Elysian Secrets

Kabanata 25

It was for just a second, but Lia could have sworn her brother hesitated by the door to her house. Guni-guni niya lang siguro iyon. The only person who could ever give pause to her brother was already six feet under. Sila lang naman ni Amber ang nandoon sa sala at naabutan nito.

"I thought this was a family meeting?" Renault said when he finally crossed the threshold.

The snarky bite in his tone is at odds with the beatific smile on his lips.

"'Yan din ang sinabi ko sa kanya nang tawagan ka," Amber retorted. "Why bring an outsider to a family meeting?"

Something inexplicable flashed in Renault's eyes before his smile widened and he smirked. "I see you're still alive."

Amber gave him an angelic smile of her own. "If only to spite you, my dear."

Lia could feel a migraine coming on sa inaasal ng dalawa. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ganito mga ito. Ang dami nang nagbago sa mga buhay nila, but this never stopped. The intense dislike bordering on hate the two have for each other never changed.

Walang paalam na umupo si Renault sa sofa, sa gitna nila ni Amber.

Lumapit si Renault sa kanila at naupo rin sa sofa, sa gitna nila ni Amber. Awtomatikong isiniksik ng kapatid ang sarili sa kabilang dulo ng sofa sa pagnanais na walang kahit na anong parte ng katawan niyaa ng madadampi sa lalaki. Limang pulgada lang ang matagampay nitong nailayo.

The sofa was comfortable and huge when it was just the two of them earlier. With Renault on it, it appears to have shrunk signifcantly.

Inabot ng lalaki ang noo niya nang mabining pagdampi ng labi bilang pagbati bago binalingan ang babaeng nasa kabilang dulo ng sofa.

"You bring shame to that beautiful face."

Before Lia could do anything like slap Renault on behalf of her sister for the insult, the man reached out a hand to gently cupped Amber's cheek.

Amber didn't move away. Or flinch. She just stared back at Renault with an indifferent expression on her face.

"Did that hurt, Mia?"

Renault's voice was so gentle and so sweet. In complete contrast to how hard he is grasping Amber's chin.

"Not as painful as it is for you to admit that I am indeed beautiful."

Renault's laughter lacks true joy. "You have Lia's face. What else could you be but beautiful?"

Bumaba ang tingin ni Amber sa kamay na nakahawak sa kanyang mukha. Kinuha niya iyon mula sa kanyang mukha at inilapat ang hinlalaki ng lalaki sa kanyang labi. Tinitigan niya ang lalaki diretso sa mata habang dahan-dahang binubuka ang mga bibig. She brought the tip of his thumb inside her mouth, sucked for a second or two, and laid his palm on his own thigh. "Yeah, what else could I ever be?"

Tumayo siya at binalingan si Lia.

"Matutulog na ako."

Maang na sinundan ni Lia ng tingin ang kapatid.

Nang balingan niya ang katabi, nakatingin din ito sa papalayong pigura ni Amber. Nagbawi lang ito ng tingin nang tuluyan nang nakapasok ang babae sa loob ng kuwarto nito. Napatingin din ito sa sariling kamay. Sa palad na humawak sa pisngi ni Amber. Ibinuka-sara nito iyon bago ibinaba at sinalubong ang kanyang tingin.

"What was that?" she demanded.

The man just shrugged and leaned back on the sofa.

"What happened and you finally invited me to your home?" Sa halip ay tanong nito. Iniikot nito ang tingin sa paligid bago siya muling tiningnan at nginitian. "I like your house. Cute."