4

"This doesn't suit you. Just take this one. It will cover your body very well."

"Excuse me? Are you telling me to cover my body because it's ugly?"

"I didn't say anything like that. I'm just telling you to dress properly. The people coming with me are all guys."

"They have girlfriends. Why would they look at me?"

"Whatever. You don't know anything."

He knew his friends. They might have girlfriends, but some of them still fantasized about her. It was because the girls in her circle of friends had different boyfriends and had already slept with them. They thought his older sister was the same way.

He hated the thought of it, so whenever he saw Leandra's group hanging out with other men, he secretly followed them.

He always made sure she was safe. If he could have dragged all the men and Leandra's male friends out of the bars, he would have done so. Unfortunately, he couldn't because of his age. He couldn't simply fake his identification or lie about his age, even though he looked mature and handsome enough to get inside a bar.

"You're the one who knows nothing. You're stupid. Just go away! Why are you even here in the women's swimwear section? Go find your own."

"I don't have any money. Daddy said my allowance would arrive tomorrow."

"Why don't you ask Mom?"

Leandra realized what she had said a little too late.

The truth was that their mother only supported her, while their father only supported him. It was as if they weren't even a family. Their mother loved only her, while their father only looked after Leandro.

Leandra had known for a long time that their father was a womanizer. She had often seen him kissing different women inside bars. Ever since she turned eighteen, she had repeatedly caught their father making out with women in bars and had even seen him entering hotels with them. Meanwhile, their mother also dated many men.

She knew there was no love left between their parents. She guessed their marriage was all about their careers. They were both afraid of losing the positions their respective families had given them. In exchange for those positions, their families had arranged their marriage. In the end, they had decided to marry simply to be husband and wife on paper.

Leandra cleared her throat and froze when she saw him smiling as though he hadn't been hurt by her words.

He couldn't fool her. She could see the sadness in his eyes.

"It's because you're buying those stupid things for your own satisfaction, you pig," Leandra said, referring to the sex toys she had seen in his room.

"You touched them?"

"What?! What the f*ck! Why would I touch those dirty things that you... you play with? I would never dare to lay my hands on your f*cking semen! Assh*le! Go away. You're so annoying."

"Why are you blushing?"

Leandra glared at her younger brother, even though her cheeks were turning red.

"I believe it's normal to talk about it because-"

"You do it, too."

"Yes. The f-! No! J-just go away. I'm not talking to you anymore. I don't know what made you start behaving like this. You're still sixteen!"

"Divided by two."

"Huh? What's with the eight?"

"Inches."

Leandra's eyes widened, and her face turned even redder. She felt as though the heat in her cheeks could reach all the way down to her feet.

"You little sh*t! Come here, you punk! I'm going to beat your f*cking ass!" she shouted angrily while Leandro laughed and moved farther away from her.

"That idiot," she muttered irritably.

---

"Are you hungry?" Leandro asked when he stopped and looked at the open Italian restaurant.

"When we were young, I always ate spaghetti alle vongole with our parents."

"We can still eat inside."

"You said you didn't have any money. You even let me pay for your clothes."

"But you have money, don't you?"

Leandra shot Leandro a dirty look, but he simply smiled at her.

"What a glutton."

"I'll become one soon when I can't control myself anymore."

"What?"

"Nothing," Leandro answered before giving her a meaningful smile.

Leandra swallowed nervously.

*Why do I see a glimpse of... fire in his eyes?*

She shook her head.

*What the f*ck am I thinking?*

"Let's go," Leandro said, taking her along as he happily walked ahead.

She followed him, but suddenly froze when she saw the familiar figure of their father inside the restaurant. He was laughing happily with his arm draped around a sexy woman who was now walking toward the restaurant's glass door.

She quickly walked past Leandro and stood in front of him.

"W-why?"

"Please. Turn away."

"Huh?"

"I said turn around!"

Knowing he wouldn't listen to her, she grabbed both of his arms and quickly turned him around. She lowered the brim of his cap slightly to cover his eyes while his hands remained inside his pockets, holding a rather large paper bag.

Leandro froze when he felt her hugging him from behind.

"Please don't look back," Leandra whispered, resting her face against his back.

*Please, Dad. Just keep walking and don't pay attention to us. Please. Please.*

Leandra silently prayed, and she was immensely relieved when their father simply walked past them.

She waited for several minutes and only let go when she saw him get inside his car.

She sighed, then forced a smile and turned Leandro to face her. Even now, he still hadn't said a word.

"You gullible idiot!" she said, lightly hitting him on the head before adjusting the paper bags she was carrying.

"Come on! Let's just eat at home. I've lost my appetite," she said before walking ahead in a different direction.

Leandro didn't move an inch. He simply stared at her.

*How can I control myself when you're always like this with me, Leandra?* he thought to himself.

---

"I guess Dad will never come home today, even though it's Sunday."

Leandro didn't answer Leandra. He simply lowered his head and leaned against the closed door while she removed her shoes, walked into the living room, and tossed their shopping bags onto the sofa.

"Hey! What are you doing there?! Go cook!" she shouted at Leandro.

When he didn't answer, she approached him and bent down slightly to meet his gaze.

"Why are you acting like this?"

"What?! So that's how you treat me after squeezing money out of me? What's your problem? You've been acting like this for a while now."

"You're making me fall deeper."

"Huh?"

"Dad."

Leandra froze.

"I saw him too, Leandra. I saw him flirting with and f*cking women. Several times."

"Y-you knew? S-since when?"

"I already knew Dad was cheating when I was ten. The same went for Mom. I already knew everything. I tried to cover it up for you because I didn't want you to be sad. I didn't want you to find out. But... I never expected you to do the same thing for me. After all these years of keeping it from you because I didn't want you to get hurt, I never expected that you would end up protecting me from the truth, too."

"I-I'm sorry. I-I just..."

"I'm not a child anymore, Leandra. I'm not the same cute little brother you always protect and comfort."

"B-but y-you're still my brother. I-I thought you said you would do everything to bring us back together and restore the closeness we had before."

"You're right. And I meant that I would also do everything you did for me when we were young."

Leandra chuckled nervously as his ocean-blue eyes stared intently at her while he spoke.

"You've really grown up so well. You've become so big and... masculine. And... and now you can beat up those jerks at school to protect me. I know you're just trying to be a protective and sweet brother, so I'm willing to accept your stupid decision."

"Really?"

It took Leandra a long time to answer. She felt uneasy under the way he was looking at her, and his serious voice made her nervous.

"H-hey... Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" Leandra stammered, forcing her voice to sound angry as she hit his arm. However, Leandro caught her hand and pulled her toward him, causing her to stumble against his chest.

"But I meant this."

"Huh-"

Leandro kissed her before she could finish speaking.

Leandra froze, unable to move from her position, as Leandro pulled her closer and deepened the kiss.

He cupped her face and deepened the kiss even more, moving his mouth as he savored her upper lip.

Leandro pulled away and looked into Leandra's eyes, both of them breathing heavily.

"You kissed me before when we were young. You always did it almost every day, and I'm doing it to you now, too, since you said you would accept my stupid decision. But now that we're already adults, I'll do it in a more mature way, one you won't be able to resist even if you want to. I've been controlling myself ever since you distanced yourself from me, and now that we're close again, I won't let you distance yourself from me anymore. Be prepared, because I think I'll follow in our father's footsteps. I admit I'm quite perverted and hungry in bed, just like our father, but... I'll only do it with you. Only you. So brace yourself."