We're poles apart, he's the left brain and I'm the right and in school -let's admit it- left brainers shine more than the creative little ones. I sucked at math and he was the genius. He'd be tasked to tutor (I say torture) me in mathematics and I recall how I'd get mad at him for being such a bad teacher because I was not able to immediately get how trigonometry works. Likewise, I'd be the one to do his take home assignments for art because all he knew how to draw were trees (.... Well, now that I think about it, I'm not even sure if they were trees....)
Our relationship got a little better in high school though when a boy from his level started courting me. This was the first time I felt that my brother really cared about me. I overheard him say to that boy "Pag pinaiyak mo yan, gugulpihin kita" (translation: If you make her cry, I will beat you up) and I remember how sincerely touched I felt knowing that the same guy who knocked my front tooth out would do the same to a boy who'd break my heart...
Now, we're literally miles apart, him being stationed in NY while I'm here in the Philippines. I only get to see him once every year during Christmas and amazingly, the distance made our relationship stronger. He'd monitor my Facebook wall to see how things are with me and when he gets alarmed with my life (and that's really common and I don't blame him) he'd message me (like earlier) warning me that my "obnoxious ways would get me some serious sermon from my parents when they find out so I better screen my FB wall from them". Yes, he's still supportive even if he knows I'm being bad and his only concern is me getting caught by the parental units.
I may not say it often (heck, I probably don't say it at all) but I love my brother and I'd support him through and through. I'd kill for him. Even if he's wrong, I'd kill for my brother. (Ok, kill is such a strong word, but you do get my drift, right?) I'm very proud of him and what he has achieved so far and I'm glad that God made him my brother despite the fact that he's probably the reason why I need to put braces on soon. I can't wait to spend 2 months in NY with him!
That's me and my brother.... With my dad ruining the sibling photo from behind. Yes, the mischievous trait obviously came from my dad.
At the Subway station, NY.
