C4 CHAPTER 4: A Night Under the Stars

Habang naglalakad ako pauwi sa bahay namin sa subdivision, napapansin ko ang mga bituin sa langit. Ang tahimik na paligid ay nagbibigay daan sa mga alaala ng magandang araw ngayon. Tila ba ang mga bituin ay nagpapaalala sa akin ng mga titik na sumusulat sa mga tala, isang kuwento na tila ba binubuo ng mga pangyayari sa buhay ko.

Nararamdaman ko na rin ang lamig ng simoy ng hangin. As I arrived home, I saw Kuya waiting outside for me. I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions upon seeing him after what happened at the Treehouse Cafe. I approached him with a stern expression, still feeling upset about what he had done.

"Oh, bakit nasa labas ka?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He looked at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes and replied, "Oh, come on, Luna. Regarding kanina, it was just a harmless joke. You know I didn't mean any harm."

"Harmless joke?" I retorted, feeling irritated. "It didn't feel harmless to me. Ako pa nga sinisi mo eh diba? And you embarrassed me in front of Orion and sa mga kaibigan ko and made it seem like I had feelings for him."

Kuya shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, do you?"

My cheeks turned red, partly from anger and partly from embarrassment. "That's not the point, Kuya. It's not your place to make assumptions and put me in awkward situations!"

He shrugged and said, "Alright, alright. I'm sorry, okay? I won't do it again."

I sighed, knowing that I had to let it go. Kuya had always been playful, and while it could be annoying at times, I also knew that he meant no harm.

"Just... be more considerate next time, okay?" I said, trying to sound firm.

In my frustration, I entered the house and left him outside. I went straight to my room, ignoring Mama and Papa calling out to me. My annoyance with Kuya made me act impulsively, and I didn't want to face my parents while I was still upset.

Inside my room, I flopped down on my bed and let out a deep sigh. Why did Kuya have to be so annoying sometimes? I knew he meant well, but his pranks could be a bit too much to handle.

Ilang sandali pa ay tinawag na ako ni Mama para kumain. Agad naman akong bumaba at nakita ko doon sila Papa. Ngunit si Kuya ay hindi tumitingin sa akin, halatang may sinermunan nila Mama at Papa tungkol sa nangyaring pagaaway namin kanina.

Dumiretso na ako sa table at umupo tahimik lang akong yumuko, Umupo na rin si Mama at tumingin sila saamin,

"Luna, I didn't like what you did earlier, sa hindi mo pagpansin sa’min ng mama mo," Papa said calmly, but with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

I nodded, still not looking up. I knew I had been in the wrong, and I felt bad about it.

"I know you and your Kuya Arche may have disagreements sometimes, but that doesn't mean you should ignore us or disrespect us," Mama added, her voice gentle but firm.

"And you, Arche, stop teasing your sister. Ikaw ang panganay, ikaw dapat umunawa minsan," Papa said, turning his attention to Kuya.

Kuya kept his head down, not saying anything.

"We're a family, and we should treat each other with love and respect," Mama continued, her tone soft but meaningful.

I felt a pang of guilt for causing tension in the family. I knew Kuya and I were close, but sometimes we let our arguments get out of hand.

Papa sighed, and there was a sense of concern in his voice as he continued, "We want both of you to treat each other with kindness and respect. We're a family, and we should support and care for one another."

"Luna, your Kuya may tease you sometimes, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care for you," Mama said.

Kuya finally looked up, and I could see regret in his eyes too. "I'm sorry too, Mama, Papa. I should have been more considerate and not teased Luna like that."

Papa nodded. "Apologies are important, but it's also important to learn from our mistakes and make an effort to do better next time."

I felt a mix of emotions, but the love and support from my parents were comforting. I realized that I needed to be more understanding and patient with Kuya, just as they were with both of us.

"I promise to do better next time, Mama, Papa," I said sincerely.

"We both will," Kuya added, and I smiled at him, feeling a sense of reconciliation between us.

"Oh siya, kumain na tayo," sabi ni Papa

As we sat down to eat together, I knew that no matter how many disagreements we had, we were still a family, and love would always bring us back together.

Fast forward…

A week has passed, and it's already Monday. As I stepped out of my room, Dumiretso na ako pababa ng bahay nakita ko si Mama na nagbabalot ng baon na pagkain namin ni Kuya para sa school.

Sinabihan naman ako ni Papa na ihahatid daw ako ni Kuya sa school, gusto ko sana tumanggi kaso naalala ko 'yong advice nila sa'kin kagabi, kaya wala na akong choice kundi tumango nalang at sumang-ayon. Kumuha na ako ng baso at kape para magtimpla at inumin ito, nilagay na ni Mama 'yong pandesal at itlog kasama ang hotdog sa mesa.

Habang kumukuha ng ulam ay sakto bumaba na rin si Kuya, sumabay na rin siya kumain sa'kin. After we finished eating, Kuya and I excused ourselves and went to say goodbye to Mama and Papa. They both smiled at us and wished us a good day.

"Have a great time at school, Luna," Mama said, giving me a warm hug.

"And take care, Arche mag-iingat kayo," Papa added, patting Kuya on the back.

We nodded and thanked them before heading to Kuya's car. As I got into the car, Kuya immediately reminded me to buckle up my seatbelt. I was a bit puzzled because it seemed like he was in a hurry. It was only 7:00 a.m., and my classes ay 8:00 am pa

"Kuya, bakit ba parang nagmamadali ka?" I asked, fastening my seatbelt as he instructed.

He glanced at me with a hint of excitement in his eyes. "Well, I need to be early today because Orion and I have a basketball practice before your classes start."

"Oh, I see," I replied, understanding the situation better. It made sense that he wanted to be on time for his practice. Kuya was always dedicated to his basketball team, and I admired his commitment.

I asked Kuya about their next basketball game, curious to know when it would be.

"Oh, our next game is scheduled for Saturday afternoon," he replied. "It's going to be an important match, and I really want to do well."

"I'll make sure to come and cheer you on," I said, excited to show my support.

As Kuya drove, I asked him about their next basketball game and mentioned that I would be there to cheer him on. But he couldn't resist teasing me about cheering more for his friend Orion than for him.

"Kuya, don't be silly!" I said, laughing. "Of course, I'll be cheering for you. I'll cheer for you the loudest. You know, naman na, you're my favorite basketball player," I replied with a grin.

He grinned mischievously. "I know, I know. I was just kidding," he said, playfully tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. "But seriously, it would be nice if you could come and support the whole team, not just me."

"I promise, I'll be the loudest cheerleader for the entire team," I reassured him. "You guys are going to do great; I just know it!"

"Siguraduhin mo lang ha, baka mas marinig ko pa 'yong pangalan ni Orion kaysa sa'kin." Pagbibiro niya

"Kuya naman,"

"Hindi, joke lang," he said.

As we drove, I noticed Kuya occasionally checking the time and taking alternate routes to avoid traffic. He was truly determined to make it to his practice on time. Despite being in a rush, he remained calm and focused, expertly maneuvering through the streets.

Arriving at the basketball court, Kuya parked the car and turned to me with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Luna. I'll drop you off at school first before I head to practice. You won't be late."

I smiled back at him, feeling grateful for his consideration. "Thanks, Kuya. Good luck sa practice niyo sa basketball!"

He nodded, and I quickly got out of the car. I watched him drive away, knowing that he was determined to give his best in basketball, just as he always did. It warmed my heart to see how supportive he was of my commitments and his own.

Nang narating na namin 'yong school, I quickly got out of the car and said goodbye to Kuya. He wished me good luck for the day, and I assured him that I would do my best. As I walked towards the school entrance, I couldn't help but feel grateful for having such a caring and supportive brother.

Inside the school, the hallways were abuzz with students preparing for their classes. I saw my friends and greeted them with a smile. As I made my way to my classroom, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness for the day ahead.

During our first subject, I couldn't shake off the memory of the basketball game and the fun we had cheering for Kuya's team. It made me realize how important it was to have people who support and believe in you.

During lunch break, Alhena excitedly informed us that her brother, Orion, had a practice game for basketball, and Kuya was joining the team. She asked if Kuya had already told me about it, and I nodded, confirming that he did.

"That's great! We should all go and watch them practice," Alhena suggested with a smile.

Maegan agreed, "Definitely! I'd love to see them in action and show our support."

I was thrilled by the idea of watching them play, so I readily agreed to join. Alhena also mentioned their official game on Saturday, and I made a mental note to attend and cheer for them on that day as well.

"Well, I'm going to attend their basketball game this Saturday," I said with enthusiasm. "I can't wait to cheer for him and the team."

Alhena and Maegan exchanged knowing glances, and Maegan teased, "Oh, so you'll be cheering for your Kuya and his friend Orion, which is Kuya rin ni Alhena, right?"

I blushed a little, remembering the playful banter between Kuya and me earlier. "Of course! I'll be cheering for everyone, just like I always do."

As the lunch break continued, we chatted excitedly about the upcoming practice game and the Saturday match.

When the game began, we couldn't contain our enthusiasm. We cheered for Kuya, Orion, and his team, joining the rest of the crowd in creating an electric atmosphere. Every basket, every steal, and every block were met with loud cheers and applause.

Orion played with skill and passion, showcasing his talent on the court. It was evident how much hard work and dedication he put into his game. Seeing him play with such determination filled us with pride.

During halftime, Alhena explained more about her brother's love for basketball and how he had been practicing hard for this game. We were impressed by his dedication and couldn't wait to see him shine in the second half and see how Kuya had been helping him improve his skills.

When the school bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break, we quickly made our way back to our classroom. The hallways were abuzz with students, each of us heading back to our respective classes. I walked with Alhena and Maegan, sharing a few more laughs and stories along the way.

As we entered the classroom, our teacher, Ms. Rivera, was already standing at the front, ready to start the afternoon lessons. As Ms. Rivera began the class, the chatter slowly died down, and we all focused on the lessons for the afternoon. The hours seemed to pass by quickly, and before I knew it, the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.

I packed my bag and prepared to head home, Alhena and Maegan excitedly reminded me about their plans to attend Kuya and Orion's basketball practice. I assured them that I wouldn't miss it for anything.

Nang nakauwi na kami sa aming sari-sariling bahay, ako'y nagpahinga muna sa kwarto ko. The excitement and energy from the basketball practice lingered, and I couldn't help but think about the upcoming game on Saturday.

I lay on my bed, I took out my phone and messaged Alhena and Maegan, expressing how much fun I had at the practice and how eager I was to support Kuya and Orion on game day. They replied with equal enthusiasm, and we exchanged emojis and inside jokes, making plans for our game-day meetup.

Later that evening, I joined my family for dinner, and we chatted about our day. Mama prepared a delicious dinner, and we all gathered around the dining table. The conversation flowed naturally, and it felt like we were one big happy family, filled with love and laughter. Kuya and I shared some stories about the basketball practice, and our parents listened with interest, always encouraging and proud of our endeavors.