HUMMING her favorite song, flipping the pages carefully, enjoying the peaceful afternoon. Rayos was in a good mood. Reading always puts her mind at ease. It calms her.

She already read the book she's reading online. But nothing beats the feeling of holding and smelling it.

Ngayon lang ulit namahinga ang utak niya. Well, the one week trip with her family was good. Pero imbes na magpahinga, na-stress lang siya.

Nakahinga lang siya nang maluwag dahil hindi na 'yon pinaabot ni Laur sa kapatid at Daddy nila. If so, hindi siya magiging fresh ngayon!

Malapit ang pwesto niya sa garden, kaya rin siguro magaan ang pakiramdam niya lalo. Rayos became fond of flowers because of Leo.

Nawala ang atensyon niya sa libro na binabasa niya nang may tumabi sa kanya. Rayos sighed heavily. Sinigurado na dinig ito nang tumabi sa kanya.

"Is that Mr. Holmes book?" The girl beside her asked.

Rayos looked at her flatly. As if she was saying 'Hindi ba obvious?'. Nakikita naman nito ang book cover, nandoon ang pangalan ng author. Unless, tanga ito at gusto lang mang-asar.

Kinalma niya ang sarili. May isang tao talaga na wala pang ginagawa, pinapakulo na ang dugo mo. Rayos wasn't unreasonable like her brother. That brute, who happened to be her brother, palagi na lang mainit ang ulo nito sa mga tao. Even his employees were all afraid of him.

Pinanatili ng babae ang ngiti sa mga labi nito. "Kanino galing? A gift?"

Daming tanong!

"Hmm, sa boyfriend ko." Rayos proudly answered, smirking smugly.

Alam ni Rayos kung bakit mainit ang dugo niya sa babae. Nagpapakita ito ng motibo kay Leo. Ayos lang sana sa kanya kung hanggang paghanga lang, but this girl was feisty and crossing the line they set for her. Hindi ito marunong makiramdam. Hindi ito marunong rumespeto sa relasyon ng iba.

She kept on asking Leo's out, kahit pa nga nasa tabi niya ito noon.

"Leo? Right?"

Tumango lang si Rayos.

"Kayo pa rin? I thought…"

Tumaas ang isang kilay niya.

"Wala na kami?" She scoffed. As if.

"Yes," mahina na sagot nito. "Well, nagkita kasi kami and I helped him look for books… na ibibigay nga raw sayo. We even had lunch together. He said it was a date."

Umiwas nang tingin si Rayos sa babae. She licked her lower lip. It wasn't true. Leo was updating her from time to time. Kausap pa niya ang kapatid nito, even his mother. Pero walang nabanggit ang mga ito na may kasamang ibang babae si Leo.

"He's so freaking gentle all throughout our date— I mean, lunch, it's not a date!"

Lumingon si Rayos sa babae at peke na ngumiti. She should be on her knees right now, thanking her mother for reminding her not to cause trouble. Vyrlle was too much to handle.

Last time, her twin was not satisfied sabotaging her blockmates project. Rayos heard that the girl pissed her twin by mentioning Light's name in their argument. Vyrlle rolled the pile of papers she's holding and used it to slap the girl's face.

Tumawag ang school sa parents nila at muntik na ma-suspend ang kambal niya, mabuti na lang at ang kapatid nila ang pumunta at nakipag negotiate sa guidance.

And if not because of that… Umiiyak na rin sana ang babae na nasa harap niya.

"— and after that lunch, nag-aya rin si Leo na maglibot muna. He's so sweet. Madaldal din, pero noong kaklase pa natin siya… tahimik siya sayo 'no?"

Gustong matawa ni Rayos. Maingay si Leo kapag silang dalawa lang. Lalo na sa kama. Habang magkadikit ang katawan nilang dalawa. Him, thrusting deep inside her.

Nicha was always in the guidance office. Dumalaw na doon ang kambal niya, ayaw na niyang dumagdag pa.

Masyado na maingay ang pangalan ng mga kapatid at pinsan niya. Kung dadagdagan pa niya, baka mahimatay na ang Daddy nila sa stress. He's kind and know how to suppress the blood of Clemente residing in him. Rayos already learned that.

"Lyrish Kale? Right?" Rayos asked, smiling.

"Yeah,"

"Bakit ang daldal mo?" sarkastiko na tanong niya. "What's the point of telling me… of you, spending time with my boyfriend?"

Ngumisi ito sa kanya. "Feeling ko kailangan mo lang malaman. I don't think… sasabihin 'to sayo ni Leo."

Marahan siyang tumango.

"Are you… insinuating that my boyfriend is cheating?" Rayos softly asked her.

Tinitigan niya ang babae. The girl shrugged and Rayos laughed at that.

"With you? Proud ka?" nangingiti na tanong niya ulit. Rayos tapped her fingers against the wood table. "Look, hindi porket naging mabait sayo ang boyfriend ko… mag a-assume ka na ipapalit ka niya sa akin."

She's pissed. Pinulot niya ang libro na binigay sa kanya ni Leo bago iniwan ang babae. Rayos couldn't smile back to her blockmates when they're asking if she's going home. She's a Clemente. Some of her blockmates knew how dirty they were. How monstrous they could be.

Diretso lang ang lakad ni Rayos hanggang sa makauwi siya sa apartment ni Leo. She needs something to release her anger. It's not good for her. She doesn't want that part of her to swallow her whole.

That side of her should be buried deep inside her. That side of her should be kept forever.

"Damn!" Rayos angrily said.

Pumasok siya sa kwarto niya at agad na kinuha ang mga libro na binigay ni Leo sa kanya pag-uwi nito. Nilapag niya 'yon sa coffee table at pabagsak siya na umupo sa sofa nito. Tulala lang si Rayos sa mga libro. Wondering. Kung ano ang magandang gawin sa mga 'to.

She started her day with a smile. But someone was too kind to ruin her mood.

"Hindi 'yon totoo…" bulong niya sa sarili.

She picked her phone up. Binalikan niya ang conversation nila ni Leo noong nasa bakasyon ito. Wala itong nai-send na picture sa kanya na nasa bookstore ito, even his lunch that day!

She brushed her hair frustratingly.

Rayos chuckled coldly to herself as she waits for Leo to get home. Hindi dapat ganito. Hindi dapat siya nag-iisip. She shouldn't overthink too much just because of that girl!

Leo wasn't like that. For sure, hindi 'yon totoo.

Right! It wasn't true.

She was busy convincing herself to trust his partner. Hindi 'yon gagawin sa kanya ni Leo. Nakatatak na sa utak niya na kakausapin niya si Leo nang masinsinan.

Pero lahat 'yon nawala nang makita niya si Leo na nakangiti sa kanya. Her hand swiftly moved, para itong may sariling utak, dinampot nito ang isang libro at binato 'yon kay Leo. Hanggang sa mag sunod-sunod na.

"What the heck?" He exclaimed. Gulat marahil sa bigla niyang pagbato.

Rayos gritted her teeth and yelled, "I don't need those books!"

Kumunot ang noo ni Leo sa kanya. Umiling ito at isa-isa na pinulot ang mga libro na naibato niya dito. Mabilis ang tahip nang paghinga ni Rayos. She's still mad. Hindi pa rin humuhupa ang galit sa katawan.

Leo placed the book on the sofa. Yung hindi niya maaabot. Hindi rin muna ito lumapit sa kanya. He was observing her from a right amount of distance between them.

"What made my baby upset?" malambing na tanong nito sa kanya. Matalim ang tingin na pinukol ni Rayos kay Leo.

He looks calm. Hindi ba ito galit sa ginawa niya?

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin na may kasama ka palang ibang babae habang nasa bakasyon ka?" Iritado na tanong niya. Lumipat ang tingin niya sa mga libro. "I don't need those books, na hindi naman pala ikaw ang pumili. Akala ko pa naman ay naalala mo ako noon. Damn, I even rewarded you! How dare you date a woman behind my back?" She accused him.

Leo glared at her, pero kalaunan ay lumamlam ang mga mga nito. He sighed and dropped his bag on the sofa, saka ito tumabi sa kanya nang upo.

Kahit alam nito na galit siya, he tried to hold her hand and squeezed it lightly.

"Baby, I'm not dating anyone behind your back. Ang kasama ko na babae during our trip, si Mama at Ate lang. Now, if you're talking about the nuisance girl… I did not entertain her. Hindi ko nasabi sayo because… well, we're busy making out." Leo explained carefully. Ngumisi pa ito sa dulo.

He slid his arm behind her back and rested his hand on her stomach.

"How about you? Care to tell me about a guy… named Russel?" Leo turned the table.

Umingos siya nang maalala ang isang 'yon.

"Nakita ko. Pero hindi nakalapit. Kasama ko ang mga Kuya ko, bantay sarado kaming lahat."

"Nilapitan ka ba…?" Leo asked. Tumango lang siya. "Nilapitan din ako."

Sabay silang malutong na napamura ni Leo.

"Wow, we trust each other so much!" Rayos said with thick sarcasm.

Leo chuckled. Hinalikan nito ang gilid ng noo niya at hinila siya palapit dito.

"I'm sorry. Hindi ko nasabi sayo," bulong nito sa kanya.

Marahan siyang umiling. It was her fault. Nauna ang galit niya at binato kay Leo ang mga libro na bigay nito sa kanya. Ngayon tuloy siya nagsisi. Paano kung may nasira siya sa mga 'yon?

"They played us well." They uttered in unison.

☕