What Lies Within Her

Chapter 39: Take Care of Him

Chapter 39: Take Care of Him

Reese's POV

Pagkabalik namin sa dining area ay nakatingin sila sa amin, lalo na si Henry na halatang nagulat sa nalaman.

"Since when did you two start dating?" tanong ni Tita Eloiza. Lalo namang nadagdagan 'yong awkwardness dahil doon.

"It's almost two months now," sagot ni Gideon. Mabuti na lang at siya 'yong sumagot dahil pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko 'yon masasagot nang hindi nauutal. Nararamdaman ko pa rin ang seryosong tingin ni Henry sa akin kaya hindi ako makakain nang maayos. Damn.

"Congratulations," masayang sabi ni Tita Eloiza at nagsimula na ulit kaming kumain. Mabuti na lang at hindi na sila nagtanong pa ulit tungkol sa amin ni Gideon.

Nang matapos kaming kumain ay pumunta kami ni Tita Eloiza sa living room. Susunod sana sa amin si Gideon nang tinawag siya ni Kuya Jarred at may pag-uusapan daw sila.

"Mom, can I borrow Reese for a moment?" tanong ni Henry na biglang sumulpot. I never heard Henry's serious voice for a while now, kaya ngayon ay kinakabahan ako.

"Sure, anak." Tumayo naman si Tita Eloiza at umakyat na siya sa second floor nila. While, Henry sat beside me.

"I was surprised," sabi niya kaya napalunok ako. I already knew that this is about what Gideon said earlier, pero kinakabahan pa rin ako na hindi ko malaman. "Don't worry. I'm not going to be angry, Reese."

"Still, I'm sorry." I needed to say that. After all, Henry courted me for so long but then I turned him down, and now I'm with his brother.

"Don't be." He smiled. May kinuha siya sa ilalim ng glass table nila sa living room. Tatlong photo album 'yon at inabot niya sa akin 'yong blue na photo album. "That's Gideon's."

Nangunot naman ang noo ko at binuklat 'yong photo album. Baby pictures of Gideon showed up. His skin was so fair when he was young. His cheeks were fluffy and he smiles so genuinely. Napakaguwapo niya kahit noon pang bata pa lang siya.

"Gideon was so carefree back then..." ani Henry habang nakatingin din siya sa mga pictures ni Gideon. "This is when he first came here." Itinuro niya 'yong picture ni Gideon na umiiyak habang may hawak na teddy bear."

"Bakit siya umiiyak?" nagtatakang tanong ko na ikinatawa ni Henry.

"He didn't want to leave the convention. Iniisip kasi niya na kapag dinala namin siya rito ay hindi na niya makikita 'yong Mama niya pati 'yong mga kalaro niya roon na para na niyang kapatid," sabi ni Henry na para bang inaalala niya 'yong nangyari noon. "He loved them more than he loved us," pabirong sabi ni Henry.

I took a picture of Gideon's baby photos. Kung puwede lang ay inuwi ko na 'yong isang picture niya na nakangiti siya habang nasa playground at may hawak na lollipop.

"He was so aloof back then. Ayaw niya kaming kausapin. Ayaw niyang sumasabay sa amin kapag kakain kami at mas lalong ayaw niya na makasama kami," turan ni Henry habang inililipat ko 'yong page ng album. "But Kuya J started approaching him. Naalala ko nga na nagseselos ako kasi close na sila tapos ayaw pa rin akong kausapin ni G. He's our ray of sunshine up until now, yet he doesn't have any idea."

Habang sinasabi ni Henry 'yon ay nararamdaman ko kung gaano talaga nila tine-treasure si Gideon. They way he describes him, it feels warm. Kahit pa tinutulak sila palayo ni Gideon ay para bang pa lagi niyang naiintindihan ang kapatid niya.

"Bata pa lang kami, galit na siya sa Dad namin. I can't blame him though. He experienced a lot of things that kids aren't ready for. He felt neglected, abandoned, and he felt that he was a mistake. Baka nga hanggang ngayon ay nararamdaman niya pa rin 'yon. But the reason why he's angry with Dad is because he feels like Dad used his Mom." Bumagsak 'yong tingin ni Henry sa sahig at napabuntong hininga. "Kuya J and I experienced a perfect and comfortable life, while Gideon experienced the other way around. Imbis na lumaki siya na may kalinga ng ama, ni hindi niya 'yon naranasan."

That moment, I realized where Gideon is coming from. Why he's angry, and why he has this unending issues with his Dad. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero nang mga oras na 'yon ay gusto kong hanapin si Gideon at yakapin siya. He's been through worst his whole life.

"Lalo pa siyang nagalit sa Dad namin nang ipadala siya sa States. Doon siya tuluyang nagalit kay Mom and Dad. Of course, nagalit din kami ni Kuya J kay Dad pero wala kaming laban that time. Mga bata pa kami at takot kami sa kung anong puwedeng gawin ni Dad sa amin. He had no one that time and I hate myself for abandoning him when he needed us the most." May halong galit ang bawat salitang binibitawan ni Henry. "Kaya nang bumalik siya ulit dito sa Pilipinas, I promised myself that I'll make up to those times that I neglected him. Sabi ko sa sarili ko na kahit galit sa akin si Gideon ay gagawin ko ang lahat para lang maramdaman niyang nandito ako at kaya ko nang ipaglaban siya mula kay Dad."

Henry is a good brother. Nakikita kong sinusubukan niya talaga at saksi naman ako roon.

"You did your best, Henry." Ngumiti ako sa kaniya pero umiling siya.

"No, I didn't." Kumunot 'yong noo ko nang sabihin niya 'yon. "Yes, I gave him my attention, my time, and everything that he wants, but the only one I wasn't able to give up for him was you."

Natigilan ako at hindi ko alam 'yong sasabihin ko. Ako? I knew he liked me and that his brother does too, but I didn't know about this.

"He likes you so much, yet I liked you too. Hindi kita magawang bitawan at ipaubaya na lang kay Gideon and I feel like s**t about it." Sumandal siya sa sofa at napapikit na para bang iniisip niya kung ano ang susunod na sasabihin. "I promised to give everything to him, yet I liked you so much to give you up."

"Henry—"

"Don't worry. I'm okay and I'm happy for G." Ngumiti siya at tumingin muli sa akin. "He has you now and instead of focusing on the hurting, I want to be happy for him. My baby brother deserves the world, Reese. He deserves you more than anyone."

Namalayan ko na lang na tumutulo na pala 'yong luha sa mata ko. Kaya nang maramdaman kong tumulo 'yon ay napaiwas ako ng tingin. I feel so relieved but at the same time, I'm afraid. Natatakot ako sa kung ano ang puwedeng mangyari.

Henry doesn't have any idea about Caeden and about my past. Paano kapag nalaman niya 'yon at malaman niyang hindi ako ang babaeng inaakala niya at ilayo nila sa akin si Gideon? I don't know what to do anymore. I love Gideon and I don't want my past to stop me from loving him.

"Take care of him, Reese," Henry uttered and held my hand, tightly. "Thank you for choosing my brother and I know this is a selfish thing for me to ask, but please, love him with all your heart."

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "I will. I promise." Lalo pang tumulo 'yong luha ko kaya pinunasan niya 'yon at niyakap ako nang mahigpit.

"Thank you, Reese." Tumango lang ako habang magkayakap kami at umiiyak ako.

"Why are you hugging my girl?" Nagulat kami pareho ni Henry nang hilahin ako ni Gideon na nandoon na pala at nakatayo sa harap namin. "Did you make her cry?"

"No, he didn't," sabi ko sa kaniya pero mukhang hindi siya naniniwala dahil ang sama ng tingin niya kay Henry na nakangisi lang.

"Stay away from my girlfriend from now on, Kuya H." Tinago ako ni Gideon sa likod niya na para bang gusto niya talaga akong ilayo sa kapatid niya.

"What if I don't want to?" pang-aasar ni Henry na ikinatawa ko na lang habang si Gideon naman ay para bang nag-uusok na ang ilong sa galit. Tumayo si Henry at sinilip ako. "I told Reese that I will steal her away from you one day."

"What the—"

"Watch out, G." Naglakad na paalis si Henry at ako naman ay tawang-tawa dahil sa pang-aasar na sinabi niya.

"What's so funny?" inis na tanong ni Gideon na ikinailing ko lang. "Why are you hugging him like that, huh?"

"Family hug, I guess?" sarkastiko kong sabi kaya sinamaan niya ako ng tingin pero lumapit ako sa kaniya at hinawakan 'yong dalawa niyang pisngi. "I'm happy that I get to see this side of you too."

"What? You want my jealous side?" aniya na ikinatawa ko.

"No, I like the side of you who only wants me just for him." Ngumiti ako at ipinagdikit 'yong noo namin. "Everyday, you give me reasons to fall for you even more."

Nawala 'yong inis niyang ekspresyon at mayamaya lang ay ngumiti na siya. "Then, I'll give you a lot of reasons to fall for me. So that you'll only look at me."

Kahit hindi naman niya sabihin 'yon, siya lang naman talaga. Damn it. I'm really in love with him.