His Jaded Heart

Drew Crossover. Jump. Breathe. Shoot. Score! Dribble. Fake Left. Bend knees, aim and shoot. Score! I can do this all day. Sniff sniff. Amoy inaamag na kanin sa lunchbox na ‘ko. Pero wala akong pakialam. Gusto ko ang pakiramdam na ganito, walang kahit anong inaalala. That's why I love shooting hoops. It takes my mind off every worry, insecurities, which I have a lot, and everything else that tends to drive me crazy. Masyado pa akong bata para mag-kawrinkles. It's not as if I can choose the types of problems na dumarating. Ano ‘yon, exam? Well, sometimes I wished it is. At least alam ko kung paano aatakihin ang problema kung ganoon nga. "Drew, time to go in." Napalingon ako sa pinanggagalingan ng boses. Nakapamaywang na si Kuya. Impatience clearly written all over his attractive face. Yes, my older brother is an eye-candy. Sometimes it hurts my eyes to just look at him. Alam n’yo kung bakit? Hindi kasi kami magkamukha. He took after our mom's side of the family, while I look like our dad. I’m not complaining though. Minsan lang it’s a lot of hassle, especially when girls learned that he's my older brother. Kinukulit nila ako to introduce them to him. Hello! I’m the sister. I’m not running a dating service. "Five minutes 'Ya," I quipped. Napailing si Kuya. Uh-oh. I’m not getting my requested extension. "Knowing you brat, five minutes is an hour. I’m not hearing any of it. Drop that ball or suffer my wrath." Alam ko fake lang yung banta niya, I know my brother too well. Nevertheless, I decided not to push it. "Hindi mo na lang sana ako tinuruan magbasketball. Hmp! KJ mo," kunwari ay nagdadabog na binitiwan ko ang bola at lumakad papunta sa kanya. When I reached him, he put out a hand at ginulo ang pawis kong buhok. Wala siyang sinabi. He just opened the screen door leading to our kitchen and ushered me inside. Dumiretso ako sa fridge at kumuha ng maiinom. I didn't realize I’m near dehydration. Geez! The things I fail to notice kapag nagba-basketball. Halfway through the contents of my glass, napansin kong nakatingin si Kuya sa akin. It bothered me because he’s looking at me in a weird way. "What?" tanong ko. Napabuntung-hininga siya bago umupo sa isang silya malapit sa kitchen counter. "Have you ever thought of dating?" walang kaabug-abog na tanong niya sa akin. "Kuya!" Muntik ko nang maibuga sa mukha niya ang iniinom ko. "What? It's just a harmless question. Why does it bother you? Is the idea of dating that horrible para mag-react ka nang ganyan?" Inubos ko ang iniinom ko at ibinalik sa lalagyan ang pitsel ng malamig na tubig. Ipinatong ko sa kitchen counter ang nagamit kong baso at nakiupo na rin. I don't like where this conversation is heading. But it's about time to really make my brother understand my stand about the issue. "Kuya, I just turned nineteen a few days ago. Hindi ako bothered with the idea of dating. It's just that it's weird coming from you. Why are you guys so adamant na makipag-date ako? ‘Yong iba d’yan, pinagbabawalan muna unless they finish school. Bakit kayo nina dad at mom mukhang may sapak sa utak? Kulang na lang ipagduldulan ninyo ako sa mga anak ng mga kaibigan ninyo eh." "So why aren't you dating nga? Kids your age tumatakas pa sa parents para lang makipag-date. Are you even normal?" Trust my brother to see the abnormality of the situation. Ewan ko ba. Ibang hurnuhan ‘ata ang pinagmoldehan ni Lord sa kapatid at mga magulang ko. "I’m not like those kids you know, Kuya. Mali bang mag-enjoy muna ako with my current relationship status?" "Hindi naman. Nagkataon lang na ‘yong relationship na sinasabi mo ay parang red Ferrari mo." "I dont have a red Ferrari." "Exactly my point." Ngiting-aso ang kuya ko. Grrr. Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin. I suddenly lost track of what I’m about to say. Hindi ko na mahagilap ang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya about sa dating issue na kinukulit nila ng mga magulang namin sa akin. "Seriously Drew, pag-isipan mo. Mom and Dad are getting worried kaya nila ako kinausap kagabi. Baka sakali raw i-consider mo at makinig ka sa akin. Aside from being me being your devastatingly handsome older brother, we are tight. Right?" I couldn’t resist the eye roll at the devastatingly handsome s**t he spewed. "Di ko alam kung ano'ng ikina-woworry nina mom at dad. Hindi ba sila natutuwa? Imbes na lumandi ako, aral lang ginagawa ko at basketball." Tumutulis na nguso ko. "And that's exactly what worries them. Aminin mo nga sa akin Andrea, tomboy ka ba?" "No! Babaeng babae po ako. Kakainsulto naman ang tanong mo Kuya Bernard!" "Good. Kung bakit ba kasi puro lalaki mga kaibigan mo. I am not complaining though, your friends are my friends too. At alam kong ipaglalaban ka ng p*****n ng mga ‘yon. If there's anything I am thankful for, it is the fact that they are as protective of you as your own family." There's nothing wrong with your eyes. Tama ang basa mo, I am a girl. They just call me Drew. Na pakana ng mga kaibigan ko. You see, sa neighborhood namin when I was small, sunod ako nang sunod kay Kuya Bernard. My brother is a year older than me so we grew up pretty tight. Dahil wala naman akong choice eh, siya lang ang kalaro ko. Kung saan siya magpunta, kabuntot niya ako. And it’s the constant reason why he's always frustrated. Dalawa lang kasi kaming magkapatid, and our parents entrusted me to him whenever they are not around. Which, is almost always because they’re both working. I was like this little baggage my brother has no choice but to carry around with him. Somewhere along the way, his friends became my friends too. And since I am officially included in their circle, they started calling me Drew instead of Andrea. The name stuck. At dala-dala ko hanggang paglaki lalo and pangalang ‘yon. Lalo na at kami-kami pa rin ang magkakasama over the years. They taught me every game and every trick boys play. Suffice to say, I grew up as a tomboy sa paningin ng marami at mga hindi nakakakilala sa akin. Don’t get me wrong. I like things that normal girls like. I even had crushes, sikreto nga lang. ‘Yon lang, instead na volleyball or whatever sport normal girls engage in, nasa basketball ang puso ko. I play hoops with my friends kapag walang pasok or any free time we can afford. And speaking of friends, here they come. All in their sweaty and smelly glory like me. First one who came in was Troy, best friend ni Kuya Bernard. They were of the same height, but Troy was lean built. My big brother was loud, Troy was the exact opposite. Hindi masalita, laging tahimik. Madalas napapagkamalan siyang suplado because matipid siyang ngumiti. But when he does, damn! Makalaglag underwear. He's the most protective of all, tinalo pa si Kuya. "Hey, brat." Umupo si Troy sa tapat ko. Ginulo rin niya ang buhok ko kagaya ng ginawa ni Kuya kanina. "Amoy panis ka na naman. Ligo na." "Sarili mo ang naamoy mo, Troy, mas pawis ka kaysa sa akin." Inamoy din ni Troy ang sarili. His nose wrinkled. "Nah. I still smell good. That's probably Jeff you're smelling." "Na-ah, not me either. Si Conrad ‘yon." Kasunod ni Troy si Jeff na pumasok. Jeff is the one with an easy smile and sunny disposition sa grupo aside from Kuya Bernard. He's the one who can talk sense sa sino man sa kanila when no one can. Si Conrad ay nahinto sa may pinto, nasa cellphone nito ang atensyon. Nakita kong nakasunod din si Gene at inuusyoso ang cellphone na hawak ni Conrad. Conrad is the cute nerdy type minus the glasses. He traded his thick glasses to contacts when he turned fifteen. Siya ang madalas kong pagtanungan at hingian ng tulong when it comes to school stuff. He's a gentle soul, walang masamang tinapay sa kanya. He's well-liked sa school and he has his own number of girl followers. And Gene? Well, he's The Gene. Eugenio Imperial is an ultimate playboy, enough said. Diretso si Jeff sa fridge at kinuha and pitsel ng tubig. Sanay na sila sa bahay naming. Over the years of coming and going in that same kitchen is more than enough to breed familiarity. Kusina naming ang naging unofficial hang-out ng barkada. Kung bakit sa kusina? It’s because our mom is a fantastic cook. Since masisiba ang mga kaibigan namin ni Kuya, natural kusina ang pinakapaborito nilang parte ng bahay namin. "Saan kayo galing at ang babaho nyo?" Napalingon kaming lahat sa pinto. Mom, the kitchen goddess. I saw the looks that passed between my friends. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti. As if on cue, sabay-sabay silang lumapit lahat kay Mommy and enveloped her in a sweaty hug. "Yuck! Pawis pa kayo!" "We love you Tita, puwede na ba naming matikman ang mabangong lasagna na naamoy namin?" si Gene. "Find yourselves a girl na kasing-galing ko magluto nang hindi kayo masyadong deprived." "Do you have young cousins perhaps who's half as good as you, Tita? Pakilala mo sa akin," pa-cute na naman itong si Jeff. "Wala," natatawang sagot ni Mommy. "So hindi pa ako magkaka-girlfriend, wala akong mahanap na kasing galing n’yo sa kusina," kumindat pa ang damuhong Jeff sa Mommy ko. "Kung nagkataong maaga kang ipinanganak iho, baka sakaling nagtagpo tayo." "Eww...Mom!" sabay naming bulalas ni Kuya Bernard na ikinatawa naman ng nga tao sa paligid namin. Except Troy. The mirth in his eyes is evident but the most he managed was a slight lift in the corner of his mouth. "What?" Tatawa-tawa pa si Mommy. "Just eww...I can't imagine him," sabay nguso ko kay Jeff, "as our father." "Who said siya ang naging ama ninyo kung sakali? All I ever said was we could have met." "Oo nga naman, meeting is different from marrying," si Jeff. "Sipsip! Bigyan mo na nga ‘yan ng malamon 'My, nang matigil na," ani Kuya Bernard. "You're no fun at all," reklamo ni Jeff at bumaling sa Mommy namin. "Are they really the fruit of your loins, Tita? They didn't inherit even an ounce of your coolness." "They took from their father," sakay naman ni Mommy. "That explains why." Tumango-tango pa si Jeff. "Narinig ko ‘ata na nabanggit ako?" Napalingon kaming lahat sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Naroon si Dad, nakahalukipkip na nakasandal sa may hamba ng pinto. Hindi ko alam kung gaano na katagal doon si Daddy. "Yes hon, tinatanong kasi ni Jeff kung saan nagmana itong mga anak mo. Hindi raw kasi nila namana ang pagiging cool ko," tatawa-tawang paliwanag ni Mommy. Nagsasalin siya ng lasagna ang mga platitong nakapatong sa ibabaw ng mesa. Matiyaga naman kaming nag-antay na matapos ang butihing ginang sa ginagawa. Ayaw na ayaw ng Mommy ko na hindi kami sabay-sabay na kumakain. ‘Pag nagtitipon-tipon kami, dapat sabay kaming dumulog sa lamesa. Our friends are no exemption. Her kitchen, her rules. Abide by her rules or starve. "Hindi rin sa akin, cool din ako eh. Sa lolo nila nagmana yan, kay Papa Eugenio." Lumapit sa cupboard si Daddy at kumuha rin ng platito at inilapag sa lamesa. "Kasing kill joy nina Drew at Bernard ang Lolo Eugene nila. Kaya if you ask me, doon sila nagmana." "Sige, pagpasa-pasahan nyo kung kanino kami nagmana," pakli ko habang tulis ang nguso. "Tama na nga iyan. Hala, kain na kayo at magsiligo. Ang babaho n’yo." Lukot ang mukha ni Mommy at inamoy-amoy pa ang katabing si Conrad. "Kids, may lemonade sa fridge. Just help yourselves at gusto ko nang masolo itong aking napakagandang girlfriend. Kayo na ang bahalang magligpit dito." Taas-baba ang kilay ni Dad habang nakaakbay ang isang braso sa balikat ni Mommy. "Tara hon, dun tayo sa patio." "Thanks Tito, kami na po ang bahala. Salamat sa lasagna Tita," halos chorus ng apat na binata. "Dig in guys. Bago pa lumamig," sabi ni Kuya Bernard. Hindi na nagdalawang-salita si Kuya Bernard. Bago pa man niya matapos ang sinasabi, kanya-kanyang pulot ng platito ang magugulo naming kaibigan. Si Troy ay hinintay na makakuha ang lahat bago kumuha ng para sa sarili. Napangiti na lang ako sa sarili ko habang pinapanood sila. This. Not everyone has this kind of friends. I would never trade it for anything in this world.