Beauty's Amour

Heartbreaker

Saturday morning at ang bungad sa akin ay ang mukha nang kapatid ko na mukhang kakatok palang sana sa pinto ko kaya naiwan sa ere ang kamay niyang nakakuyom. Ang laki nang ngiti niya nang makabawi.

" You're up early today, Belle." napunta ang mga kamay niya sa balikat ko at sabay kaming naglakad pababa sa dining area.

Nakabusangot ang mukha kong inaalis ang kamay niya.

" Napaka bigat nang kamay, Kuya."

He didn't listen pero inalis niya din nang makarating na sa may table. Umupo siya katabi ko. Manang poured milk in my glass at kape namn ang para sa kapatid ko. Napansin ko na wala ang parents namin.

" Mom and Dad leave early, catching a flight for Singapore." tumango ako habang sinsabi niya iyon.

I poured honey syrup on my giant pancake. Kuya's having an open omellette and toast on the side. May bacons and sausages din na nakahanda. He is cheerfully enjoying his food and it's too obvious that he's munching it too loudly to make it look like he is eating something more savoury.

" You're a lousy actor. Hindi ka pwede maging mukbang youtuber. Spill it Kuya." he looked at me as if I just caught him red handed.

Still munching a food at his mouth

" What are you talking about brat?" I looked at him with disbelief.

" Gross. Kuya, are we really gonna play this game? Come on sabihin mo na and please lunukin mo na yang kinakain mo." narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Manang sa likod nan sabihin ko iyon.

"Alright, alright." I give him a glass of water.

" I kind of like a girl." Napa-tili ako sanabi niya.

"Is she pretty?"

"Of course she is brat."

" So..." encouraging him to talk more. Nahihiya pa siyang lumingon sa likod namin dahil nakikinig ang mga house helpers at si Manang sa kanya.

His shy. My 23 year old brother is shy and having a crush. He is so flustered right now. Mahina akong natawa.

" Stop laughing. So ito nga, I made a really bad impression on our first meeting. I think she doesn't like me."

" Who doesn't like Xye Louie Monterde? Obviously there's someone out there. It's exciting I wanna met her."

" No you'll just creep her out more."

" Anong akala mo sa akin? Sa ganda kong ito. I bet she'll even question if brother nga ba kita dahil sa pangit na mukha mong yan." he glared at me.

" Who are you calling pangit, brat?" natawa ako sa pag-kaconyo niya.

" Seriously, she will like you Kuya. You're one hell of the guy." I smiled at him and walked back to my room smiling.

I wonder who this girl that my brother likes. She's just so lucky. My Kuya's one of the best. Mature, sporty, smart and responsible. He is my most favorite human in the world. If there's one person I could fully trust its him.

Dumaan ang Sabado't Linggo nang nasa bahay lang ako at kinukulit nang kapatid ko na mukhang hindi busy sa law school. Puro pag-aaya naman nang gala ang natatangap ko na mga text. Wala ako sa mood makita ang mga pagmumukha nla. Pero dahil Lunes ngayon at may pasok ay makikita ko na naman sila. Tsk.

Kakatapos ko lang sa prepare nang bag ko nang makatanggap ako ng tawag galing sa magaling kong bestfriend.

Demonyunito Calling...

"Belle, Susunduin kita. I'll be there at 10 minutes bye. Kailangan ready kana!" Hinayupak nato di man lang ako pinagsalita binabaan agad ako.

Pagkababa ko naaboton ko si Kuya na lumalamon. "Ya! Di na ako sasabay kumain sayo. Susunduin ako ni San" tumango lang siya at nagpatuloy na sa paglamon. Tsk patay gutom talaga tong isang to!

May narinig ako bumusina kaya agad na akong lumabas .

Nakasalubong ko pa si Manang "Oh iha di ka man lang ba mag-aalmusal?"

"No na po Manang sa school nako magb'breakfast naghihintay na si San sakin sa labas e. Bawi ako sa dinner manang. Bye." ngumiti nalang ako kay manang at nagpaalam ng lumabas.

​"Uwi kang maaga darating ang daddy at mommy mo mamayang gabi!"

"​Don't come home late Bella!"​ perfect nga wala namang table manners. Kumaway nalang ako sa kanila. Clutching my bag in my other hand.

Nagmamdali akong lumabas dahil mainipin ang isang iyon. Nakaparada ang isang puting BMW sa harap nang bahay namin. Bubuksan ko na sana ang passenger's seat nang may nakita akong nakaupo dun. Angel.

"Angelica" binababa naman ni Damon ang wind shield sa katapat ko.

"Sa back seat kana ,Belle"​ casual na sabi niya sakin. Binigyan ko lang sila nang isang tipid na ngiti bago tumungo sa bask seat.

-

Habang nasa byahe di ko maiwasang tignan ang dalawa na nasa harap ko. Damonacting like a love sick fool right now. Ngayon ko

lang nakitang kumislap ang mata niya ng ganyan. Angel on the other side, I'm sure this one's same. She also likes Damon. I looked liked a side character in the story.

Tumingin si Damon sa rearview mirror at nagtama ang mata namin. "You lived in the same village with Angel ,Belle .What a coincidence right? Kaya nung sinundo ko di Angel sinundo nalang din kita." tumango nalang ako.

So at the first place wala naman talaga siyang balak na sunduin ako. I was just the extra baggage.

Sinaksak ko nalang sa tenga ko ang earphones ko without turning on the music.

"Ihahatid din kita mamaya pagkauwi Gel."

Di ko alam kung bakit nakakaramdam ako ng inis ngayon. I wanna struggle Damon's neck and fork out his eyes right now. Kalma Belle, wala kang mapapala kung papatayin mo si Damon. Sana pala ay kumain nalang muna ako at nagpahatid sa kapatid ko.

-

Naabotan ko ang kawawang mukha ni Ashley. Her ponytail's a mess and her eyeliner is smudged under her eyes. Sino naman kaya ang umaway sa kanya sa daan at mukha siyang bata na inagawan nang lollipop.

"Belle!" nakasalubong ko siya sa may hallway nang papunta ako sa may locker area para sana kumuha ng ibang materials ko para sa sunod na subject ko.

"Ashley , San ba punta mo?" at napansin ko din na mugto ang mata niya and she's teary eyed.

"What happened Ashley?".

Niyakap niya ako . I don't know what to do. Wala naman siyang nababanggit sakin lately about sa studies niya . Actually she's doing fine kahit na slow siya kausap okay naman ang academics niya.

Wala din naman siyang nababanggit na problema lately, at mukhang hindi naman siya inagawan nanaman nang pagkain ng kakambal niya dahil hindi naman nakasunod si Stanley sa kanya.

"I hate him!"

I was confused man ay dinamayan ko nalang si Ashley. Basang basa na ang uniform niya kakaiyak niya. Para siyang bata. Well bata pa nga naman siya kaso para siyang uhuging bata dahil tumutulo pa yung sipon niya.

" If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine Ash. Come here." i snuggled her for another hug.

Kung sino mang kumag ang nagpaiyak sa kaibigan ko, he'll be sure to taste hell already. How dare he crossed one of my friends.

-

Nandito kami ngayon sa cafè na lagi namin tintambayan, cafe nila Karl. Hindi na din umiiyak si Ashley. I ordered a double choc frappe for her para naman gumaan ang nararamdaman niya but it didn't help so I guess this one's really serious.

" Ashley tell me , ano ba talagang problema mo? Sinong nanakit sayo?"

Binigyan ko siya ng malumanay nga ngiti at hinawakan ang kamay niya. She's still sobbing. I am gently patting her head para tumahan na siya.

"I'm sorry kung itinago namin sainyo. At start kasi okay pa naman kami.Masaya pa kami. But right now his being too close to that Angel. The way he looked at her may something.And worst is di niya pa ako tinignan ng ganun. --"

Di ko na napansin ang mga sinasabi niya kasi isa lang ang pumapasok sa isip ko na ang tinutukoy niya ay si Damon. I can't believe it. Magka relasyon sila.

"So you're in a relationship?!"

"How come we didn't know about it. I'm sorry I didn't notice Ash."

Tumango siya at tipid na ngumiti sa akin. " And I think we're not in relationship right now. We just broke up. At ang sakit kasi pinagpalit niya ako sanisang transferee malay ba natin kung ano talagang ugali niya.Siguro baka pinagpalit niya ako is that I'm too naive and innocent. I don't even know how to kiss. I'm too lame for him."

" No, don't call yourself lame. You are beautiful and smart. Lame isn't in your whole character. Trust me Ash. I will make him pay for hurting you like this. Hush now."

She cried again. This time kasabay ng pagluha niya ay pagkawasak ng puso ko. How could they possibly hide it from us. We're bestfriends after all. Or it's not because of that I don't know. My heart is just in pain.

" That loser doesn't deserve your tears."

-

Pagkauwi ay deretso na ako sa dinning room. Naabutan ko doon si Kuya na kumakain nanaman and Mom and Dad. Lumapit ako sa kanila para bigyan sila nang halik sa pisngi. Ngumiti lang si Dad at si Kuya. Si mommy ay parang wala lang.

"​ So how is your study, Isabelle? Are you gonna graduate valedictorian this year?"

​​Nag-angat ako nang tingin kay mommy nang mag tanong siya. Ang mata niya ay nasa kinakain niya pero alam kong nag-hihintay ito sa sagot ko. There is only valid answer for that question.

" ​It's good. I am still on the top of my class so maybe I'll graduate valedictorian ."​

"Maybe? So you're not sure yet. Baka puro pag gala na ang inaatupag mo Isabelle. I don't want another disappointment from you, Isabelle."

" I'll make sure to be the valedictorian Mommy."

" As you should Isabelle. Ayaw ko namang mapahiya sa mga amega ko. Your Kuya graduated valedictorian and now taking up law."

Ngayon ay nasa akin na ang buong atensyon nito. Binababa niya ang utensils niya at ginamit ang table napkin para punasan ang gilid nang labi niya. Whenever they arrive I always feel like I have to be proper and good. Mas kinakabahan pa ako dito kaysa sa recitation ih. My mom is the most strick woman I have known hindi nga ako pwedeng magkamali dahil huhusgahan niya lang ako and she bare hate for me.

"​ How about you, Anthony? How's law school. I heard you are linking with a nurse student in your school." ​medyo natigilan si kuya sa pagkain at tinitigan muna si mommy bago sumagot.

I gave him a look. I didn't know if this is the girl he's interested with or if it's an another girl.

"​ Mommy, you already said I can do what I want as long as I am good with law school. So yeah everything's going well and that is according to your plans and please leave her away."

" Well the daughter of Kennedy's, Nina. Is in the same school you're going and I heard that you too have classes together." Kuya's eyes remains on his food.

" That child is smart and classy. She's also from a legacy of successful lawyers. You should ask her out iho." I saw how stunned Kuya.

​​The dinner ended and maagang umakyat sina mommy at daddy dahil may another venture nanaman sila bukas. Ilang buwan nanaman silang mawawala dito sa bahay and it always is a happy feeling pag wala sila Mommy dito. I can do what I want.

Naabotan ko si Kuya Xye sa balcony niya. Magkatapat lang ang kwarto naming dalawa. He is holding a ciggar in his hand. He is staring at nothing. Walang bituin at walang buwan sa kalangitan. It looks like it will rain.

"​ I didn't know you smoke, Kuya."​ ngumiti siya bago iyon pinatay at maayos na inilagay sa ash tray.

"​Pag stress lang, Bella. Ikaw wag kang gagaya sakin." ​umirap ako sa kanya . Aghh hiprocate at its finest.

" Uhm so she's a nurse huh." I said to make the atmosphere more light. I can sense the sadness in him. Ayaw kong makita siyang ganito.

" She's on her internship year and I don't want to ruin her future just because a I like her. " I can see that his mad and hurting right now.

Mom's words are simple and only mean one thing. He should not be involved with the girl anymore. That's a sacrifice his willing to do.

" But Kuya aren't you even gonna fight for her. I can see that you like her so m--"

" And what? Make her suffer of choice? I cannot let Mom ruin her life Bella." Kitang-kita ko ang takot sa mata niya.

" You've sacrificed enough for this family Kuya. You didn't even proceed with painting. Pati ba naman kung sino ang babae para sayo. Ipagkakait pa nila Mommy sayo. " he gave me a small smile as he neared me and wiped the tears in my face.

" I will be fine, Bella. I have you." I hugged him as those words came out his mouth.

I just wished that he fights for what he really wants someday cause this wonderful guy deserves it.

-

I was on my bed when my phone ringed. It's Ashley. Alas onse na nang gabi.

Ashley Calling...

"Is this Ms. Belle?" boses lalaki. Nagtataka man ay sinagot ko din naman ang tanung niya.

" Yes, Belle speaking."

"Can you pick up Ms.Ashley here in Mango Av. She's too drunk to handle herself." s**t! ano bang pinag gagawa ng babaeng to!

How can she drink all by herself.

"I'm coming." She's too broken para maglasing ng ganito. It's her first time drinking!

Kaya tinawagan ko ang taong dahilan nang pag-inom niya. As much as I wanna be there for her. I want them to talk this out and resolve this on their own.

Calling Damon...

"Damon Satine Saavedra! Go to Mango Av. right now!" I'll give them time to settle things .

Kung ayaw niya na kay Ashley ay dapat maging lalaki man lang siya at sabihin ito mismo sa kaibigan ko na girlfriend niya. I'm hurt but I think Ashley's more hurt. She's the girlfriend after all. I'm just the bestfriend.

Hour and half later ay nabigla ako nang biglang may bumusina. Anong oras na? Tulog na ang lahat sa bahay. Sino namang hayup ang manggugulo sa bahay namin nang ganitong oras.

"Iha nasa labas si Damon."katok ni Manang sa kwarto ko. Agad akong napabangon sa kama ko. s**t what is he doing here?!

I was hystirically running towards outside. Hindi ko pa nabubuksan ang gate namin ay sinigawan ko na siya. How dare he disturbed someone's house at this late hour. Sira naba talaga ang ulo niya.

"Demonyo ka! Nambubulabog ka gabing-gabi na!"

He just gave me death glares. May nagawa bakong kasalanan? No, he is the one who's at fault here. Bakit parang siya pa ang galit.

" Bakit ako ang tinawagan mo! I'm having a dinner with Angel! You interrupted us!" Yun lang ang problema niya. The heck with this guy! Says the one who hurt her girlfriend for another girl!

" Bakit galit ka?!" he bite his lips to supress his raging anger towards me.

" Of course I am freaking mad Isabelle! Bakit ako ang tinawagan mo." he said trying to be calm.

" Who would I call then! Ikaw ang dahilan kaya nagkakaganun ang kaibigan ko!"

" The girl has a freaking brother! Wala ka bang number ni Stanley? God, Isabelle I was in a middle of a dinner date." he said trying to make a point.

"Yun lang? You always have the choice! You can say no! I hate the way you're acting now Damon! Don't make me hate you for whatever your doing right now. I swear you'll regret it! And heck! Ikaw ang may responsibilidad kay Ashley. You're always like that you don't take seriously of your responsibilities. Pasuk-pasok ka nang relasyon hindi mo naman pala kaya. Stop acting immature!!"

Galit na galit ako ngayon.

I could throw him a punch because of my rage. Nagpipigil lang ako.

"You're not a child to run from your responsibility. Act as your age Damon! Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon matatakasan mo ang mga responsibility mo sa buhay mo. But it stays as your choice. Your choice. Panindigan mo yung mga responsibilities mo."

"What the hell are you talking?! Are you saying that I have a responsibility with Ashley? Bakit ako ba si Stanley?" tumingin siya sakin . Ang kaninang galit niyang mata ay napalipatan ng pagtataka.

And now he's acting naive.

"Stop with the act. Alam ko na ang relasyon niyo ni Ashley! Sinabi niya sakin kanina. Stop lying! Just go! I don't want to see you right now." Nanlalaki ang mata niya habang nakatingin sakin. Gulat at galit ang nakikita ko ngayon sa kanya.Tsk. Nakakita lang ng maganda nagbago agad feelings niya.

" What the hell! If I am in a relationship with someone. Ikaw ang unang makakaalam. You are my bestfriend, Belle."

" Yeah right, maybe you've forget about it and didn't bother to tell me! Now get the hell out of here bago pa magising ang parents ko." taboy ko sa kanya. I closed the gate and get upstairs with tears in my eyes.