My Stupid Brother
1006 Words
I was at work when I got a call from a mysterious number.
"I WILL BURN YOUR HOUSE IF YOU DIDN'T PAY BY NEXT WEEK" deep strong men voice with a bit of anger is on the phone.
"May I know whom am I speaking with?"
"toot...toot...toot...!" the call ended before I even answer
"strange"
I put my phone inside my bag and pack my notebook along. It's thirty past five, time for me to go home.
I work as a part-time editor in a small publishing company after I postpone my study due to the lack of money to continue my study in mass communication. I was in the middle of semester 4 when mom said she can't pay my education anymore. To help her pay the bills, I work multiple jobs. In the morning I work as a server in a breakfast cafe in the afternoon, I will go to the publishing company, in the evening I will help mom in her bakery. Mom's bakery isn't big but enough to keep her busy and pay some bills.
I arrived at the home around 6.30 pm, 45 minutes journey by bus and 15 minutes walk.
"Oh Gafi, what are you doing here?" I surprised my brother was sitting in the living room as I enter my house.
"I need to talk to mom."
"How have you been? where were you all these years"
" I am busy. lot's of thing to settle."
"Mmmm?"
Gafi is my first brother. He is a chef in a 3 stars restaurant Manila while we are living in Davao city in the Philippines, it takes about two hours by the plan if we want to see each other. He rarely comes home unless there is something he needs from us.
I sit beside him and eat the biscuit that mom put on the table.
"You home, Nora" Mom comes out with two cups of hot tea and a wide smile as always.
"so, mom is here. tell us what you want?.''
I and Gafi are like a mouse and cat. never gets along since we were kids. He is the most hard-headed in the family. He never admits his mistake and never apologizes if he is wrong.
"I want to borrow the house certificate to get a loan from a bank?''
"WHATT? ??? a loan? what did you do with all your money? "
"My Wife run away with his boyfriend and left me with a lot of depth"
"SHITTT!! how the hell it can happened''
" I spent to much time at work and my friend, My wife never tells me she is lonely. I thought I gave her all she needs"
Mom doesn't say a word, she throws her face to the window.
'' You know we are in a very tough time now, right?"
"Yeah, I understood that. can you just help me once?"
"Once you said??'' I am pissed with my brother. We spent lots of families saving for him and his wife. "who paid your wedding? who paid for your car and your house? where all those?"
"My wife sell our car. and use the money for shopping."
"What the hack Gafi. How come you so Stupid! I don't understand. I guess you sell your brain as well." I want to punch him. I don't understand stupid people like him exist. Now I wonder if he is my brother. maybe mom and dad found him in the trash bin and bring him home. His brain is full of trash.
"This is the price you paid for marring pretty women. she has no brain.!! and you become brainless like her!"
" I got calls this afternoon, it's must be a loan shark. did you give my number to him?"
Gafi is not answering, he doesn't even dare to look at me.
''My brain is boiling right now, I and mom are trying our best to survive and you came to ask for money!!."
" I am not asking for money, I just borrow the certificate to get a loan and I will return.''
''GET LOST GAFI!!!!!!"
I get up from my seat and go to my room. I bang the door and lock my self inside. I couldn't take it anymore.
I throw my self on my bed, tears starting to flow from my eyes. my exhausted body feels so weak with my tired soul. I am angry with reality. Since dad is gone, things feel heavy and heavy. Sometimes, I want to give up. but I couldn't leave mom alone.
I cover my mouth with a pillow and scream as loud as I can.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I fall asleep and woke up with a whole-body ache. It's 4 in the morning, I am hungry as I haven't eaten my diner. I go to the kitchen trying to make a sandwich for my self.
"you are not sleeping, mom?"
''I just woke up"
Mom is sitting in the dining room with her favourite cup of tea. Mom always wakes up early to prepare for her bakery.
"where is Gafi?" I look around and try to find my brother
"He went off"
"Did you give him what he wants?"
" No, dearie. I can't give him. we only have this house that your dad bought with his sweat and tears. I can't"
I saw her eyes started to get teary. I hug her from behind and kiss her on her cheek.
"I love you, Mom. we will go through this together"
'' Thank you, dearie. I love you, too"
" shall I make you a sandwich too?"
" yes, please."
"okyy., dokee, mommy"
Smile bloom on her face. she is the strongest women I ever met in this world. I make her a sandwich and eat our early breakfast together. Soon we finish our breakfast bird started to sing and roaster starting to crowing along with sunshine that slips through our windows.
Mom quickly prepares herself for opening her bakery which is attached to our house. It's a garage that we use to store dad's bike but we modified it and make it comfortable for mom to make her baking goods.
I prepare my self for work and suddenly remember yesterday a mysterious number called me. I grab my cell phone and block the number.
I pray to God everything would be better.
- Writer
