Wrath of the Blazing Sun (Isla del Tesoro #3)

01

01

Her Secrets and Lies

"You really think that a mere threat can scare me away?" My face turned grim.

"I'm only warning you." My cousin, Ruce said. Katulad ko, seryoso rin ang itsura niya. Halatang hindi nagugustuhan ang mga sinasabi ko. "I won't be here to always protect you. It's better for you to stay low and avoid unnecessary fights..."

Instead of listening to his nonsense teachings to me, I rolled my eyes. Natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang dahil sa ginawa ko. Nanatili ang titig niya kaya hindi ako nagpatalo. Tinitigan ko rin siya.

"You're not taking this seriously." Sambit niya. "But you should. This is for your own good,"

"My own good will be my responsibility. I don't need any of your opinion,"

Hindi siya natinag sa mga sinabi ko. Gusto ko siyang sabunutan. Ruce being Ruce, iisa lang rin naman ang dugong nananalaytay sa aming dalawa.

"Lolo is worried."

"I can still handle myself, Ruce." I glared at him. "You know that."

"Still..." He cocked his head. His eyes gazed at me with teasing remarks. "Lolo ordered guards for you. You can't say no to him."

I gritted my teeth. "Huwag mong subukan ang pasensya ko, Ruce."

He chuckled teasingly. "Okay, I don't want to be the subject of your wrath."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"But seriously, if you won't stay low, baka mapilitan si Lolo na ilayo ka rito-"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Me? Away from here? No! "Hindi pwede! I still have things to do-"

"Like getting into fights and all that?" He teased again.

Sinapak ko ang braso niya. "No! The other things!"

Natigilan siya. Nawala ang kaninang pang-aasar at muling napalitan ng pagiging seryoso. "Lolo said that you shouldn't mind that."

"Kailan ba ako nakinig?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Listen," He took a deep breath. "Lolo's doing his best to protect you. Don't take it too lightly. You, me, and him. Tayo na lang ang pamilya rito,"

Hindi ako umimik. Siya rin ay hindi na rin nagsalita kaya walang sabi-sabi akong tumalikod at umakyat sa kwarto ko.

Ruce is my only cousin. Siya rin ang naatasan ni Lolo na bantayan ako at protektahan. At such a young age, habang ako'y busy sa kakalaro, he's busy training and living with guns and fighting. Ruce is only five years older than me. Aaminin ko, he's more mature and rational compared to me. He uses his head to think before doing something.

But I use my head literally. As in, use it to fight. Physically.

I'm a brat, I hate dramas. And I especially hate annoying and loud people.

I like to do things in my own way. One of the things I hate more than loud and annoying people? Those who stick their nose in other people's businesses. The worst kind of people!

Pabagsak akong dumapa sa kama ko. I groaned and screamed, hoping to let all my feelings out. Pero hindi pa rin sapat.

Tumihaya ako at tumingin sa ceiling. What if... my parents never left me? What if hanggang ngayon, masaya pa rin kami? What if, hindi ito ang naging buhay ng pamilya namin? If the circumstances were only different, I bet that my parents would still be safe now.

Pero hindi.

Instead of thinking more, I forced myself to sleep. May pasok ako bukas. To divert my attention, I needed to release all my stress tomorrow.