Bossy Bree

20 Love in bloom

Bree POV

We change into our swimming outfits. I wore my nude colored bikini and Clyde is wearing his board shorts. We swam and get ourselves some tan. I felt relaxed habang pinapanood ko ang paghampas ng alon sa dalampasigan. For the first time, after so many years, my mind is at peace. No work, no deadlines, no nothing and it felt so good. Nakalimutan ko na yatang mag-relax and this day reminded me how it felt like to do nothing but just sit and breathe.

Clyde is currently cooking barbeque with Tata Tino and I can't helped but ogled Clyde's body. His wet board shorts couldn't hide his bulging muscular thighs. I let my eyes traveled up to his broad shoulders and lean six pack abs. I watched how the muscles in his arms thightened and move while he is seriously flipping barbeques on the grill. He is still wearing his thick eyeglasses that makes him look nerdy but his hair is gel-free and curling in his head in a soft mound. He looked so damn hot that I felt myself drooling at the sight of him. Then I saw him unconsciously bite his lips and my thoughts wandered to the taste of it, how expert his kisses were and how those lips pleasured me to heights. I was awakened in my almost dirty thoughts with a nudge at my side. I looked at Althea who is intently looking at me.

"W-what?" Napapahiyang tanong ko. Alam kong huling-huli niya akong minomolestiya ang kapatid niya sa isip ko. I felt my cheeks reddened.

"Baka naman matunaw na ang kuya ko sa kakatitig mo?" Mataray na anito na ipinag-init pa husto ng pisngi ko. Itinago ko ang nararamdaman ko sa pamamagitan ng pagtaas ng kilay sa dalaga.

"I don't know what you mean." Mataray na sagot ko na ikinairap naman ni Althea.

"Ang galing mo talagang magpanggap, ano?! But you can't fool me. I can see you are very much interested in my brother." Anito na ikina alarma ko.

Damn! Me?! Interested in him?! That nerdy secretary?! No way!

My eyebrow raised at her next words.

"But I don't like you for my kuya, you are too cunning and my brother is too simple-minded to see you for who you really are." Deretsong anito na ikinabuntong hininga ko. As if! Ako pa ba ang lugi sa kasalang ito?! What does his freaking brother have, except great body, anyway?!

"And what do you think am I?" Naiinis na tanong ko sa nakakabatang kapatid ni Clyde. If she were my sister, I would have pulled all her hairs out. Malditang 'to!

"A manipulative boss who tricked her employee into marriage so she can still have her company. Tinakot mo ba siya na mawawalan siya ng trabaho kung hindi ka niya papakasalan?" Deretsahang tanong ni Althea habang deretso ring nakatitig sa akin. I have to hand it to her. She's surprisingly a headstrong girl and it doesn't suit her sweet innocent face. Akala ko pa naman nagkasundo na kami kanina. Here she is again, attacking me with her bluntness.

"No Althea. I would never do that. Look, I'm not manipulating your brother Althea, we had a mutual decision and we both agreed to this setting. I know you are being protective of your big brother but I assure you I don't want your brother to get hurt either. I'm actually f-fond of your brother. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na mabuting tao pala si Clyde." Buong katapatan na sagot ko kay Althea. She looked at my eyes as if trying to read the truth behind my words then she nodded. She eyed her brother then smiled.

"I've never seen kuya this happy. I think you make him happy. I'm just worried, I don't want you to be the cause of his unhappiness too." Nasa boses nga ni Althea ang pag-aalala.

"Don't worry yourself, Althea. Everything's gonna be okay." I reassured her. She heaved a big sigh.

"I hope so. As long as you make him happy, we're okay." Ani Althea na ikinangiti ko. She really loves his big brother.

"I wish I have a sibling like you Althea. Naiinggit ako sa pagmamahal mo sa kapatid mo." Malambing na aniko kay Althea.

"Oh but now you already have. As long as you make him happy. You have me too." Seryosong ani Althea na ikinagulat ko. I never thought that she will ever feel like that to me. I felt my eyes began to mist so I looked up and clear my throat.

"So, are we okay?" Ani Althea na muli kong ikinalingon sa kanya. The meaning behind her words didn't left me. I know what she is trying to make me promise. The promise to not hurt her brother.

"Yeah. We're good." Ani ko sabay ngiti kay Althea and for the longest time, she smiled at me too. A smile as genuine as his brother's.

They are indeed such genuine people.

After we ate,  Clyde is starting to get clingy as he pulled me in one of the ratan swings under the shadow of the trees. He laid down and pulled me with him. I let him enveloped me in his embrace. Halos nakadagan na din ako sa kanya kaya naiilang na pilit akong tumatayo pero muli lang niya akong hinahatak pabagsak sa katawan niya.

"Wifey, stay close. I want you to always stay this close to me." Bulong niya sa tenga ko na nagpakiliti sa akin. Tinampal ko ang braso niya.

"Ano ba!" Maarteng sagot ko. My gwad! I sounded like a schoolgirl talking to her first crush!

He embraced me once again and I can't help but giggled like a teenager when Clyde started nuzzling my sensitive neck and earlobes. Natatawa at nakikiliting pilit kong inilalayo ang mukha niya pero ang kulit lang ni Clyde at mas kiniliti pa ako. Lalo itong nagsumisksik sa leeg ko.

"Hay... ang lalandi niyo! Sana lang 'wag kayong babaan ng mga langgam sa puno ng buko na 'yan sa sobrang tamis niyo!" Ani Althea habang nauupo sa kabilang ratan swing. Ang tinutukoy nito ay ang coconut tree kung saan nakatali ang ratan swing namin.

Napatigil kami at nagkatinginan ni Clyde at sabay pa kaming nagtawa sa sinabi ni Althea.

Natapos lang ang harutan namin ng biglang may tumawag sa akin. I saw Howard in his board shorts and sando. He is running towards us. I took a swift glance at Althea and saw her stiffened at the sight of the newcomer. Her cheeks has also reddened and she looks nervous but carefully hide it in her indifference before Howard can even reached us.

I felt Clyde also stiffened, his hands on my waist tightened and I see how Clyde is giving Howard his hard stares.

Magkapatid nga 'tong dalawang 'to!

Tumayo na ako at sasalubungin sana si Howard ng bigla akong akbayan ni Clyde. Tiningala ko siya at animo'y may selos ang mga mata nitong pinipigilan akong humakbang pa. Hinayaan ko na lang na si Howard ang lumapit sa amin.

"Hey guys! I left the file at the resthouse Bree. You can sign it later. Mr. Santillan" ani Howard sabay offer ng kamay kay Clyde.

"Mr. Alcantara." Ani Clyde sabay nakipagkamay din kay Howard.

Nginitian ni Howard si Althea na tinanguan lang ng dalaga.

I can feel the tension in the air, pakiramdam ko nakikipagpakiramdaman ang lahat. Clyde's guard is up and he is throwing dagger look at Howard. Since the day that I admitted I had a crush on Howard, Clyde seems to abhor Howard's presence. I blew a deep breath at their silent war.

"Howard, I'll read the file later, so everybody! let's just enjoy the day okay? Let's swim." Aniko sabay hatak kay Clyde na mataman pa ring nakatingin kay Howard. Nagpating-anod naman ito ng mas lakasan ko pa ang paghatak sa kamay niya. Hinayaang kong maiwan at makapag-usap si Althea at Howard. I smiled at how Howard started to get restless around the girl. Napangiti ako sa kilig sa dalawa.

Howard the restless soul has finally found his match.