Chapter 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. Puro lalaki mga kasama ko."

"May mga girlfriends sila. Bakit sila titingin sa akin?"

"Ah basta. Wala kang alam."

He knew his friends. They may have girlfriends but some of them are also fantasizing her. It's because her circle of friends already have different boyfriends and slept with them. They also thought that his older sister is also the same. Nagagalit siya sa isiping yun kaya kapag nakita niyang may mga kasamang lalaki ang grupo ni Leandra kasama ito ay sinusundan niya ang mga ito ng palihim.

He always make her safe. Kung pwede lang na panghilahin niya lahat ng mga lalaki at kaibigan ni Leandra palabas ng bar ay ginawa niya pero hindi pwede dahil sa edad niya. He cannot just fake his identification and his age even though he looked handsomely mature to go inside the bar.

"Mas wala kang alam. Bobo ka. Umalis ka nga. Bakit ka ba nandito sa women's swimwear? Maghanap ka ng sayo."

"Wala akong pera. Bukas pa darating allowance ko sabi ni Daddy."

"Why don't you ask mom?"

Huli na ng mapagtanto ni Leandra ang sinabi. The truth is their mother only supports her while their father only supports him. Parang hindi sila pamilya. Their mother love only her while their dad only looks for Leandro.

Alam na din dati pa ni Leandra na babaero ang ama nila. He always saw him kissing a lot of women inside the bar. Since she turned eighteen, she always find their father making out with women in the bars and even saw him going inside the hotel. While their mother also dated a lot of men.

She knew that there is no more love between their parents. She guessed it was just all about their carriers. They were both afraid to be driven out from their works which their both parents gave the position for them in exchanged of their marriage. They decided to get married just to be husband and wife on the paper.

Leandra cleared her throat and froze as he saw him smile like he wasn't hurt. He can't fool her. She can see the sadness in his eyes.

"It's because you're buying those stupid stuffs for your satisfaction, you pig." Tukoy ni Leandra sa mga sex toys na nakita niya sa kwarto nito.

"You touched them?"

"What?! What the f*ck. Why would I touch those dirty stuffs that you... You played with. I would never dare let my hands on your f*cking semens. Assh*le. Go away. You're so annoying."

"Why are you blushing?"

Pinameywangan ni Leandra ang kapatid kahit namumula ang kanyang pisngi.

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

"You also do it."

"Yes. The f"ck. No. J-just go away. I will not talk to you anymore. I don't know what makes you start behaving like this. You're still sixteen."

"Divided by two."

"Huh? What's with the eight?"

"Inches."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Leandra at mas lalong namula ang mukha. At sa tingin niya ay aabot na ata ng talampakan.

"You sh*t! Come here you punk! I'm gonna beat your f*cking ass." Galit niyang sabi habang tatawa-tawa namang lumayo si Leandro.

"G*gong yun." Inis pa niyang bulong.

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"Are you hungry?" Tanong ni Leandro nang tumigil siya at tumingin sa bukas na Italian restaurant.

"When we were young. I always eat spaghetti alle vongoli with our parents."

"We can still eat inside."

"You said you don't have money. You even let me paid your clothes."

"But you have money, no?"

Tiningnan ni Leandra ng masama si Leandro pero ngumiti lang ito sa kanya.

"What a glutton."

"I will be one soon when I can't control myself anymore."

"What?"

"Nothing." Sagot ni Leandro saka makahulugang ngumiti. Napalunok si Leandra.

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

Ipinilig niya ang ulo.

What the f*ck am I thinking?

"Let's go." Akay ni Leandro at masayang nagpatiuna sa paglakad.

Sumunod na rin siya pero nanigas nang makita sa loob ang pamilyar na bulto ng kanilang ama habang masayang tumatawa na nakaakbay pa sa sexy-ng babae na palabas na ngayon sa glass door ng restaurant.

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

"W-why?"

"Please. Turn away."

"Huh?"

"Tumalikod ka sa sabi eh." Alam niyang hindi siya nito susundin kaya hinawakan niya ito sa magkabilang braso at mabilis itong pinatalikod pagkatapos niyang bahagyang ibinaba ang dulo ng suot nitong sumbrero para matakpan ang mga mata nito habang nasa bulsa naman ng pantalon ang mga kamay nito na may hawak na may kalakihang paper bag.

Leandro froze when he felt her hugged him from behind.

"Wag kang lilingon, please." Bulong ni Leandra sabay lagay ng mukha niya sa likod nito.

Please dad, just walk and don't mind us. Please. Please. Lihim na dasal ni Leandra at malaki nga ang pasalamat niya nang dumaan lang ang ama nila sa kanilang tabi.

She waited for minutes and only pulled herself when she saw that they already got inside the car.

Bumuntong-hininga siya saka pilit na ngumiti at pinaharap si Leandro sa kanya na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagsasalita.

"Uto-uto!" Sabi niya sabay palo sa ulo nito at ayos sa mga paper bag na kanyang dala.

"Tara na nga! Sa bahay na lang tayo kumain. Nakakawalang gana." Sabi niya at nagpatiunang naglakad sa ibang direksiyon.

Leandro didn't move an inch and just stared at her.

How can I control myself when you are always like this to me, Leandra? Aniya sa sarili.

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"I guess dad will never come home today even though it's sunday."

Hindi sumagot si Leandro sa sinabi ni Leandra at nakayuko lang na sumandal lang sa nakasiradong p***o habang si Leandra naman ay nagtatanggal ng kanyang sapatos na suot bago naglakad papasok sa living room at tinapon sa sofa ang pinamili nila.

"Huy! Ginagawa mo dyan?! Magluto ka na!" Sigaw niya kay Leandro ngunit hindi ito sumagot sa kanya kaya nilapitan niya ito at bahagyang yumuko para salubungin ang tingin nito.

"Why are you like this?"

"Ano?! Aba, ganyan mo lang ako tratuhin pagkatapos mong makahuthot sa akin? Anong problema mo? Kanina ka pa ganyan."

"You're making me falling deeply."

"Huh? "

"Dad."

Natigilan si Leandra.

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

"A-alam mo? K-kailan pa?"

"I already knew that Dad is cheating since I was ten as well as Mom. I already knew it. I tried to cover it for you because I don't want you to get sad. I don't want you to know. But... I didn't expect that you would do that. I didn't expect that after many years of keeping it to you just because I don't want you to get hurt, ended up you'd do it for me."

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

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

"B-but y-you are still my brother. I-I thought you said you will do everything to get our closeness back together like we were before?"

"You're right. And I meant that I will also do everything what you did to me before when we were young."

Leandra chuckled nervously when his ocean blue eyes staring intently at her saying those words.

"You really grew up so fine now. You became so big and... masculine. And... and you can already beat up those jerks in school to protect me. I know you're just trying to be a protected and sweet brother so I am willing to accept your stupid decision."

"Really?"

Matagal bago nakasagot si Leandra. Hindi siya mapakali sa klase ng tingin nito sa kanya at sa seryoso nitong boses na nagpapakaba sa kanya.

"H-hey... Are you picking a fight with me?" Utal na tanong ni Leandra at pinilit na pinatunog galit ang boses sabay hampas sa braso nito ngunit hinuli ni Leandro yun sabay hila sa kanya na kinasubsob niya sa dibdib nito.

"But I meant this."

"Huh-"

Leandro sealed her mouth right after she opened it.

Nanigas si Leandra at hindi makagalaw sa kanyang posisyon at nagpadala lang ng hilahin siya ni Leandro sa katawan nito habang nilaliman ang halik.

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

Lumayo si Leandro at tinitigan si Leandra sa mga mata habang hinihingal.

"You kissed me before when we were young. You always did it almost everyday and I am also doing it to you since you said you will accept my stupid decision but since we are already adult... I will do it in a more mature way where you can't resist even if you want to. I've been controlling myself ever since you distanced yourself from me and now that we are close again, I will not let you distance again from me anymore. Be prepared because I think I will follow our father's step. I admit I am quite perverted and hungry in bed like our father but... I will only do it with you. Only you. So brace yourself."

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