BOOK 1 | Start the War

Arc 1 | Ch. 6: Innocence Is Ignorance

Start the War

Chapter 006

"And where have you been,"

Natigilan si Cheska sa pagpunta sa kaniyang kwarto when she heard someone else's voice from the living room. Nagsalubong ang kaniyang kilay at nilaanan iyon ng tingin. Her eyes widened. Hindi siya nagkakamali ng dinig. He's really there.

"...older sister?"

Joshua is right there, sitting while his arms and legs are crossed. It's almost past midnight kaya walang inaasahan si Cheska na nagaantay sa kaniya sa mansyon at lalong hindi niya inaasahan na uuwi ito ngayon. Wait, when did he come back?

"Kailan ka pa nakabalik?"

He looked at his watch. "Two hours ago, perhaps? Answer my question now."

Tumigil siya sa pagakyat at naglakad papalapit sa kaniya. His brows furrowed.

"What's with the getup?"

"Please don't tell this to mother," that's the first thing she said as she sat beside him.

"I won't," he firmly said and looked at her seriously. "I need an explanation to this, sister..."

"Alright fine," she took a couple of deep breaths first before speaking. "I have this frie—classmates. They're asking for my help so I accepted it. I don't want to turn blind and deaf when someone is asking for my help. Kaya ayon..."

"Saan ka nga nanggaling? That's my question."

"Casino—" hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin ng makita kung paano umangat ang isang kilay ni Joshua. "I helped them to play poker. Overage naman sila so I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine! See? I'm alive oh?"

"You should have at least told me. Casino is a different place."

"Alam ko...I just didn't have enough time to speak about it. Sasabihin ko naman sayo kapag nakauwi ka na."

Joshua fell silent for a while, nakatingin na sa ibang gawi. Maya maya ay natawa siya ng marahan. "Now that explains why you're wearing that outfit. I assume that's mom's. You don't like dresses. So you're a party—no, casino girl now?"

She rolled her eyes. Sumandal na muna siya at saka pumikit, she's going to rest for a minute.

"With all due respect, little brother, you're younger than be. Supposedly, you should be out there having friends and partying. Not minding our company business," sambit niya. "Or you just don't want the same thing to happen again?"

She heard him sigh. "You know I can't do that. Someone has to be the father to this family."

Napangiti siya ng marahan doon. She hates the side of his brother at the same time she loves it. Naiinis siya sa kung paano ito kumilos na parang mas matanda siya sa kaniya. He's just so mature compare to his age which is sixteen. Nagugustuhan naman niya ito minsan because if not because of that personality of his, their mom might still be having a hard time.

"I let you rest now," she felt him leaving his seat. "Magpapahinga na rin ako. Nakakapagod ang biyahe. Makakahiga na rin ako sa kama ko."

Joshua only looked at her sister, waiting for her response. Thinking she's already asleep, naglakad siya papalayo kukuha sana ng kumot but before reaching the stairs, she suddenly spoke.

"I felt it. Again."

He stopped.

"The same feeling I felt before," she opened her eyes, staring at the chandelier. "Obsession...desire...excitement...the difference is I wasn't mad so it didn't happen."