"Malayo pa ba, Kuya Jin?" Jeon asked for the nth time. Humikab din sya at hinintay ang sagot ni Kuya Jin.
"I told you to sleep, Jeoniel. Tatlong oras pa ang byahe, tingnan mo sila tulog na. Matulog ka na din," Kuya Jin answered while eating a strawberry flavored Stick-O while driving. I suddenly remembered his pink room. So, he really love color pink?
"Eh, pag natulog ako, mag isa ka nalang. Baka mabangga pa tayo kaya mananatili akong gising, sa ngalan nang kaligtasan!" Jeon said loudly pero napadaing sya nang batukan sya ni Parker na inaantok.
"Shut the fuck up," Parker said with his eyes closed. Natawa naman ako at bumaling kay V na nakasandal sa balikat ko at natutulog.
Kuya Jin told us na pupunta kami ngayon sa isang resort outside San Pedro. Nakita lang daw nila ni Erich online and they checked it at ayon, nagyaya si Erich. Of course, Kuya Jin couldn't say no. He asked us to pack our bags dahil tatlong araw daw kami doon. He even told me to invite my cousins at mabuti nalang, pumayag sila. Nakasakay sila sa isang sasakyan at kasama nila si Louie kaya excited ako ngayon. Aunt Jean couldn't come dahil may trabaho sya.
"Kuya Jin, may napapansin ka ba sa kapatid mo?" Jeon suddenly asked while munching a burger.
"Hm? Meron, ikaw ba? May napapansin ka?" Kuya Jin asked. Natigil si Jeon sa pagnguya at tumango.
"Napansin ko kasi na.." tumigil sya at uminom sa Delight na hawak nya. "Napansin ko na... mas gwapo na ako sakanya!" Napailing nalang ako sa pinagsasabi ni Jeon. I even saw Kuya Jin shook his head. Jeon laughed.
"Hindi. Seryoso na, Kuya. Napapansin ko kasi kay V na, dumadaldal na sya. He's smiling more often now at nagagawa na nyang makipagbiruan sa atin," Jeon said. I heard Kuya Jin hummed.
"Tama ka. He changed. He changed and we know who's the reason of that. I bet, pareho tayo nang nasa isip." Jeon nodded and raised a thumbs up.
"Starts with the letter L," Jeon said while wearing his wide smile. Napalingon ako kay V nang sumiksik sya sa leeg ko at hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sa akin.
"Leisheen, I know you're listening.." nabalik ang tingin ko kay Kuya Jin at nasalubong ang mata nya sa rearview. Napakagat labi naman ako at ngumiti.
"Salamat, Sheen. Thank you for coming to V's life. You changed him in a positive and bright way. I can still remember the time I told you to understand V if ever he'll show you his cold side pero, hindi ka nya nasigawan o nasungitan. Because of you, he can now smile and laugh genuinely. Sana manatili ka sa tabi nya and please, don't give up on my brother." He said at nanlambot ang puso ko dahil sa sinseridad nya. I smile and nodded at him before turning to look at V who's still sleeping.
Yes, Kuya Jin. I'll stay with him and will not give up on him.
Natapos ang tatlong oras na puro kwentuhan ang nangyari. Mostly, si Jeon ang nagkukwento at nagising nalang si Parker dahil sa ingay ni Jeon. Ginising ko si V dahil nandito na kami sa loob nang resort. He lift his head. Nakapikit pa ang mata nya at sumandal sa balikat ko.
"Andito na tayo?" Bulong nya kaya natigilan ako pero agad ding tumango.
"Baba na tayo, tara." Sabi ko at hinawakan sya para makababa. I saw Yuri's car behind Kuya Jin's kaya napangiti ako at hinintay ang paglabas nila. The car's door opened and the first one to come out is Ralph at sumunod si Kobi then, Yuri and my brother, Louie.
"Ate Sheen!" Louie ran to me when he saw me kaya saglit kong binitawan si V at sinalubong ang kapatid ko. I hugged him tight and kissed his cheeks.
"Hi, you're Leisheen's cousin?" I heard Kuya Jin asked. Nag angat ako nang tingin sa kanila habang hawak ang kamay ni Louie. Someone hold my other hand kaya nilingon ko iyon.
"Kasama pala yung pinsan mo," bulong sa akin ni V kaya napangiti ako at bumulong din sa kanya.
"This is your chance to apologize," sabi ko at natawa nang makita ang pagsimangot nya.
"Hello! I'm Kobi, pinsan ako ni Sheen!" Kobi exclaimed cheerfully at mukhang nagkasundo naman sila ni Parker. Ralph introduced himself and Yuri just nodded before turning to us. He smiled, amused.
"Hindi ba nangangagat yang katabi mo, Sheen?" Yuri asked, playfully. I laugh and turn to look at V who's just looking down.
Yuri step forward. Tinapatan nya si V habang nakangisi.
"Bakit nakayuko ka? Asan na yung lalaking mukhang sasapakin ako noon?" I smack Yuri's arm pero inilingan lang ko nang pinsan ko.
Nagsumiksik sa akin si V at humigpit ang kapit sa kamay ko.
"Uh, sorry.." he said. Natigilan si Yuri pati ang mga kasama namin while Louie is busy with his toy.
"Pardon?" Yuri asked and leaned forward. Itinapat nya ang tenga kay V at alam kong pinagti-tripan nya lang si V pero hindi ko sinaway. V looks like a little boy right now na handa na kapag pinagalitan.
"Sabi ko, sorry. Hindi ko alam na pinsan ka pala ni Leisheen." Dire-diretsong sambit ni V. Yuri chuckled and pat V's shoulder.
"Ibang iba ka ngayon, ah. Nung last na kita ko sayo, handa mo na akong sapakin pero ngayon, your lowering your pride. Inutusan ka ba ni Leisheen?" V immediately shook his head.
"No! I really want to say sorry to you," sabi nya. Namalayan ko nalang na inaakbayan na sya ni Yuri habang papasok kami sa resort. Hinayaan ko nalang sila at nagpahuli sa paglalakad.
"I like that guy for you," I turn and saw Ralph beside me. Nakangiti sya kaya lumabas ang dimples nya. I want to pinch his cheeks right now pero pinigilan ko.
"He looks like a good man. He even lowered his pride just to apologize to Kuya," sabi nya.
"Of course, maga-apologize sya. He felt guilty because he talked to Yuri rudely," sabi ko habang papasok kami. Naabutan ko sila sa isang side. Nagsilapagan sila nang gamit at naupo.
My cousin chuckled and shook his head.
"Do you really think a man can instantly lower his pride? No, my dear cousin. Ang mga lalaki, mataas ang pride pero sa nakikita ko, that guy lowered his pride because he knew that the guy he talked rudely to is your family. Why do you think he did that?" Kumunot naman ang noo ko dahil hindi ko sya na-gets.
"Nagsorry nga sya dahil nasungitan nya si Yuri," sabi ko.
"You know what? Yuri said that the guy, Parker told him that he teased that guy named Victorious by saying that you are with a man. He also said that Victorious abruptly stood up and cuts their conversation, isn't that rude also? But, why did he didn't apologize to the guy, Parker? Nasusungitan nya yung Parker pero hindi naman sya naga-apologize? Only he did apologize to Yuri when he knew that he's your cousin. Why is that?"
Sa dami nang sinabi nya, wala pa din akong naintindihan. Sumasakit lang ang ulo ko sa pag intindi.
"Alam mo, Ralph? Wala ako sa mood makipagdebate sayo. Alam mong mahina ako dyan." Sabi ko pero napasapo lang sya nang noo.
"Okay, eto. Try to understand me, okay?" He sighed. "That guy, Victorious got annoyed when that Parker told him about you with a guy.." he stopped when I raised my hand.
"Teka, how did you know that Parker teased him?" Kunot noong tanong ko.
"Nakwento ni Kuya. Kinwento daw sa kanya nung Parker nung bumalik sya doon para ibigay sayo yung cellphone mo. That Parker guy is talkative, huh?" He smiled and shook his head. "Anyway, as I was saying. Victorious got annoyed when he heard about you being with other guy who happens to be Kuya Yuri. Sinungitan nya si Kuya because hindi nya alam na pinsan mo pala, but when he knew about him being your cousin, he lowered his pride and apologize, which is very rare for a man. I mean, hindi ko naman sinasabi na lahat nang lalaki hindi marunong magsorry. It's just majority has a tough and high pride. So, ayon. He apologized immediately dahil nalaman nyang pinsan mo yung lalaking kasama mo."
Napabuntong hininga ako at wala pa ding naintindihan. Umiling ako at tinalikuran na sya.
"Wala akong na-gets, Ralph." Sabi ko at nagsimulang maglakad pero napahinto ako.
"In short, he's saying that Victorious likes you," napatingin ako sa gilid at nakita doon si Yuri na nakahalukipkip.
"Huh?" Naguguluhang tanong ko. V? Likes me? Napaka imposible!
"Kuya, ikaw nga kumausap dyan! Nakakabaliw mag explain!" Ralph said frustratedly and walked out.
"Hindi ko talaga ma-gets yung sinasabi nya," sabi ko. Yuri smiled and walk towards me.
"Hayaan mo na. Tara na, that possessive boy is looking for you," sabi nya at hinila na ako palapit sa iba.