"Tree, please get some rest. Nag-aalala na kaming lahat sa 'yo . . . " 

I nodded and continued swiping through my Ipad's screen, trying to look for ideas on how to fulfill my very important promise. Nanlalabo man ang paningin dahil sa bigat ng pakiramdam, determinado akong magpatuloy sa ginagawa. 

"Do you think he'll be happy seeing you like this?"

I looked up and saw Carri frowning. She was trying to look mad, but her red, swollen eyes were giving her away. Parang isang maling salita lang at hahagulgol na siya.

"I think he'll be very happy to see me again." I shrugged and smiled. "I will be so freaking happy too."

Carri burst into tears, as expected. She tried to speak, but she couldn't stop crying. In the end, she walked out of the room, leaving me all alone in his bedroom again.

"I love you!" Pahabol kong sigaw, mamaya magtampo pa sa akin.

"Love you kahit bwisit ka!" tugon niya habang papalayo.

As soon as the door slammed shut, tears fell down from my eyes again. I was there at that exact moment, but I still couldn't believe what was going on. Part of me was still hoping that we could pick up where we left off.

"Tao po?" All of a sudden there was a knock on the door. I quickly wiped my tears and continued to put on a straight face.

The door opened before I could reach it. I saw his relatives, so I smiled politely and left the room. They were carrying sleeping babies, so I knew what was going to happen and what I had to do.

On the way down the stairs, nakasalubong ko ang kambal. It broke my heart to see them lose their glow. I could only hope that this is momentary, and they will keep their promise to carry on like how he wanted. Like nothing ever happened.

"Ginawa na naman bang nursery ang kuwarto niya?" May pagbibiro man sa tono ng pananalita, bakas ang lungkot sa mga mata ni Janus.

"To be fair, pati rin ang kuwarto ng kapatid niya," sagot ko na lamang.

"Baka may mag-iwan ulit ng diaper sa ilalim ng kama niya, ha?" Natatawang komento naman ni Jasper kahit pa may namumuong luha sa kanyang mga mata.

Hindi ko napigilang matawa, at ganoon din sa Janus. Sa huli, pareho kaming tatlong nagtawanan. Siguro gaya ko ay naalala nila ang hitsura niya sa tuwing pinag-uusapan ang kuwento ng mahiwagang diaper.

"Sa man cave ka na. Tambay ka muna do'n nang makapagpahinga ka," suhestyon ni Jasper kaya bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko.

"Man cave? He has a man cave around here?" I laughed in astonishment. I heard about it before, but I just thought he was kidding.

Nagkatinginan ang kambal at mahinang nagtawanan.

"Basement lang na ginawa naming tambayan at tambakan ng ipinagbabawal na magic. You're basically one of the bros now, so we're giving you the go." Ngumisi si Janus at nag-thumbs up pa.

I jokingly rolled my eyes. "Saan ako dadaan?"

The twins offered to take me there, but I couldn't bother them knowing na marami rin silang ginagawa. Ilang araw ko na rin silang inuutus-utusan kaya humingi na lamang ako ng directions.

***

Sa suhestyon na rin ng kambal, nagtungo ako sa basement—hindi para magpahinga, kundi para mag-focus sa huling parte ng pangako ko. 

Sumadya ako sa likurang parte ng bahay kung saan naroroon ang entrance ng basement. Karamihan ng mga bisita ay nasa sala at front garden kaya naman malaya akong nakakagalaw-galaw kahit pa hindi naman ako rito nakatira.

Binuksan ko ang isang maliit na pinto. Sa sobrang liit, kinailangan kong yumuko nang kaunti. Bumaba ako sa hagdan hanggang sa makita ko ang isang pinto na gawa sa metal. Natawa pa ako dahil may nakasulat ditong BRAYLEE NO ENTRY.

Tinulak ko ang pinto at agad na pumasok, pero napatalon ako sa gulat nang bigla na lamang may sumigaw nang pagkalakas-lakas.

"Huwag mong isasara ang pinto!" 

Huli na nang rumehistro ang sigaw sa isip ko.

Umalingawngaw ang isang kalabog at paglingon ko'y tuluyan nang sumara ang pinto. Out of reflex, sinubukan ko itong buksan pero nanlumo ako nang makitang hindi na nakakabit ang door handle nito.

I was about to examine the door, when I heard someone speak behind me.

"Kanina ko pa yan sinusubukan, ayaw talaga bumukas. I tried jiggling the handle pero natanggal lang."

I turned around and saw a tall guy standing by a bookshelf. He looked like he was around our age. I recognized him right away as one of his sister's visitors. Madali lang siyang matandaan kasi napakaingay lagi ng grupo nila. Noong una akala ko meriyenda at inuman lang ang habol nila, pero mabuti na lang at lagi rin silang tumutulong sa kung ano-anong bagay. I was also happy that they continued to keep Braylee company because I know she badly needed it.

"It's fine. They know I'm here, so they'll come looking for us." Bumuntonghinga ako at nilibot ang paningin sa paligid. They weren't kidding when they called it a man cave. It almost looked like an arcade sa dami ng kung ano-anong mapaglilibangan gaya ng pool at foosball table, video games, at kung ano-ano pa. It even had different comfy chairs and a long, worn out sofa.

I looked at the guy again and realized that he was standing near boxes of canned beer.

"Let me guess, you came here to steal beer and got stuck instead?" Lumapit ako sa isang kulay pulang upuan at saka naupo.

"I'm not stealing anything. Sabi ni Braylee puwede raw ako kumuha rito," he said defensively kaya natawa na lamang ako.

"Relax. Hindi kita isusumbong sa kambal. Just sit down and grab something to read, or whatever. May bubukas din diyan sa pinto," sabi ko na lamang at binuksan ulit ang ipad ko. I still wasn't done looking for ideas.

Narinig ko siyang bumuntonghininga at sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay nakita ko siyang naupo sa dulo ng sofa. "Girlfriend ka ng kuya ni Braylee, 'di ba?"

I smiled and nodded. It's funny how the thought makes my heart flutter and break at the same time.

"Sorry . . . " he said after a long pause.

"Hand me a can," kaswal kong utos sabay lahad ng kamay ko. Agad naman siyang nag-abot sa akin ng isang canned beer. He was even nice enough to open it for me.

"Ikaw 'yong sinasabi nilang goodbye girl, tama ba?" aniya.

"Umabot sa Filimon Heights ang tungkol sa mga kalokohan ko?" I continued browsing on my Ipad, trying to focus on my task as I took little sips from the can. I pride myself as a good drinker kaya naman hindi ako takot malasing nang todo.

"My sister keeps talking about your services. Gusto niyang maging goodbye girl ng Filimon Heights," sabi niya, dahilan para mag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya.

All of a sudden, I noticed it . . . how he looked so pale and uncomfortable. Mukhang hindi siya mapakali kaya dini-distract niya ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagkuwentuhan. 

"Not a fan of tight spaces?" tanong ko.

He opened his own can of beer took a sip. He then shook his head, laughing uncomfortably. "Hindi halata pero kanina pa ako nagpa-panic dito. Kahit anong sigaw ko, walang nakakarinig  sa akin."

I couldn't help but feel bad for him kaya binaba ko ang ipad at kaswal na umupo upang makita niyang kalmado lang ako kaya dapat wala siyang ipag-alala.

"Let's play pool. You look rich so let's have a little bet?" pagyayaya ko.

"Not in the mood." He chuckled, looking around the solid walls that did not have a single window. I felt bad that it took me a while to realize how scared he must've been. At kahit natatakot, pinipilit niya pa aring tumawa.

"How about a story?" I tilted my head, playfully squinting like how he always did. "Are you up for it?"

"Utang na loob, magkuwento ka lang nang magkuwento." Tumango-tango siya at bahagyang tumawa. "Basta huwag horror," pahabol niya pa.

"Okay . . . " bumuntong hininga ako at pilit na nag-isip. Nilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid ng basement at nagulat ako nang makita ang isang pamilyar na litrato sa bookshelf. It was even framed.

Tears pooled up at my eyes. "Let me tell you a story . . . "

//