heart strings♥

chapter four

Alex couldn't sleep... He kept thinking about that  accident. Just recently, some of his friends were teasing him about doing some things with Raysa, like kissing, holding hands, and cuddling. When they mentioned kissing, he thought it was disgusting and gross, wondering why people even do that. His way of thinking was easily influenced by his cold home. But he never thought a kiss could feel so soft and warm. He blushed as he remembered what happened a moment ago. He told himself that that won't change a thing. Raysa still loves him and they are still best friends forever.

But still... he didn't know what to do with the after effects of that kiss, which was the warm, nervous, fluttery feeling whenever he remembered what happened.

Just like Alex, Raysa couldn't sleep. Her heart was still hammering under her chest. Her whole body felt warm. She couldn't help not touching her lips either, and not remembering what it felt like when their lips touched. And now, Alex' words circled in her head, "Do you still love me?" It felt different now that  something happened. But for her, Alex will always be important, her precious best friend whom she really does love. But a tiny voice in her head asked "What kind of love do you mean?"

The next morning, they tried to confront the matter. Two nine year old kids decided to have a 'serious talk'. But they needed advice about the matter, so they went to the only person they could think of.

"Ray... when was your first kiss?" Raysa asked nervously.

"Why should I tell you?" Raymond asked. He was lying on the sofa reading a magazine about gadgets.

"Because we wanna know," Raysa answered, she and Alex were sitting at the other sofa facing Ray.

Raymond sighed, "When I was seven," he answered lazily.

Both kids gawked at him. Raysa and Alex stared at each other, and both blushed at the same time. Raymond stared at them and started to guess in his head.

"Who initiated it, you or the girl?" Alex asked, but Raymond ignored him and turned on the TV.

"Rayray, did you kiss her, or did she, or was it an accident?" Raysa asked gently.

"I did," he answered.

"Why?" Alex asked quickly. Raymond glared at him and Alex noted how fifteen year old guys easily get pissed, but still Raymond answered, "Because I wanted to," he said coldly, silencing Alex with his answer.

"Why?" Raysa asked, amazed at how bold her brother can be.

"I wanted to try and see what it felt like. I mean, mom and dad do it all the time, and always look happy afterwards. I did kiss you, but its too plain and boring cause you're my little sister, it was just an ordinary thing for us siblings. So I tried it out on my classmate," he said casually.

"What! So you just picked a random girl to try it out on?" Alex asked. Raymond once again glared at him, "No wimp, not random. She had to be pretty and smart, and when one girl in my class met my requirements, I gave her a kiss."

Before the two kids could give more questions and comments, Raymond said, "So, did you kiss her, wimp?" The question made the two kids stiffen and blush at the same time, and that was enough for Ray to answer his suspicions.

"I didn't---" Alex started but Raymond cut him off before he could add anything else.

"Where'd it happen?" Ray asked coldly.

"Why---" Raysa started.

"Where?" he asked again.

"Your game room," Alex answered.

"Wow," Alex and Raysa said. "I never thought this room was a surveillance room. Why do we have all these cameras around the house?" Raysa wondered. "And how'd you get the key?" she added.

"Stole it," Ray said simply. "Now...let's see what happened," he said as he tampered with the controls. One of the screens rewinded, until it showed Raysa and Alex playing video games. Raymond fast forward it until there were signs of any possibility those two would kiss. He pressed play, the screen showed the scene when Raysa was blocking the closet and Alex was standing way too near her. Raymond watched closely, "What were you two doing? Staring contest?"

"Raysa wouldn't back down," Alex said.

"Well you were being stubborn!" she retorted.

"Shhh!" Ray hushed.

"Did you grow taller?" Raysa from the video said. And so the video continued, clearly showing the part when the closet swung open and the things inside were about to drop on the two kids.

Raysa watched in awe at how quickly Alex wrapped her in his arms to protect her from the falling objects. Her heart skipped a beat seeing how he protected her. And she was sure she was blushing as she peeked at Alex.

Alex felt embarrassed, seeing himself hugging a girl, but his heart hammered in his chest. And when the screen visibly showed their kissing scene and how they were frozen like that for about five seconds, both Raysa and Alex rushed to cover the screen, only to both be easily caught by Raymond who wouldn't permit interruptions.

"Hmm..." Raymond smiled mischievously. He aws enjoying the fact that these two incredibly stupid children are all worked up on a little accident. He laughed hysterically, making Raysa and Alex give him confused looks.

One moment he was laughing then the next his face was blank and bored, liketurned on then off. And the moment he became expressionless, he slapped Alex. The impact made him face sidewards.

"Raymond!" Raysa shouted in disbelief. Alex gritted his teeth, blinking back tears. Tears not from fear or sadness, but just from the stinging pain Ray delivered both physically and mentally. Giving him thoughts like: Was what happened my fault? Was kissing my best friend really that much of a crime?

"That's for kissing my sister. Accident or not, a kiss is a kiss," Raymond said, rising from his seat. Alex met his eyes, taking in every word he said. Staring at this teenager who deeply resembled Raysa only without the soft aura. And as he stared, he was surprised when his features and expression softened. Eyes looked at him appreciatively, he said "But you did a great job protecting my sister." Raymond patted Alex' head in a brotherly manner before casually strolling out of the room.

Alex blushed. Annoyed with how happy he was feeling just because Raymond appreciated him, thanked him. It was only then that he realized that he has always longed for a big brother's approval.

"Alex!" Raysa said giving him a tight embrace. "Are you okay?" she asked, cupping his face and examining his cheek. "I'll scold Ray for that okay? I won't let him get away with what he did to you, I promise." Raysa caressed his cheek, "Does it hurt?"

"Nah. You also don't need to tell on Ray, he just loves you that's all," Alex says ignoring the sting he felt in his cheek.

"But I love you too! And I don't like you getting hurt," Raysa frowned, but still not letting go of his face.

Alex laughed,"I love you too, but your brother has a sister complex. Besides I deserved that anyway."

"But what happened was an accident! How is it your fault!?" she protested.

Alex took her hands off of his face and shrugged, "Well, I am a boy," he said with an adorable smile. Raysa stared at him, confusion written all over her cute face as she tried to understand what he meant. But Alex just laughed and took her hand, "I wanna play my guitar, and I'll need you to sing for me."