My Stepsister is Mine [Completed]

Chapter 24

"Who's Sari?" Celine asked while sitting on the passenger seat. Atticus was driving to his friend's condo, Sari's condo dahil sasabay daw ito papuntang opisina.

"Sari's a good friend of mine. Coding si Sari ngayon so she had no car."

"Good friend? Then bakit ngayon ko lang narinig ang pangalan niya?"

He smiled. "We weren't together the past five years, remember?"

Tumango-tango siya. Pero naiinis pa rin siya na kailangan nilang isabay ang babaeng iyon. "Who else is coming to the outreach?" she asked, changing the topic.

"Some of the employees who manage this project. Ariies and Yego will be there as well. Partner ng kumpanya natin ang businesses nila in this project."

Tumango-tango siya ulit sa sinabi nito. "So Sari manages the project? Kaya siya kasama?"

Umiling ito.

"Then how is she involved?"

"She just wants to extend a helping hand. Who am I to say no?"

"Can you just stop asking questions about her? I'm getting bored." And he stayed silent for the rest of the ride to Sari's condo.

Nakarating sila sa condo ni Sari. Atticus just parked in the basement connected to the lobby and Celine saw a woman walking towards their car.

She's pretty, with long black hair and fair skin. Sumakay ito sa backseat.

"Oh my gosh! I cannot believe this!!! You're actually here in the Philippines, Atticus!" sigaw ng babae.

She's loud. And she instantly hates her.

"How have you been? Long time no see," sagot ni Atticus.

"Kailangan kasi ako pa ang pumunta ng Singapore para makita ka. Gosh, you're so hard to catch, Atticus!" natatawang wika nito.

"Anyway, this is my stepsister Celine. She'll come with us."

Nairita si Atticus sa pakilala nito sa kanya. He always introduces her as his girlfriend. Pero bakit stepsister ngayon? "Hi Sari," she greeted.

"Oh my God! You're Celine? His one true love?"

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ng babae. "What?" she stammered.

"Alam mo bang nang nalasing si Atticus sa Singapore in a bar, wala siyang ginawa kundi isigaw ang pangalan mo. I needed to pacify him dahil muntik na siyang magsimula ng away doon!"

Celine was astounded with her revelation. And now, she didn't look like a threat after all.

"I'm Saritha, by the way. People call me Sari or Rita," pakilala ng babae from the back seat.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa narinig. "You're Yego's ex?"

Kitang-kita niya kung paano nalukot ang mukha ng dalaga. And Atticus burst into laughter.

"Excuse me, binasted ko ang lalaking iyon! Hindi naging kami ever," sagot nito at sumadal sa backseat. "Hindi niya ako tinanong kung pwede niya ba akong maging girlfriend! Kapal talaga ng mukha!!"

"So why are you here then if not for Yego?" tanong ni Celine.

"I only came here because the idea was mine. Gusto kong makita kung ano ng nangyari doon," she sincerely said. "I'm part of a foundation for children working on various causes for poor kids."

"Yego initiated the project," Atticus said. "Three years ago, he asked me and Aries for funding dahil gusto niyang matulungan ang mga bata sa Sta. Monica. I think your love for kids drove him to do this as well, Sari."

"So he's your ex from three years ago?" Celine asked.

"Hindi ko nga siya ex ever," Sari bravely answered.

Natawa na lamang si Celine sa dalaga. Hindi niya fully maintindihan ang sinabi nito but she's glad that she's not a threat.

Sinulyapan niya si Atticus na focused sa pagda-drive. He has one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on his thigh. Hindi niya alam what took over her that she reached out to hold his free hand.

Nagulat ito sa ginawa niya but he didn't let go.

"Sweet!" Sari screamed from behind the seat.

****

They arrived at the meetup place. Nandoon na ang ibang mga employees nila at pati na rin sina Yego at Aries. Kailangan daw nilang magtrek papataas ng bundok dahil nandoon ang tatlong maliit na school na ipinatayo nila para sa tatlong barrio na nandoon.

It was 11AM in the morning at medyo masakit na sa balat ang araw. Celine is a model and she knows how vital it is to have smooth skin.

"Shit," she cursed looking at the mountain before her.

"You don't have to come," Atticus whispered beside her. "Pwede kitang ipahatid pabalik sa driver."

She looked at him. He has his backpack on and a cap on his head. Nagpalit ito ng jeans to a more comfortable walking shorts.

"I'm coming," she firmly said.

"Fine! I just don't wanna hear complaints later," sagot nito at nauna ng naglakad.

Sinundan niya ito and tried to look enthusiastic. Kailangan niyang pangatawanan ang pagpunta dito dahil nagdahilan siyang gusto niyang makita ang mga ginagawang mabuti ng kumpanya nila. Well, the truth is nagselos lang naman siya kay Sari na kausap nito sa phone kaninang umaga kaya nagpumilit siyang sumama para bantayan ito. But it turned out that Sari was nothing to be worried about.

The next hour was a steep trek to one of the barrios with the school they've setup. Maligaya silang binati ng mga estudyante doon pagkarating nila.

Nagulat siya ng pagkaguluhan ng mga bata sina Yego, Aries at Atticus.

Nagkatinginan lamang sila ni Sari sa gulat.

Nagsalita ang isa sa mga teacher na nandoon. "Tuwang-tuwa ang mga bata dahil nakita na nila sa wakas ang mga teachers nila na dati ay nasa videos lang na pinapanood nila sa TV."

"What do you mean?" Sari asked.

"Nagpapadala kasi ng tutorial videos sina Sir Aries para sa mga bata. Nandoon silang tatlo."

Nanlaki ang mata nila pareho ni Sari. "About what?" Celine asked, unbelieving. Hindi siya makapaniwalang gagawin iyon ng isang Atticus Lorenzo Alcaraz.

"Alphabet, numbers and sometimes, Spelling!" sagot ng teacher. "Crush na crush sila ng mga batang babae dito at ng ilan sa mga teachers," pag-amin nito.

"Kasama ka ba don?" diretsong tanong ni Sari sa teacher na halatang kilig na kilig din sa dumating na mga binata.

"Ay, syempre naman po!" sagot nito at tumakbo papalapit sa mga bata na pinagkakaguluhan sina Yego.

Sari rolled her eyes. And so did she. "I can't believe they'd do that."

"Yeah," Sari agreed. "Those jerks... have a heart after all."

*****

A/N: Hi all, maraming salamat sa walang sawang pagsuporta ninyo sa story na ito. Sad to say but malapit na siyang magtapos. :) Abangan ang nalalapit na pagtatapos next week.

Don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT AND FOLLOW me para updated kayo sa ending.

Bonus: I'm going to write a story about Yego and Saritha.