Oof 10

Nagkatinginan ang magkapatid. Kahit na parehas nanlilisik ang mga mata nila at halos wala ng makita sa sobrang singkit nila, alam nila that there’s that vibe to unspoken tension.

“Go, you know where to find her.” Natauhan na sabi ni Minhyuk. Never naman talaga siyang violent kahit kanino. Ni hindi nga niya hinahayaan na hawakan ng ibang tao ang hibla ng buhok ni Seulgi. Ganun ang pagiging protective niya sa kapatid. Pero he lost his cool. Siguro nadala na rin lang ng emosyon.

Dali-daling kinuha ni Seulgi yung car key at phone niya sa table. Nawala bigla yung sakit ng sapak sa kanya ng kuya niya with the mention of their mom. Naglakad siya nang mabilis hanggang makarating siya sa kanyang kotse. She started the engine of the car at bago pa siya makaalis sa parking, biglang may kumatok sa window.

Binaba ni Seulgi yung window ng kotse.

“Oh, eto.” Sabay abot ni Minhyuk ng ice pack na galing kay Sooyoung.

“Kala ko ba galit ka?” Inabot ni Seulgi yung binibigay sa kanya at dinampi sa namamagang pisngi.

Umikot si Minhyuk sa kabilang side ng kotse at binuksan ito. Umupo na lang siya sa passenger seat. “Umuwi ka na, Seul.” Pagmamakaawa nito.

“Kuya, you know I can’t.” Sabi lang ni Seulgi habang ninanamnam yung lamig ng yelo. In a way, napawi na yung mahapding feeling.

“Wala kang dapat patunayan. Basta umuwi ka na lang. I know you see things differently. But this is how business is ran. Even dad asked me to bring you home.” Narealize ni Minhyuk nae to talaga ang difference nilang magkapatid. Si Seulgi talaga yung black sheep sa kanilang dalawa.

“He wanted me out, kuya.” Naluluhang sabi ni Seulgi. “It’s still ringing in my ears. Paulit-ulit. Wala raw akong kwentang anak when all I did was point out what the Parks did. Ginugulangan nila tayo.” Medyo tumaas na sagot ni Seulgi. Di niya talaga gustong magpatalo. She has a point, she will have it her way.

“Dad and I know. Pero we can’t just oust them out. They own a lot of shares in our company. If you don’t come home, tayo ang mawawalan. Just apologize to them.” Patuloy na pagpapaliwanag ni Minhyuk.

“So, this is about business.” Suminghal si Seulgi. “Dad doesn’t really mean for me to come home. You don’t really mean for me to come home.”

“No, Seul. Don’t get me wrong. I want you back in the house. I know you didn’t do anything wrong.” Minsan talaga napupuno na rin si Minhyuk. With the he and Seulgi has, di talaga maiintindihan ng kapatid niya kung gaano kahirap maging conglomerate runner after ng college. “Pero in life, the first to get their pride down is the one who always wins. Kahit na ikaw pa yung tama.”

Natahimik bigla si Seulgi. Kuya has a point.

“And I’m really sorry for punching you.”

Then it hit her. She knows how her kuya is. Di siya bine-baby nito. Him apologizing, is him letting his pride down. This is how her kuya teaches her things. And she really deserved that punch.

Patuloy lang nilapat ni Seulgi yung ice pack sa pisngi niya. “Okay lang si mommy?”

“Feeling ko nagpapa-awa effect yun para bumalik ka.” S