Behind Closed Doors (COMPLETED)

Seven

#BCD07 Chapter Seven

MAAGANG NAGISING si Artemis para simulan ang kaniyang araw in a productive way. She's still feeling a light jetlag, but she didn't mind it. Instead, she went directly inside the shower to freshen herself up.

Balak mag-jogging ni Artemis bago puntahan ang mga katrabaho para sabay-sabay silang mag-agahan. Nakagawian na nila iyong tatlo noong nasa New York pa lang sila. And since she already knew about Sunshine and Snow working with her in their family's five star restaurant, mas magandang sabay-sabay silang tatlo na pumasok sa unang araw nila roon.

"Good morning!" and malakas na boses ni Apollo ang bumungad sa kaniya pagkababa ng hagdan. "Aga natin, ah?" Pinasadahan ng binata ang kaniyang kabuuan. "Yoga?"

Umiling si Art saka tuluyang bumaba ng hagdanan. She pulled the black ponytail wrapped on her wrist and tied her hair up. She was wearing a gray Nike sports bra and a gray biker shorts. Suot din niya ang huli niyang biniling sapatos sa New York bago siya umuwi ng Pilipinas.

"Jogging," sagot niya saka nilampasan ang kakambal. "You wanna come?"

She felt him moving from her back. Pumasok siya sa kusina at sumunod naman sa kaniya si Apollo.

"Gym na lang tayo. Katamad mag-jogging dito sa village," wika ni Apollo.

"I heard the gym opens at seven. It's almost six pa lang. Let's just jog until we get there."

Marahas na umiling si Apollo habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Kumunot ang noo ni Artemis. What's her twin brother's brother that early?

"Come on, Apple! Samahan mo naman akong mag-ikot dito sa village," she urged him.

Inabot ni Apollo ang isang mansanas na nasa island counter saka ihinagis sa kaniya. Mabilis naman niya iyong sinalo saka bumungisngis.

"Eat that first. Magbibihis lang ako," he said with his grumpy tone.

Artemis snickered while watching him go back to the living room. Siya naman ay sinimulan nang kainin ang mansanas na hawak. Sakto namang nakababa na muli si Apollo ay naubos na niya iyon.

"You're gonna sweat a lot with that, Apollo," puna niya habang nakatingin sa suot nitong hoodie. Itim na itim pa iyon. He's even wearing a black jogger pants!

"That's why we're going to jog, right? To sweat."

"Seriously? You need to change." Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay.

"Not until you also change." Humalukipkip ang binata.

"What? Why?" Artemis looked at her outfit. Her brows are furrowed. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

"You know that most of the population in this village are men, right?" Pinanlakihan pa siya ng binata. "And they're awake at this hour!"

"So, what?" Artemis rolled her eyes and pulled her twin brother outside the kitchen. "Ikaw lang ba ang puwedeng magising sa mga oras na 'to?"

She heard him growled deeply. Bumuntonghininga si Artemis at muling hinarap ang kapatid.

"It'll be fine, okay? I don't care if they stare at me or lust over me..." mas lalong umungol sa inis si Apollo. "It's their stupid mindsets. Wala akong pakialam doon basta hindi nila ako babastusin nang harapan. Let them stare at me until they drool, Apollo. That won't stop me from wearing what I wanted."

Apollo looked unconvinced. Pero bumuntonghininga lang ito kalaunan. Hinubad nito ang suot na hoodie, leaving him only with his gray muscle shirt. Halos pumutok na ang manggas nito dahil sa matigas nitong mga braso.