Will You? (Perfect Blend #4)

epilogue

Ever since our mother left us, all I could ever think of is to protect my sister at all costs. I saw how Sakura broke down the moment she heard the news that our mother didn't make it. I saw how she crumbled in her bed every night while crying her eyes off. I saw how she tightly hugged our mother's picture while staring into nothingness. And it pained me. It pained me to watch her slowly lose her lively smile.

I love my sister so much that I made a promise to myself that I will never let anyone destroy her gradually returning to vitality. Even though I forget my own happiness, Sakura will still be my priority.

But that's what I thought. I thought I will never crave my happiness. I thought I would never crave for my freedom.

Not until the day came that I found myself seeing Yesenia - my sister's best friend - differently. Not until that annoying brat keeps on bugging my mind. Not until I found myself slowly embracing what she felt towards me.

At first, even knowing that our feelings were in the same boat, I tried to stop myself from approaching her. I tried to stop my feelings for her not to deepen. But just like what others say, everything has its end. Lahat ng pagpipigil ko na 'wag pansinin ang kakaibang nararamdaman ko para sa kaibigan ng aking kapatid, ay bigla na lang naputol.

"Oh, my god!"

I attentively watched how Yesenia's smile go wider as she spun her body in front of the blue painting.

"Starry night is really, really pretty!" She dreamily exclaimed as she turned her back to face me. "What? What are you staring at?" she playfully raised her brows.

"You look like a lost kid," I jokingly answered.

She made a face at my response before playfully running towards me. I immediately caught her in my arms and held her tightly enough so that she wouldn't completely fall to the floor.

"Careful," I whispered as I let her warmth overwhelm my whole being.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just so happy today." She giggled as she buried her face between my shoulder and neck.

"I don't want this night to end," I mumbled, enough for me to hear it by myself.

I never thought summer would be this great if I had someone to waste my time with. Spending my whole summer with Yesenia became one of my goals. Gallery dates, night drives, and most especially, coffee dates in SMC — our favourite coffee shop.

Ngunit sa isang iglap, lahat ng masasaya kong araw ay biglang napalitan ng pait. I am happy that my sister was finally able to find the happiness she deserves. That she was finally able to find the right person for her. A person that I know, will protect and love her limitlessly. But even though I am happy with my sister's life now, I still can't help but feel a little bit bitter about it.

"Sawyer," Dad called me the moment the Diaz family made their way out of our house. Hindi ko siya nilingon at nanatiling nakatitig sa labas ng dining area. "I know what you are doing these past few months. I know you're seeing someone who is just under our wealth." He continued without any remorse. "Remember this, son. Kihlani is the only person I am approved for you to marry. Break with that girl you're always with, or I'll destroy your sister's happiness."

And even before that night's end, Sakura called me in the middle of the night just to tell me that Yesenia was planning to ask me to date her. If we were in a different situation, I would have happily jumped off my bed and driven our distance from each other.

"No. I love someone else."

God knows how much I badly want to take those words back. How I badly want to face her again and hug her tightly in my arms. How I badly want to wipe those tears and kiss those beautiful eyes of hers. But every time I think about coming back and running towards her to fill the distance between us, the picture of my sister breaking down again because of too much pain clouded my thoughts.