Saiiros note: Naisulat ko na 'tong chapter na 'to nung November 03. Quick story, I always write whenever I have free time para may update ako if ever na ma busy man ako, maliban na lang kapag may exam ako (literally won't write and update). Y'all know na may special place sa heart ko si Light, you can say that he's my favorite character. This chapter may be cliche to others, but I poured all of my emotions here. Enjoy reading, mi kōhī!

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ALMOST two months, he's living with Xyria and Castiel. He sometimes visit Vyel, pero sandali lang dahil may trabaho rin siya na kailangan tutukan, they sometimes ate lunch together via video call at lagi 'yon napuputol.

Light was tapping his foot on the ground, humigpit ang hawak niya sa puting hardhat na hawak niya. Hindi siya mapakali. They're just starting, they've spent their time together reviewing for exams and passed together. If only he knew that she'll be busy like this, pinilit na sana niya ito na sa kumpanya nila magtrabaho.

"Architect! Lunch ka po muna," tawag sa kanya ng mga kasama niya.

Hindi niya kasama si Castiel dahil naiwan ito sa project nila noon na kasama si Architect Santos. He's thankful, kasundo niya ang Engineer at iba pa niyang katrabaho.

"Mauna na kayo, may hinihintay pa ako na tawag." He smiled a little.

Tinignan niya ulit ang cellphone niya kung may message na si Vyel, his mood turned sour. Wala kahit na isa. He doesn't want to compare but... Castiel, at ang ibang Engineer na kasama nito, they can still hold their phone during working hours kung wala naman gaanong gagawin.

"Fuck! This is so frustrating!" Light hissed and aggressively knocked the mono block chair he saw with his leg.

Nagpamaywang siya at marahas na bumuntong hininga. Tumingala siya at ilang beses na huminga ng malalim para ikalma ang sarili, he can't work like this. His mood can also affect his co-workers mood. Naglakad siya palabas at naghanap ng malapit na tindahan.

"Marlboro lights, isang kaha."

He's not a smoker, he only tried once because his Uncle Khairus urged him to try it. But because of the stress, the frustrations, he needs something to calmed him and cigarettes helped him a lot. It was bad for his health, alam niya 'yon, but he can't stop himself for wanting it now.

Inabot niya lang ang bayad at agad na kumuha ng isang stick. Inipit niya 'yon sa pagitan ng mga labi niya and light it up with his lighter, a congratulation gift from Kade. It was a personalized lighter. Hindi niya alam na magagamit niya ito.

Napailing siya at tamad na sumandal sa pader at ibinulsa ang sigarilyo at lighter niya. He brushed his hair up as he smokes.

Gusto niya na matawa habang hawak ang isang stick ng sigarilyo. Light did not allow himself to be tempted back when he was in highschool, kahit na ang dami na nagaaya sa kanya. Even his own father offered him one stick of cigarette before, pero hindi niya 'yon pinansin.

Bumalik siya sa site at agad na kinuha ang alcohol niya at nag spray sa kamay, pagtapos ay pumasok siya sa banyo para makapag toothbrush.

"Architect? May tinira kami na pagkain sayo, nilagay namin sa lamesa mo. Nakita mo na ba? Luto 'yan nung misis ni manong, birthday daw ho kasi!" One of his Engineers' said.

Bahagya siyang sumilip sa pintuan ng banyo at nag thumbs up lang dito.

Nang matapos siya, tinago niya ang lighter at sigarilyo niya sa sling bag na lagi niyang dala sa trabaho. He picked up his phone and tried to call Vyel again but as usual, she's not picking up.

His jaw tightened.

"What the hell is going on?!" He uttered under his breath.

Tinignan niya ang pagkain na itinabi ng mga kasamahan niya para sa kanya. Wala siyang gana. Light picked up his phone again and saw a message, pero hindi 'yon galing sa tao na inaasahan niya.

Vyrlle: Want to play?

Tamad na inayos ni Light ang pagkakaupo niya. Vyrlle was still cold toward him as usual, pero pakiramdam niya ay nabawas 'yon ng kaunti after the dinner party. Sa loob ng dalawang buwan, if she's not busy, siya mismo ang nag-aaya sa kanya na maglaro.

Light: One game, ayos lang?

Vyrlle: It's more than enough (:

He's in a very bad mood, but the backward smiling emoticon from Vyrlle's text message made him feel better. Anong klase na mahika ang mayroon ito?

Ito na mismo ang nagkusa na iinvite siya sa game. As usual, same heroes and same lane. Sa bawat laro nila hindi pwede na walang nagrereklamo dahil sa takaw nila, basically, after a minute of farming, nilulusob na nila ang mga kalaban.

After the game, Vyrlle texted him again.

Vyrlle: Looks like you're not in the mood

Ngumuso lang si Light sa message nito. She's so cold.

Light: Lamang ka lang ng isang kill sa akin

Vyrlle: Wrong. Five yun, may screenshot ako

Mahina siyang natawa. Childish.

Light: I'll eat a lot next time

Vyrlle: Our prof is here, kung hindi ka pa kumain, better eat now or else you'll get sick (:

Light: Stop texting me and start listening to your prof

Vyrlle: Send me a picture of you, eating your lunch

Light: Why would I?

Vyrlle: Idk. Concern citizen lang naman ako

Concern citizen huh?

Sinulyapan niya ang pagkain na tinira para sa kanya, he sneered and grab the spoon and fork. Light placed his phone on his phone holder and took a video of him eating.

He clicked his tongue when he realized what he's just doing a while back.

Good God! He's really getting crazy!

Pinatay niya ang recording at basta na lang 'yon sinend kay Vyel, instead of sending it to Vyrlle. But after a few seconds, his phone beeped and saw a message of Vyrlle.

Vyrlle: Damihan mo. Kuya Yves is worried about you, hindi ka raw kasi kumakain ng maayos (:

Now, that backward smiling emoticon scared the shit out of him!

He sighed and decided to send the video of him eating to Vyrlle. Nang matapos siya kumain, iniligpit niya lang ang pinagkainan at lumabas na sa office without checking his phone.

Light smiled when some of the workers called and greeted him. He needs to work hard on this if he wants to have a bigger project. If he wants to earn more money. This was for his and Vyel future.

After checking, nagpaalam na siya sa Engineer na kasama niya at dumeretso sa kumpanya nila. He wanted to asked his sisters if she can give him another project.

"Nagpapahinga ka pa ba?"

Xyria asked the moment he stepped inside her office. Salubong na salubong ang kilay nito. Light shrugged and placed his hands inside his pocket as he walk towards her table. Light squinted his eyes when he saw a new table, medyo malapit 'yon kay Xyria. And what more caught his attention was the gaming chair. Kagaya na kagaya ng upuan ni Xyria.

"Medyo," tamad na sagot niya sa kapatid. "Kanino 'yan?" Tanong niya at itinuro ang lamesa na malapit dito.

Xyria dropped the portfolio she's holding, leaned against his table, and clasped her hands together.

"Surprise dapat namin sayo ni Papa, kaso ang aga mo naman dumating." She sighed heavily. "That's for you, masyado kang matakaw sa mga project kahit hindi pa naman tapos ang isa, if you want to earn more money then help me. I am going to handle anything that related to constructions and you're going to handle our real estate company." Xyria explained.

His lips parted a bit. Hindi nag si-sink in sa kanya ang gustong mangyari ng Papa at kapatid niya. He's goal was to be a well known Architect, like them, to have a lot of projects, of course. But this one... It's not that bad. He's bound to help his sister to run their parents company.

"Really?" Light asked, a wide smile slowly showed up in his lips.

"Hmm, pinilit ko si Papa. You're pushing yourself too much, Light." Tunog nanenermon ang boses nito. "Isa pa, ilang buwan ka na nakikisiksik sa bahay ni Castiel. Wala na bang balak umuwi sayo si Vyel?" Xyria sarcastically asked.

"She's working..." He trailed off.

"So? You're working too." She pointed out. "Light, I am giving you half of our company's responsibility just so you can have or build your own connections."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't mind me," Xyria sighed and massaged her temple.

Naguguluhan siya sa inaasta ng kapatid niya. The moment he started working, as a CEO of their real  estate, she sometimes called him out of the blue tapos ay iiling ito at pababalikin siya sa trabaho. It's like she wanted to say something, ang kaso ay hindi maituloy.

He never stop calling and texting Vyel. Kahit wala siyang nakukuha na sagot, it's always like that. Hanggang sa mapuno na siya at hindi na niya namamalayan sa sarili na panay ang singhal niya sa mga empleyado nila, maski sa site.

"Light, loosen up!" Xyria shouted at him.

Pagod siyang sumandal sa gaming chair niya at pinikit ang mga mata. The face of Vyel, smiling and kissing him popped up. But it wasn't helping him to calm. He's still livid. Asking himself what was wrong. They did promise to contact each other whenever they had a chance.

She has been ignoring him for a month straight!

"If you're just going to yell all day here, pwede ba na umuwi ka na lang? Sinisira mo ang mood ng mga nagta-trabaho rito!" Sermon nito sa kanya.

"I'm sorry..." He uttered under his breath.

"I'm sorry? What the hell is wrong with you!" Xyria yelled again.

Light open his eyes and saw how livid his sister was, but there's an emotion in her eyes that he can tell without thinking too much, palagi niya na 'yon nakikita sa mga mata ni Xyria simula bata pa lang sila. Nag-aalala ito sa kanya. Naaawa.

"I can't contact her... Ate, did I do something wrong?" Light asked her. "Sinubukan ko naman siya puntahan pero yung oras namin sa isa't isa... Nililimos ko na lang."

He tried to visit her thrice, but Vyel said she'll contact him para hindi na siya mapagod sa biyahe. As if may pakialam siya roon.

His sister's face softened, nag-iwas ito nang tingin sa kanya.

"Kayo pa...? Fuck!" She cursed loudly and kicked the visitors chair in front of her table, natumba na 'yon pero nandoon pa rin ang atensyon ng kapatid niya. It's like she wanted to break that chair.

He sighed loudly and guilt started to creep on his system. This was how he affects people around him because of his behavior.

Xyria walked towards him and without saying anything, she embraced Light like how she embraced him when they were still little. Kapag pagod na siya sa pagaaral. Kapag napagalitan siya ng Mama nila. Xyria was always there to hug him and made him feel better.

"Kung alam ko lang..." Xyria whispered softly. His eyes widened when he heard her sobbing.

"Ate, what's wrong?" Natataranta na tanong niya sa kapatid.

"I'm sorry, Light... Hindi ko agad sinabi sayo. Hinayaan ko na umabot kayo sa ganito..."

Sinubukan niyang kumawala sa yakap ni Xyria para matignan ito. Xyria never showed any sign of weakness, from then up until now...

"Wala kang ginawa... Hindi ka nagkulang... You're amazing, always remember that. Papa raised you to be a good husband someday, and you did well, Light... Sobra pa sa sobra. Kahit hindi pa kayo kasal," she sobbed.

"I don't understand you..."

Mas lalong humigpit ang yakap ni Xyria sa kanya.

"Listen to me... I have a project... Sa Batangas. Ibibigay ko sana sayo 'yon, kasi alam ko kung gaano mo kagusto na makasama siya... You never show any interest on someone other than her. I trusted her, because she promised me that she will do her best to make you happy. To make my little brother happy... To take good care of you..." 

"What are you—" Naputol ang sasabihan niya nang magsalita ulit ang kapatid niya.

"I confronted her right away, when I saw her talking to someone... Ang sabi niya ka trabaho lang... I stay there for a week and observed her secretly... Bago ako umuwi, yung Architect nila... He told me something that made me stay there for another day, I asked her to go home, no, I begged her, na uwian ka na, if it's about her work, I can give her a lot of it. Araw araw ko siyang hinihintay. Sa mga araw na 'yon, the woman you adore was not the same anymore, Light!

I've had enough of her reasons that you're fine with the set up, updating you, calling you, texting you and such! So, I asked her to break up with you... Wala na ang mga gamit niya sa bahay natin..."

"No way... Why did you do that?!" He snapped.

"Kasi matagal na niya tayong niloloko! Matagal ka na niyang niloloko! She's kissing another man behind my brother's back! What do you want me to do?! Palakpakan siya? Kaladkarin pabalik at iharap sayo na parang wala siyang ginawa?!" Xyria snapped.

He coldly laughed and shake his head. "Hindi niya 'yon gagawin, calm down, please?"

"News flash, Light! Nagawa na niya!" Sagot nito at inilapag ang cellphone sa lamesa niya.

A video of Vyel's making out. He wants to puke when he saw the man touching every part of her body — na sa buong taon, buwan, araw na magkasama silang dalawa ay iniiwasan niya — and Vyel looks satisfied.

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