I Love You, Hater

21

Arthur POV
Flashback March 12, 2007
⚠️TW: R*PE (skip if you're uncomfy)

"Mister Bert but it's not my bedtime yet" Vince said to my side as I rolled my eyes.

"Don't give me that attitude Art, your mom and I didn't raise you to be like that" He pointed at me.

I am already 15, I am this mature now. And from what I know, is that he's suspicious from the beginning.

"When you phrase it like that, it's like you're trying to replace dad-"

"I am not! Just... Go to bed you two, your mom and I have a lot to talk about" he pushes Vince inside the room and locks it

"I can lock can lock my own room, thank you very much" I glared.

"Right then, night Arthur" He said as I closed the door.

Making sure Bertlington is going away from my doorstep, agad akong lumabas sa kwarto ko saka na agad nagpeak sa door ni mama.

The door wasn't locked as I can only peek what's going on.

Apparently, Bertlington's figure went to the bathroom as I grabbed the opportunity to hide behind her closet.

I assume na she was asleep pero when Bertlington came back, he was already naked.

Tempted, was the word I can describe. I've seen porn, but this made me extremely uncomfortable.

My mom's snores can be heard from here, Bertlington was caressing my mom's legs and she wriggled from the touch.

"Oh Lisandra, how I've been dying to do this to you ever since" He said in a seductive voice as I wanted to barf.

"Our child is doing okay Lisandra, can you hear me? He's okay at home" He smiled as he climbed up my mom.

"He kept asking me for a brother, shall we give him one?" He said and started kissing her.

From a weak panic, my mom kept slapping his arm to at least get away. At first I wasn't getting enough context to why mom was weak.

Not until yung kamay niya accidentally hits the nightstand at mga pills niya nahulog.

A certain one rolled to where I can clearly see it, Viagra.

I held my hand from screaming as I can just cry there, while my mom was taken advantaged by our own butler for at least a decade now.

Suddenly, I saw the doors opened, it was Vince. Bertlington had to stop and cover up mom with the sheets.

"Vince, you're awake" Bertlington covered himself with the extra sheets.

And Vince, innocent as ever didn't get what was happening. Medyo half asleep pa siya.

"I hear mommy crying, is she okay?" Vince asks as Bertlington decided to find clothes.

Agad na dumeretso siya dito as I went far back sa closet and held my mouth real hard.

He was scrambling through dad's clothes at tsaka na ito sinuot.

"Vince, do you like travelling?" He was wearing the shirt as I sighed out of relief.

"Let's go, pack your things" I didn't think it was possible, pero I was mad. Straight up mad.

If I had the courage lang to call the police, I would do it. I didn't realize, Vince was looking at me the whole time.

I had the phone ready to be called as I look at him and furrowed.

He shook his head slowly as I was angry, ready to burst.

"What are you looking at?" Bertlington screamed as Vince stammered.

"Nothing. I'm coming down" Vince shout, and left the room.

I had to witness everything that was happening with my eyes. And that's where I started to think na sana wala pala akong kapatid.

Sana hindi kami nagmove dito sa London. Sana, sinabi sa akin ni mama na may kapatid kami sa ibang lalake.

End of Flashback

Vince POV

It's true, I was clueless. Powerless describes me best. Pero I had to protect my brother, the only family I had left standing. Bertlington had a gun on me up until now na if susumbong ko siya, he'll ruin my brother, or me. I could not care kung ako na iyan, pero wag lang sana si kuya.

"Mom died after that day, nung umalis kayo? Kami nalang ni Dad ang natira, until eventually he killed himself" Teary eyed, Art rambled at me as I listened from his perspective.

"Alam mo, hinahanap din kiya noong una pa. Wondering and asking why did you do it. I seemed to be confused kung minsan and would blame myself"

"Do you have any idea, how stupid I felt as a son? As a brother?" He bitterly scoffs.

"The sole reason na gusto ko maging artist is for at least someone to love me! Me! I didn't have anyone after everyone left me. At kahit mga hindi ko mga kilala mga fans ko, at least I knew, someone was worried about my well being" He cried as he knelt down.

"Kuya... What I did was a fatal blow in the nuts I know. I should've told you na plano ko na hindi kita isusumbong o ganiyan kay Bertlington because I knew, your safety mattered to me most"

"I attended mom's funeral, I was there at dad's funeral. And I was there in one of your concert to show moral support to you kasi alam ko, there will come a time na I would die eventually" Lumapit ako sa kaniya at huminga ng malalim.

I hugged him as he wasn't responding. There was no other words to describe what I was feeling, but I knew he needed it.

"You're never alone kuya, never. Andito ako sa tabi mo so please, don't avoid my presence

"I'm sorry kuya, for a millionth time. I'm sorry na hindi kita sinabihan" I whispered as his hands started gripping on my sleeves which I did not care.

I knew my brother was a frail and fragile person. And I'd do anything para lang sa happiness nito.

"I'm alright na" He pulled away as I nodded.

"Pero hindi lalampas si Bertlington sa lahat ng mga ginawa niya. I tried to bury it behind my memory and I'm here to give justice para kay mom" He said as I smiled.

"I'll be with you all the way kuya" I said as he noded.

"Pero first, let's book ourselves a ticket. We're going to Quezon City" He looked at the file as we stood up.

"Paano natin siya mahahanap? I mean, if there's a person who could know anything doon, we wouldn't worry much" I said as Art looked at me.

"I think I know a person. Uuwi ka ba?" He asks me. I checked my phone and nodded.

"Hinahanap na ako ni Marcus. Pwede ko ba siyang isama sa atin?" I asked him as he crossed his arms.

"Isn't that the doctor boyfriend? Baka mapaano yung schedule niya" He says in concern.

"I'll ask him kung gusto niya day offs sa workplace niya. I mean, may hospital din sa Quezon na same name din dito sa London. He can maybe report there" I suggested as he nods in agreement.

"Fine by me, sige na umuwi ka na" He said as I was about to leave, he hugged me.

"I'm sorry for looking down at you Vince. I'll be a better brother next time" he whispered as I smiled.

"Thank you talaga for being my brother, kuya"