Surrendering in the Devil's Temptation

Leandra's Property!

F*ck off!

Don't disturb!

Leandro stared at those words. Everytime he passed her room, he would always stopped and stared at her door.

He always remember those days when they were still young. They were so close. They always play together and go home together from school. But everything changed when he went to high school. She became distant and their bond slowly faded away.

They don't go home together anymore and she would always ignore him inside the campus.

They will only see each other inside the campus if they want something from each other.

"F*ck off. Don't disturb." Basa pa ng kaibigan niyang si Julian sa labas ng p***o ni Leandra.

"What is it?" Pareho silang nagulat ni Julian sa biglaang pagbukas ng p***o sa kanilang harapan.

Bumungad sa kanila ang seryoso, maldita at nakataas na kilay ng kanyang nakatatandang kapatid na si Leandra.

Her eyes always look so cold to him as if he'd done something, but for him she always look beautiful and cute.

His heart would always beat faster everytime she met her green eyes that looks like a healthy beautiful forest.

"S-senior Leandra. G-good evening." Utal na bati ni Julian.

"Hmn. Do you need something?"

Siniko ni Julian si Leandro.

"A-ah... n-no. We just passed by."

"Ah." Sabi ni Leandra sa sagot ni Leandro bago sinarado ulit ang p***o.

"Oh my God... I thought I'm gonna die." Nakahawak sa dibdib na sabi ni Julian.

Mapait na ngumiti si Leandro at nagpatiunang naglakad papunta sa kanyang kwarto na katapat lamang nito.

Leandra sighed while half of her body is lying on her bed. Ngumiti siya habang nakatingin sa maliit na kalendaryo na nasa kanyang study table.

Two months na lang ay ga-graduate na siya sa high school. Masaya siya dahil aalis na siya sa bahay na to. Pumayag na ang mommy niya habang ang daddy naman nila ay parang walang pakialam sa desisyon niya sa buhay.

She always want to leave this house because it only makes her sick. It makes her lonely. Hindi na sila tulad ng dati. Lahat ng mga tao dito ay nagbago. They aren't a happy family anymore. Their parents are always busy with their works and her brother, grew up.

She cannot treat him how she treated him before even if she wants to. In her eyes, she is no more longer the little cute brother that she always play and sleep with.

He was cute, very cute until one day she saw him together with a girl in the campus. She realized that he already grew up as a fine young man. But why... why does her heart hurt everytime she saw him with another girl?

She doesn't want to admit that she's jealous. But her heart says it all. That's why she would do everything to ignore him. Her feelings must be wash away.

Ngumiti siya nang marinig niya ang pamilyar na pagbukas ng p***o sa kanilang bahay.

"Mom." Sambit niya saka nagmamadaling lumabas.

Her mother smiled at her.

"Lea. Have you already eaten?"

Umiling siya.

"Leandro didn't cook?" Tunog inis na tanong ng kanyang ina saka galit na ibinaba ang bag sa upuan at pupunta sana sa kwarto ni Leandro.

"Mom, please he is doing his homework with his friend."

"Oh... akala ko wala na namang nagawang tama ang batang yon." Malditang sabi ng kanyang ina saka naglabas ng cellphone.

Lumawak ang ngiti nito pagkatapos nitong may mabasa sa cellphone nito.

Mapait siyang bumuga ng hangin. Sometimes she feels grateful that her mother adores her but she also feels sad if she treat Leandro differently. It breaks her heart.

"I am sorry dear. I already eat in the restaurant with a friend. I'll order pizza for you, is that okay?"

I had it last night too. Aniya sa sarili.

Everytime her mother comes home. They will always eat pizza. Minsan iniisip na lang niyang sana hindi na lang uuwi ang mommy nila dahil mabubusog din naman siya sa luto ni Leandro.

Mapait siyang ngumiti.

"Wala pong problema." Nakangiti niyang sagot.

Nag-order ang mama niya at pagkatapos ay may kinausap sa cellphone. Naririnig niya ang malalambing nitong tawa sa labas ng bahay nila habang siya naman ay nakaupo lang sa kusina.

Napahawak siya sa ulo nang marinig ang ingay sa loob ng kwarto ni Leandro. She is very sensitive in terms of hearing, smelling, taste and all. Sensitive siya lahat sa katawan niya.

"Hahaha. Sayo na si Vivian. May crush naman yun sayo. Ligawan mo na."

"G*go. Magkaibigan lang kami."

"Pero... eh... gusto mo din siya?"

"G*go. Hindi ah."

"Asus. Denial ka pa. Eh lagi mong hinahatid pauwi."

"Hindi nga kasi."

"Tumahimik ka. Baka marinig tayo ni Ate."

"Ehh." Hindi tumigil si Julian at kiniliti pa talaga siya kaya nakitawa na rin siya. Lalo na ng pumaibabaw pa ito sa kanya.

"Julian, ano ba! Tama na. Hahaha. Julian–" sabay silang natigilan sa malakas na biglaang pagbukas ng p***o.

They both froze especially Leandro.

"A-ate..." sambit ni Leandro.

His voice cracked seeing her blank reaction on her face staring at them.

"Leandra, the pizza is here!"

"Mom, Leandro is gay!" Malakas na sigaw ni Leandra sabay naglakad palayo.

"Ano?! Leandro!"

Mabilis na nagsitayuan sina Julian at Leandro sa malakas na sigaw ng kanilang ina.

"Dude, I'm sorry. I'm out of here."

"Huh? T-teka lang." Pigil ni Leandro pero mabilis na itong tumalon sa kanyang bintana.

Narinig pa niya itong umungol dahil sa pagkakahulog nito pero wala naman siyang dapat ipag-alala dahil damo naman ang tatalunan nito.

"Leandro!"

"Opo!" Sagot niya saka mabilis na tumakbo papunta sa kusina.

Yumuko agad si Leandro nang makita ang pamilyar na tingin ng mommy nila sa kanya. Those eyes that always made him bow his head. Those eyes that can shut him up and transmit fear inside him.

"Is it true? Are you gay?"

"Mom, no! She–"

"Then why are you always hanging with him? Are you two timing? You are going out with Vivian and you are also going out with him?"

"Ate, hindi!"

"Tumahimik ka. Wag kang sumasagot-sagot sa ate mo!"

"Mom!" Malakas na sigaw ni Leandra nang malakas na sampalin ng kanilang ina si Leandro.

Umawat siya at hinarangan si Leandro.

"Mom, what are you doing?!" Galit niyang sigaw sa ina.

Hindi sumagot ang kanilang ina at galit lang na tiningnan si Leandro bago kinuha ulit ang bag nito at naglakad papunta sa main door.

"I will not be home in weeks. Tell your father if ever he comes home." Galit nitong sabi saka malakas na sinarado ang p***o.

Leandra sighed and turned to Leandro who is bowing his head until now.

"A-are you okay? I ... I'm sorry. It was just supposed to be a joke. I was annoyed because you were so loud."

Tumungo si Leandro na nakangiti.

Leandra was taken aback.

"I'm okay." Nakangiting sagot ni Leandro.

Leandra didn't answer and just stared directly into his eyes. Those ocean blue eyes that looks so sad and lonely.

He can't fool her.

Her heart beats so fast. She is mad. She felt anger towards her mother.

"Oh pizza!" Maligayang sabi ni Leandro para ibahin ang usapan.

Leandra bit her lower lip. Watching his smile pained her even more.

F*ck it. Aniya saka walang sabi-sabing niyakap ang kapatid.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." She whispered into his ear while hugging him tightly.

Leandro was taken aback.

Her hugged felt so warm that travel through his heart and makes them beat so fast.

"Ate..."

"Shhh... Okay lang. Umiyak ka lang. Wala na si Mommy. Ilabas mo lang yan."

Hindi sumagot si Leandro. Those were the words that she always said to him before when he's sad or pinapagalitan siya ng mommy nila.

"Ate...."

"Shhh..." Pigil ni Leandra at mas lalong niyakap si Leandro.

I wanted to say that you're making me uncomfortable but yet... Why does it feel good? Ani Leandro sa sarili.

Ngumiti na lang siya saka itinaas din ang mga kamay at niyakap si Leandra.

Leandra froze.

His large hands made her feel uncomfortable. It's new to her.

Bahagya siyang lumayo dito habang namumula ang mukha.

"Ate... Okay ka lang?"

"H-hey... W-when did you grew up like this? H-how did your body became like this... Big?"

"Eh?"

"Oh my God. Anong iniisip ng utak ko? Oh dear." Paulit-ulit na sinasampal ni Leandra ang namumulang mga pisngi.

"Are you okay? Bakit ka namumula?" Tanong ni Leandro sabay salat sa kanyang noo.

"H-huh? Hindi ah. W-wag ka nga. At please wag mo na ako yakapin sa susunod. Oh my God. What's happening to me?" Parang baliw na sabi ni Leandra saka nagmamadaling umakyat sa taas.

Leandro was left dumbfounded.

He doesn't understand anything. But strangely, seeing her acting like that is new to him. And he always wish to see her acting like that because for him, it feels like he has the power over her.

Tumingin siya sa pizza. Kaka-pizza lamang nila kahapon at pizza na naman ngayon. He knew she doesn't like pizza so much. He knew that she always want the hawaiian flavor but their mother would always ordered margarita for them.

Bumuntong-hininga siya saka sinarado ito at naglakad papunta sa lababo.

He washed his hands first before he opened the refrigerator. Napangiwi siya nang makitang halos wala na silang pagkain.

Binuksan niya ang cabinet sa itaas at ngumiti nang makita ang mga pancit canton. Kumuha din siya ng itlog para ihalo dito.

"Wag yung chili-mansi!" Rinig niyang sigaw ni Leandra sa itaas.

He already knew. She doesn't like sour flavor. She hates it. She seldomly eat it. That's why he never bought anything except the Xtra hot flavor Pancit canton.

Ngumiti siya. It felt like they are back again. At ayaw niyang mapunta sa wala ang gabing to at baka wala na siyang makita pang ibang chance na magkalapit ulit sila bago ito lilipat sa bahay nila.

He will take this chance to get their bond again.