Sir Ares Goodnight

"Chase, wake up! Wake up!"

I opened my eyes and saw my little brother who's trying to sit in my bed. I chuckled because he's too small and my bed is high for him kaya hindi siya makaakyat.

"Pick a number from one to ten."

I sighed. "Charl, ang aga-aga mo namang gisingin si Ate." Sabi ko bago siya binuhat paakyat at itinabi sa akin.

This little brother of mine is too cute to handle, napaka-guwapo. Halatang mana sa Ate niya.

I laughed inside my head because of what I've thought.

Pero totoo naman kasi.

"I need you to pick a number from one to ten." He said.

"Eight." I immediately answered dahilan upang kumunot ang noo ng kapatid ko bago sumimangot. "You're always picking number eight, palagi rin akong natatalo."

I chuckled again. He is so cute! "You asked me, Charl. I just picked what I want." Sabi ko naman.

Every time someone asks me to pick a number from one to ten, kagaya na lamang nitong kapatid ko, palaging number eight ang naisasagot ko sa kanila sa kadahilanang ito ang unang-unang numero na pumapasok sa isip ko.

Maybe because number eight is a lucky number for me? I was also born in the 8th month of the year two thousand and five, 8th of the August.

That's why eight is also my favorite number.

"Okay fine. I'll choose eight too." Sabi ng kapatid ko bago bumaba sa kama ko. Inalalayan ko siya upang hindi siya mahulog at madulas bago sinundan palabas ng kuwarto ko dahil sa pagtataka kung bakit araw-araw niya nalang akong pinapapili ng number from one to ten.

May ganap yata rito sa bahay t'wing umaga at hindi manlang ako aware.

Ang daya.

"Dad! Number eight!" I heard Charl said nang makarating ako sa living room ng bahay namin. I saw Dad there, sitting in the couch while holding ten pieces of small white papers. In front of him is my brother, Charl, sitting in the small chair while looking excitedly at the cards.

"Good morning, Dad. Anong meron?"

My father smiled at me. "Good morning, Ate Chase." He greeted me before looking at my brother. "Did you asked your sister again about this?"

Tumango ang kapatid ko. "Yes. I also did that to wake her up." Sagot ng kapatid ko bago bumungisngis kaya naman natawa ang Tatay namin bago ginulo ang buhok niCharl.

"Silly Charl."

I shook my head while smiling. "Anong meron diyan, Dad?" I asked while pointing the papers.

"One of this ten papers contains a price. Kapag napili 'yon ni Charl, edi sa kaniya na 'yon."

Ngumiwi ako sa sagot niya. "Dad, ten papers lahat tapos isa lang ang may price? Charl, Daddy is madaya that's why you are not winning." Sabi ko sa kapatid ko na ngumuso lang.

Masiyado namang mahirap ang game para kay Charl. Almost one week na akong pinapapili ng kapatid ko ng number, ibig sabihin niyon ay almost one week na rin silang naglalaro nito at almost one week na rin siyang natatalo.

Poor baby.

"Daddy! Number eight I said!" Charl pointed at the third paper from the last.

"Okay, okay. Are you sure?" Dad asked him for the last time. Tila binibitin pa ang kapatid ko. Ngumisi ako nang tumingin sa akin si Charl, parang ipinapasa pa sa akin ang tanong ni Daddy na kung sure na ba siya sa number eight.

Ako ba ang naglalaro?

"Yes, Charl. Pick number eight."

"Okay. Sure na! Number eight!" My brother said cutely while clapping his hands. Napanguso tuloy ako. Sana naman manalo na 'tong bata na 'to, lucky number naman ang eight ah? Mukhang sabik na sabik na rin kasi siya sa kung ano mang price ang makukuha niya.

"Okay. You got the..." Dad stopped talking upang bitinin ang kapatid ko na mas lalong humaba ang nguso.

"Please, let me won number eight! I want a new toy!" Sabi ng kapatid ko, tila malapit nang umiyak.

"Wow, number eight heard you my son. You won a new big toy! Congratulations!" Dad said before showing him the card. Nakasulat doon ang pangalan ng sikat na laruan ngayon na matagal nang gustong makuha ng kapatid ko.

And now he finally got it. Thanks to his Ate.

"Wow, nice. Congrats, baby Charl!" I said happily while clapping my hands. Nagtatatalon naman ang kapatid ko dahil sa tuwa na nagpatawa sa tatay namin.

"Where can I claim my price?" Tanong ng kapatid ko. Dad pointed his room. "It's in your bed now. Come on, let's get it." He said before standing up. Hinawakan niya ang maliit na kamay ng kapatid ko bago tumingin sa akin. "Chase, your mother is in the kitchen. Go there and eat your breakfast, late ka nanaman gumising."

Tumango ako. "Yes, Dad."

Paano ba naman kasi ako hindi mapupuyat kung ang ganda-ganda ng series na pinapanood ko. Tinapos ko na ito kagabi and grabe, it is very worth it to watch even tho it's so tragic.

Ang guwapo rin ng bida, siyempre.

Looks like I found my new crush already.

"Good morning, Mom." I greeted mg mother who is now washing the dishes. "Anak, tanghali ka nanaman gumising. Nauna na tuloy kaming kumain. Wait, I'll prepare your food."

Ngumiti ako. "Ako nalang, Ma."

Honestly, I don't mind eating alone as long as the foodis good. Nagsandok ako ng sarili kong pagkain. Sakto namang kakatapos lang maghugas ni Mama ng mga plato nang umupo ako at magsimulang kumain. "Do you want milk?" She asked me kaya naman ngumiwi ako.