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

60 | facade

Naiintindihan ko na naiinis pa rin yung iba sa 'kin. Gian, mostly. He left our group chat on Whatsapp. Si Kuya Paul naman, kahit kinakausap ako ay halatang hindi pa rin natutuwa sa relasyon ko kay Racel. Kuya Onyx was surprisingly mum about the whole thing. Pinapansin niya ako pero iniiwasan niyang mapag-usapan ang nangyari. It felt awkward whenever I'd wind up with him kasi feeling ko we were avoiding the elephant in the room.

Si Mathev, well, I didn't have much interaction with him lately. Busy ito sa summer camp niya. Maybe he was avoiding me. I was convinced he was avoiding me.

Until he showed up at our house one night.

Katatapos ko lang kausapin sa Skype si Pierre no'n nang tumunog ang door bell. I answered the door on the third ring. Imagine my surprise when Mathev suddenly walked in, a grin plastered on his face, a bottle of Chivas Regal in his right hand.

"Yo, Jav," he greeted as he slung an arm around my shoulders and pushed me back inside the house.

He didn't reek of alcohol naman but I had to ask to make sure. Galit pa ito sa 'kin kaya malabong kikibuin ako nito. So there was only one reason why he'd do this.

"Mathe, are you drunk?"

Tumawa siya. "Not yet." Luminga-linga siya. "Nasaan si Andrei?"

"Nasa taas. Aalis ba kayo?" It was already eleven p.m. Wala naman akong narinig kay Kuya Andrei na aalis sila ngayon. And I doubt he'd leave the house, not when kaming dalawa lang ang nandito ngayon. Kuya Travis stepped out with Kuya Chris earlier. Si Kuya Jacob naman, doon sa condo ni Kuya Andrei matutulog. Kung bakit ay hindi ko alam.

"'Di naman."

"Then why...?"

"Why am I here?" Mathev finished and stepped away from me, his smile widening, "Bakit? 'Di mo ko na-miss? Ako, na-miss kita!" He side-hugged me again, "Kaya iinom tayo!"

Pinagmasdan ko siyang mabuti. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa idea na posibleng 'di na siya nagtatampo sa 'kin. "You seem drunk, Mathe."

"Gags, hindi. Ayoko lang magpaka-awkward sa 'yo. We were never awkward, yeah? Nagsasawa na akong hindi ka makulit kaya heto. I finally gave in," sabi niya at pinisil ang ilong ko.

Was I hearing this right? Was this him making amends?

Due to my lack of response, the smile on his lips faded. "Unless may gagawin ka? May lakad ka ba?"

"Wala naman," nagmamadali kong sagot, umuusbong na rin ang ngiti sa labi. Oh, my God. "Wait. Tatawagin ko lang si Kuya Andrei. Kaso wala dito yung iba, a. Kaming dalawa lang."

"Okay na 'yon. I invited others anyway." Tumawa siya at lumapit sa hagdanan. "Andrei, get your ass down here! Geon and Steel will be here in twenty!"

It took a full minute before the door to my brother's room opened and out he went, peeking a head around the staircase to look down at us.

"What the hell do you want?" Kuya Andrei grumbled. His hair was disheveled. Parang naistorbo yata namin ang tulog niya.

"Gago, mag-ayos ka. Party time, dude!" Mathev laughed, raising the liquor in his hand.

A grin was on my face now. "I'll fix us something to eat. Wait there na lang," sabi ko sabay turo ng sala.

"Yes, boss!" sumaludo si Mathev at naglakad papunta sa bar para kumuha ng mga baso. Ako naman, halos kumaripas ng takbo papunta sa kitchen. I was giddy. Hoshet. Totoo ba 'to? It was just one cousin but it was a progress, right? If he could forgive and forget, sigurado akong may chance din na maayos ko pa yung sa iba.