Inilapag ko ang mga baso sa mesa pati ang pitsel nang juice. Louie excitedly went near me kaya agad kong sinalinan ang baso nya nang juice. Ralph went to him and guided him in drinking. Masyado kasing excited eh, nagkanda tapon na yung juice.
"Ako na, maupo ka na," Ralph said kaya tumango ako at naupo na sa upuan katabi ni Kobi. He immediately smile at me and I can't help but to smile back.
"Kumusta ka, Leisheen?" He asked and sips on his juice. I smiled at him and leaned on the sofa.
"Ayos lang naman. Ikaw ba? Wala ka pa din bang girlfriend?" I asked and he immediately frown making me laugh.
"Ayoko pang magka-girlfriend. I'm only 26. I'm still young," he said. I saw Yuri shaking his head kaya natawa nanaman ako.
"Ang sabihin mo, ayaw mo pang magpatali kasi gusto mo pang mambabae," Yurinard said kaya natawa nanaman ako. Kobi glared at his older brother na tinawanan lang sya.
"Shut up, Kuya. Bakit, ikaw? May girlfriend ka? Wala, diba? Kaya wag kang mang asar dyan. You're 28 already pero wala ka pa ding girlfriend man lang" Kobi spit back pero inilingan lang sya nang kapatid.
I turned to Ralph na nakikipaglaro kay Louie. He seems to notice my stare kaya sya lumingon.
"Ikaw ba, Ralph? May girlfriend ka na?" I asked.
He was taken aback pero agad ding umiling. Iniwas nya ang tingin sa amin at kitang kita ang pamumula nang tenga. Napalingon naman ako kay Yuri nang matawa sya.
"Sheen, our baby brother is still NGSB. Wag mo namg tanungin yan," I just nod and proceed to eat the snacks Auntie made before she left to work.
The brothers stayed until evening kaya may kasama kami habang wala si Auntie. Yuri cooks for our dinner while Kobi was stucked infront of the TV, he seems fascinated on the show he's watching. Ralph and Louie is outside at ako naman, tinutulungan si Yuri.
"I heard what Mama said earlier, Sheen," he suddenly said kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. He stopped stirring what's on the pot and turn to face me. He stared at my eyes with seriousness.
"Narinig ko ang nangyayari about sa paga-apply mo nang trabaho," he said. Napakagat labi ako ay napaiwas nang tingin. Pakiramdam ko, isa akong bata na nahuli na may ginagawa but, I know, Yuri is just concern and I appreciate that.
"You know their reason. Yung mukha ko. They can't accept me because of my scar. Like, anong mali sa mukha ko? Hindi naman sila mahahawa nito. Bakit hindi ako matanggap? Dahil sa peklat sa mukha ko? I'm really frustrated pero wala naman akong mapagbuntungan. Wala akong dapat sisihin kasi aksidente naman ang lahat! Hindi ko na alam! Palagi nalang ako nahuhusgahan agad!" I shouted and tears fell on my eyes. Yuri's arms embraced me kaya lalo akong naiyak.
Every time na maga-apply ako, people would stare at ne and by their stares, I know that they're judging me. Naniwala ako na matatanggap ako dahik sa kredibilidad ko pero hindi ko alam na basehan pala ang itsura sa pagkakaroon nang trabaho.
"Sige, ilabas mo iyang frustration o kung ano man ang kinikimkim mo. You said na wala kang mapagbuntungan? Here, ibuntong mo sa'kin. Sabihin mo lahat," Yuri's word made me sob louder. I clutch on his shirt and sob.
"D-dahil sa mga panghuhusga nang tao.. n-natatakot na ako. Takot na akong lumabas man lang dahil kung itrato at tingnan ako nang mga tao, p-para akong may nakakahawang sakit..." I sobbed. "Ano bang mali sa akin? Y-yung peklat ko ba na s-sanhi nang aksidenteng naranasan ko noon? D-dahil ba dito, hindi na ako matatanggap nang mga tao?" He pulled away and cupped my face. His hands is touching the rough skin on my face.
"Sheen, listen to me. You shouldn't let people's judgment stop you from what you want to do. We're here. Kung hindi ka nila kayang tanggapin, nandito kami. Ako, si Mama, si Ralph, si Kobi at lalo na si Louie. You told me that you're working very hard for him, right?" I nodded and wipe my tears. He smiled and kissed my forehead. "Then, let Louie be your inspiration to move forward. Don't let other people drag you down. Wala kang tinatapakang tao kaya wala kang dapat ikatakot, okay?"
My heart swelled in happiness hearing Yuri's words. He's like a brother to me. Noon pa lang, noong maliit pa ako, he takes care of me and I always love him for that. When that accident happened, almost a year ago, Yuri is the first one to run to the hospital and see me. I still remember his expression back then.
Yuri is a kind of guy who's tough. A cold one and doesn't mind other people pero ang Yuri na nakita ko noon, puno nang takot at pag aalala and that made me realized how soft-hearted he is.
"Bakit may meeting kayo dyan na hindi kami kasama?" I turned around and saw Kobi with Ralph and Louie. My brother run to me and tug my sleeves kaya naupo ako para maging kapantay nya.
I was stunned when he caress my cheeks. The rough skin part of my right cheek, to be exact.
"Ate, umiyak ka nanaman po ba?" His soft voice made me teared up.
When I woke up after the accident, I'm afraid to go near Louie dahil akala ko, matatakot sya sa akin. Akala ko matatakot sya sa natamo kong sugat sa mukha but instead, the first thing he did is to climb up my bed and hug me.
Doon palang, sobrang swerte ko na at ramdam ko ang pagmamahal nila sa akin. Yuri is right. Hindi man ako tanggap nang ibang tao, hinuhusgahan man nila ako but there are still people who accepts and loves me.
Yuri, Kobi, Ralph, Auntie and Louie. The people who's important in my life.
I shook my head and kissed Louie's forehead.
"Hindi umiyak si Ate, napuwing lang ako dahil sa hinihisang sibuyas ni Kuya Yuri mo," I said and smiled. I stood up and met Kobi and Ralph's gaze. I know that they know that I lied but they understand it.
Louie is still a child at ayokong malaman nya ang mga problema ko. He should be enjoying his childhood. I'll deal with my issues with the help of the people around me.