James

*Alec's POV*

"Can I trust him?"

I don't want to.

"I don't know, love." Sagot niya. "Ang dami na kasing nagbago simula nung naaksidente siya. Hindi natin alam kung anong gagawin niya."

"I'm not sure if I can, love." Sabi ko. "You saw what happened nung nakita natin silang magkasama. Umiiyak yung kapatid ko."

I don't want to see her that way again.

"I can't even tell you to trust him, Alec. Kasi kahit ako, I don't know if I could." She said. "Kahit kapatid ko siya, ayaw ko naring masaktan si Theia."

"Kinausap ba siya ni Tita that day?" Tanong ko. "Maybe there's a reason why he's doing this."

"She did." Sagot niya. "She talked to him pagkauwing pagkauwi namin."

"What happened?"

"We're persuaded him to atleast give her a chance."

"Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko, love." I sighed. "I want to push him away pero alam kong hindi yun gugustuhin ni Theia."

Kahit napag-usapan na namin, ayoko paring pumayag sa gusto niya.

"If he's going to do what we asked, then let's give him a chance as well, love." Naomi suggested. "Wala namang mawawala."

Merong mawawala, love.

Baka mawala sa'tin si Theia.

"Love, we can't let them end like this."

I know..

"I'll think about it."

"Thank you, love."

I hang up.

Should I trust him? Can I trust him?

If he breaks her heart at hindi niya kinaya, we will really lose her.

Binaba ko yung phone sa mesa at pumasok sa banyo. I took a shower to clear my head. I needed to think straight.

I was on my way to Theia's room nung lumabas si Charm.

"Good morning, Kuya!" She greeted with a smile.

I tried to smile back but maybe I failed kasi nawala rin yung ngiti niya.

"May problema ba?"

I don't think mauubos yung problema.

I shook my head. "Gising na ba siya?"

"Uh.. parang hindi pa. Ayaw niya bumangon nung ginising ko siya."

"She needs to wake up."

"Why? Is everything okay, Kuya?"

"Yes, Charm." I smiled at her. "Let's have breakfast. Tatawagin ko lang siya."

I waited for her to go down bago ko buksan yung pintuan. Theia was still lying on her bed. May nakapatong pang unan sa mukha niya.

I was about to take the pillow from her face when she suddenly sat up habang nakapikit pa.

"Charm naman!" She said. "Gising na ko oh. Ito na, nakaupo na."

"Sabi na nga ba hindi mo ko titigilan hangga't hindi pa ko bumabangon."

I was trying hard not to laugh.

"Gising na pero nakapikit parin?"

"Kuya??" Napamulat siya agad. "Ikaw pala yan. Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi?"

"Paano ko sasabihin kung ang dami mo nang sinabi pagpasok ko?" I raised one eyebrow at her.

"Sorry. Si Charm kasi, kilala mo naman yun." Sabi niya habang inaayos yung buhok niya. "She won't leave without making sure na gising na talaga ako."

"I know."

Human alarm clock yun si Charm e.

"Oo nga pala, Kuya. Bakit ka nandito?" Tanong niya. "Ang aga aga nasa kwarto na kita."

I can't help but smile. "Why? May required time ba kung kailan lang ako dapat nasa kwarto mo?"

"You know that's not what I meant." She smiled back. "Tuwing nandito ka, hindi maganda yung dahilan at nangyari."

Natahimik ako bigla.

I suddenly regretted coming to her room.

"Am I right? May nangyari ba?"

Hindi ako makasagot agad.

"Kuya. Look at me." She said and I obliged. "Tell me."

"I wasn't supposed to tell you anything.." I began. "Pero pinipilit mo ko."

"Wait. First of all, ikaw kaya yung nandito sa kwarto ko. Ikaw ang unang pumunta." Sabi crossed her arms. "So, balak mo talagang sabihin sa'kin regardless kung ano man yan."

"Because it concerns you."

"Iiyak nanaman ba ako?"

"I hope you won't." I whispered. "Pwede mo munang pag isipan kung gusto mong malaman o hindi."

Before I could even count to 2 nag thumbs up na siya agad.

"Tell me."

"Alright." I took a deep breath. "Look outside your window."

I know I'll regret telling her.

***

I got downstairs and saw him sitting on the sofa. Tumayo siya nung nakita ako.

"Kuya Alec."

"James." I said. "Pwede ba kitang makausap saglit?"

Nung nakalabas kami ng bahay, umupo siya sa may doorstep habang ako, nakatayo lang.

"Pwede ko bang tanungin kung bakit ka ulit nandito?"

"Mama talked to me." Sabi niya habang nakatingin sa malayo. "They asked me to give her a chance."

"A chance to what? To remember her?"

"Kuya--"

"You can stop calling me Kuya. We both know na naiilang ka." Sabi ko. "You don't have to push yourself."

"Hindi ko alam kung paano, pero tama ka." Sabi niya ng nakatingin sa'kin. "I remember calling you that way. I remember Manang. I don't even know why pero pati yung bahay niyo pamilyar sa'kin. Gulong gulo rin ako."

"Let's make this clear okay?" I said. "It's okay if you don't want to do this. Ayaw kong mapilitan ka sa kanya dahil kay Tita."

"Yes, gusto ni Mama na gawin ko 'to." Sagot niya. "Pero pinag-isipan kong maigi and I've decided to try."

"I don't want her to get hurt." I said. "Please bare that in mind."

He didn't answer.

"Sorry dahil nasapak kita."

I knew that was wrong at kailangan kong magsorry.

"I'm sorry I made her cry." He said. "Hindi ko maipapangako na hindi na siya iiyak habang kasama niya ko pero susubukan ko."

Susubukan niya.

That will help, right?

"You can call me Nathan again, Kuya." He smiled.

Sa mga sinasabi at kinikilos niya, feeling ko siya na ulit yung dating Nathan.

But I can't be fooled.

"I'll think about it."

This same guy made her cry.

"Are you sure about this? You can still back out habang hindi ka pa niya nakikita."

Hindi ko na mapipigilan na umasa siya kapag nakita ka niya.

"I'm not sure about anything." Bulong niya. "I still don't know what I'm doing here but I'll go for it."

"Let's go inside. They might be wondering kung nasaan na tayo."

Tama ka kaya ng desisyon, Alec?

******