Bro came one afternoon a week after Tzu paid me a visit. Nagbakasyon kasi sya sa Zamboanga and visited a few family relatives there.

He spotted me at the living room, studying for the week's incoming exams. Ayoko namang maging kulelat sa classes at di naman sa pagmamalaki, I was always chosen to lead a team during groupings. Pati sa recitations, I always get picked. Yet, I never ever have any confidence in me, that one thing too that I have been trying hard to master but at most times, fail at. Muka lang akong di seryoso sa life pero in truth, I take things seriously especially those that are close to my heart. At isa na din dun si Baechu. Ayyy naku, ito ata yung isang bagay na dala-dala ko deep within me na never dapat malaman ni Tzu because I know for sure she's not gonna like it and worst, she would definitely get hurt.

"Pumunta daw si Tzuyu dito? Bakit nagawi sya dito?"

He knows then madalang lang naglalabas labas ng bahay si Tzu at hindi yan nagpupunta ng bahay ng kahit nino if it's not even important or school related.

I stopped writing and looked at him, trying to watch his facial expression closely.  Blank. Di ko mabasa. 

"my hinatid lang saka about sa previous school namin. Mga ganong bagay. Saka kinumusta din ako kasi di na kami nagkita for a few days."

"Ahh..ganon ba? Yun lang?" 

Not sure if he wants to know if Tzu ever asked about him, yoko din itanong kasi baka din malulungkot din ako if sinabi nyang oo. Kahit papano eh pamilya ko pa din sya. Foolish Heart playing at the background, imaginarily right now. (Bro, mapatawad mo sana tong kapatid mong siraulo.)

Tumango ako. And he didn't stay long saying he has things to do. Nalulungkot ako. Para sa kanya. Haist!

I decided to see babe tonight. She was doing the laundry when I went to her house to surprise her. Nagiging habit ata ng babaeng to ang maglaba pag gabi, may lahing owl din to kasi madalas natatapos sya na malalim na ang gabi at di naman inaantok. 

"Need help?" I asked, while taking a seat, eyes still on her. 

She looked at me surprised. Then smiled. "wag na baka magkasugat pa yung kamay mong mukang bihirang mababad sa mga labahin. Makonsyensya pako saka mga pambahay lang to ng mga kapatid ko."

"Eh yung mga damit ko, kelan mo lalabhan? Wifeys should always do the laundry for their hubbys!"

She laughed at that. "if only I could. Ayaw ko din naman nahihirapan ka. Teka, Babe, ang bilis mo naman ata about jan sa wifeys and hubbys. Haha. Porket pina-123 yung pagnakaw mo ng puso ko ah! Saan ka ba pinaglihi, Babe?" 

"tanong mo kay real-mom in law mo!" 

Nagtawanan kame. Sino ba naman mag-aakala, yung 10th grade girl na stranger na hiniraman ko ng bolpen out of nowhere, magiging girlfriend ko pala. The girl whom my brother seriously fell for. I took a deep breath, removing that thoughts off my head for now. Guilt. Mahirap kalabanin. 

Gusto ko man syang tulungan kahit magsampay lang, kanina pa nya ko pinipigilan. Nasa labas kami ng bahay, may mga tao din mangilan ngilan ang dumadaan, yung iba may mga dala-dalang grocery.

I gave up. I stared at her each moment I could, maganda nga talaga si Tzu ko, natural na maganda hindi trying hard. Habang busy sya nagsasampay, heard voices of 2 people talking nearby, at kahit hirap akong irecognize yung voice my heart was jumping all the might it could, so fastly, upon hearing the other person say : "hay naku, Hyun...sabi ko na sayo diba?"

Napalingon ako sa kanila na nasa may likuran lang na mga 2-3 metro ang layo mula samin. I stopped and stared at the other girl's back. Kahit nakatalikod yan, ang ganda-ganda parin ni Baechu. She has this shinny long black hair and that even more makes her back side gorgeous.(Bae....Bae...Seul's one and only Baechu.. - I hear myself say inside.)

I knew right then that I have been carrying this longing for her for such a long time. And seeing her a few inches away, makes the beating of my heart seem louder, nakakabingi. Like in a flash of light, it's like there isn't anybody else existing, but me and her right now. She undeniably still has this kind of effect on me, obviously.

Oh God, I missed her. So much. Taguan, nagtatago nga talaga ako ng feelings for her, kay Tzu. And this, I know is never right.