Circles: An M|M Contemporary Romance

FIVE

MIGUEL

The first time I'd been to The Blue House, I assumed it was part of my grandparents' new business venture, like a mini-hotel or a guesthouse. We only ever get to visit Lolo Hermie and Lola Celing during fiestas and Christmas, which meant we've been to the house barely a handful of times.

The upstairs hallway was divided, with an east wing and a west wing. The east wing consisted of two guestrooms on one side of the hall, and a bigger one on the other side. The west wing had two smaller bedrooms, the master bedroom on one side, a linen closet, and a common bathroom at the end of the hall.

I've never been in any of the rooms before, but as I walked quietly down the dim hallway, I knew that the room at the furthest end, was mine. I paused in the doorway and took a deep breath before stepping over the threshold.

"Hold it right there." I flinched as a firm hand landed on my shoulder. I turned quickly to see my sister standing behind me, lifting her face and meeting my stern expression. "This room's mine."

Right. I forgot she's here to make my life difficult.

I turned to face Ate with arms crossed over my chest, blocking the doorway. "Oh yeah? I didn't see a sign that says, 'Kate's Bedroom'." I easily have a couple of inches over my sister, and I gave her a death glare.

That didn't seem to faze her, though. She had that look on her like she wanted to cuss out the world—or me, for that matter. "I saw it first," she said matter-of-factly, her jaw clenched in barely repressed irritation.

"We both did, but I got here first, so it's mine and—Hey!" I'd barely finished my sentence when Ate pulled me aside and stepped into the room, trying to slam the door in my face. "I saw this room first, okay? It doesn't even have an en-suite bathroom!" I flung the door wide open and followed her inside.

The room was big enough to fit a single-sized bed, a wooden desk, a dresser, and a bookshelf. It had two large windows facing part of the backyard and the house next door; one partly covered with an off-white muslin curtain, while the other window, which is smaller, is covered with white blinds. A faint scent of dust hung in the air, mixing with a strange floral scent that made my hair stand on end. White jasmines? Dama de noche?

Either way, I'm already loving the place, and the navy-blue wallpaper should be a clear indication that it's destined for me. I took a quick look around the room, then turned back to my sister, flashing her a smug smile. "This room's obviously for me, now get out," I said, pointing a finger at the door.

Her brows furrowed as she glanced over my shoulder at the wallpaper, but she stood her ground. "What makes you think blue is only for boys, huh? You sexist."

"What? I didn't—that's not what I—" I sputtered as my sister walked to one of the windows and drew back the curtain. "I mean it, Ate. Get out. Right now."

She proceeded to ignore me as she leaned out the wound-up glass window, shading her eyes against the bright sunlight with her hand.

"Wow," she gasped, with a mixture of delight and excitement, "you can see Lola's garden from here. Miggy, it's the only room with a view of her garden!" She stepped back from the window and looked at me, this time with eyes that are almost pleading. "Give this room to me."

I shook my head and then slumped down on the bed, staking my territory.

Ate put her hands on her hips, a frown digging into her brow. "I'm not asking you, Miggy. I'm telling you this room is mine."