THREE | BROTHERS
1706 Words
Nysse's POV
I suddenly remember a piece of my childhood memory.
“Anybody home?!!” I asked while knocking at the door.
“Drei?! You home?! We haven’t played for days since I healed from my fever. I’ve been waiting for you to come into our house and play with me but you didn’t come.” I said.
“Drei! Are you home? Yuhooo! Auntie Claire? Uncle Jaime? I want to play with you!” I cried.
Still knocking, I shouted, “Drei! I will be forever mad at you this instant if you don’t come out now!”
Someone opened the door. I immediately wiped the trace of tears from my face and brought out my very big smile to face the person.
A woman in her 50s opened the door and said,” Child, why are you crying? I’ve been cleaning this house since yesterday, there are no Drei, Claire and Jaime here.”
“What? Drei and I are playmates. His name is Alexander James… I forgot his surname. Maybe you know him, grandma.” I asked.
“Yes, I know him very well, but they left the house 3 days ago. Maybe Senorito did not tell you that he was going to live in the city.” She said.
Tears pooled up in my eyes. I couldn’t think of reasons why he left me without saying goodbye. He was my only best friend. I’m just a kid, he promised me that we had plenty of time to play, he promised to teach me what he learned from school. He promised me many things.
I was crying while walking towards our house. We were neighbors, they said that we met on my first birthday. He was invited by my parents; he was 4 years old at that time. I don’t remember that much, but since then we have been playmates. I do have other friends but they like my sister more than me, while Drei never leaves my side.
I thought he would be my escort for my 7th birthday. Auntie Claire and my mother have been planning a party. It’s just a one-time event, so it must be grand. But now that he's gone, they have to choose another boy to be my escort.
I must say that I was too young to be heartbroken at that time. Can you blame me? My one and only best friend left me without even saying goodbye, and he was supposed to be my escort on my seventh birthday.
“Hey, you okay?” Grace asked me.
“Yeah, yeah. By the way, what time is it?” I asked.
“It’s already 11:15am, have you already got your lunch?” she said.
“No, I was about to. What do you want? It’s on me.”
“Just some food with rice and side dish, please add water and dessert,” Grace said.
“Okay, okay.” I replied.
I had just got on the line when I heard noises coming from the cafeteria’s door. As soon as the door opened, I saw De Marcos walking like some freaking famous person on a red carpet. I am not exaggerating this but this is what I am seeing.
“Next,” the storekeeper said.
“I would like to order two lemon chicken rice, 2 iced tea, 2 egg roll, and 2 hot fudge brownies for dessert.” I ordered.
“That’s all, Ms.?”
“Yes, please.”
Someone stands behind me. I didn’t bother to look at it because I was already hungry. I just proceeded to the cashier to make my payment.
“It would be Php 445.40 Ms.”
I immediately looked for my wallet, but someone gave a card to the cashier.
“It’s on me—”
“Hey!” I yelled at him.
I hurriedly took the card from the cashier and gave her my exact amount of payment.
“I can buy my own food. You know, just leave me alone.”
I saw Niel and gave him a little smile. I just don’t feel any hate for him. I proceeded to take our orders but again someone took the trays with rice and drinks. I did not take the risk of wasting my lunch on getting the trays. I just took the other tray with our dessert and made my way to our table.
I saw the look on Grace's face as soon as she saw me. She looks like a girl who saw her crush, she has a teasing smile pasted on her face.
As soon as I reached our table, I muttered my thanks without looking at De Marco. I thought he was going to sit with his friends but he chose to sit beside me.
“Hi, Ivy Grace Lorenzo?”
“Yes, how did you know my name? Are you friends with Ela already?” Grace confusingly asked.
Someone suddenly approached our table and made a handshake with De Marco.
“Hi Niel!” I greeted.
“Hi Ela! Allow me to introduce myself to this beautiful woman beside me.” He said.
“Hi Miss Lorenzo, I am Niel De Marco at your service.”
“Hi Mr. Niel De Marco, I didn’t know that I am that famous in your department.”
“Well, words can fly.”
“Okay guys, am I missing something here?” I asked.
“We were schoolmates. We have known each other for years because of our parents, but we don’t belong to the same circle.” Drei answered.
“I see. Let me pay you back for the food that you ordered. You don’t have to do that, you know. I’ve been mean to you since we met.”
“It’s okay. Consider it as my treat.”
Grace's phone started ringing, “Jia, are you done? We’re already in the cafeteria, just near the cashier. Well, if you already saw the group of De Marcos, you’re near.”
I noticed the exchanged glances of the De Marcos at our table on the opposite side. I saw Mattheus, who is also a cousin of De Marco, sitting beside me. I saw him walking towards our table, just as he was about to sit, Jia hurriedly seated beside me and Mattheus beside Niel.
I noticed the stares of people around us, but I eventually shrugged it off. I am really hungry.
Mattheus and Niel seemed to be fighting about something. But Niel asked Jia, “Hey Jia! Is someone interested if you do have a boyfriend?”
I just saw my best friend blushing and looked at Grace; well, I consider them my best friends. “Hey! Mind you sharing it with me?” I asked.
“Well, someone is courting me. Mind you, he is also my crush,” Jia answered.
“Splendidly, very good news. So, who it was? Do I know him?”
“It’s a secret for now. And to answer your question, Mr. Niel, sorry I am not available at the moment.”
“No. You will be.” Mattheus said in a low voice.
*********
The cafeteria suddenly became quiet. I saw our schoolmates were busy looking at the door. I heard someone squealing in delight “OMG! UNO AND DOS ARE HEREEE!”
“Who is the girl walking between them?”
“I didn’t know they had a sister.”
Whispers began to arise inside the cafeteria. I saw girls retouching their faces, finishing their food, and drooling at the cafeteria door. Out of curiosity, I look at it also.
It’s my brothers and my sister, technically half-brothers. My father already had his first family but they are not married. It was too late when my grandfather knew this matter because my parents already had me. It was another heartbreak on my part.
Despite my confusion, I waved my hand at them. But then the De Marcos at our table gave me a questioning look.
“Ela, do you know them?”/ “You know the Alejandro Brothers?” They asked.
Just when I was about to answer, someone kissed my cheeks. I instantly looked who it was, “Hey sister!” Rysse greeted me.
I kissed her and our brothers, “Hi brothers! What are you doing here? Did Papa send you? I already told him; I am fine.”
“Princess, I know you can handle yourself, but I missed you. Did you not miss your handsome brother?” Brother Uno said.
“Okay, I will not argue with the handsome part. But can you introduce us, Princess, because they haven’t been moving since we’ve arrived. I can also feel some deadly stares,” Brother Dos said.
“Oh, sorry. I almost forgot. These are my friends. Drei, Niel, and Mattheus are the De Marcos, while Grace and Jia here are the ones I met on the first day of school. Guys, these are my brothers, Uno and Dos, and my one and only sister, Rysse.”
They exchanged their greetings to one another, but Drei and my Brother Uno seemed to be in another world before they could even utter a word at each other. I asked what they were doing in our school. My brothers are already working, so, practically they shouldn’t be here. They were supposed to be working their asses off.
“I asked Auntie’s permission if we could go to the mall, and she allowed the both of you. Dos will drive your car and you will ride with me.”
“Okay, but”, I was cut off by the announcement in the speakers.
“All classes are dismissed today; Professors will be having a meeting in all departments. I repeat, all classes are dismissed today; Professors will be having a meeting in all departments.”
“I can say that you don’t have any classes in the afternoon,” Dos said.
“Okay, I’ll just get my things.”
“Guys, we will be going. See you guys tomorrow.” I bid the boys goodbye and gave the girls a kiss.
“Where’s my kiss?” Drei asked.
“Dream on.” I laughed.
- Writer
