"Ate huwag na!" Pigil sa akin ng kapatid ko habang hinahatak ko siya pabalik ng school. 

"Ate huwag na kasi," Pag-uulit nito pero hindi ko siya pinapansin. Dire-diretso ako sa paglalakad habang hawak-hawak ang kamay niya. 

"Lory ano 'yan?" Nadaanan ko si Gwen at Ali na nagtatakang nakatingin sa akin. Saka ako napatigil sa paglalakad at iniharap sa kanila ang kapatid ko. 

"An 8th grader punched Theo, sasama ba kayo o hindi?" I sternly said, gritting my teeth and tightening my jaw. 

"Resbakan?" tanong ni Ali at tumango ako. Agad itong napatakbo sa gawi namin na kasunod si Gwen. Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad, mind you that I am almost marching towards the building where Theo said those fucking 8th graders punched him. 

I felt my blood boil when I saw a group of boys standing outside the classroom, lower sections, I am not surprised that they don't have manners and are bunch of bullies. 

"Hoy! Kayo! Bakit niyo sinuntok yung kapatid ko!? Don't you know what you did is bullying and I will fucking report this to the OIC and get all of you punished!" I shouted with grunge and anger, three of the students turn their faces at me and that's when my jaw dropped. 

They're lips are badly bleeding and there are bunch of bruises on their faces. 

"Huwag po ate, nakaganti na po si Theo sa amin. Talong-talo niya po kami, huwag niyo na po kami isumbong ate, sorry na po!" Lumuhod ang tatlong estudyante sa harap namin at ang mga kamay nito ay nakahawak sa isa't-isa. Lalo akong naguluhan at napakunot ang noo bago napatingin kay Ali at Gwen na nagkibit balikat bago ako lumipat ng tingin kay Theo. 

"You... you fought with them?" I asked, Theo's eyes widened before nodding. 

I shut my eyes tight before slowly facing the three students. 

"Fine, just don't ever fucking do that again." I said before facing my back at them and dragging Theo out of the place. 

"Shalla naman pala ng kapatid mo bestie! Lumaban naman na pala!" Gwen exclaimed as we are walking towards the gate. 

I sigh, "I forgot this kid took taekwondo lesson and is a black belter." I replied with a straight face. 

"Ayy, kaya mo 'yon Ali? Black belt? Di mo kaya 'yon!" Gwen exclaimed which made Ali burst out laughing as we are walking. 

I bid goodbye to my friends as me and Theo exits the school gate and get inside out van to get home. The first thing I did when we got home is to drag Theo to the kitchen where we have a first aid kid. I immediately cleaned his wound and did my best to make it less noticeable. 

"Lagot ako kay mommy kapag nalaman na nagkasugat ka." I said as I put ointment on his lips. 

"Why you ate? Mommy should scold me and not you. I'm the one who got into a fight." Theo innocently said, a sigh escaped my lips. 

"Basta, because pabaya akong ate at hindi kita nababantayan. And also, mom loves you that's why she can't scold you." I explained and his brows furrowed before pouting. 

"Pero ate, I'm not a kid na po para bantayan mo. And... mom loves you too..." I scoffed, 

"And ako naman po talaga ang dapat ma scold eh." he added, I forced a smile before caressing his hair. 

"Sure, just... just be careful next time, okay? How did you fight them ba?" I asked as I fix my sit on the high chair. 

"You said never start a fight, so I let him punch me, when I saw my lips bleeding, I took that as a go signal and kicked their... birdies, and then I punched the other, then I kicked him in the face, then I punched the other two, and then...-"

"Okay... Theo, calm down, what you did, that's self defense, but doing it too much is bad. Don't let your anger take over you that you become aggressive." I cut him off, he squinted his eyes before tilting his head. 

"I wasn't mad ate, I was smiling when I was kicking them because its feels nice punching and kicking them." he replied and my jaw dropped, is my brother... a psychopath? 

"Really? You're smiling while punching their faces?" I asked and he nods with a smile on his face, I sigh, well that's scary. 

"Anyways, never be that violent again, okay? Just... protect yourself but not to the point that their lips are bleeding. You can be reported with that for too much hurting them, but you did a good job protecting yourself." I said with a smile on my face, his smile got wider before hugging me which made my eyes widen. 

"Thank you ate, love you!" he said while pressing his face on my chest, I caress his hair and chuckle, "Ate loves you too, now let ate go because I have assignments to do." I said and he pull away. I ruffled his hair before putting the first aid kit away and going upstairs to my room. 

I change into comfortable clothes first before working on my assignments. Playing  RnB song and the lights changing colors. My room looks like a bar while I am working on my assignments. And I enjoy that, soft music, changing lights plus the dark, I like it. 

I finished 2 assignments  which took me so long since its a Science assignment and Math which is hard and I am still adjusting in classes again. 

Around 8PM, a loud knock echoed through my whole room. A sigh escaped my lips when I know who would knock on my door like this. I turned off my music and change the lights before standing up from my chair, walking towards the door and lazily opening the door. 

"What was that Louise! Your brother got into a fight! Hindi mo ba binabantayan ang kapatid mo ng maayos?! What are you doing at that damn school and not even paying attention to your brother!!" As I expected, 

A sigh escaped my lips, "He was able to fight for himself." I stated in straight face. 

"But still!! Ano nalang ang sasabihin ng tito Thiago mo kapag nalaman niya 'to! Magagalit 'yon sigurado at kasalanan mo 'to! Hindi mo inaalagan ang kapatid mo!" she shouted again, I started looking around avoiding my mom's eyes. 

"Tsaka nakakahiya, Lory! Your brother, a true Valdez got into a fight!? Anong sasabihin ng mga tao!? Ng mga business partners?! Na basagulero ang kapatid mo!? Na pabaya akong ina?!" She exclaimed and a small smirk prints on my lips. Hindi ba? Hindi ba at pabaya ka naman talaga na ina? 

She gripped on her hair frustratedly, "I'm really disappointed at you, Lory." she said with a stern voice. 

"Have you scold Theo?" I ask with straight face. 

"Of course not! Your brother is a kid! It's not his fault, you should be looking after him. This better not happen again!" she exclaimed before turning her back at me and marching away. A sigh and rolled my eyes before shutting the door. 

As I face my back on my door, I try to restrain myself from getting out of hand and aggressively throwing my things. 

"Calm down Lory, your laptop is on your table, your mom won't buy you a new one." I talked to myself as I take deep breaths. 

I slowly walk towards my study table and slowly sat, still taking deep breaths, I close my laptop and put my things away before taking a cold shower. I change into comfortable pajamas and tuck myself in bed while reading a book. I'm skipping dinner since I also lost appetite. 

While reading my book, a soft knocks echoed through my whole room. I already knew who it is so I put down my book on my bed and walk towards the door, as I open it, a pair of arms immediately wrap around my waist.

"Ate I'm sorry, I promise I won't get into any fight again and I can look for myself, I can protect myself and you don't have to bantay me anymore." he said as he starts crying. 

I scratch the end of my brow before removing his arm from my waist and hold him by the shoulder. 

"Ate is fine, you heard mom shouting 'no?" I ask and he nod with a pout, "Yes ate, and I'm sorry." he said, I shake my head, "It's okay, ate is not mad." I said and he pouted again. 

"But you didn't eat dinner with us." he said and I smiled, "Bring ate the mousse cake in the fridge and potato chips, I'll eat that for dinner." I said and without thinking twice, he ran away and rush downstairs. Wait for few minutes, he come back with the mousse cake and a big bag of Dorito chips. 

"Thank you, ate will be fine, okay? Sleep kana," I said as I kiss his forehead, he cutely nods before  walking away. 

Instead of eating those foods, I put the cake in my small fridge and put the Dorito chips somewhere in my room and proceed on sleeping. 

"What's your plan on your birthday?" I ask Ali as we are eating our recess, its the 17th of June now and in 3 days she will turn 17. 

"Wala... ayaw ko na maghanda, baka ano nalang... awan. It's not special naman, birthday lang yun." she replied while eating a cracker. 

My brows furrowed, "Huh? But you're always excited on your birthday." I said but she shrugged. 

"Di na ngayon, na realize ko na birthday lang yun, tsaka hindi na ako excited. Wala lang, hindi na special." she just repeated her answer. 

I squinted my eyes, "There's a problem." I stated, 

She look at me and pouted, "What? Wala 'no, sira ka." she said and I let out a 'tsk'. 

"You're copying me na! Not celebrating a birthday!" I exclaimed with a slight joking tone. 

She chuckled, "Hindi 'no, pag-iisipan ko nalang, Thursday pati, may pasok." she said and I slowly nod. 

"Okay, sabi mo eh." I said before continue eating. 

On the 20th of June, she seems... odd. She seems like she's not okay, we greeted her a happy birthday, she thanked us, but she didn't mentioned any celebration. She was... unusual the whole day. I wonder what happened, I know something happened. 

So by the next day, I gave her a cake. She smile, she is happy, she thanked me and blew the candle. Then by recess us sis ate the cake, but she seems silent. And it has been in my mind for a week. She wasn't checking on me, so I checked on her. She said she's okay, she said she's fine. And as more days pass by, the word 'fine' starts getting more believable. Because she got a bit jolly once again. 

"Lory, look oh." Ali showed me a small toy, she's smiling and she looks genuinely happy. And I'm glad for that. 

"Cute 'no, na-alala ko noong elem pa lang tayo, madalang akong makabili sa labasan sa may Central kasi hindi ako pinpapayagan. Binili ko 'to kahapon, cute 'no?" she ask and I immediately nod. 

"Yes, reminds our childhood." I said and she smiles before nodding and paying her attention back to her toy. 

"Ay, wait nga pala, may ibibigay ako." she said which caught my attention, she got something form her bag and pull out some bond papers with print on it. 

"Ipinagprint na kita noong pinapasagutan ni ma'am, para sasagutan mo nalang." she hand it to me and a smile crept on my lips. 

"Aww, thanks Ali." I said and she just smiled at me. 

When I got home, I immediately answered the papers she gave to me. I'm sure she's finished on this one already. After finishing that assignment, I scroll through my social media and stumbled by a post of Laura's promotion on a product. I can't help but to smile and feel proud, that's my friend right there! 

My brows furrowed as I suddenly got a notification from a contact. 

It's from Sam.

from Ponce: 

I'll be in Tagkawayan by tomorrow. I'm at the road right now, do you want something? 

A sigh escaped my lips and I rolled my eyes. 

to Ponce:

I have my own money to buy the things I want. 

I pouted in annoyance after I hit send, gosh, he's so annoying, so what if he's going here in the province? As if.

from Ponce:

Bad mood ka ah, HAHAHAHA, I'm just asking incase you want something. Sungit. 

After reading his message, I rolled my eyes and didn't bother replying to him. 

After dinner, I pass out on my bed due to stress and how tired the month of June was. It's just the first month of senior high school and I think I won't last for more, or maybe I will. 

"Ate, ate! Kuya Sam is here! Kuya Sam is here, ate!" I woke up due to Theo bombing my door. Without understanding what he's saying and still half asleep, I get up from bed and walk towards the door. 

Eyes still half closed, I open the door, seeing two figures but not clear. 

"Ate you look like bruha." I heard Theo said and I pouted. 

"What were you saying, Theo?" I ask, scratching the back of my head. 

"He said I'm here." I hear a familiar voice, I fully opened my eyes and that's when I saw Sam grinning. My eyes widened and immediately cover my chest since I'm not wearing any undergarment for top. 

"Wait!" I shouted before slamming the door to their faces. I rush to my closet and put on a bra, I also brushed my hair and fix my face before opening the door once again where the two lean by the well next the door frame. 

"Samuel. Matias. Ponce. What are you doing here?!" I sternly said, putting stress on his names. 

He chuckled, what the... the audacity to chuckle!

"Told you, I'm going to Tagkawayan, diba?" he said and I rolled my eyes, 

"You know what, do what you want to do, let me live my life and let me sleep." I said before almost closing the door when he stopped it. 

"It's 9AM, let's eat." he said, having no energy to argue with him 9 in the morning. I just nodded and got out of my room and followed him and Theo by the dining where a lot of food is served. 

"I'm here in 6am, tito Thiago and Tita Liliana welcomed me." he said as he sat next to me, Theo in front of me. 

"My parents likes you so much, more like , your company." I corrected myself before putting fried rice on my plate. 

"I'll be here until Monday, the McDonald's that your dad and my dad franchised is finished." he said as I took my first bite of the hotdog. 

My brows furrowed, "Wait... there's a McDonald's that is being build here?" I confusedly ask, 

"Built already, it was quick nga eh, like... more than two months tapos na. The constructions workers were fast and good." he said and my brows furrowed. 

I knew nothing about it, only now. 

For the whole day he stayed in our house, we painted since he left the materials he bought last summer here. He taught me how to paint the way he paints. I can say it was hard since I am new to it, but it was fine, it was okay and fun. 

Around 4PM, he brought me and Theo at the supermarket and brought ice creams. As much as I am laughing internally, we have a lot of ice creams at the house and we could have just got some from the freezer. But after paying at the supermarket, he brought us by the fish port where I am new at. 

"First time?" he ask as we sat on the cement. 

I slowly nod, "Yes, never been here." I replied as I open the solo pack ice cream he brought for me, him and Theo have their own. 

"I wish I can stay more here in Tagkawayan so I can bring you to more places." he said which made me choke on my ice cream. 

"Wow ha, ako ang taga dito pero ikaw pa ang mag to-tour sa akin sa sarili kong bayan?" I joked and he chuckled. 

"I did some research to places we can go, sadly, being a 12 year student is hard." he said and I nod. 

"I'm just 11 and it's already stressing me out." I replied while looking down on my ice cream. 

"Ako rin po, 7th grader palang me pero mahirap na." Theo said which made the both of us giggle. He ruffled Theo's hair before looking at the sky. We watch the sun sets before we head back home. He only sent me and Theo before he drive to their own house. 

The next day he didn't showed himself up to me, but he did messaged me that he's just busy on his school works. Why does he have to do that? Informing me about his day, I don't want to know about his day. 

By Monday, I went to school with Theo, of course, it was a normal day. It was good actually since the lessons was not that hard. Until dismissal, I am shocked to see Sam's by the gate. He's leaning at his car and students are staring at him. 

I hissed and rush towards him, "What are you doing here?!" I whispered shout, he look at me and smiled. 

"Fetching you from school--"

"Fine, fine, I'll go with you. Just get in, I don't want my friends seeing us together." I said before going by the passenger seat and him on the driver's seat. 

"Grabe ka naman sa itinatago ako mula sa mga kaibigan mo." he joked while driving, 

"My bestfriend knows about the arrange marriage and knows about you too." I replied with straight face. 

"Wait, really?" He ask, amused. 

"Who?" he ask again and I sigh, 

"Would rather not tell you." I replied and he just chuckled. 

He just sent me home and leave immediately. I prepare myself for the opening of the restaurant, mom also informed me about it last night so I am pretty much prepared. I wear a dress from Dior, shoes from Chanel and partner it with a Dior bag too. The opening is at 7PM so by 6:45pm, we left the house. 

As we arrived at the place, a lot of people are here, but are not customers. More like the crews and the bosses. 

"Your mom told me that we should be together here since a lot of their business partners already know about the future wedding." I got startled when Sam appeared at my side. 

"Nakakagulat ka!" I hit him at his arm which made him chuckle. 

He looked at his arm, I rolled my eyes before clinging my arm on his. 

The event started, ribbon cutting already happened and now tito Thiago is speaking. He's thanking the constructions worker who worked hard for the restaurant to be built. The workers are here but they are at the back. 

Then Sam's father got the grip on the mic, he did the same, thanked people he wanted to thank. But then... he introduced me and Sam to the people around. 

"Ipinapakilala ko nga pala ang anak ko na si Samuel Matias at magandang anak ni Thiago, Avery Louise! Tayo kayong dalawa, tayo." he gestured the two of us who's sitting silently on the chairs at the side. I had no choice but to stand up since Sam already did. 

As I put on a forced smile on my lips and look around the people and waving at them, I spotted a face who's looking at us, smiling and clapping. Inin is here?! And tito Ray?!