A Love in Silence

Do you have a brother or a sister who happens to love you very much?

Well, I have a brother whom I adore. He's a computer geek, a guitarist, a chess player, an excellent student, and more. But despite all these characters, I must say that he's also a complicated man. You wouldn't know whether he's happy, or sad, or hurt. You wouldn't hear him complain nor see a tear in his eye when you are all facing problems. Should I be happy with that? Or should I be worried about his indifference at times?

Sometimes I couldn't help myself doubting his love for us, his siblings, and for our parents. I wouldn't say though that it's not uncommon for a man to act like him. They always wanted to look strong, to seem invulnerable, to hide those tears off before it falls, to keep silent as long as possible. But should it be like that with love? Or with family? I hope not.

That doubt of mine however, ended one day with one small act of his.

We were attending the same school in college, and we just had our lunch break that time. My stomach was churning and was certain he also felt the same since we haven't eaten for three meals already. I was a freshman and he was a sophomore then, but we were sponsored by different persons: our sister for him, and a kind-hearted benefactor who is not a blood relative for me. Our sister has lost her job and was not able to send him his allowance for months, a reason why we had to depend on what is sent to me by my sponsor, an allowance enough for a person only.

That day was just one of the days when we had to skip meals, because our sister was unable to send my brother's allowance, and mine got delayed for a few days or even weeks. But the difference of that day was when my brother called me aside to talk with me. Just looking at him getting hungry pained me, but instead of him dwelling on his hunger, he opened his wallet and I saw the six peso coins in there. I didn't know what his plan was until he told me, "Lyn, I still have six pesos here, you can buy a cup of rice with this."

I was so touched by his act that I couldn't speak. But then I asked him, "How about you?" And then the answer that I wouldn't forget in my lifetime came, "Don't mind me, I'm fine, go eat".

Now, can you tell me that my brother doesn't love me, or us?