Chapter 4: Aidan and Adam

(June 2007)

Second year.

Ang bilis ng panahon. Parang kahapon lamang namin inilibing si Daddy. Hindi ko na namalayan na halos anim na buwan na ang nakalipas.

Sa unang mga linggo parang lutang ang lahat sa nangyari, pero after a while parang unti-unti rin namin natatanggap. Si kuya Alfredo yung pinakamatagal na naka-recover. Parati siyang pinapagalitan ni Mommy dahil ginagamit niya yung kotse ni Daddy at inilalabas tuwing gabi. Lagi siyang grounded dahil malimit na sumasali siya sa drag racing. I guess it's his own way of mourning Dad.

My Kuya Alphonse got a job as soon as he graduated. Nabawasan yung bonding naming magkakapatid dahil pawang busy na rin kami sa kanya-kanyang buhay at set of friends, though as much as possible sinusubukan naming maging magkakasama tuwing dinner time. It was one of the things that we agreed about to keep the family up-to-date. Mostly alam ko, it was for Diosa's sake.

Kahit hindi hilingin ni Diosa, we all felt that she's very lonely. She's growing up rather introverted at kulang sa pagiging assertive. I guess the situation between our parents is taking its toll on her the most. She thinks she's good at hiding her feelings pero alam naming lahat kung gaano siya kalungkot.

"Ali!" I heard someone knocking on my door just as I was preparing to come down. Sabado ngayon at walang pasok.

Binuksan ko ang pinto at nakita ko si Kuya Albert na akmang kakatok. "Yes?"

Napangisi si Kuya Albert. Hindi ko gusto kapag may mga ganoong ngiti si Kuya kasi tiyak may balak na naman siyang kalokohan.

"Sama ka baby boy." Ugh. Hanggang ngayon tinatawag pa rin niya ako nang nakakabuwisit na nickname na iyon.

"Utang na loob." I deadpanned but my Kuya Albert just put his arm around my shoulders to usher me out of my room-more like drag me out and kick the door close with his foot.

"'Takte ano ba meron diyan sa kuweba mo? Nanonood ka ng porn, 'no?" He grinned at me.

"Right." I deftly twisted away from his hold. "Kayo ni Kuya Alfred mahilig d'on."

"Maghanap ka ng tunay na girls!"

"Mauna ka muna." I threw back at him. We all knew kung gaano karaming girls ang naghahabol kay Kuya Albert pero isa lang ang babaeng gusto niya. My Kuya is the captain of the varsity Track and Field team at ang daming babaeng nagkakandarapa na mapansin niya. I guess si Ate Chelsea yung tipo ng babae na sobrang clueless na hanggang ngayon feeling niya bestfriends forever lang sila ni Kuya.

He tried to grab me back and I dodged away. Nag-unahan kaming makababa ng hagdanan. Obviously my brother is much faster so I used the banister to get ahead.

Oh, shit.

"Pucha Ali!" I felt my arms and legs tangle together with my Kuya Alfredo. Kuya Albert doubled-over in laughter.

"Sorry." I gingerly stood and gave him a hand up. Hindi niya ito pinansin at kinotongan ako.

"'Yan! May pa-shortcut-shortcut ka pa kasing nalalaman eh!" Kuya Albert tried to muss my hair but I dodged away from his fingers.

"Sorry na nga!" I pushed back my kuya Albert. Siya naman pagbukas ng pinto at tumambad sa amin ang gasgas na mukha ng aming bunsong kapatid. Agad kaming nagsilapitan at inalalayan siyang makapasok sa loob.

"Baby girl okay ka lang? Anong nangyari? Bakit may sugat ka?" Tarantang tanong ni Kuya Alfredo kay Diosa.

"Yaya 'yong medicine kit po!" Sigaw ni Kuya Albert. I took my hanky and wiped her dirty cheek.

"Nasemplang po ako," humihikbi niyang sagot.

"Saan ka ba pumunta? Bakit di mo kami sinama?"Kuya Alfredo continued to fuss over her. Iniabot ni Yaya Maring ang medicine kit kay Kuya Albert na lumuhod sa lapag at binuksan ito. Naglagay siya ng Betadine sa bulak para gamutin ang galos sa tuhod ni Diosa.

"Sa may convenience store po siya nasemplang." Napalingon ang lahat nang marinig ang tinig na iyon. I narrowed my eyes at the two boys standing just outside our doorway.

"Anong ginagawa niyo rito?" Kuya Alfredo stood up and went past me.

"Kuya hinatid po ako ni Kuya Aidan at Kuya Adam." I saw Diosa wince when Kuya Albert dabbed medicine on her cuts. "Kuya Abet..." she whined softly.

"Um, okay ka na ba?" Gusto kong palayasin na 'yong dalawang kumag pero baka magmukha naman akong bastos.

"Opo Kuya Aidan, thank you po." Kuya Albert put a gauze on Diosa's knee. He wiped her cheek with antiseptic as well.

"Next time wag ka kung saan-saan pumupunta." I admonished her and she hung her head.

"Sorry po kuya."

"Ay, pumasok kayo mainit diyan sa labas." Dumaan si Yaya Maring sa harapan namin at ibinukas ng malawak ang pinto. "Gusto niyo bang kumain? Halika, pasok kayo."

Aidan looked unsure pero hinila na siya sa braso ni Yaya Maring,"Um, ah... wag na po. Nakakahiya." Napalunok siya nang tignan ko nang masama.

"Ano bang nakakahiya? Pasok kayo."

"Yaya!" Salubong ang kilay ni Kuya Alfredo at pinandilatan si Yaya Maring.

"Alfredo Zabala!" Pinandilatan din siya ni Yaya Maring. My Kuya Alfred pouted and murmured something low before he turned his back.

"Kuya Aidan, Kuya Adam dito po kayo mag-lunch." Diosa stood up and took their hands. A look passed between me, Kuya Albert and Kuya Alfredo. Kuya Albert gave us a small smile. I can already imagine the wheels turning inside his devious head.

Diosa passed by us with our two 'brothers' in tow, "Kuya Abet, behave." She said with a pout. Hanggang braso lang siya ni Kuya Albert pero napatango na lang si Kuya.

Tulong-tulong kami sa paghahain. Dumating din sila Kuya Alejandto at Kuya Alphonse na agad kinuwentuhan ni Yaya Maring. Halatang ilang sila Aidan at Adam, lalo na at tinitignan sila ni Kuya Alfredo. I grinned inwardly. So hindi lang pala ako ang ganito ang pakiramdam? We never really talked about such things, the same way we never really talked about dad's infidelity.

"Kuya Aidan try niyo po itong niluto ni Kuya Alfred." Nilagyan ni Diosa ng ulam ang pinggan ni Aidan. He pushed the food around with his fork before he took a little bit and sniffed. "Masarap 'yan. The best si Kuya Alfred."

Aidan took a bite and chewed. "What's this?"

"Poqui-poqui. Sarap di ba?" Kuya Albert took a big bite. Napabuga si Adam sa iniinom niyang tubig.

"Eww..." Diosa wiped her cheek on her sleeve.

"Ay ano ba yan? Teka kukuha ako ng basahan." Tumayo si Yaya Maring at nagpunta ng kusina.

"Bakit, di ka pa ba nakakakain ng poqui-poqui?" Kuya Albert asked Aidan with a grin. He licked his lips mockingly.

"Alberto." Kuya Alphonse gave him a warning glance.

"Ito na lang po kainin mo kuya," Diosa offered Aidan some longganisa. "Promise, masarap din yan. Madaming garlic."

"Thank you."

"Leche, bakit sinasayang niyo ang pagkain?" I saw Kuya Alfredo stand from where he sat. "Kung ayaw niyo ng luto ko..."

"Kuya!" Diosa pulled his arm and Kuya Alfred did not finish what he had to say.

"Baby girl!" Pagmamaktol niya. "Bwisit." Diosa's brows knitted.

"Alfredo, 'wag kang magmura sa harap ng pagkain," Kuya Alphonse raised his voice. Kuya Alfredo rolled his eyes and pushed his chair back before he stood.

"Umupo ka." Kuya Alphonse glared at him. All the while, Aidan and Adam  kept on exchanging worried looks. Kuya Albert snickered. "Alberto, tumahimik ka."

"Di kayo kumakain ng Ilokano food?" Kuya Andro asked Adam to break the tension.

"Um, Chinese food usually. Or fastfood kami kumakain." Adam said meekly. "M-masarap naman 'yong food K-kuya Alfredo."

"'Wag mo 'kong matawag-tawag na kuya." Kuya Alfredo glared at Adam from across the table. "Hindi tayo magkapatid." He stood up and left. Namula si Adam.

"Ah, nakakaabala na kami. I think we should go." I watched Aidan as he stood up. Nawalan na rin ng gana ang lahat ng kumakain.

"Hindi ka Zabala, kundi abala..." Kuya Albert smirked and my Kuya Alphonse hit him upside the head. Hard. "Oww, Kuya!"

"Kuya Abet!" Diosa hit his arm. "Why did you say that?" She stood up and pulled at Aidan's arm. "Kuya Ai wag ka muna umalis, please?"

"Um, Diosa... kasi baka hinahanap na kami sa bahay." Adam also stood up. "Sorry po. Bye na po." He said meekly.

"Pero..." Diosa looked helplessly at us. Parang gusto niyang humingi ng saklolo. Unfortunately, I'm not in a very forgiving mood. Kumuha ako ng pagkain at nagpatuloy. I have no time for pleasantries and it's certainly not productive to join in on them.

"O, bakit nakatayo na kayo? Tapos na ba kayong magsikain?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Yaya Maring na kakabalik pa lamang galing sa kusina. May hawak siyang basahan at agad na pinunasan ang lamesa.

"Tapusin niyo muna ang pagkain," Kuya Alphonse beckoned to the two. "Masama ang nag-iiwan ng pagkain sa pinggan."

 "Nasaan si Alfred?" Ang bilis talaga mapansin ni Yaya Maring si Kuya Alfredo. Agad na kumunot ang noo niya at binitawan ang hawak na basahan. "Hay nakuuu..." she murmured before she rose and took to the stairs, no doubt para pingutin ang tenga ni Kuya. Minsan nakakalimutan ni Yaya Maring na ang laki na ni Kuya at parang baby pa rin niya kung tratuhin. Siya ang nagiging pangalawang mama namin at sobrang close nila ni Kuya Alfred lalo na at lagi silang magkasama sa kusina.

Aidan and Adam looked reluctant to return to their seat but Diosa did the decision-making for them and pulled them back to the table.

"Yaya!" Rinig ng lahat ang sigaw ni Kuya Alfredo galing sa taas. I saw Kuya Andro drink his water before he excused himself. Nagbalik kami lahat sa pagkain, though wala nang nag-usap-usap. 

____________

I didn't expect Aidan and Adam to be a normal part of my family. Para sa akin mga pangalan lang sila na minsan nababanggit noon ni Daddy. I was not ready to accept them and I guess they didn't expect to be accepted to the family either. Sino ba naman ang normal na basta na lang tatanggap sa mga taong hindi niya kasamang lumaki at naging sanhi nang pagkakahiwalay ng kaniyang mga magulang? My rational mind kept on telling me that hatred is pointless, but deep in my heart, I was still hurting.

I guess if there was one fault in Diosa, she was selfish when it came to her family.

Eversince she met our 'brothers' she kept on insisting that we should all be together like normal sibs.

"Kasi mga Zabala tayo. Daddy would have liked to see us together," she would say. She'd have screaming matches with Kuya Alfredo regarding the issue.

"How are you sure na kapatid natin sila, eh intsik ang mga 'yon? Mukhang siopao na hilaw kaya yung dalawang 'yon." Kuya Alfredo would taunt her, "tigilan mo na nga baby girl. Ayoko. Tapos." Diosa would then burst out crying and my Kuya would be manipulated to apologizing to her.

Spoiled.

Pero kahit ganoon, I don't think she realizes how much power she has. Kuya Andro is stoic regarding the issue, Kuya Alphonse is diplomatic, and Kuya Albert-well madalas di mo alam kung kailan siya seryoso sa sinasabi niya.

And me? I can live with Aidan and Adam as long as they remain as names mentioned in passing.

"Kuya Ali puwede mo po akong ihatid?" She sidled up to me with a hopeful expression.

"Saan?"

"Diyan lang po sa labas ng village."

"And?"

"Tapos sunduin mo ulit ako doon mamayang four?" She clung around my middle and buried her face on my side. "Please? Please?"

"Sinong i-me-meet mo?" She couldn't meet my gaze.

"Sige na Kuya Ali," she pouted. "Sige na po?" I gave her a look and she wilted. Kabisado niya ang moods ko.

"Gusto ko lang naman makilala 'yung ibang Kuya ko eh," she murmured dejectedly. "Kung ayaw niyo sa kanila, ako gusto ko malaman kung ano ba sila talaga."

"Diosa, don't ask us to just accept them. Perhaps you were too young when Daddy left us. Hindi mo alam ang lahat nang nangyari."

"Pero kasalanan ba nila Kuya Ai at Adam? Alam niyo ba 'yong feelings nila? Di ba kapag magkakamag-anak dapat nagdadamayan?" She can be stubborn when she wanted. Hindi mapagkakailang Zabala.

"Ako na maghahatid sa'yo," I was relieved when Kuya Andro picked her up and she clung to him like a koala. "Pero sasama ako. I'm not letting you out on your own."

"Yay! I love you Kuya Andro." She wrapped her arms around Kuya Andro and he ruffled her hair.

I watched them go out and ride on Kuya Andro's bike. Ang tagal na tinuturuan ni Kuya Andro si Diosa pero hanggang ngayon hirap pa rin siya sa bike. Mas gusto niyang umangkas sa isa sa amin.

I didn't really have anything to do today so I got my own black bike and followed at a discreet distance. Her words made me curious. Does she meet with our other brothers in secret? How long has this been going on?

I saw Kuya Andro park his bike sa gilid ng daan. They seem to be talking casually and I couldn't get any closer or baka mahuli nila ako.

A black SLK Mercedes Benz parked in front of Diosa and Kuya Andro. I watched as Aidan got off first, followed by Adam. Diosa reached for them and gave each a hug. Nanatili si Kuya Andro na naka-lean sa bike niya at minamasdan lang sila. I suddenly felt goosebumps. May mali sa larawan na ito.

I looked at Aidan's unsmiling face to Adam's troubled one.

I took a step forward when I saw Susanna emerge from the car. Even my Kuya Andro's normal serene face turned hard at the sight of her. 

It doesn't take a genius to know she's bad news. I quickly pedaled my way to where they are.

"Kaya pala na-la-late umuwi ang mga anak ko. So ano 'tong pakulo mo na'to? Pinapaamo mo ba sila Aidan?" I reached Diosa's side and she took a step back from Susanna. "Manang-mana ka sa nanay mo. Laging nagpapaawa."

"Mama!" Adam protested. "We wanted to see her. Gusto lang namin kasama si Diosa." Susanna's brows narrowed before she slapped Adam across the face. Na-shock kaming lahat. His tears pooled at the corners of his eyes but he refused to let them flow.

"Hindi po! Wag niyo po saktan si Kuya Adam!" Diosa pulled Adam to her side.

"Uuwi na tayo. Adam halika dito!"

"Mama, please? Stop making a scene. Nakakahiya." Aidan looked helplessly around. Nakakakuha na kami ng atensiyon sa mga tao at sasakyang nagdaraan.

"Huwag mo 'kong tinuturuan, anak lang kita! Hala pasok!" She pulled both Adam and Aidan back to the car. Nanatiling matigas na nakatayo si Aidan sa may pintuan ng kotse.

"Ayoko po." He said stubbornly. He pulled Adam behind his back."'Wag niyo po saktan si shoti. Isusumbong ko kayo kay Ama." Namutla si Susanna. My curiosity got piqued. Aidan is... threatening his own mother.

"Tumigil ka. Ang tigas ng ulo mo." Susanna tried to grip his arm but he pulled his arm off.

"Mama, doon kami sa bahay ni Daddy." He said. Nahiwagaan ako. Anong bahay ni Daddy ang binabanggit nila?

"No. Uuwi kayo sa bahay natin. We will sell-"

"No! Ayokong tumira kasama ni Tito Jaime!" Soft-spoken Aidan suddenly transformed in front of us. Natigilan ako. Para kaming intruder sa family drama nila. I caught Diosa's eye and she nodded slowly.

"Kapag pinilit niyo kami isusumbong kita kay Ama!" Susanna looked helpless.

"Aidan, Adam hindi niyo ako naiintindihan. Let's go home na mga anak," she tried a different tactic pero mukhang walang epekto ito. Aidan still refused to budge. "Halika na." Medyo tumaas na ulit ang boses ni Susanna. "Bibilang ako, kapag hindi kayo pumasok doon na kayo sa labas matulog."

"Sa bahay ka na lang namin," Diosa blurted out at nakita kong lalong nagdilim ang mata ni Susanna. "Di ba sabi mo tuturuan mo ako mag-bake ng cake Kuya Aidan?" Aidan glanced at her and back to Susanna. He stepped away from the car and stood on our side. Mas matagal na pabalik-balik ang tingin ni Adam bago siya rin ay tumayo sa side namin. I inwardly laughed. So much for some family entertainment!

"Kapag hindi pa-" Susanna started to talk again but Aidan beat her to it.

"Mama kapag pinilit mo kami sasabihin ko kay Ama ang ginawa mo kay shoti. Saka yung mga ginagawa ni Tito Jaime." Nahihiwagaan na talaga ako sa Tito Jaime na ito.

"Fine. Manigas kayong dalawa. Doon kayo sa condo umuwi." Halatang napahiya si Susanna. She closed the door of the car with a bang. It was when the car was already a little far that we all let go of our breaths. Nagkatinginan pa kami at nagtawanan.

"Jaime?" I inquired and Aidan looked uncomfortable.

"He's gonna marry our Mama. We don't like him. Si Daddy bumili ng condo malapit dito and we've been living with him there for the past two years." I felt my sweat turn cold. All my assumptions about my Dad for the past couple of years...

Aidan smiled at me. "Kuya Ali gusto mo din bang mag-bake ng cake?"

I started to laugh. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero I just felt like a ton of bricks have been lifted from my chest.

Damn brothers.

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W/N:

I'm sorry for the long wait on this chapter. Medyo gumagala pa si muse kung saan. Sana may nagbabasa pa rin. XD