The Rose: Mistaken Identity (Book 1 of THE ROSE Pentalogy) COMPLETED

CHAPTER 0075

CHAPTER 0075

Lorainne's POV

December 26, 10: 13 am.

"Lorainne, 10 seconds, all I need is 10 seconds. Remain silent for 10 seconds will you?"

"Kuya, I would talk whenever I want to talk, and I would stop whenever I want to stop."

"Fine. Do as you wish." He said then turned around. We are taking a walk outside his house. Tsk, kahit kailan talaga napaka-suplado. Hindi talaga siya marunong mag-welcome ng guest. But anyway, kahit nuknukan siya ng kapraningan, hindi ko siya papatulan ngayon, birthday niya kahapon eh so pagbibigyan ko siya. Yes, I arrived yesterday December 25 at night, and I spent the night on his house.

Binilisan ko ang paglakad para maabutan ko siya.

"Young man.." I grabbed his left hand. "Where are you planning to treat your sister?" I said when I reached him. I managed to catch up with him. Hindi naman niya binilisan ang paglalakad. "San mo nga ako ipapasyal?" I leaned my head against his shoulder.

"Maglalakwatsa ka ng ganyan ang suot mo?" He said to me. Ano naman kaya ang masama sa suot ko? Tsk, just because I have not changed my clothes yet.. Pshh.

"Why, what's wrong with me? Am I too overdressed?"

No response.

"Bakit nga eh?"

Again he didn't response.

AyYyyYy, nakakainis siya. Hindi ko alam kung inaasar lang niya ako, o ano. Maganda naman ang suot ko ha? Hindi naman ako naka skirt, so anong pinoproblema niya sa akin?

He faced me.

"Kung balak mo lang namang magpasama sa akin na sumakay sa Roller Coaster, then, you are not overdressed. Pero, kung isusuot mo pa rin yan matapos mong tumakas sa date mo, iisipin ng mga tao na naliligaw ka at maling lugar ang pinasukan mo."

"Hmmppfff!" Kunurot ko siya dahil sa sinabi niya. Ang haba haba ng speech niya eh pwede lang naman niyang sabihing magpalit muna ako. And, okay fine, I look like a clown. I purposely dressed funny to offend my date. And I did. So my date ended up leaving me according to plan.

He smiled. "At ano naman ang ngini ngiti-ngiti mo?"

"This is the last time I am tolerating your actions."

"My..my actions?" Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya hanggang sa nahulaan ko na ang tinutukoy niya. Ay naku, nabuking na naman niya ako. Ano pa nga ba, palagi naman niya akong nahuhuli. "Ku..kuya.. Wag mong sasabihin kay Mama, huh? Please, huh?"

"Nasabi ko na."

"Huh!?"

"Nasabi ko na kanina pa."

"Pe..pero, wala ka naman tinawagan ka---"

"I knew Mom would cancel all your credit cards on shaming yourself again, so I called her up before the news came to her. At alam ko rin na pupuntahan mo ako after messing up your date so I took care of the explanation for that. I expected your arrival. I just didn't expect you to arrive earlier. "

"You knew?"

"Alam ko, ako na naman ang idadahilan mo kay mama para hindi ka niya pagalitan kaya wala namang masama kung ako na mismo ang personal na magsabi kay Mama sa pinaplano mo di ba? Pag pinagalitan ka niya, ako rin naman ang tatakbuhan mo kaya mas maganda nang ayusin ko ang ginawa mong gulo nang mas maaga habang hindi pa ako busy, kaysa magugulat na lang ako pag bigla ka ulit sumulpot habang nasa kalagitnaan ako ng meeting. Ayoko nang maulit ang ginawa mong paghila sa akin noon kaya mas maingat na ako ngayon. Also, about your problems on your bank accounts, I already fixed it. My only problem now is, how will I convince everyone na hindi ka galing sa mental hospital pag nakita ka nilang ganyan ang suot mo pag sumakay ka sa carousel?"

I did no response.

Sigh. "Lorainne, you should start taking your actions seriously. You know I can't be with you all the time. Pero, ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko kung magiging pasaway ka pa rin? Whether you're right, or wrong, it doesn't matter. As your brother, I'd take all the consequences for your actions. I can't let my little sister down, can I?"

I did no response.  

"Are you crying?"

"No I am not."

*Sniff, sniff

Tears flowed into my eyes. I cannot look at him. I didn't want to cry. I just missed him. I cried because I missed the times when we were kids. When he would always defend me even if I was wrong. He would never blame me. He would always console me. He would ask me, "Does it hurt?", even though he's the one with bruises. He would tell me, "I'd fight the one who bullied you", even though he's always the one being beaten up.

No one could ever understand me more than him. I was so used on depending on him, so used.. I would purposely get into trouble just to see him.

"Lorainne, I am not angry." He said to me.

I moved closer then hugged him. I cannot speak a word, nor think of something to tell him.

Zeffa Montiel.. he is the man whom I call "Kuya".

Zeffa Montiel.. is the name of that man who's willing to sacrifice everything for the people he cared for.. and for the woman he loves.