Bella's PoV
Hindi ko mapigilang hindi maluha dahil pwedeng pwede kong sabihin sakanila ngayon din ang nalalaman ko, pero maaaring ilagay no'n sa kapahamakan ang mga buhay nila kapag may nalaman sila, ngayon pa't nag pa-plano na sina Cassandra na patayin 'tong mga 'to.
I could try and tell them the truth but i don't know if they will even believe me or if they will stand by my side not on my fvcking way.
Etong Joaquin naman na 'to ayaw pa akong paalisin. Torture din eh 'no.
Pagkabukas na pagkabukas ng pinto ay nakita ko ang mga pinsan ko na nakikinig doon kaya medyo natawa pa ako kasi kabado silang tumawa bago tumakbo sa likod ni kuya. Your mama misses you so much. I secretly smiled before laying my eyes on my brother. I think he's mad. Welp, I'm outta here.
"Care to explain everything, Joaquin Lexington?" Tanong ni kuya. Yari ka, pfft.
Masaya ako na...kahit sa isip ko lang ay natatawag ko sila bilang kuya at pinsan. Dahil hindi ko alam kung dadating pa ba ang oras na matatawag mo pa ba silang gano'n dahil baka kamuhian na nila ako lalo na ni kuya kapag naisagawa ko na ang plano ko. I pity you so much, brother.
Nag lakad na ako papunta sa dining table para isalansan ang mga pinagkainan at nilutuan ko at inilagay ko 'yon sa lababo bago ako kumuha ng tatlong mangkok para lagyan ang tatlong pugo ng bulalo at tsaka 'yon inilagay sa lamesa. Tumukod ako doon ng makita ko silang nakaharap pala sa'kin, parang pinapanood akong kumilos. Ampupu, ano ba 'yan.
"Ano pang itinutunganga n'yo d'yan? Kumain na kayo dito, 'yon naman ang ipinunta n'yo diba?" Tanong ko bago mag punta sa lababo at sinimulang hugasan ang mga plato ng nakangiti. Kita ko kung pa'nong nalukot ang mukha nila dahil sa sinabi ko pero naupo na din naman.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito Bella?" Tanong ni Marco habang sumusubo ng bulalo.
"Oo nga, hindi ba't parang aso't pusa kayo nito ni pareng Joaquin?" Segunda naman ni Marcus bago tumikim ng bulalo. Nakita ko kung pa'nong manlaki ang mga mata nila ng matikman ang luto ko kaya mas napangiti ako pero agad din 'yong nawala ng mapatingin ako kay Joaquin na nakahalukipkip at naniningkit ang mata na nakatingin sa'kin. Anong tinitingin-tingin mo d'yan ha?
"Are you living with--"
"Hindi ang sagot sa tanong n'yo." Sabi ko pagkatapos ko mag hugas at nakapamewang na humarap sakanila.
Nagkatinginan naman ang tatlo na animo hindi naniniwala habang ang noo naman ni Joaquin ay nakakunot na, parang gusto n'ya pang umangal sa sinabi ko kaya pinanlakihan ko s'ya ng mata at binigyan ng 'sumakay-ka-nalang' look.
"Eh sinong nag luto nito?" Tanong naman ni Marcus.
"S'ya." Sagot ko bago nag lakad papunta sa ref para kumuha ng tubig.
"He doesn't know how to cook bulalo." Sabat ni kuya habang nakakapandudang nakatitig sa'kin kaya napalunok ako. Ampotek! Bakit naman kasi hindi marunong mag luto!
"Bakit, hindi ba uso ang YouTube sain'yo, ha?" Tanong ko bago lumapit sa sink para sana ilagay ang baso pero inagaw 'yon ni Joaquin sa kamay ko kaya napalingon ako sakan'ya.
"Ano ba?" Tanong ko sakan'ya habang nakakunot ang noo pero nag lakad lang s'ya sa ref bago kumuha ng tubig at uminom. Anak ng teteng.
Nakita kong papalit-palit ng tingin yung tatlo sa'ming dalawa kaya naman sinamaan ko ng tingin si Joaquin. Nag hahanap ng gulo 'to eh.
"Nauuhaw ako, bakit ba?" Pag mamaang-maangan n'ya pa bago humarap sa'kin. Inirapan ko lang s'ya bago bigyan ng dirty finger.
"Epal ka." Sabi ko bago nag lakad papunta sa cr sana para matawagan sina Jester pero napahinto ako ng biglang nag tanong nanaman sila kaya agad ko silang nilingon.
"Edi ikaw pala ang nag luto ng bulalo, Bella? Ang galing mo naman mag luto!" Sabi ni Marco habang sumusubo.
"Obviously." Sabi ni Joaquin at tsaka nag punta sa gilid ng ref at doon sumandal habang pinapanood n'ya sila kumain.
"Bakit gano'n ang soot mo kanina?" Tanong kuya sa'kin kaya natutop ko ang mga labi ko habang nag iisip ng isasagot. Shit, bakit ba feeling ko alam n'yang kapatid n'ya ako?
"Kasi mabasa ang suot ko kagabi--"
"What did the two of you do?!" Pasigaw na tanong n'ya kaya naman nagulat ako bago tumingin kay Joaquin pero hindi s'ya sa'kin nakatingin kun'di kay kuya at ang sama ng tingin n'ya. Aish.
"Okay, una sa lahat ay nag paulan ako kagabi at nakita ako ng pugong 'yan kaya dinala n'ya ako dito. Gets? Kaya suot ko ang hoodie n'ya at cycling ko lang ang suot ko na pang-ibaba. Kung ano ano iniisip n'yo eh." Palusot ko sakanila. 'Yon naman talaga ang nangyari eh, nung Friday nga lang at hindi kagabi.
Mag sasalita pa sana sila nang marinig ko na tumunog ang telepono ko sa cr kaya sabay-sabay nangunot ang noo nila.
"Excuse me." Sabi ko at nag simulang mag lakad papunta doon. Isinarado ko ang pinto at tsaka kinuha sa bulsa ng suot ko kanina ang cellphone bago 'yon sinagot.
"What's up?" I asked Yuan.
["Boss, may problema tayo. Si Cassandra mukhang babaguhin n'ya ang plano n'ya."]
Napahilamos naman ako ng mukha ko dahil hindi talaga mapakali ang babaeng 'yan, pabago-bago ng desisyon sa buhay, akala mo naman may ipapanalong kaso laban sa'kin.
"Alin?" Tanong ko.
["Hindi na ata nila patatagalin pa ng isang buwan boss eh. Balak na ata nilang patayin si Joaquin ngayong linggo din na 'to kasi kasama pala ang anak n'yang si Chelsea sa naka-engkwentro natin no'ng biyernes."] Sabi n'ya kaya asar kong pinagsusuntok ang pader sa harapan ko sa inis. Lintik! Bakit ngayon pa?
Hindi naman namin kasalanan na tatanga-tanga 'yong anak n'ya makipag-laban, tapos ngayon nang-gagalaiti s'yang kantiin si Joaquin? Kabobohan!
"Sige, tatawagan ko si tita. Pag-iisipan ko muna kung anong gagawin ko sa tatlong pugo dito." Sabi ko at ibababa na sana ang tawag nang biglang may nag salita sa kabilang linya.
["Teka boss, bakit hindi pa ngayon?"] Rinig kong tanong ni Raven. Naknamputcha, lagi nalang talagang kumakain 'to.
"Nandito ang tatlong pugo at hindi ako pinapaalis ni Joaquin. Pinag-iisipan ko kung dapat ko na bang sabihin o hindi." Sabi ko bago patayin ang tawag. Be ready Cassandra.
It's 9 am and of course, it's still raining. Lumabas na ako at nakita ko silang nasa sala na kaya sabay-sabay silang tumingin sa'kin kaya inilipat ko ang tingin ko kay Joaquin bago naupo sa sofa at nag indian seat.
"Bakit ganyan kayo makatingin? Ngayon lang ba nag dala ng babae o ng squatter 'to sa condo n'ya ha?" Tanong ko dahil nabubugnot ako sa mga tingin nila. Kung makatingin sila ay animo pati kaluluwa ko tinitignan nila.
"Oo." Sabay-sabay na sabi nila kaya napatingin ako Joaquin na hindi makatingin sa'kin. What the fvck?
"Well, since maulan naman, laro tayo!" Sigaw ni Marcus habang tinitignan kami isa-isa.
"Nice idea, bro! Truth or consequence, ano g?" Tanong ni Marco.
"Alright, count me in." Sabi ni Lucas bago umupo sa sahig. Ginaya naman s'ya kambal matapos nila kumuha ng isang bottled water. Spin the bottle?
"Huwag kayong kj mga dudes." Sabi ni Marcus habang nakatingin sa'ming dalawa ni Joaquin na nakaupo pa din sa sofa.
"Whatever." Sabi ko bago naupo sa gitna ni Marcus at Lucas. Agad naman akong tinignan ng masama ni Joaquin bago s'ya naupo sa harapan ko.
"Orayt let the game begin!" Sigaw ni Marco bago paikutin ang bote. Tumapat naman 'yon kay Lucas.
"Mehehe, truth or consequence?" Tanong ni Marco habang pinagdidikit ang mga palad n'ya. Prente namang naupo si Lucas at tsaka humalukipkip.
"Truth." He said before looking at me. What are you up to, my dear brother?
"Gusto mo ba si Bella?" Biglang tanong ni Joaquin habang nakakunot ang noo kay Lucas kaya naman natawa ako dahilan para mapatingin silang apat sa'kin.
"Sorry, continue." Sabi ko habang inaalog ang kamay ko. Lintik na tanong 'yan!
"Hindi." Sabi n'ya bago ngumisi kay Joaquin at tsaka tumingin sa'kin.
"Eh bakit kung makareact ka kanina--"
Hindi na natapos ni Joaquin ang pag tatanong n'ya dahil agad pinutol ni Lucas ang pagsasalita n'ya na nakapagpawala ng ngisi ko sa mukha.
"Dahil kapatid ko s'ya."
P-paanong...
***
Lucas's PoV
"Dahil kapatid ko s'ya." Sabi ko.
Yes, i know that this bitch right here is my sister.
After that incident happened, mom and dad left so i grabbed the opportunity to sneak inside of mom's so called 'office' because, what kind of shit is she even hiding in there? Dad and i are prohibited to enter that fvcking room.
I even tried my best to open it with a bobby pin but i ended up losing my patience so i took a dagger and opened it, reviling a white and gold room.
[Flashback]
After i closed the door quietly, i quickly scanned the whole place as fast as i could. It looks like just a typical office to be honest but... something screams dark in here.
"There's nothing in here. Why are we even prohibited then?" I asked myself before leaning on the bookcase behind me.
It's been 5 minutes and all i saw was a bunch of documents for their businesses. Damnit! I still need to find Joaquin!
"Aish, this is useless." I irritatedly said to myself before putting my elbow on the shelf. "Shit!"
To my surprise, the bookcase flew open, reviling a room. A secret room.
Without hesitation, i walked inside and my jaw dropped when i saw a corkboard filled with men and a pin connecting them to each other with a red string.
Shit, they are all well known because of their wealth!
"Damn." I said before roaming around and my eyes suddenly landed on an open folder so i grabbed it but the only thing that i did was furrow my forehead. Who is this?
"Rico Iverson?"
Wait, why does he have the same surname as that bitch? Is he the father?
I was about to put it back when a couple of papers fell so i immediately sat down to grab it but the next thing that i saw shocked me.
"Hell no." I said as i tried to convince myself that, the bitch that i hate is not my sister.
These are some files of dad and that Rico Iverson, they have the same dna, eye retina scan snd even finger prints!
What the hell!
[End of Flashback]
I even saw a picture of Bella, with that Rico Iverson and a pregnant lady.
That's the reason why her eyes were so fvcking familiar!
Her smile suddenly faded and her tears started to fell as she's looking at me as if she don't believe what i just said. I tried to wipe her tears off of her face but she just moved back while breathing so hard.
Isn't she supposed to be happy? I am happy.
I am happy indeed because my ticket to paradise would be easier now that i can hold her on her neck and make her do as i say because i am her brother. I can poison her mind and tell her to leave Joaquin alone, that's my only job here.
To separate them.
"A-anong...?" The twins are so confused while looking at the both of us while Joaquin's eyebrows are nearly punching each other, he's furrowing his forehead so hard while looking at me.
The question is, why does he look mad at me? The moment that i stepped foot in here earlier, i can feel his anger even if he's behind me.
I can feel like anytime, he can give me a punch, a cut or a gunshot. Something is wrong and i need to find that out before everything becomes jeopardize.
"Bella anong--"
"I gotta go." I was taken aback when she said that so before she could even stand up, i pulled her and hugged her like i mean it, making her sob like a baby. It's actually real nice to hug your sister.
"P-papaano mo nalaman?"
I just held her face and looked at her before fixing her hair a little. I even saw some weird stares from the twins but i just smiled at them before answering her question.
"I have my ways little sis. Stop crying already." I said while trying to calm her down.
"Aren't you mad at me?" She suddenly asked so i furrowed my brows.
"Why would i be mad at you?" I asked but instead of answering, she just shook head.
Why would i be mad at her? She's my ticket to paradise!
"You don't know anything aside from that, i see." She said that as if she knows everything.
But what does she mean by that?
Joaquin suddenly stood up and walked away and when he came back, he's already holding a cup of water before handing it to Bella.
"Thank you." She said before drinking the water. Joaquin sat right next to her so now, we are all looking at them as Joaquin touches her back, trying to calm her down.
The twins were about to tease them when Joaquin gave them a deadly stare that even made me question what really happened for the past two days.
I was about to nag his when he suddenly leaned in, i thought he was going to kiss Bella but he just whispered something, i guess and then Bella sort of nodded, agreeing to what he said.
"Ano bang pinag-uusapan n'yo mga dudes? Baka pwedeng pa-share naman s'amin hehe." That's Marcus and as usual, he didn't get any response from any of us.
"Ehem, Joaquin, can i borrow your laptop please?" She asked.
I looked at them, confused, especially when Joaquin just nodded at her and gave her a pat on her head because walking to his bedroom, he came back with the laptop on his hand before handing it to Bella.
She even mouthed 'thank you' before started typing whatever on the laptop. Neither of us dared to speak, not until she stood up and walked into the bathroom with the laptop on her arm.
"Bro, kapatid mo talaga yung amazonang yon?" Marco asked so i nodded while smiling.
"Hindi nga? Cool!" Marcus said making me chuckle. They couldn't believe it, neither did i when i found that out.
I looked at Joaquin who's quietly sitting with his hand crossed on his chest while looking at the bathroom door so i faked a cough to catch his attention, and i successfully did because he looked at me confused but to my surprise, his eyes were different.
The way he looked at Bella screams so much sincerety but the way he looks at me right now, he looks like a stone cold killer.
"Just so you know, i would never let you hurt my sister, even if it's just a joke for you." I said trying to scare him but he just looked at me and shrugged.
"I would never do that." He confidently said before looking at the bathroom door again. But the next thing that he said made me confused, big time. "Maybe you will, but i wouldn't." He said it only loud enough for me to hear it because the twins were busy bickering with each other as if they didn't hear a thing.
As Bella stepped out of the bathroom, we all looked at her, she's currently talking to her phone.
"Be ready, Cassandra's coming. Thanks Tita. Anata wa watashi o tayori ni suru koto ga dekimasu, obasan."
[Translation: You can count on me, aunt.]
She knows japanese? And wait, who is she pertaining to?
She walked towards us before sitting beside Joaquin who's now grinning ear to ear while looking at her.
"Who are you pertaini--"
"Sinong Cassandra ba sa tingin mo, Iverson?"
That made me furrow my forehead while looking at them both smirking.
"Iverson is not my surname."
"Yes it is my dear brother." She said. She has a point tho.
"What are you up to Bella?" Joaquin suddenly asked making me suspiciously look at him. He's asking as if he doesn't know anything now, what the heck is going on?
"I told you not to trust me." She said while looking directly at him.
"Ano ba mga sinasabi n'yo, baka pwedeng pabulong kami. At bakit marunong ka mag japanese?" Marco asked her as if he's so confused already. Typical.
"Calm down, 'couz." Bella said before pulling a cigarette from her case and litting it up in front of us.
"What do you mean?" Marcus asked.
"You're my cousins, what else?"
The next thing we knew was the twins were snuggling Bella to death.
"Ano ba ano ba!" Bella shouted at them, trying to get put of their arms because she looks like she couldn't breathe anymore. Pfft.
"Lumayo nga kayo!" Joaquin said before pulling Bella away from them both making my curiosity even go higher.
"Possessive much?" I asked while smirking at him, what i didn't expect was seeing him blushing. What the hell?
"Alright boys. Why don't we level up the game? You get to ask me any questions. I'll answer it honestly. But here's a twist, a little favor on my side." She said before putting her phone down.
"Ano naman 'yon--"
We were all shocked when she pulled two butterfly knives on her back and started throwing it in the air, playing with it like it is just a piece of cake.
"The twist is, kapag may nakaalam na iba....puputulin ko ang dila." She said before throwing those knives and it hit the fvcking table right in the middle. The three of us were amused and scared but i saw how Joaquin smirkes at Bella before his expression suddenly changes from playful to an amused one. "Let's get this party started." She said while smirking.
Oh, shit.