Fit the Puzzle (Azcona Cousins #3)

Prelude

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Prelude

The world is all about games. We are all players and it is your choice if you want to play the heroic role or the villain one. It's all a matter of choice. When we were still a kid, we happily played with toys— we were content by those mere childish games but it changed as we grew older... we now play with hearts— feelings to be specific.

No one likes to be fooled, but if you do, you are a sucker for that person. Tongue tied and submissive. People tend to forget things or promises they said that they'd keep for their lifetime, but that's so idealistic. Even if you wanted to rule your own life, somebody would bend it for you.

Nagmamadali akong lumabas ng bahay namin. I wore a nice shirt and shorts, tinitigan ko pa ang sarili sa salamin bago kuhain ang magandang sapatos. I let my curly hair down put minimal makeup on my face.

Hinagilap ko ang sketchbook at lapis ko.

I contained my excitement as I twisted the knob of my door to open it. Lumikha ng malalakas na ingay ang sapatos na suot ko dulot ng pagbaba ko sa aming hagdan.

I tried to tiptoe when I saw my mother sleeping on our couch. Sumilip ako sa kwarto ng kapatid kong si Kuya Alex. I caught him talking to himself animatedly.

May kasama pang pagbibilang ng kamay at pagtango habang nagsasalita.

I went inside his room and I slammed his computer desk to catch his attention.

Sa gulat ay nahulog ang iba papel sa sahig. He frustratedly picked up the scattered papers and glared at me. Nakita ko ang iba't ibang chemical structures doon at wala akong balak na alamin pa kung ano ang mga pangalan.

"Ano na naman ang balak mo at saan ka pupunta?"

I giggled. "Wala kayong group study?"

"Meron," he answered shortly.

Tuwa akong suminghap. Walang pahintulot kong binuksan ang closet niya at pumili ng damit niya.

"Kuya, magpalit ka na para makapunta na tayo sa kanila!"

"H'wag mong pakialaman damit ko!" he shouted and marched towards my direction. Hinablot niya ang damit at asar na nilapag sa kama. "At anong tayo? Ako lang ang pupunta, Croozian."

I pouted.

"Tuturuan ako ni Yuliya mag drawing! May usapan kami!" Itinaas ko pa ang hawak na sketchbook at lapis.

He rolled his eyes.

"Drawing lang ba talaga?" he dubiously asked. Interest wasn't evident in his voice. "At... kailan pa kayo naging magkaibigan ni Yuliya?"

Ngumisi ako. Siyempre kailangan ko maging maparaan.

"Sinama ako minsan ni Papa sa mansyon ng mga Azcona. May party no'n tapos nakasalamuha ko si Yuliya, sobrang bait. She approached me because no one was talking to her. Ang saya niya kausap dahil ang hinhin tapos ang daming alam sa pagguhit," I shrugged. "Then she asked me if I could visit her sometimes... we automatically clicked!"

Our father is working for the Azconas. In their construction company, specifically.

Maikli siyang tumawa. "Napilitan lang siguro siyang pakisamahan ka."

Hinampas ko siya. "Friendly ako, 'no! Bilisan mo na, Kuya. Yuliya's waiting for me!"

"Baka nga hinihiling niyang 'wag ka nang pumunta, e," my brother grinned.

I made a face and stormed out his room. Gising na si Mama nang lumabas ako ng kwarto ni Kuya Alex. Gulat niya akong sinipat at sinuri pa ang suot ko.