| It was way past 10:00 pm when I came home | | | | was. It was Michael."I know you are busy but |
| from a grueling day of schoolwork and | | | | there's something I wanna show you," he began. |
| extracurricular activities. The wind was rustling | | | | "I was just wondering if my classmate was right |
| about overhead as I paced through the door of | | | | when he said that my assignment was |
| our humble abode. I moved towards the nearest | | | | wrong."Without saying a word, I snatched the |
| couch and plumped myself to rest. Defeat and | | | | paper from him and pored over his written |
| exhaustion filled my frame as I laid back against | | | | assignment. I really didn't care what he was |
| the soft cushions. I was about to close my eyes | | | | saying. All I wanted was to get rid of him and |
| when I remembered our Hematology project | | | | finally get to rest. Suddenly, my eyes widened in |
| which was due the next day. I stood up and set | | | | surprise as soon as I saw what he'd written. |
| out for the personal computer situated on the | | | | There, he wrote in gothic letters:The Seven |
| other side of the room. Just then, my brother | | | | Wonders of the World1. Love |
| Michael dashed out of his room and went straight | | | | 2. Friendship |
| at me."Ate, can you help me with my | | | | 3. Peace |
| assignment? It's about the seven wonders of the | | | | 4. Joy |
| world," he blurted out while staring at the paper in | | | | 5. Wisdom |
| his grasp.My brother's words didn't seem to filter | | | | 6. Fun |
| through my mind at first. My attention was so | | | | 7. FamilyI froze dead on my tracks as the words |
| riveted at the computer screen that my brother | | | | registered in my brain. I could not believe what |
| had to nudge me and pull the tip of my blouse | | | | my brother just scribbled on paper. I was |
| just to get my attention."Look, not right now! I'm | | | | completely transfixed. How could such an innocent |
| very busy," I yelled while ticking on the | | | | little child fathom such things in life, I thought to |
| keyboard."You're always busy! You're always like | | | | myself. As I was trying hard to push back my |
| that!" he wailed back as he turned on his heels | | | | emotions to the farthest recesses of my mind, I |
| and stomped back to his room.For a moment, | | | | didn't notice that tears were already swelling up in |
| Michael's words fiddled in my mind. I felt a twinge | | | | my eyes and started flowing down my |
| of guilt as his words lingered in my thoughts. But | | | | cheeks."Ate why are you crying? Is it really |
| the urgency of my work seemed more important | | | | wrong?""No, baby brother, it's not. This is the |
| to me than my brother's. I sighed a few times | | | | other set of answers most people don't know," I |
| and continued to polish my school work.The next | | | | said as I whisked the trickling droplets from my |
| day, I went home late again. I went straight to | | | | cheeks. I hugged him tight then gestured him |
| my room and quickly changed my clothes. When I | | | | towards his room. He didn't say a word and did as |
| was about to turn off the lights, I heard a | | | | he was told. I paused for a while and thought for |
| pounding noise on the door. I went to see who it | | | | a moment. |