I have four big brothers.
Basil.
Bastian.
Brandon.
Benjamin.
They called me "Benito".
Benjamin or "Benjie" called me with this masculine name even in public, much to my shame.
They are not the sweet ones but I know that they will die for me.
They were all trained and disciplined by my father who is a General in the Army.
You would not want to mess up with them.
The eldest became a surgeon, a military doctoe.
The second one serves as a pilot at the Airforce.
The third is a Captain at the Marine Force.
The one before me, Benjamin, the most good-looking and talented of them all became someone I've never expected him to be.
A Catholic priest.
He is the one who threatened my best friend Anthony when he caught him attempting to embrace me.
He said he'll beat him up and toss his body at the Pasig River if ever he does that again.
Anthony gave him a very silly smile when he was scolded. My nasty brother held him by the collar and began shaking him like a ragdoll.
"Do you understand, girlyman? Why are you smiling? I swear, I'll beat the life out of you if ever you do that again!"
Poor Anthony.
He was just so happy that I passed the Mathematics examination.
And, we were only thirteen then and his sweet gesture had no malice!
Maybe, if he would also meet Antoine and Mariano he will also do and say the same thing to them.
He had this bad boy aura but he's the nicest one as compared to all my other brothers who resemble MMA* Fighters. He looks like a member of a Korean Boy Band.
(Mixed Martial Arts)
If you tell him that he will be very annoyed and never talk to you for days.
For some reason, Anthony does not like these boy bands too. He told me once I'm just a fanatic. I was able to force him to get me a VIP ticket to one of their concerts, though.
Hey, aren't Korean boy bands cute?
I don't need your answer.
I just love them.
He is the one closest to me. When Anthony mysteriously disappeared, he patiently protected and watched over me as the bullies targeted me even more. A lot considered me weird in school.
I was a skinny and frail girl with learning problems. It is not because I am stupid. If you haven't slept for a week, you'll have learning problems too.
He is the one who encouraged me to learn martial arts and taught me a little about guns and knives.
Too good he did.
Aside from being trapped in Antoine's world with danger lurking everywhere, I had very sad reasons to be well trained in self-defense.
First reason.
When I was about sixteen, I was locked inside our school's warehouse. Mean girls and dickheads in school do exist. They made me believe that our class adviser instructed me to clean the warehouse as I was too stupid to pass the class. This incident made me so scared of being left alone in large spaces.
Second reason.
Benjamin went missing for a month. My father used his power and influence to search for him all over the country.
We thought he was already dead.
"Anthony's gone. Please don't take my brother too." I prayed every day and night.
One night, he just came home. He stayed in his room, never talked and ate for days. My parents attempted to bring him to the hospital but he was so good in escaping.
Then, he made the big announcement. He decided to enter the seminary. My father was as mad as hell. My mother told him that if it will make him happy, then go for it.
As he was packing his clothes, I went to him and tried to stop him.
"Kuya*. What happened to you? Please tell me."
(Filipino word for "Older Brother")
He stopped folding his clothes and sat beside me.
"Do you still see them?"
I nodded.
"I do too." he admitted. "I am really sorry if I was not able to defend you from our brothers. I was in a state of denial. It is not easy and I understand what you're going through." he embraced me and stroked my hair.
"Let's forget those, Kuya. Just don't leave me."
"Something bad happened to me and I can't tell you. It is better this way. I need some peace before I cause any harm."
I could not understand his words.
"You have to be a little tough now, Benito!" He forced a laugh and messed up my hair.
"I can't do it alone. They overwhelm me all the time." I wiped the tears from my cheeks.
"I'm just a call away. Don't worry. And, someone stronger than I am will protect you soon. When that time comes, show him to me and I will have his background checked."
He proceeded to close his bag and immediately left me. When he was on the gate, I ran after him and hugged him tightly.
That left me disturbed.
How could I have only noticed it now?
He had no heartbeat.
"Bianca...let me go." he pleaded.
"Kuya, what happened to you?" I asked with a sob.
"Please don't cry." He gently removed my arms around him and proceeded to get a taxi.
I sadly watched him go.
Benjamin.
Anthony.
Someone or something took them away from me.
They were gone from me so quickly.
From then on, I decided to be as tough as I can be.
"Hey, twig! Where's my project?" one of the mean girls called me. She is the town mayor's beautiful daughter with a bad attitude.
I continued walking.
She and her peers blocked my way.
She shoved me on the shoulder. We were alone in the hallway. No witnesses. The CCTV* wasn't working.
(Closed Circuit Television)
"I said, where is my project?" she asked with her pretty eyebrow raised.
"Why don't you do it yourself?" I snapped back.
"Why you..."
As she was about to push me, I pulled her towards me and gave her a headbutt. She fell on the floor. Blood flowed from her perfect nose and lips. She went hysterical.
"What are you going to do about it, huh?" I sneered. Her friends stepped back in fear.
I glared at the black lady and elves disturbing me for years.
"Burn in hell!" I taunted them with so much fury.
I went on my way.