Stealing Hearts [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER EIGHT

"WHAT'S GOING on between you and my brother?" Biglang sulpot ni Khael sa likuran niya dahilan ng kanyang pagkabigla. Kasalukuyan niyang hinihiwa ang sariwang avocado habang pinapakuluan ang chicken soup at boiled potatoes nang madatnan siya nito. Sapphie avoided his gaze as she worked around. Ayaw niyang sagutin ang tanong nito. Heck, ayaw niyang pag-usapan ang nangyari kanina, or anything Jacob-related. So she opted to change the subject hoping Khael would forget about his question.

"How is he?" Sa halip ay tanong niya.

"He's at his room." Anito mula sa likuran niya. Naramdaman niyang lumipat ito sa tabi niya ngunit hindi parin niya ito sinulyapan.

"Don't tell me he's still working in his room." Palihim siyang sumimangot sa isiping iyon. May opisina rin kasi ito adjacent lang sa silid nito na pwede ring ma-access mula sa kwarto ng binata.

"He's resting," sagot nito at sumandal sa counter top. "Pinainom ko na rin siya ng gamot. Poor old man needs a rest."

Tinapunan niya ito ng tingin. "Grabe maka 'old man' 'to." Mukhang siya pa ang na-offend sa pagtawag nitong ng 'old' sa kapatid.

Khael grinned. "Sa wakas tumingin ka na rin sa 'kin."

Damn it!

"Back to my question, what's up with you and my brother?"

Lord, I hate to be the person saying this but sana magka-earthquake. Kahit dito lang sa kitchen, please! Tumikhim siya. "N-Nothing, and I'm not answering anymore questions."

Khael laughed, much to her annoyance. "You were kissing."

"No, we were not!" She reacted almost violently, na lalong nagpatawa kay Khael. Alam niyang nagmumukha siyang defensive, pero sa totoo lang ay hindi niya alam kung paano i-defend ang sarili. Sure, it looked like she and Jacob were about to kiss but Khael didn't have to know that.

"I have eyes," sabi nito sabay na itinuro ang dalawang mata ng sabay. "At saka, nagtatanong lang naman ako. Masama ba? Sapphie, you don't have to worry. I'm sure ikagagalak ni mama na malamang may relasyon kayo ng kapatid ko."

"Oh, my God! Stop!" Hindi niya mapigilang hampasin ito sa balikat. "Wala kaming relasyon ng kuya mo, okay? Kaya 'wag ka ngang magsalita ng ganyan, baka may makarinig pa sa'yo."

"Hmm," simpleng tugon lang nito na may kasama pang ngiti sa mga labi. "Too bad then, I kind of want you to be my sister-in-law."

Pinamulahan siya ng pisngi. At bago paman nito makita iyon ay tumalikod siya rito at ibinalik ang paningin sa paghahanda ng pagkain. "Umalis ka na nga. Istorbo ka." Aniya't humalagapak lang ito ng tawa.

"See you later, sis-in-law." Humirit pa ito bago tuluyang umalis ng kusina at iwan siya.

Oh, damn! Bakit parang kinikilig ang puso niya sa isiping iyon? No, no, no. Sapphie shook her head before any imagination could reach the deepest parts of her brain, let alone her heart. Okaaay, I may definitely have a teeny tiny crush on Jacob pero wala naman sigurong masama ron, right? He's an attractive guy, it's definitely normal. I'll just have to remind myself na walang patutunguhan ang nararamdaman kong atraksiyon. There's a high chance that he doesn't feel the same towards me. He's way too out of my league...definitely out of my league.

DAHAN-DAHANG pumasok si Sapphie sa silid ni Jacob dala ang mga pagkain na inilagay niya sa tray. Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na makapasok siya sa silid nito. Ang bedside lamp lang ang nagbibigay ilaw sa loob ng silid, making it extra cozy. Navy blue ang kulay ng pader. The headboard, sheets and accessories were also in darkish color, either charcoal, gray, or off-white, and every furniture was in dark wood. It has its own bathroom and walk-in closet too. It's twice as big as the guest room she was staying at. Natural, ito ang may-ari ng bahay.