Snow White is a Gangster (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 9: Saudade and the Dead People

Chapter Nine: Saudade and the Dead People

I didn't have that many awkward moments in my life. But this scene with my brother would definitely belong to the top of that list. Wycliffe stood in front of me, gaping at the complete stranger beside me. Well, he wasn't a stranger to me, but to my brother, he was a complete, total, unknown person. I just couldn't imagine kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isip ni Wycliffe ngayon.

After the long silence, my brother decided to speak. "Are you Christian Grey-ing my sister?" Tanong niya. Lihim kong nahiling na sana hindi na lang natutong magsalita o mag-isip ang kapatid ko.

"No!" Matigas at malakas kong sagot. Based on that reference, it was quite obvious that my brother had the wrong idea about us and I didn't like it. Mukhang may idea rin sa reference na iyon ang lalaking ito base sa kanyang ekspresyon. Within those tired eyes, I could see amusement. Subalit mukhang hindi pa tapos si Wycliffe. He turned to me.

"Then are you Ana Steel-ing him?" Tanong niya sa akin. Nagtagis na lang ang aking mga bagang. I needed to stay calm in situations like this.

"Nagkakamali ka ng iniisip. We're friends. I'm—"

"He's Elric," mabilis kong sagot. Saglit na napatingin sa akin ang lalaking kasama ko at saka tumangu-tango at inilahad ang kamay sa aking kapatid. Agad naman iyong tinanggap ni Wycliffe.

"I'm Wycliffe Arturia," replied my brother. With that, the atmosphere seemed to loosen up. "If you are friends then why haven't she introduced you to us?" Tanong muli ni Wycliffe.

"Because... because I asked her to keep it a secret. I'm... I'm an author." Ethan Montreal glanced at me and I nodded. Yes, I got his drift. So now, he was Elric and he was an author. "Kasalukuyan akong nagpapahinga mula sa pagsusulat. I don't want to risk being recognized while on this vacation."

The lies we were fabricating for my brother could be complicated but as long as it wasn't affecting my main goal, I was fine with it. Mukha namang mas naging interesado ang kapatid ko sa gawa-gawang propesyon ni Ethan.

"You are a writer? Anong mga isinusulat mo na?"

"Novels," nakangiti at matipid na sagot ni—Elric.

"Seriously? That's cool! Anong mga novels ang mga na-published mo na?"

Saglit na natahimik si Ethan. I tensed, waiting to see how he will answer this and working out on another possible fabrication if I had to. My brother loved to read books. Isang mali at hindi tugmang impormasyon ay hindi iyon makakalampas kay Wycliffe. I gritted my teeth. I didn't like lying. Hindi kasama sa mga abilidad ko ang pagsisinungaling. I could conceal and hide my movement, my thoughts, and my emotions. But lying was a different game. People just couldn't read through me. But this little devil in front of me was an exemption. He had always been able to see through my lies.

"Saudade."

Ethan interrupted my train of thoughts nang muli siyang magsalita. Impressive, in a way. Mukhang sanay magsinungaling ang taong ito. Siya ang tipo ng taong kadalasan ay hindi ko pinagtutuunan ng pansin. Subalit kung anumang negatibong emosyon ang naramdaman ko tungkol sa kanyang pagsisinungaling ay siya namang kabaligtaran ng kislap ng mga mata ng kapatid ko.