Sinclair Secrets

Chapter 24: Grabby brother and oily kisses

Ariella's friends plowed into the dining room that Saturday morning. It's still 7:00 o'clock but our anxiety level had spiked up. Everybody had stopped trying to strike a conversation and were just quietly eating breakfast.

Halfway through, we heard faint footsteps coming. Our eyes met and immediately snapped towards the door.

Moments later, Elle emerged. She was in her extra large, pink hoodie which came down a couple of inches above her knees. She pulled the hood down when she saw us, staring at her.

I saw her blink. Her face showed nothing.

Then she smiled. Though, I think it didn't quiet reached her eyes. But she did. And she smiled like nothing happened.

Yaya Fely appeared from the kitchen and immediately pulled her the seat in front of me and placed a plate and utensil on the table before seating on the head chair.

Elle smiled at her again and began eating.

We threw worried glances at each other. She had passed out all through the night. And looking at her now, acting perfectly fine had felt strange. It was like that one morning when she decided to finally go back to school after over three months.

Very strange.

I inconspicuously watched her for a while. She began eating. Normally.

I put my utensil down and looked at her. "Hey, Sis. Not even a good morning kiss?" I said, deciding to tease her for reactions.

She raised her eyes at me and frowned. "We don't do good morning kisses, weirdo." Her voice was kinda hoarse.

Okay. That's a normal Elle thing to say.

I smirked. "Oh, but we should!"

Her frown deepened and arched her eyebrow at me as if I just said I was an alien. "Remind me how you were my brother again."

I just laughed at her and pushed off the table to run to her. She tried to push me off but I struggled and hugged her to me. Showering her with kisses all over her face.

She was chanting 'Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!' over and over again.

"Get off me, Bryan! You stink!"

I hear them laughing in the background before they all join me. Yaya Fely was calling us out to leave the 'poor girl' alone. But Patty and I didn't listen. I held Steven and Hozzai off though before they can even hug my sister and raised an eyebrow at them.

"No kissing Elle for you both."

"Heey! No fair!" Steven protested.

Hozzai pushed me aside and dove for Elle anyway, laughing and kisses her cheek.

Sneaky bastard.

I pulled him off immediately with Patty's help. But Steven had sneakily hugged and kissed her as well before we did.

"That's it. You stay five meters away from Elle now. I'm giving you a restraining order."

They both grinned cheekily at me.

Elle was glaring at the four of us, rubbing her reddened cheeks. "You got food oil on me. You! Ugh. I have to go take a bath now," she whined as she dashed to the staircase muttering about grabby and gross people who likes to give oily kisses.

We just remained there, looking at her. Our smiles slipping away as soon as she was out if sight.

I heard Patty and Hozzai sighed.

"Don't you think we should call Dr. Claro now?" she asked quietly.

I walked to the table and grabbed a glass of water. "We already talked last night. I was to keep an eye on Elle for now. And report everything to her. Mom got the house wired as well to look after her day in, day out. In case she tries to do it again."

"Oh God, no. She barely made it that time," Hozzai whispered shakily.

Yes. He's right. That's why we do not take any chances now. I swear to myself I wouldn't let her do it again. It had been pure horror back then. It still haunts me until now. Whenever I remember her covered in blood from a cut in her wrist, I always feel how I felt that moment. It still makes me feel cold all over. And the overwhelming fear. God...

I don't wanna lose her. Not then and certainly, not this time.

Steven popped his knuckles as he leaned on the counter. "Vaughn's gotta pay blood for this."

"And that bitch," Patty hissed, hatefully.

Just then, Yaya Fely walked inside again with a solemn face. "Telepono mo, anak."

I gritted my teeth as soon as I saw the caller ID. Rage immediately boiled in my veins. "You got the godd*mned balls to call me after what you f***ing did to my sister?!?" I screamed at him as I gripped the back of the chair so hard.

I feel like breaking his f***ing head with my f***ing bare hands.

"Goddamn it! You.don't.have the f***ing right to ask about her."

"I trusted you, man. I trusted you more than anyone else to take good care of her. If she ever tries to kill herself again because of this, I swear... I f***ing swear, man, I'm gonna f***ing deal with you myself." I slam the phone down the table that I even heard a crack.

"F***ing asshole."

Half an hour later, we were gathered inside the e-room watching 'The Martian'. Steven and Hozzai both had the reclining chairs. While Patty sat with us in the couch.

Ariella was snuggled beside me with an ice cream pint. Something she wouldn't do in front of her friends in normal days. Ikinakahiya niya daw kasi ako. Between the two of us, I am always the clingy one. And she's the one who'll get in trouble even just by standing still. That's always been that way.

I glanced at her fetal position and bled inside. She looks so fragile and vulnerable. I rubbed her arm, soothingly.

Pain had never been easy for her. Her mind and heart is too weak to handle it. Todo sya pag nagmahal kaya todo-todo din masaktan. Be it from a father's death, Hachi's or a best friend's betrayal. She's very unstable that's why we always look out for her. She's just too fragile no matter the facade she put on.

Vaughn, that bastard. He better not show himself to me.