Chapter 21

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As a sun lights up in the sky,
Tears in my eyes will never run dry.
His love is precious—a love that is pure,
It makes me feel special and secure.

- Vien 🤍

After I posted it on Facebook, I leaned my head against the window and looked at Auntie. We were on our way to Laguna and I was smiling the whole time, remembering Ash's words; the way he says and expresses his love for me.

"Ikaw? Wala bang nangliligaw sa 'yo, Auntie?" parang kaibigan na tanong ko.

"Sa ganda ko ba namang 'to? I always have a suitor, hija." She laughed gracefully after saying that.

Pabiro akong ngumisi. "Mana ka talaga sa 'kin, Auntie..." I looked at my sister through the rear-view mirror. "Pretty sure a lot of boys have been drooling over your niece, too." I jerked my chin towards my sister as I looked at Auntie.

"Do you have a suitor yet, Cess?" she asked.

Hindi sumagot ang kapatid ko kaya nilingon ko siya. I tapped her right knee two times to get her attention. She looked up at me, frowning.

Inalis niya ang headphones at umirap. "What now?" 

"Tinatanong ka ni Auntie," kalmadong sabi ko. Pansin ko kasi na kanina pa mainit ang ulo niya, ayaw ko namang tanungin. Baka kasi lalong mainis.

Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay niya. "Ng?"

"I'm asking if you have a suitor," Auntie interfered.

"As if..." She rolled her eyes again. "As if she'd allow me to have one," she said, staring at me.

Inabot ko ang kamay niyang may hawak na mouse ng laptop. "We've talked about this before, right?"

"Do you really think I would listen to you again? You can't even fulfill your promises to me when we were kids." Her voice was emotionless, colder than it was before.

"That's your sister, Princess. Wala ka na ba talagang natitirang respeto?" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses ni Auntie kaya hinawakan ko agad siya sa balikat.

"It's fine, Auntie," I assured her before looking back at my sister.

"Being honest is being disrespectful now, huh? What am I expecting anyway? Palagi naman akong mali." She smirked bitterly bago muling isinuot ang headphones.

Sinubukan ko pa siyang hawakan sa tuhod pero mas umusod siya sa tabi ng bintana. Galit siyang nakatingin sa labas no'n, medyo namumula rin ang mukha.

I averted my gaze away from her. How could I make that anger she has in her heart go away? I really didn't want to admit but I knew it... Every time she looks at me in the eyes, hate was all I could ever read and I didn't want it to stay in her heart.

Maybe I was wrong when I thought there were progress in our relationship. No matter how many times I tried to reconcile with her, nothing will ever change.

I am still clueless as to why she hates me so much but that doesn't mean I'll give up on her.

I don't give up easily on someone I love. She's my sister. Princess is my everything.

Pagkarating namin sa Laguna, nandoon na ang ibang kapatid ni Mommy. Nakisama ako kahit na hindi ako plastik na tao. Upon stepping inside my grandmother's mansion, their judging eyes were all fixated at me.

"We have visitors later, better change your clothes. Have some decency, at least. Unless you want to be called a slut," Mom's eldest sister said inaudibly upon giving me an insincere cheek-to-cheek kiss.

"You haven't change, Tita Eliza. No wonder Kuya Enzo doesn't want to respect you... Wala bang character development diyan?" I asked sarcastically.

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