His Untold Tattoo (R18)

KABANATA 2

II.

I tried calling Kuya Tev again.

I am in my panic level, biting my inner lips again. Kuya is not answering his phone. I am already here at the airport!

God.

I am not freaking about this thing.

I inhale and exhale for couple of minutes. My eyes search for Kuya. For God's sake, where is he?!

Wala pa ba siya? Does anything happens before he lands? But he said he's about to go out in gate 2 for exit!

"Hindi pa rin ho ba Ma'am sumasagot si Sir Tevyn?" Tanong ni Manong Rick. I shook my head. "Tawagan ko na po ba ang parents niyo?"

"No. We will wait pa po. Let's just wait for Kuya for another 5 minutes."

"Sige po. Lilibot na rin po ako, Ma'am. Dito lang po kayo. Baka sakaling mahanap ko po si Sir Tevyn."

Before I can disagree to Manong Rick, he left me already! Oh, Lord. No. No. There's a lot of people and I am left alone!

Tinawagan ko ulit si Kuya, I texted him and also dm him. My hands are shaking. There's a lot of what if's going on in my mind.

What if Kuya was abducted? What if he was kidnapped and we will soon see him—

My thoughts are grumbled when someone bump me. It's a guy, I thought it was my Kuya already.

"Sorry Miss," the guy who bump me said. I just shook my head and motion it's okay. It's not a big deal so then he left. "Nasan kana ba kase? Ako na nga 'tong nagsundo sa'yo."

Hindi ko na narinig iyong lalaki because I'm back to my find my brother again.

Tomorrow will be Miel's 18th and I still couldn't find a perfect gift for her. I planned that after Kuya's arrival today, I will go straight to the mall so I still have time to roam around with peace.

Once, I tried dialling Kuya's number and this will be the last so if he still don't answer my call I'll go home.

"Saan ka?"

Napamulat ako nang sagutin din ni Kuya sa wakas!

"W—what? No! Where are you?!" I histerically said. "Ikaw ang nasaan Kuya? I've been here for almost an hour!"

"Grabe. Isang oras lang naman ako nawala," nagawa pa niya'ng tumawa. "Look behind you."

And I did. There's my Kuya Tevyn! Napatakbo naman ako papalapit sa kaniya and welcome him with warm hug.

"Sorry. Trabaho kasi agad sumalubong sa'kin pagkababa ko," he explain and hug me back. "Bakit parang pumayat ka? Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?"

Kumalas na ako sa yakap ko sa kaniya at nakita ko si Manong Rick sa gilid. Siya pala ang nakahanap kay Kuya. Ngumiti ako.

"Kunin ko lang 'yung sasakyan, Sir Tevyn," Manong Rick excuse. Tumango naman si Kuya sa kaniya.

"Oy, ang tanong ko bakit ka pumayat?" Pagbaling ni Kuya ng tanong sa akin. Inirapan ko naman iyon at tumawa naman siya. "Na-miss ko 'yang pag-irap mo. Halos magta-tatlong taon walang gumanyan sa'kin."

"Hindi naman kasi ako pumayat."

Dumating na si Manong Rick sa harap namin, tinulungan niya si Kuya na maglagay ng mga maleta niya sa compartment ng kotse. Ako naman ay pumasok na roon sa loob at komportableng umupo.

Sa biyahe ay puro tanong si Kuya na akala mo naman ay hindi updated sa kung ano'ng nangyari sa buhay namin dito at galing abroad. Natuwa na lang din ako dahil kahit nasa malayo si Kuya, he don't pull away himself from our family.

Nakarating kami sa bahay at sumalubong sina Mommy, Dad and Kuya Tiago sa amin. They give Kuya Tev a warm welcome.

After sometimes, nagpaalam ako sa kanila na pupunta muna ako ng Mall to buy Miel's gift for tomorrow evening. Tinawag ko ulit si Manong Rick dahil hindi pumayag si Kuya Tiago na magcommute ako dahil pagabi na raw.

Manong Rick and I arrived at the mall. Sabi niya ay i-text ko na lang daw siya kapag pababa na ako ng parking. Sabi ko hindi ako magtatagal.

***

"Miel, ang ganda mo!" My cousins are giving the complients that surely Miel's deserve. She's wearing a red gown. It look so fabulous.

The venue is in Cloud 9 Antipolo Event Place. I was mesmerized early when we arrived since the view here is dazzling because it's the city lights.

Nagkita-kita muna kaming magpi-pinsan bago magsimula para sa pictorial. I didn't bother to put so much make up although Dabi and Cielo are insisting to put art to my face. I just add a little to conceal my eyebags, a red matte tint for my lips and eyelids, I fill in my eyebrows and splash a setting mist. My natural brown hair is wavy and cleaned. My dress is my Mom's best pick last week no'ng nag-start na kami for fitting ng gowns. I am wearing a sheath gown but instead of having a round neck design, my Mom suggested to change it into off shoulder.

Nailang nga ako kanina dahil masyadong kita ang dibdib ko, but as usual sabi ni Mommy maganda raw sa'kin. She said I'm already a full grown up woman.

Nagulat sina Kuya kanina. Kuya Tev joked na baka lamigin daw ako at tangayin dahil sa payat ko. Kuya Tiago naman defend me to him. Oh, I love my Kuyas.

My cousins were also surprise about my dress. Mas lalo tuloy ako'ng nailang kanina.

"Ate Tazea!" Miel approach me. "You are super ganda! Grabe, stunning!"

"Ano ka ba, hindi. My gift is already at the table. I hope you will like that."

"I will! Kahit ano pa 'yun, Ate. I am grateful!" Sabi niya. I hold her hand and it's cold. "I am very nervous."

I smile at her. "It's okay. That nervous will go away later since you will feel only the happiness."

Tinawag na kami no'ng coordinator ng event and magsisimula na raw.

Lumabas na kami and to my surprise, there's a lot of stars in the sky.

Wow, this is perfect.

Isa-isa nang pumasok ang mga guest, panghuli kaming magpi-pinsan and by pair. Of course, I am paired to my brothers. Nasa magkabilaang gilid ko sila.

Nang makaupo kami ay agad na rin namin'g sinalubong si Miel paakyat. She's really beautiful and the spotlight of the night.

The event starts. We filled with love, joy and happiness. Everyone is also having a blast tonight.

Nang matapos kong magsalita ay nagtanong ako sa mga pinsan ko kung saan ang restroom. I excuse myself to look for it. I reach for my phone because I need some lights.

Nang mahanap ko ang daan ay naglakad na ako papasok but there's something habang palakad ako palapit.

There's a two person next to the door of the restroom, the guy with tux is leaning to the wall.

Titignan ko pa sana nang maigi nang makita ko ang ginagawa nila!

They are making out!

What the f**k?!

I even hear the girl's voice. What the heck?!

Tatalikod na sana ako kaso naisip ko ay ilang hakbang na lang at I really need to pee.

Gosh.

These people!

I breath out before making my step to the rest room. This is really awkward!

Tumakbo na lang ako papuntang gilid nila.

But before entering the door, the guy and I made an eye contact habang tinutuka niya 'yung girl! What the heck?!

Nang makapasok na ako sa restroom ay agad kong hinabol ang hininga ko. I just make face.

I suddenly remember the eye of that guy. It's kinda familiar to me but I can't remember vividly.

Hindi na ako nagtagal sa restroom dahil baka may kaganapan akong ma-miss.

Good thing wala na 'yung dalawang nagme-make out. It's awkward. Really, really awkward.

I walk myself back to the event, I found people who's standing kasama na iyong mga pinsan ko dahil busy kumuha ng mga pictures. I look for my family but Kuya Tev is the only I can see na malapit. Naglakad ako papalapit sa kaniya.

I look back again to my cousins. They are having fun kaya napangiti na rin ako.

Kuya Tev remove his suit and hand it to me nang makalapit ako sa kaniya.

"Daming trabaho. Meron pa nga'ng exhibit si Easton next week, isama nga raw kita," sabi ni Kuya. "Ikaw na lang kaya mag-isa, kaya mo naman tapusin ng isang gabi 'yon."

Sinuot ko ang suit ni Kuya. Nilalamig na rin ako. Ang tingin ko ay nasa mga pinsan ko pa rin.

"Sige, tignan ko. Baka hindi rin kaya dahil may project pa 'ko," may isang boses ako'ng narinig na hindi pamilyar. Hindi ko nilingon dahil feeling ko si Kuya Tev naman ang kausap no'n. "Sino 'yan? Chicks mo? Pakilala mo naman ako."

Narinig ko ang tawa ni Kuya.

"Gago, hindi. Hindi mo na ba siya naaalala? Gago pre may amnesia kana yata. Teka, Tazea," doon lang natigil ang tingin ko sa mga pinsan ko nang tawagin ako ni Kuya. "Naalala mo pa si Gio? 'Yung kaibigan ko no'ng college?"

Tumingin ako sa pinakilala ni Kuya.

Oh, heck.

He's that guy na nakikipag-make out sa labas ng restroom!

Great.

So, kaya pala pamilyar iyong mukha niya.

"Tazea? 'Yung bunso mong kapatid?" Nagtatakang tanong no'ng lalaki at tumingin sa'kin nang may ngisi. "Gago. Dalaga na pala siya."