When we grow up, I'll marry you!
"It's too late, I am already married to someone else."
Gretel clearly remembers the words he said on the last day they were together. She threw the last picture she has that reminds her of Andrius to the incinerator. She is her best bud, the older brother she always wanted. He promised her he will always protect, pero asan na ito ngayon?
It has been almost 20 years. Ubos na ang mga bagay na nagpapaalala sa kanya kay Andrius, every year that he doesn't come back, nagsusunog siya ng mga bagay na bigay nito.
"It really took me 20 years to move on, how pathetic." She hissed to herself habang pinapanood na maging abo ang mga natitirang ala-ala ni Andrius sa kanya.
She cannot blame him, though. They were too young for such promises, but she didn't know why she held unto those kahit alam naman niyang impossible iyong mangyari.
She was turning 7 when Andrius' family flew to America and decided to live there for good. There was an emergency kaya hindi na ito nakapagpaalam ng maayos, and just like that, they lost communication at nawalan na siya ng balita tungkol dito.
"Miss Gretel, andito lang po pala kayo! Si Sir Hansel po nasa office niyo." Humahangos ang secretary niyang lumapit sa kanya at mukha kanina pa siya nagpapaikot-ikot kakahanap sa kanya.
"Bakit daw?" She asked her bago maglakad pababa mula rooftop.
"Ehhh, wala lang daw po." She heard her secretary said in a low voice. Bahagyang natigilan si Gretel sa narinig. Kahit kailan wala ng mabuting naidudulot ang kapatid niya.
Dumiretso siya sa opisina niya at nabungaran naman niya si Hansel na preskong nakaupo sa swivel chair niya habang nakataas ang mga paa nito sa mesa.
"Feet off my table, Hansel." She said in a calm voice.
"Oh! At last you're here! Ipapaapprove ko sana yung purchase ng bagong eroplano para sa airline."
"Why me? Si Austin ang may hawak ng McNeils, nasa Primera ka stupid." Nakapamewang siyang tumayo sa harapan ng mesa niya dahil hindi pa rin umaalis si Hansel sa kanyang upuan. Hansel put down his feet at mabilis na kinuha ang mga kamay ni Gretel.
"Austin doesn't want to approve it! You are my last resort! Please my beloved, pretty twin sister, please?"
"If Austin, says no, it's a no---"
"W-Wala na ba akong kakampi sa pamilyang ito?" Hansel faked his tears. "Dumarami na kasi ang mga customers at gusto ko lang naman iaccomodate silang lahat..." He sniffed and looked at Gretel with his puppy eyes.
Napangiwi na lang si Gretel ng ipunas ni Hansel ang palad niya sa mukha niya para iparamdam sa kanya na umiiyak talaga ito.
