"

"She died, and you didn't do anything to save her."

My lips trembled, and felt my shoulders shaken.

"Are you blaming me, Brooklyn?!" My voice broke, as my eyes heated.

"Who else? You're here when Mom tried to kill herself, kung sana-" before he could continue ay agad lumapat sa pisngi niya ang palad ko.

Halos namula ang pisngi niya, at natigilan sa ginawa ko.

My tears slowly fell down, as I catched my breath from outburst.

"SA TINGIN MO BA GUSTO KO YUNG NANGYARI?! ANONG KARAPATAN MO NA ISISI SAKIN YUN?!"

Brooke looked at me with bloodshot eyes, nagiwas siya ng tingin bago mabilis na umalis sa kwarto.

"Brooke! San ka pupunta?" Habol ko pero hindi niya ko pinakinggan at dali daling lumabas.

I sit in the pavement and cried there. My brother hates me. He's right, kung sana lang napigilan ko si Mama.

I wake up with heavy heart, and what's worst was...Brooke didn't go home last night.

"Ms. Perez, may problema ba? You failed two of your major subjects." Our department dean called me in her office after class.

"Uh, Maybe I can take a summer class po."

"That's not my point, Bella. You're smart, that's why nanghihinayang ako dahil bumagsak ka. Getting a summer class will delayed you for your class graduation." Si Dean.