Kuya 01

Iritang nakaupo ngayon si Klint sa swivel chair. Nakatutok ang mga mata nito sa harapan ng kaniyang monitor habang naghihintay ng notification sa kaniyang email messages. He was waiting for an update a while ago, and as time passed, irritation began to form inside him as he clinch the mouse he was holding.

Ilang sandali pa ay mayroong tumunog galing sa kaniyang emails, an indication that there was a new message. He was about to check it by clicking the right section of the mouse when a soft knock interrupted his action, causing him to turn around toward the door of his room.

Napakunot ang noo nito at napasigaw. "Bakit?!"

Klint was thinking the person knocking on his door must be Manang Aleng. Aside kasi sa kaniya, 'yung iba niyang kasama rito sa bahay ay minsa'y hindi na kumakatok at dumidiretso nang pumapasok sa loob. They would enter his room left unattended.

Klint waited for a response.

Marahan na bumukas ang pintuan at bumungad roon ang mukha ng kaniyang nakakabatang kapatid. It produced a creaking sound as he slowly opened it, fitting only his head through the slight ajar door. He stopped opening the door midway and only showed his face through the crack as he awkwardly looked at Klint, a hint of shyness becoming visible underneath his rounded eyes.

He lowered his voice and asked. "Kuya, busy ka?"

Nang malamang kapatid lang pala iyon ni Klint, the frown on his face loosened as he changed the tone of his voice, responding softly with a smile. "Medyo. What's up?"

His younger brother would never knock on his door unless it was a matter that requires full attention. Pansamantala muna niyang isinantabi ang kaniyang inisiip at ibinaling ang atensyon sa kaniyang kapatid.

His younger brother looked pass by Klint's shoulder and noticed he seems to be doing his work. Nakapamot ito ng kaniyang braso at nahihiyang nagsalita. "Ah, wala. Later nalang if hindi ka na busy."

Klint slightly turned his head as he cast a glance to the monitor. Nang malamang message lang pala iyon ng app advertisement, ibinaling niya ang tingin sa kaniyang kapatid na isasara na sana ang pintuan at aalis.

"Teka, may problema ba?" Pagpigil nito.

His younger brother stopped and turned around.

Klint tried to suppress the irritation inside him as he said in a soft voice. "Hindi naman masyadong busy si kuya ngayon. May hinihintay lang akong response galing sa client ko regarding doon sa commission fees ng artwork niya. Makakapaghintay naman 'to, bakit, urgent ba ang sasabihin mo sa akin?"

After hearing Klint's response, his brother's eyes lit up.

"Really?" There was a hint of hope in his voice as his eyes brightened. Pumasok ito sa pintuan at naglakad patungo sa p'westo ng kaniyang nakakatandang kapatid.

The interior design of Klint's room can be considered as only a normal room, but its size was big. Nakadikit ang kaniyang malaking higaan sa kaliwang gilid ng puting pader sa dulo. Kapag mayroon papasok sa kaniyang kwarto, ang una agad makikita ay ang higaan nito.

Beside his bed, there was his personal computer that he often use when messaging his clients. One would only see his back upon looking at the viewpoint of the door. Klint needed to turn his head around if there was a knock behind him.

There was a drobe attached on the left side of the wall and other essential things. There was also an another door inside his room that would lead for his own bathroom and comfort room.

He has a separate room for his workspace and that is located just across his room. Doon siya nag-trabaho at gumagawa ng commissions from his clients.

Seeing the slight anticipation on his brother's face, Klint's irritation seem to vanish. "Yes."

He then controlled the mouse as he closed the window of an email site, bringing it back to the gothic wallpaper of his computer. He asked. "So, ano ang kailangan mo kay kuya?"

His younger brother, Klein, is a tall teenager measuring up to 5 foot and 9 inches. He was currently dressed in a white oversized shirt that could reach up to his legs, hiding beneath his black boxer short. He was wearing a pair of white socks that reached below his knees. His pale white skin compliments the clothe he wore, and from his style as of this moment, he looks so loose and comfortable.

Klint strode forward, appearing to be hesitant. Taking a deep breath, he said, almost a whisper one couldn't properly hear it. "Huwag mong sasabihin kay mama ang sasabihin ko."

Fortunately, malakas ang pandinig ni Klint kaya narinig niya ang sinabi ng kaniyang kapatid.

Finally taking his courage, he mumbled beneath his quivering voice. "P'wede……. mo ba akong samahan magpacheck-up?"

Kitang-kita sa kaniyang mga mata ang pagkahiya at pagkakaba.

Klint's face turned sour as he stared at Klein. Worried, he took Klein's arm as he scrutinized him from head to toe. "Bakit, may nararamdaman ka bang kakaiba? Masaba ba pakiramdam mo?"

Because of the sudden feel of the heat coming from the palm of his older brother, Klein immediately grabbed his hand as he took a step back.

Nagtatakang napatingin si Klint sa kaniyang kapatid. He turned around his swivel chair so he could face his brother. Ngayon, nakaupong nakatingin si Klint sa kaniyang kapatid na namumulang nakayuko sa sahig.

"Bakit? Tell me, is there something wrong?" Alalang tanong nito.

Inhaling a deep air, Klein stuttered. "Y-yes."

"Ano 'yon?"

Klein began to hesitate. He was torn between telling it to his mother or his kuya. His mother is a gentle and loving person, but one look from her was enough to bring shiver down his spine. Despite the soft look of his mother, she possessed the wrath of a beast. If she told this to his mother, there was a possibility that there would be an all-night talk he wish he would just tear his ears apart. His mother is a strict parent. He was once reprimanded by her that lasted for a week, and that builds up a trauma inside him, making him hesitate whether to tell her or not.

Afterall, she is a professional doctor, and she could certainly solve his dilemma. Klein was just afraid of her mother. With no other choice, he went to his most trusted brother hoping he could help him with the problem he was dealing recently.

When he finally had the courage, may idinukot ito sa kaniyang likuran. Klein tightly clinched it as he slowly showed the thin fabric in front of his kuya.

Klint recognized it with just a glance. It was a black underwear.

Nagtatakang napatingin si Klint sa namumulang mukha ng kaniyang kapatid at sa underwear na hawak-hawak nito.

Raising a brow, he asked, disbelief. "Ginagago mo ba ako, bunso?"

Napatingin si Klein sa kaniya at napailing ng kaniyang ulo. He waved his hand as he stated. "Hindi!"

"Eh anong gagawin ko riyan sa brief mo, ha?"

"Hindi……. araw-araw kasi, napapansin kong basa ang aking underwear. Nangyayari ito kada umaga. I thought I was just pissing myself off, but I noticed, there is something different on it. It doesn't smell like a piss, actually, it has no smell at all."

He paused as if taking a courage to talk. "I want to you to look at this and see if alam mo 'to. Related kasi ito rito. Lately lang ito nangyari and I was thinking baka may sakit ako."

Klint narrowed his eyes as he stared on Klein's hand gripping his underwear.

"Look, may mga puting stains pa nga sa parte ng harapan." Ibinuka nito nang napakalad ang kaniyang maitim na underwear at ipinakita ang puting stain doon. There could be seen white dry stains in the front part of the undies.

Klint clinched his fist as he tried to suppress the laugh about to escape from his mouth. Muntik na itong matawa sa nangyayari ngayon ngunit pilit niyang pinipigilan ang kaniyang sarili nang makita niya kung gaano kaseryoso ang mukha ng kaniyang kapatid.

Klein took back his underwear as he plead. "Sige na, samahan mo na ako magpacheck-up."

Looking at his brother begging, Klint can't contain his composure anymore as he burst in laughter. Napahawak ito ng kaniyang tiyan habang mangiyak-ngiyak na nakatingin kay Klein.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHH!"

Looking confused, Klein asked. "Kuya, what's funny?"

Tumagal ng ilang minuto ang pagtawa ni Klint. Raising his hand, he tried to wipe the tears forming on his lid. He suppressed his laugh by not thinking about it anymore. He spoke in a serious tone, but there were still a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Hindi mo kailangan magpacheck-up, bunso. Normal lang 'yan."

"What do you mean?" Klein frowned. If this is normal, how come it happens everyday?

"Parang nagja-jabol lang 'yan," Klint said in a laugh. However, his laugh vanished when he saw the confusion forming on his brother's face, an indication that he was oblivious about what he just stated.

"Anong jabol?" Takang tanong ni Klein.

'Patay.' Klint thought to himself.

He was about to say something when heard a sound coming from the monitor. Upon opening the window, he saw a message coming from his client.

Before opening the message, he turned around and said. "After dinner, puntahan mo 'ko rito sa kwarto. I'll explain everything."

Naguguluhang napatingin si Klein sa kaniyang nakakatandang kapatid. "Hindi tayo magpapacheck-up?"

Klint smiled as he slight slap the arm of his brother. "Bunso, normal lang 'yan. There's no need for a check-up. Huwag kang mag-alala, you're definitely fine."

Ibinalik ni Klint ang tingin sa monitor at hindi na pinansin ang kaniyang kapatid.

Klein couldn't believe what just happened, but he chose to believe his brother. If it was fine, so be it.

Klein silently made his way back to the door and retreated from that room. He gently closed it as he strode towards his own room.

When the door closed, Klint turned around and laughed. He looked at the door.

'At his age, alam niya naman siguro ang tinutukoy ko, right?'