DV Series: decoding the boys (under revision) ??

"Why are you here, Angelo?"

I raised a brow at the grinning boy who suddenly showed up at our doorsteps. Mapormang maporma at may dala pang dalawang galon na ice cream at chocolate cake.

"Mom invited me," sabi niya sabay pasok sa loob ng bahay.

"Mom?" tanong ko confusedly. "Your mom?"

"Yours," simpleng sagot niya bago inabot sa 'kin ang mga paper bags at dumiretso sa living room.

My jaw dropped at the casual way he invited himself in. Sanay na sanay siya sa loob ng bahay at sa interaction niya pa kina Mom and Dad, you'd think na taga-dito siya.

Huh. Angelo was closer to my parents than what I'd imagined. He easily blended in na iisipin mong parte talaga siya ng pamilya. Mom was more than happy to take him in. Kung pwede lang yata, she would keep him as her own.

"Nasa bakuran sina Kuya Jacob," I told him when he asked. "Nasa gaming room sina Kuya Travis at Kuya Andrei."

He nodded and quickly vanished into the gaming room. Naglalaro ng Xbox sa loob yung iba. Nasa dining room ang mga matatanda at kumakanta naman sa living room sina Tito Matthew at Tito Osen.

Nandito halos ang lahat. Ang pamilya lang nina Kuya Nick at Gian ang wala. Doon sila kina Zoey Chen magce-celebrate ngayon.

Tumulong ako kay Mom sa pagluluto sa kitchen. Nung may sumabog sa bakuran at naghalakhakan ang boys, pinalayas din ako nito.

"Check your cousins. Baka masunog nila ang bahay."

So I went to the backyard to watch over them. Nahuhumaling sa mga maliliit na paputok ang boys. Kinakabahan ako na baka madisgrasya nila ang isa't isa. Ang haharot kasi, bato nang bato kung saan saan.

Kuya Andrei and Angelo emerged into the garden, too, both of them holding imported beer.

"Gian's getting serious. No fun!" sabi ni Kuya Onyx, pinaglalaruan ang baso niyang puno ng whiskey.

"It's only right. He needs to own those words or else, he'll sound like an empty can to his dad," sagot ni Kuya Paul na sumisimsim ng beer.

"Damn, can you imagine it? Magiging tito na talaga tayo," reklamo ni Kuya Jacob.

"Can you shut up? The sooner you accept it, the better it will be for all of us. Besides, I have this theory you're adopted as well, Jacob," natatawang sinabi ni Kuya Chris.

"If that's the case, then ang swerte n'yo naman pala. Naging ka-apelyido n'yo ang isang tulad ko."

A peal of laughter escaped my lips. Bigla naman nagkagulo ang boys. Nag-aagawan sa mic sina Kuya Onyx at Kuya Paul.

"Dapat sinama mo si Cari, dude," Mathev called out to Angelo, sneaking a sidelong glance at Kuya Andrei.

Kuya Andrei had a stoic face. Misteryoso ang mga mata niya, as the rest of him was, habang siya na ang pinagkakatuwaan.

"Baka sasama," sigaw ni Kuya Jacob, nakikisali sa agawan ng mic. "Balita ko may iba nang dine-date 'yon."

"Ouch naman no'n, chong! True love na, nakawala pa," Kuya Onyx said into the mic, laughing.

Ngumisi lang si Kuya Andrei at nilagok ang beer.

"He's annoyed," Angelo commented.

"How do you know?" I asked, sweeping my gaze to observe the shifts in my brother's expression.

Wala namang nagbago. The cool smile was still there. "Shut up," sinabi nito pero hindi naman warning o ano. It was playful.

"Break na kayo, a. Ilang buwan na rin. Siya pa rin?" I heard Mathev say.