Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 43

I have always known my brother; we weren't siblings for nothing. Katulad ng sinabi ko, kilala ko ang halang ng bituka niya. How bad and good he could be if he wanted, and maybe he chose to be the understanding one, not letting me suffer under his wrath.

Akala ko ay sapilitan niya akong ikukulong sa bahay ng sumunod na araw. But what caught me off guard was just him asking to come home instead of being alone in my place. I couldn't say that I wasn't entirely alone because most of the time Akio would sleep with me.

Baka magalit lang siya lalo, and instead of just making me simply go home, he'd lock me in our house because we both know he can do that, but what's for sure is that I won't let him cage me away from my boyfriend.

To make amends, I followed him like a good girl. Although, malungkot ako dahil hindi ko makakatabi sa pagtulog ang isa, but I'd rather settle this than add fuel to our fight.

I have been here for days, and within those days my brother doesn't talk to me much. He treated me much like air. Not that I am bothered over his cold treatment. Ngunit hindi ko pa rin makakalimutang sinuntok niya si Akio. It makes me wonder, why do guys even fight with each other when clearly they're both assholes?

I get to eat home-cooked foods and sleep peacefully, aside from the fact that Malaya constantly wants to play with me no matter how I tell her that I am tired. I couldn't even say no to her, and in the end—I ended up playing the role of that sleeping princess because I always fall asleep in the middle of our play. Plus, Mother dear is taking care of me. Madalas nga lang akong makaramdam ng antok ngayon; maybe it was the price for taking advantage of my body and the constant staying up late.

Akala niya siguro talo ako sa ginagawa niya, ha, no! This is a win-win situation for me.

Although Akio wasn't able to visit me the rest of my stay in Bulacan, not that I don't want him visiting me here. Pero hindi ko pa nasabi sa magulang ko na may boyfriend na ako, and that it was my brother's friend. I couldn't imagine their shock. Inakala ko pa nga ay ilalaglag na ako ng kuya sa magulang namin; he's a rude brat—I wouldn't wonder if he can do that to me, but thankfully, hindi naman.

I told him that we should settle with this for now; babalik na rin naman na ako bukas sa Manila. Hindi ko rin matagalang walang ginagawa at nakatambay lang sa pamamahay ko. I have a business to take care of; more importantly, I need to hear this week's report from Adeline as soon as possible.

When the sun started to come down, I readied my things that I brought when I went back home. Hindi naman marami dahil may mga gamit naman ako dito sa bahay. It's just the usual things I bring with me whenever I want to spend a day or two here in Bulacan.

After settling it on my small handbag, dumiretso na ako sa baba para sa hapunan. Kumpleto na sila ng dumating ako, at halatang ako nalang ang hinihintay. If this was the usual set-up, kanina pa siguro nagrereklamo ang kuya ko, pero masyado niya atang pinapangatawanan ang pagiging cold boy niya na ni kahit palatak ng dila niya ay hindi ko marinig. I looked in front of me and smiled at Malaya, who was watching me settle down on my seat.

"Hi baby! I wasn't able to play with you kanina kasi I was asleep. Gutom na ikaw?" I talked to her softly.

Nang magtama ang tingin namin ng ama niya, ay inirapan ko lang ito at nagsimula na ring kumain.

Tanging ang ingay lamang ni Malaya ang bumuhay sa aming paligid; she was constantly babbling around about what happened to her day at school and how her dada was late to picking her up.

"I told him I was out at school ng 1pm, early ng 2 hours than the usual end of our classes." Ang sama ng tingin niya kay Kuya, who couldn't even look at her. "That he should pick me out, and we'll make some gala at the mall."