branches

Although I am an only child, I never felt alone growing up. I was raised with 2 boys and spent all my childhood years living with them. Although not in blood, they really are my brothers.

I guess I got my boyish behavior from them. I have what they have. (I even also had an undercut hairstyle, just like they did in elementary.) I play what they play; we’re always competitive against each other—even on Battle City, or on trading pins, or on trump cards, or on habulan. Being smaller than the two of them, I even get hand-me-down clothes from them. I liked their boyish clothes.

Just like ordinary siblings, we also fight. We also have kampihan and sumbungan. The two even punch each other with me in the middle (and hence I also get hit!). We even shoot each other with pellet guns! But fights don’t last long. We just forget it and play. Then, we’re happy again.

But it seems so long ago now. Kuyang married a few years ago already. He now has 4-year-old Keng, and he and his family live abroad. And now, the youngest of us three is getting married. He already proposed to his girlfriend of 10 years. As much as I should have known that they will soon settle down, it’s still news to me. I don’t know what to make of it. Of course, I wish them well, and I’m excited to have another pamangkin. And I honestly think the two are perfect for each other.

I guess I just feel a bit lonely now that those two boys have their own family now. I, on the other hand, have an uncertain future on marriage and family life. It’s just that our path has branched into three. And I guess I just miss the time when we used to be one hell of a team. Well, life takes us into so many places. Although I miss them, I am happy where life has taken them.

I hope our children will be as close as we once were. =)