Chapter 5: Eyes like Ice

"Brother..."

Nakayuko ako habang nasa harap ko naman ang aking kapatid. We are actually triplets. Me, ate Yurika and kuya Ythan. Ako 'yong huling lumabas kaya ako ang awtomatikong naging bunso sa aming tatlo. Ilang segundo lang naman ang pagitan namin, but we are taught to respect the eldest.

"Yshien. Our little sis. Our baby. Supposed to be protected and sheltered..." Paunang salita niya. Para namang tinatambol ang puso ko sa sobrang kaba. My brother could be as scary as Papi, he can even be scarier at any times, lalo na sa mga seryosong usapin. Kaya mas lalo akong kinakabahan ngayon habang tinitingnan siyang inililibot ang buong tingin sa kabuoan ng aking opisina.

"What is your husband doing, Yshien Calsey?" Tanong nito sa malamig na boses. "He fucking virtually promised to take care and love you no matter what the circumstances are. Did he just talk bullshit on our clan, hm? So it was really a good idea that all of us didn't even attend to you wedding, huh? That bitch. I already feel like there's something off about him."

Yes. Wala ni isa sa mga pamilya ko ang dumalo noong ikasal kami ni Ansel. Noong nagpapaalam pa lang ako sa kanila na magpapakasal na kami ni Ansel ay hindi na nila ito gusto sa simula pa lang. But since I love the man, hindi na nila ako napigilan pa sa pagpapakasal. But they didn't attend. Pero binati pa rin naman nila ako noong araw na 'yon.

I know that they were supposed to be at the day where I get to be tied with the man I love, but I was then contented. And I understand where they are coming from.

"Years of marriage and he didn't even try to convince you to go France for awhile? He didn't even bother asking you if you already miss your family? I know, princess. He's really one of straight to 1 million asshole. A kind of man that I wanted to drown in my aquarium full of different kinds of sharks."

"Don't say that Kuya, please..." Ani ko sa mahinang boses.

Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ng aking kapatid ngunit alam kong sarkastiko ang tawang 'yon.

"What do you want me to say? Shower him compliment shits when he is fucking doing a shitty thing behind my little sister? Is that it?" I can see how irritated he really is right now. Siguro ay galit na galit din ito pero sinusubukan lang nitong pigilan ang sarili.

"I want you to divorce that man, Shin or I will fucking slit his throat out." Ani nito sa malamig na boses. Hindi ko naman maiwasang makaramdam ng pagkabahala dahil sa sinabi nito. I know Kuya. Kung anong sasabihin nito ay talagang totohanin niya, tama man o mali 'yan. Natatakot ako. Natatakot ako para kay Ansel at para kay Kuya na rin. And I don't even know how to stop him when I still don't want to annul Ansel. Alam kong... sobrang nakaka-dissapoint na 'tong ginagawa ko, pero... alam kong may pag-asa pa. Kaya hanggang kaya ko, I will revive our relationship even how hopeless it may look.

"I-I...." I seriously don't know how to react.

"I will give you enough time to think about what I said, but you must know that I am still not taking no for an answer." Huling saad nito bago ako tinalikuran. Pumasok ito sa tanging kwartong nasa aking opisina.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiwi habang inisip ulit ang sinabi nito. He said he will give me time to think, but he didn't even give me choices because he clearly said, he isn't taking no for an answer. So what's with the 'giving time to think' all about?

"Princess? Samahan mo 'ko sa penthouse ko. It's just around. Your room is too..." Kumunot ang noo nito nang makita siguro ang nangingiti kong mukha. Well, he sounds cute with his Filipino accent. "Stop making that duck face. Your place is too unsatisfying for my likings." Iritado nitong dagdag at naunan ng maglakad palabas ng opisina.

Napanguso ako.

"I don't have a duck face! And my room is only good for one person!" sanay kasi ito na kailangang malaki ang ginagalawang lugar. Ang opisina nga nito sa France ay parang mansyon na sa laki. I mean, halos tatlong floor ang sakop ng opisina niya dahil ayaw na ayaw talaga nito ng masikip na lugar. Sobrang arte, in short.

***

"Is it... good? Do you think this is habitable?"

Hindi ko maiwasang mapakamot sa ulo nang tumambad sa akin ang lugar na sinasabi niyang penthouse. Penthouse? He rented the whole building when he just needed one room! At saka pwede bang rentahan 'tong isang buong building?!

"This is owned by one of my close friends," My brother winked at me.

"Are you serious, Kuya? You rented the whole building? Like? Hello? Are you nuts?"

"Don't call me nuts, frog princess. My friends are coming here. So you better, stay in your room. Don't ever go to the bar area. We are partying there, and of course..." He winked again. "With some hot big asses..."

I rolled my eyes at natawa ng mahina.

Hinalikan niya muna ako nito sa noo bago pinapasok sa room. Nagluto pa muna ako ng hapunan ko since naalala kong hindi pa pala ako kumakain. Pagkatapos kumain at gawin ang evening rituals ay nagbihis ako ng simpleng white cotton shorts at T-shirt. Iyon lang naman ang sa tingin ko'y disenteng gawing pantulog kaya iyon nalang ang sinuot ko kahit na hindi alam kung kanino 'yon. Oh well, baka pinahanda na 'yan ni Kuya diyan.

I impossibly fell asleep that night. Hindi naging maganda ang araw ko kaya it was really a surprise that I easily fell asleep. Siguro ay dahil sa pagod.

Buong akala ko ay magtutuloy-tuloy na 'yon pero naalimpungatan ako ng makarinig ng kalabog sa glass door na nasa veranda. My eyes immediately flipped open as I got up. Mabilis ang ginawa kong pagtakbo palabas ng suite ng hindi pa nalalaman kung ano ang kumalabog na 'yon.

Sa bar area! Nasa second floor!

Nadaanan namin ni Kuya 'yon kanina habang naglilibot kaya alam ko kung nasaan ang bar area banda.

"Kuya!!" Agad kong binuksan ang pintuan at inilibot ang mga mata sa paligid para hanapin ang kapatid. Pero imbes ay ibang tao ang natagpuan ng mga mata ko.

His stares send shivers on my spine. It was cold as ice. So emotional and mysterious.

Habang tinititigan ko siya ay doon ko lang napagtantong...

Blue! His eyes are sapphire blue!