Dear Mr. Otaku (Completed)

Cinco

I sat down on the carpeted floor facing my painting. I patted the space beside me to invite Aria-nee. She looked reluctant because of her dress but in the end, she lifted the fabric off to one side and bunched the rest in her middle as she folded her legs beneath her.

"What do you see?" I watched her from the corner of her eye.

She was silent for a while before she answered, "you love her."

"And?"

Napakuno't noo siya sa tanong ko. She threw a confused look at me.

"I don't just say I love her, Aria-nee. I do." I smiled at the thought. "Saying you love someone is one thing but actually expressing it to that someone is a whole different thing. Love is the most powerful thing in this world, yet it is also the most fragile and must be nurtured for it to grow."

"Adrian, you know I can't..." she started to say but I cut her off.

"Who says you can't? Your Dad?" I took her hand and squeezed it. "Don't let others choose you path, Aria-nee. In the end, you are the one who will suffer. At least suffer in a path of your own choosing."

"Who are you?" She asked wonderingly. "Are you really my Addie?"

I smiled and pinched her nose. "Yes and no. It's still me here, but I guess I found a stronger version of myself. Someone who'd be worthy to love. Yes, it sounds cheesy but that's what it is. Love changes people."

"I don't want to hurt my family. I'm not like you Addie."

"And you are willing to hurt Aniki."

Nakita kong nanlaki ang mga mata niya at naglandas dito ang mga luha. I did not do anything to ease her pain.

"How can you say that?" I can hear the bitterness in her voice. "You know... You know why we can't... I can't..."

"You love each other, yet you are both unwilling to fight for it. Stop running away from that love Aria-nee. I'm not in the way anymore so forgive yourself already. Kuya Andrew already did."

Her tears still flowed down her cheeks but I knew I can't be swayed. If I don't make her see the light, she'd forever hurt my brother. "So what if they disown you? Kuya Andrew can take care of you. This is not like when we were kids Aria-nee. He's his own man and he's willing to stand by you."

"But I'm getting married in a month!"

"Not when you get married to someone else first."

...oOo...oOo...oOo...

We found him slumped over bottles of Bacardi and Johnny Walker in Valkyrie. It took a lot of maneuvering but I managed to get his car keys and drive him and Aria-nee back to my condo.

"Stay with him tonight." I told her when we had him tucked in the spare bedroom in my unit. "Then talk tomorrow. Take the whole day if you have to. I'll spend mine with Dianne."

It was already 4AM when I finally got some shut eye. I didn't even have the strength to change. Naghubad lang ako ng sapatos at pantalon tapos humiga na ako. Sa sobrang pagod ko ay hindi ko na namalayan ang oras.

I felt familiar lips touch mine and I couldn't help but smile. I reached out and pulled her closer before I opened my eyes.

"Good morning, koi." I greeted her before I resumed the kiss she started. What a wonderful way to wake up. "You're tempting me too early in the morning." I heard her soft feminine shriek when I changed our positions and she found herself caged beneath me.

"Anong morning? It's 2PM already." She pouted at me. "Akala ko kung ano nang nangyari kasi di mo sinasagot ang phone mo. Baka nakidnap ka na or something. Saka sabi mo susunduin mo ko." Lalong humaba yung nguso niya at na-guilty naman ako.