I woke up because of the loud rattle on my door. I quickly got off in bed and immediately went to the door to open whoever was disturbing my sleep.
"What the hell Angelica! What time is it but you have not cooked breakfast yet. Are you the boss here just to wake up at the time you want?" Agatha's shouting on me.
"I'm sorry Agatha. I'll will cook now. What do you want me to cook for your breakfast?" I responded calmly.
"I want tapsilog. Cook it fast because I don't want to get late on my date." she said and hurried back to her room.
I went first in the bathroom to rinse and wash my face then I went to the kitchen to cook our breakfast. When I got to the kitchen I saw brother Ronald brewing two glasses of coffee.
"Good morning brother," I greeted him.
"Good morning too Princess," he also greeted me while handing me a cup of coffee.
"Take your coffee. I will be the one to cook," he said while smiling at me sweetly.
"It's nice that we met here, brother. I thought you were already at work. Won't you go into your work?" I asked. "I'm not going to the office now," he said while cooking tapa.
"Why my brother, do you have a date?" I asked him.
"We're going out. We've been five months here in Manila but you only know how to go to school so I'll bring you to the mall this time. I will tour you so that you also appreciate the beauty of Santa Mesa, Manila," he said cheerfully.
"Really?" I said while smiling. But that smile was only for a moment because I remember that we have our first practice today in the role play that ma'am Myrna gave us.
"Oh why are you sad, you don't want to go out with me?" he asked sadly while sitting in front of me.
"It's not like that brother. But we have our first practice today for our role play. I am the main character with that role play and if we can present it well, we will be exempted from the final exam in our two major subjects." I said.
"Ok, what time is your practice?" he asked.
"8 o'clock this morning brother. I don't know what time we will finish. "I replied.
"I'll ask permission to your teacher. We will go to your school first so I can talk to her. Any way, this is your first time to get absent," he said.
"It's up to you brother. I hope she will letting me not to attend just for today," I replied.
I also don't want to go to our practice today because I know that Caleb won't stop from asking me why we can't be friend as I said him yesterday. I hope he won't approach me and talk to me later when I go to school because my brother might get angry again if ever and his good day will get ruin.
"Call Ma'am Agatha to take her breakfast now. She will scold you again when she get late to her date," my brother said while further emphasized the word Ma'am.
"Did you hear what she said to me earlier? I asked.
"Yes, I even woke up to her noise," he said then he hold my hand and say, "Don't let her treat you like that, Ok?" he said sweetly while looking at my eyes. Suddenly my heartbeat increased as our eyes met. I couldn't read the emotion that enveloped his beautiful eyes so I just stood up to avoid him and got my cup and put in the sink.
I was on my way to Agatha's room, but I met her in the living room with a frown.
"You may eat your breakfast Agatha. Your request are already cooked by my brother." I said.
She just ignored me and went to the kitchen. I just went straight to my room. I took a bath and brushed my teeth. I wear a simple fitted pink shirt and paired it with black pants. I also took my white rubber shoes with adidas brand and put on my feet. Then I just put face powder on my face and left my room. When I opened the door I was surprised by the figure of brother Ronald who was also surprised when I opened the door. We almost collided.
"You're ready. Let's eat our breakfast first. You're not obviously excited about this tour hmm," my brother said while smiling.
I was even surprised when he put his arm into my shoulder and we walked to the kitchen. He spooned me rice and he also put tapa and eggs on my plate.
"Thank you brother." I said.
"Don't you remember anything today?" brother Ronald asked while looking at me with loneliness.
"No brother. Why?" I answered with astonishment.
"Wait, I remember. It's your birthday today. Happy birthday. I'm sorry, I didn't remember right away. I couldn't even prepare a gift for you. I'm really sorry," I apologized.
"It's ok my Princess at least you remember before the end of this day," he said sadly.
"It's ok for you but you are lonely. What do you want me to do to make you happy." I said.
"Just hug me tightly," he said seriously and opened his arms and waiting for my hug. I just stood up to comply with his request.
"Happy birthday brother, God bless you throughout your life. I wish your good health and I hope that you will get married as soon as possible because you are already going older. But I haven't heard that you have girlfriend," I said while still hugging him.
"I'm happy with my life now so why would I even look for a headache?" he said while also hugging me and kissed the tip of my ear. His kiss flowed like an electricity throughout my body along with the throbbing of my heart. I was shock on what he did so I let go of his hug and went back to my seat. I even saw my older brother's mischievous smile. I just focused my attention on my food and stopped talking. Brother Ronald also noticed that I suddenly became silent.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I said and smiled at him.
"You wait for me on the terrace. I just take a bath and change my clothes, ok?" he said to me.
He got up and went out of the kitchen. I also finished my meal and washed what our dishes before leaving the kitchen.
A few minutes later, brother Ronald came out. He was very handsome in his simple polo shirt paired with blue Lee pants and Merrell shoes. His beard and mustache are also freshly shaved. He already looks 25 years old. He smiled at me and spoke.
"Are you surprised with my appearance? Am I handsome in your eyes?" he asked me.
I'm not surprised anymore because for me you've been handsome from then until now," I said seriously until I slowly smiled and looked at him and said, "but, I was just joking," I said and I laughed out loud.
"Stop it, don't ruin my day," he said and put his arm at my shoulder.
"Sorry brother, I don't intend to ruin your day," I said and I also put my arm around his waist.
We went together to the garage where my brother's car was parked. He opened the front door of his car for me and fastened my seatbelt before turning around and getting into the drivers seat.
"I hope your teacher will allow you to be absent today so that I have someone with me on my birthday." he said in the midst of our silence.
I hope so. This is our first bonding here in Manila, so it should be happen," I replied.
By the way, how is your studies." he asked.
"It's ok brother. Next semester I am a regular 3rd year. I'm full load this 1st semester because I took already my behind subjects," I replied.
"Maybe you'll neglect your other subject because of that." he said.
"Don't worry brother, I can do it," I said.
"Then good. Do you already have friends at your school?" he asked. "There are some but I don't always go with them because they are regular 3rd year but I am irregular and then I also have a few vacancies every day and that's still the time I'm in the library," I said.
"I miss you princess," he said while his eyes fixed on the road. I look at him and saw the sadness in his eyes even though she wasn't looking at me.
"I miss the time you're asking me for help to answer your assignments and to do your projects. I also miss the time you are telling an story with me. You haven't told me since you had a boyfriend. You haven't either approached me for help," he said sadly.
I was speechless at what he said. I just looked out the window next to me because I remembered Joshua. I didn't realize that my tears were already dripping. I don't think there has been a gap between me and my brother since Joshua and I became in relationship. I simply wiped the tears from my eyes so that my brother would not notice it.
"We're here. I'll be the one to talk to your teacher. Just accompany me in your room," he said.
He came down first and opened the door for me again. Since then, I have noticed that my brother's behavior is different. From brewing my coffee, for cooking that I should be the one to do it, for hugging ang kissing me, even to his gentleness and the substance of his words. Why do I think like this. He is my brother but I give malice to what he does. I just got off and we walked to the education building where my teacher is.
Many students keep on looking to brother Ronald, especially those girls looking at older brother with admiration. As if they are looking for a celebrity. They pay attention to my older brother but my brother doesn't pay attention to them even for a moment. They are annoying.
I was just surprised when brother Ronald hold my hand and pulled me closer to him. My heart beat faster as his grip tightened and he clung even closer to me.
"They didn't know we were siblings so just go with the flow. I'll take care of it," he whispered to me. I looked at him skeptically. Our eyes met and he smiled. I just smiled at him and looked at the girls around and they pouted. I secretly enjoyed their reaction.
"We're close to the room brother, you can let go of my hand." I said to him.
"I don't want. Is it okay for you to pretend to be love one even just for today?" he asked me.
"Brother, you're fooling me again," I said.
He stopped walking and faced me but still held my hand.
"I'm not fooling you. I'm serious Princess. Just for today on my birthday. Please?" he begged me.
"Let's talk about that later. My Professor and my classmates are already in the room waiting for me." I said while not to looking at him.
"Ok, just wait me here," he said and let go of my hand as well.
I never thought he would ask for that impersonation. How can he handle in pretending that I'm his girlfriend? Is this what my dream wanted to convey then? No, it is impossible. I have to cut it now before everything gets worse. But what should I do? My brother would get angry when I disobeyed him. I may make another mistake in my decision.
"Angelica? Why you are still here outside? Are you waiting for me? what are you thinking?" Caleb asked in succession.
I just looked at him badly.
"Relax Ange. I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm just asking," he said while wondering at my reaction.
"Get inside if you don't want to get hit," I threatened him.
"Really? Can you hit me without cause?" he asked.
I looked at him again and sharpened and even widened my eye.
"Ok, ok, if that's what you want." I'll go ahead. "he said and tapped my shoulder.
He smiled at me and entered the room. I don't want my brother to hit him so I have to avoid him. He turned to me again but I ignored him. I just turned my back on Caleb and walked away from him.