Albert pov
I clenched my fist while staring at the pictures on the wall.
I grew up with my parents separated. My mom is in Korea. She married a Canadian there.
I grew up under the care of Daddy Dan and daddy Ren. Dad is daddy's boyfriend. They are both gone now. Daddy died of a heart attack after dad was killed in a prison riot.
Daddy and I don't understand. Why was father imprisoned? All I know is that father said that he only defended the youngest of the Santiago family from his father's hurt.
But the police said that he himself was the one who hurt his boss's son. We don't believe. But justice is blind if you are poor.
I punched the wall in anger.
"Wait. I will disturb and destroy your lives." then left the house.
If I had to go to high school again I would. I want to prove Dad's innocence.
"You're 22. Why are you doing your 1st year high school now?" the principal asked me.
"Financial problem. Then I'm an orphan. That's why when the school held a game for scholarships, I joined." When I lie.
"That's good, kid, you have a dream. Ahm Mr. Castro. Please join Mr. Sandoval on stage."
When we got there, the other boys lined up and we were introduced one by one as the school's varsity player.
A man caught my attention. Gemini Santiago is the youngest son of that family. He is smiling happily. As if he was looking at me. Meanwhile, my heart swelled with anger as I saw him smiling. But on the other hand, I'm also happy to see that smile.
"Albert Sandoval." I don't want to turn around. For reasons I don't know, I'm afraid of losing him from my sight.
"Hey, he call you" said the person next to me as he elbowed me, I turned and smiled.
"Leo Santiago."
I was sad to lose him there. Where did he go? After we were all introduced. Some teachers suddenly canceled classes.
I thought of going around the school. I don't know if I'm rolling my eyes or what. Just on a stone table in a mango tree I saw Gemini again, he was sitting there smiling. While I sat on his thigh. It was as if I froze where I was standing
"Sorry brother." said the boy who was staring at me. I followed them with his friends as they headed to the stairs up the mountain.
When I looked back at the place where I saw them. Or should I say where I was, we were seen. Other students were already there.
I decided to leave there. While walking, I noticed a long line leading to a room.
I thought of queuing up too. It was a theater there. I saw him again. Now she is wearing another Snow-white dress.
I can see how good they are. I would have clapped if someone held my shoulder.
"What are you doing here?" I almost fell from where I was standing when all the people around disappeared
The only ones left are me and Artin, one of the members of the basketball team.
"I know you plan to watch the play. It's not going to happen today. The one who will play Snow-white committed suicide." he said.
I was suddenly scared and horrified by what I heard. I can't see a ghost. But how was there a lot of people earlier? Are they ghosts too? I'm confused.
"Why did he kill himself?" I asked.
"I don't know either. But maybe he couldn't handle his father's beating anymore."
"Why is he being beaten?"
"Besides his gender. There have been rumors for a long time that he is a child outside." He turned around. "Don't tell me it's from me ahh... The driver of their family. The one Gemini calls dad Dan. The whispers to us. That's really his real father. It was confirmed when his dad almost killed Gemini. It's blood because Dan was the one who saved his life. That's why he was sent to prison last year. And he was accused of beating Gemini himself. Then he was killed."man is very gossipy.
I don't believe that Gemini is father Dan's son. Dad won't keep secrets from us. It's not even a matter of when daddy betrays him.
"Is there a DNA TEST to prove your story?"
"Of course, it's not just a whisper."
"Why did you tell me?"
"Because I saw you before at Ate Dory's cafeteria eating with you, Dan. So I thought you might want to know from Gemini why Dan was imprisoned. I was right, wasn't it. That's why you came here because you wanted to talk to him."
"You're smart." I said out of my nose.
"Not really. I only dream of becoming a SPY. But if there's anyone smart in this school, it's Gemini. Because even if he doesn't study, he can perfect the exams. If he does that, he'll get beaten up. That's why he makes all the answers wrong. her."
"Why should they be prudish because he's smart. Maybe he's a genius."
"It's because he's an illegitimate child. His father probably won't allow him to have anything."
I held him by the shoulder.
"You know it's not for you to be a spy. It's better for you to be an informant. You know a lot." I said then I left..
I bumped into a girl with a happy smile. Win the lottery with a smile.
What kind of family are the Santiagos? Why is she happy that his brother is in the hospital?
"Sorry." We said together.
Then I stepped again. I haven't taken five steps yet.
"090× ××× ×143" she said.
"Huh???" I asked in surprise as I turned around
"090× ××× ×143." then the sign for me to call her. She lifted her skirt slightly to show her thigh. Before walking away.
I just shook my head. I only know that he is crazy.
"I think she like you. Just be careful causeshe crazy." said Artin.
"From what she did, it's obvious that she crazier more we think." I said before continuing to walk. I thought of practicing basketball first while I was thinking about whether to continue with my plan.
What is it that I see? One of the Santiagos is even crazy.
The next day I went to school. After that I decided to leave.
"You have to be patient with that girl. If it's her father who owns it. I removed it a long time ago," the principal said to me.
"It's thanks to that madman that she became a woman. If I hadn't scolded her." I said angrily.
Who does not shrink from anger. Are we scattered and it's time to get married when we graduate?
I politely said goodbye to the principal. When I arrived where I live, I was immediately greeted by uncle Doglas. Dad's brother Dan handed me my bag.
"Why my uncle?" I asked.
"Then ask a question.
There is an address in the pocket of the bag. You go straight there when you arrive in Manila. I'll just call."
I didn't even understand what was happening, so I left there. Before I left, I saw the checkpoint. I don't know what I thought. I just took a different path. I reached the abandoned town where there is a road to Tarlac. Then I thought of leaving my motorcycle without gas. I took a bus to Manila. The youngest of the Santiagos was sitting next to me on the bus. He seems to have fallen asleep from crying. There is a bandage around the neck. I thought of putting a handkerchief to cover my face. When he woke up I moved. From there I followed him..
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Lira pov
Because of Gemini I experienced what hell is like. If he didn't need blood because of dengue.
Dad can't think of DNA testing us all. I hope he doesn't know that I am also not his child.
At the age of eight, my father made me molest in front of my mother. He also tried to make me drink his urine. Dad also sold me to whom. Mom and I. Mama doesn't move when I ask who our father is. Why does he let me be fooled like this? Whereas Gemini only deals with body pain.
Then I'll just see him happy with the new student in the mango tree. So I decided that we should have a relationship.
Brother Aris gave me a hard slap.
"You're crazy!" he shouted at me.
"Why? What's wrong with what I did? Do you want me to tolerate that gay man?"
"How could Gemini go to school yesterday? Did you forget he was in the hospital?" said brother Leo.
Reason to soften my knee. That's when I thought about how that gay man ended up in two places. Another Gemini I've seen without a neck slash.
"Don't involve God in this!" a loud cry from the living room.
We immediately left my room.
"Yes, my son is gay. Like Gemini. But they are sensible people, not like your favorite son." Alex's father said.
My eyes widened when he showed the picture of me and brother Tonton kissing.
I was surprised that he slapped me in front of Gemini.
"Dad?" I said.
He knows about brother Tonton. But he was able to do it right in front of Gemini
"You've known for a long time, haven't you?" tears flowed. After he hit dad. Gemini is too smart for what I think."What is wrong with sister Lira and you always indulge her?" I wanted to laugh. Everyone knows that he tolerates me but the truth is. That's just a consolation for what I suffered at his hands. "Sister Agua is also your daughter. Papa, sister Lira is not your only daughter! We are your children too! You are already hurting us. Don't you see that!" he said angrily.
Papa didn't say a word but he pushed Gemini out of the house.
"Get adopted if you want. Remember this. I don't care if you die on the street. Because you're a plague!" he said while pushing Gemini out of the house.
"That's right, don't send him away. He'll be sorry. I'll just talk to him," said sister Agua.
"Sister, no. I will not apologize to your father." he said then left the house.
I clenched my fist when Sister Agua followed her. And tried to pull back home. I don't know why he thinks of that one as more of a brother than me when Gemini and I are just the same child outside.
"Gemini, please don't leave. Apologize to dad." When he begs. "Don't leave please."
Gemini removed sister Agua's hands. Then dad immediately grabbed Ate.
"Dad, I'm doing everything you want, right. Don't let my son leave, bring back-" our eyes widened because we were slapped by dad.
But because of what Ate Agua said. His son is Gemini.
"Didn't you take your medicine? I told you several times that the baby you gave birth to was dead." something that surprised us even more.
"I'm not the one who lost her child. Aunt Sandra is the one who lost her child. Not me. Not me!" she shouted while holding her head. "No. No. My baby is not dead."
He immediately ran to his room. We followed him. There she was like crazy holding one of her dolls.
"Drink it now."
"🤫 don't be noisy dad. Gemini is just helping." he said with a smile.