"Charlaina, what are you doing here?" ulit na tanong ng baritonong tinig. Charlie froze. He knows her. She wanted to puke her guts out.
Anong gagawin ko? Hindi ako makagalaw!
"Relax. I`m not going to eat you" mayamaya ay biglang reassurance nito sa kanya. Nanginginig ang mga kalamnan at kasu-kasuan na dahan dahan niyang nilingon ang source ng heart attack niya only find another reason for her to go straight to her deathbed. Biglang naliyo si Charlie sa nakita.
"Baki—t nan—dit—o ka?" nauutal na tanong ni Charlie sa binata. Napakapit siya ng mahigpit sa dibdib niya.
"Hindi ba't ako dapat ang nagtatanong sa iyo niyan?"
Charlie stared like she's in a trance.
And then she blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Bakit hindi pa rin nawawala sa paningin niya si Alessandro? Nagha-hallucinate lang siya diba? Bakit nandito sa bahay ni Tessa ang binata?
"So care to tell me, what are you doing here Charlaina?" Alessandro, the apparition asked again. Hindi siya nakasagot. Charlie just stared without uttering a word and she did that for a long time. Bigla namang napaiwas ng tingin si Alessandro at napakamot ng ulo nito. Mayamaya lamang ay napabuntong hininga ito—lumakad ito papalapit sa direksyon niya at hindi napigilan ni Charlie ang umusog palayo dito hanggang sa mapaupo siya kama ni Tessa. Biglang nanghina ang mga tuhod niya. Walang babalang umupo naman sa tabi niya si Alessandro at kampanteng humarap sa direksyon niya and then for the life of her sent all her hair rising—he smiled. It's her first time to see him smile like that. It's kind of disturbing. Napausog sa dulo si Charlie ngunit sa hindi niya malamang dahilan hindi naman niya maalis ang tingin sa mukha ng binata at sa ngiti nito.
"So?" Alessandro prompted. Napalunok si Charlie bago sumagot.
"Ano—we—were doing the layout for the school paper" tulirong sagot ni Charlie. Why the heck is he here? And sitting comfortably of all things?!
"Ahhh…that`s why" Charlie can't find the strength to look away. She felt a shiver run down her spine.
"I—kaw? Anong ginaga—wa mo dito?" hindi na niya napigilang tanong kay Alessandro.
"I live here" simpleng sagot naman nito.
"You live here?" confused na ulit ni Charlie. On closer inspection—Alessandro is only wearing his PJs and an indoor shoes. It even looked like he just came right after his bath. His hair is still a bit wet. Still—that`s impossible.
"Nagbi—biro ka lang di—ba?"
"Nope. Dito ako nakatira and this is my little sister's room"
"Yeah right little sis—LITTLE SISTER?!!!!" Imposible. Hindi pwede. Pinaglalaruan ba siya ng lalaking ito? Kahit umiigting ang pagkontra ng isip niya sa mga sinabi ni Alessandro, hindi pa rin napigilan ni Charlie ang pagbuka ng bibig niya. She needed to confirm it.
"Wag mong sabihing ang kapatid mo ay si—"
"What are you doing here?" someone asked in a quiet voice—so quiet she barely heard
her speak but of course, she knew that voice very well.
"Get out!" Tessa yelled her face suddenly all red like a lobster. Napatuwid ng tayo si Charlie. She automatically started walking away from when Alessandro grabbed her hand to stop her. She almost jumped out because of his touch mabuti na lang agad niyang napigilan ang sarili ngunit kahit ganoon pakiramdam naman niya aatakihin siya sa puso dahil sa lakas ng tibok ng puso niya. Bigla siyang pinaulanan ng matatalas na tingin ni Tessa. Charlie cringe. Sinubukan niyang kumawala sa pagkakahawak ni Alessandro pero lalo lamang nitong hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa kanya. Lalo lamang lumala ang mga tingin ni Tessa. Charlie knew that she has to go out now pero hindi niya iyon magawa dahil ayaw bitawan ni Alessandro ang braso niya!
"I need to talk you about something" mahinahong saad naman ni Alessandro completely ignoring her attempt to get away. "I said get out!" It looked like Tessa's going to burst an artey right now.
"No need to shout, little sis"
"Sis" Charlie can't help but echo.
"That's right were siblings but of course you don't know that. She seems pretty determined to keep our relationship a secret don't you little sis?"
"Don't call me that" Tessa said coldly that chilled Charlie to the bone.
"Bakit? I'm your bro—"
"You're not my brother! And you will never be! We're not related!" Alessandro sighed suddenly looking completely worn out. This must be an everyday occurrence between them. Charlie stilled—realizing something a little too late. Siblings!
Marahas na lumipad ang tingin niya kay Alessandro pero hindi ito lumingon. He only squeezed her hand in response. Charlie gritted her teeth in annoyance. So, that's where his confidence all came from. Acting all nonchalant, without fear of getting caught—it's because he already had his hand on the source of the problem. His sister. To think that she wanted to make it up to him but it was actually a waste of time. He should have said so from the start! Pakiramdam niya pinaglaruan siya ng mga ito.
"I see. So you're being difficult again. When you're ready to talk, I`ll be in my room. Just knock" Tessa didn't answer. Actually, she's trying hard not to react. The only indication that she failed to do just that—was her clenched fists at her side. Charlie grimaced. Does she really hate him that much?
"Let's go" biglang yakag ni Alessandro. Gustong gusto na sana niyang tapyasin ang mukha ng binata right there and then pero mas mabuti nga sigurong lumayo muna siya kay Tessa bago niya gawin iyon. Wala ng nagawa si Charlie kundi magpahila dito.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? " muling singhal ni Tessa sa kapatid.
"You said to get out"
"That only refers to you. Let her go" Si Charlie na ang unang bumitaw kay Alessandro ng medyo lumuwag ang hawak nito sa kanya. "Are you sure?" seryosong tanong sa kanya ng binata. Charlie forcefully smiled. She can feel Tessa`s scathing glare without looking at her.
"Oo naman. I told you earlier—were doing our school paper" Napabuntong hininga si Alessandro. Nang tuluyang makalabas ng kwarto ang binata bigla namang nagmartsa si Tessa sa nakabukas na pinto ng dark room nito at walang nagawa si Charlie kundi pagmasdan na lamang ang dalaga hanggang sa lumabas ito ng may bitbit. It's her camera. Inilahad nito iyon sa kanya.
"This is what you're looking for right?"
Charlie frozed in an instant. "Don't play dumb. I know what you`re playing at. Do you want it back or not?" Agad na hinablot ni Charlie ang camera niya mula dito. Tinignan niya ito. Charlie can`t help but wonder why they kept their relationship a secret.
"Tessa—"
"Stop with the shit. I don't want to hear it" biglang sansala nito sa kanya.
"Pero Tessa—"
"Ì said I don't want to hear it. You don't know anything. And I want to make something clear don't even make the mistake of telling anyone what you saw and heard here or you`ll suffer the consequences"
She's right. She don't know anything.
"Wala akong pagsasabihan" seryosong saad niya.
"One more thing, I won`t stop until I get what I want. Related or not, I don't care—hindi ako magdadalawang isip na gamitin ang mga pictures ni Alessandro para makuha ko ang gusto ko" walang pag-aalinlangang imporma nito. Nagulat si Charlie sa narinig. Wala na sana siyang balak pang magsalita pero hindi niya nagustuhan ang narinig mula sa dalaga.
"Pero magkapatid kayo!" hindi na niya napigilang paalala dito.
"But I told you already, I don't care" something like a foreign feeling deep within her burst free, a protective instinct maybe? An instinct to protect someone she barely knew? What the heck is going on with her?
"Hindi mo dapat ito ginagawa" Ngumisi lamang si Tessa. Bigla namang may kumatok sa may pinto.
"Guys nandiyan ba kayo? Charlie?" It was Kath. Nagsukatan silang dalawa ng tingin.
"You`re bestfriend is looking for you. I think you should go now"
"Hindi ako aalis. Hindi pa tayo tapos mag-usap"
"I'll overlook the fact that you tried to snoop into my things since I used your camera without your permission. Were even now but don't misunderstand I'm not going to give you the pictures. It's mine for me to use whenever and however I want"
"So you're really not going to give it back then?" Tessa smirked. Charlie made a decision right there and then. She promise herself she'll make it up to him—she knew from the start it will be hard but she just never expected it'll get complicated like this again. Kahit hindi sinabi sa kanya ni Alessandro ang totoo na magkapatid sila ni Tessa. It doesn't matter either way. She'll keep her promise up till the end—lalo na't hindi pa tapos si Tessa sa kapatid nito.
"I will stop you" matatag niyang deklara dito. Tumikwas ang kilay ni Tessa sa narinig. Nakakaloko itong ngumiti. "Really? Can you?" Charlie never really outrightly fight it out with her. For the first time though she's so over letting Tessa have her way. She'll get those pictures back. She'll stop her no matter what.
"I will. I won`t let you have your way Tessa. You've done than more than enough" Charlie warned matching her stare defiantly. Tessa glared at her then.
"Why bother doing all this? It doesn't even concern you, Tessa suddenly frozed as if realizing something…Don't tell me you like my brother?!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito.
Charlie stilled. I like him?—she shook her head. She won't let her get into her head. Siguradong taktika lang nito iyon para guluhin ang isip niya.
"And here I thought he's not you're brother" Charlie said sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Wala kang alam!"
"Tama ka. Wala akong alam pero hindi ko hahayaang basta ka na lang mananakit ng ibang tao para lang makuha ang gusto mo"
Tessa stared. "Are you threatening me?" Charlie matched her stare."Call it what you like. I don't care."
"Charlie! Tessa! Nasa loob ba kayo?" muling tawag ni Kath sa kanila. Inignora ni Charlie ang tawag ng kaibigan. Tessa smiled, looking completely smug.
"Game on but know this you can never beat me at my own game. Have you forgotten already? I
always win Charlie. I always win."
Charlie smiled. "Of course. I won't forget"
"Don't chicken out or it`s game over before you know it" nagbabantang saad ni Tessa sa kanya. Charlie smiled sweetly. "Same goes to you"
Pagkabukas pa lamang ni Charlie ng pinto ay tumambad na sa kanya ang kaibigan.
"Everything went well?" ani Kath. Charlie didn't answer. Sumilip ito sa loob. Nasa likuran na siguro niya si Tessa dahil sa nakita niyang naging reaksyon ng kaibigan. "I guess not" Kath muttered. Kath smiled sweetly after, pretending not to notice anything.
"Let's go back. Hinihintay na tayo nila Aries" Hindi ito pinansin ni Tessa bagkus ay dinaanan lang silang dalawang magkaibigan at dumiretso ng alis. Charlie sighed. Tinapik naman siya sa balikat ni Kath.
"Ok! Cheer up. You got your camera back. It's better than being murdered right?" Charlie chuckled.
"Yeah. Mabuti na lang hindi nangyari ang prediction mo"
"That's the attitude. All's well that ends well"
No. Charlie just won't let it end here. She won`t back down. This is where it starts.