LIGHT AND CASTIEL were busy how to hide the construction of their small village, medyo nahirapan sila lalo na at sa likod lang ng bahay niya ito itatayo. He already did the rendering and his friends, as expected, liked it. Wala naman magagawa ang mga ito dahil wala rin siyang balak na magpalit.

They personally hired their workers that can help them build their safe haven, at para hindi 'yon makalabas at malaman ng iba. Their workers signed a contract, na wala silang pagsasabihan tungkol sa maliit na village na binubuo nila sa likod mismo ng bahay niya.

They're both exhausted from work, lalo na at pagkatapos ng isang project niya, sunod sunod na ang dumating sa kanya. Of course, Castiel was his chosen Engineer. Palagi naman.

"Inalipusta niyo talaga ako!" Reklamo na naman nito sa kanya.

Pumulot siya ng maliit na bato at binato 'yon kay Castiel. "Ulol! Malaki naman ang kinikita mo!" He shot back.

Tumawa lang si Castiel at pabiro na dumila sa kanya. "Kailangan ko ng maraming pera!" He exclaimed.

Nag thumbs up lang siya sa kaibigan. They really need a lot of money. Doble ang bayad nila sa mga construction workers nila dahil minamadali nila ang paggawa. Light was confident that they can hide it for a couple of months. Ayon ay dahil wala naman nakatira malapit sa bahay niya, but he can also tell that some of the villagers were getting curious with the loud noice coming from the back of his house.

May ibang dinadaanan ang mga truck na nagbababa ng mga materyales na kailangan nila, para hindi malaman ng kapatid niya na may ginagawa sa loob ng village ng mommy nila.

"Okay ka na ba talaga?" Castiel worriedly asked.

Nagkibit lang ng balikat si Light. Hindi siya sigurado. Ang alam lang niya nakinig siya sa advice ni Caleb. He's going to do whatever he wants now. He's going to reach his dream and plan the future without Vyel in it. Of course, it wasn't that easy.

She was his reason to reach success.

At doon siya nagkamali.

He forgot that he has his parents. His family. His friends. His self. Sapat na maging rason para mas lalo pa siyang magpursigi sa pagaaral noon, at trabaho ngayon.

"Pagkatapos nito ano na ang balak mo?" Castiel asked again as he threw a quick glance at the site.

"Edi tumanggap ng panibago. Magpasikat. Gusto ko maging katulad ni Papa, Castiel. My name written all over the news paper, magazine and even in any television shows." Light dreamily said.

Castiel chuckled softly, "Light Perez, pinaka tarantado sa lahat ng mga Architect! Nice, bud! Sagot ko na, pa billboard natin!" Pang-aalaska nito sa kanya.

He eyed his friend from head to toe, walang duda. Tarantado mula ulo hanggang paa. Light thought. Napailing na lang siya rito at iniwan ito nang hindi nagpapaalam.

He also need to visit another construction sites, as per his sister request, or should he say ordered. Hindi lang si Castiel ang nakakawawa, kasama rin siya doon.

Light slid himself inside his car and picked up his phone to check his email. He already changed his phone, si Xyria mismo ang pumili, she made sure that he'll no longer search her nor look at their pictures together. Even his Instagram account got deleted by his younger sister, Grex.

He checks his email and messages first. Kumunot nang bahagya ang noo niya nang makita na ang huling beses na nag-usap silang dalawa ni Vyrlle ay noong na hospital pa siya. She didn't text him like she used to, asking him to play with her.

Pinagsawalang bahala niya 'yon. Just like him, he's sure that she's busy with her studies. Lalo na at sigurado na nag aadjust pa ito sa bagong environment nito. College wasn't that easy. Kailangan mo talaga pigain ang lahat ng mayroon sa utak mo para lang makapasa at makakuha ng magandang grado.

Jyrelle was an achiever despite of his bad reputation. Of course, the twin must be pressured by that fact.

Nang makita na wala naman importante sa mga message na nasa inbox niya. Pinaandar na niya ang sasakyan at isa isa na binisita ang mga site na hawak niya, pati na rin ang mga inuutos ng kapatid niya. After that, bumalik siya sa company building nila to attend meetings and such.

"Light?" Tawag sa kanya ng kapatid niya.

"Yes?" He answered without looking at her, busy siya sa pagpili ng mga design para sa ipagagawa na naman nila na subdivision.

Their father told them about the land when they had dinner together and, Xyria and Light thought that it will be a good spot.

"Let's play a game."

Agad na umangat ang tingin ni Light sa kapatid niya.

"Just a game?" Paninigurado niya.

Gusto niyang umirap nang makita na tumaas ang sulok ng labi ng kapatid niya.

"Oh no, this isn't good." Light uttered and shake his head.

Xyria laughed at him. "It will be! You need money, right? Ganito, pustahan tayo. Kapag nanalo ka sayo ko ipapangalan 'yon, kapag natalo ka, sa akin pa rin ipapangalan pero 50/50 tayo sa kita. It's a good deal, right?" She asked, beaming at him.

It wasn't a good deal at all. Itirik niya ang mga mata at pagod na sumandal sa upuan niya. Sa kanya ipapangalan, siya ang magtatrabaho. Kay Xyria ipapangalan, siya pa rin ang magtatrabaho. Hindi makatarungan ang 50/50 na sinasabi ng kapatid niya. Either of the two. Lugi na lugi siya.

"I don't want to." Tanggi niya rito.

"Light, sa Chicago 'yon."

He sighed and snapped his head towards his sister. Pinulot niya ang cellphone niya sa lamesa at pinakita 'yon sa kapatid.

"If I win, sa akin ipapangalan, ikaw ang magtatrabaho, 75/25 tayo sa kikitain. The 75 will be yours since you need to money to live there. And If I lose, it will be the same condition. Deal?" Paninigurado niya.

Ngumisi lang si Xyria sa kanya at dinampot na rin nito ang cellphone. "Sure!"

Light immediately open his Mobile Legend application and wait for Xyria, most likely, one versus one ang laro. It will be difficult, lalo na at alam nila kung paano maglaro ang isa't isa. Simula noong turuan sila maglaro ng mga magulang nila, palagi silang magkakampi. Of course, they practiced together, in able to win, they're both determined dahil sa pagod nila na linggo linggo silang naglilinis ng buong bahay.

"Good luck, brother!" Xyria laughed.

Umingos lang siya sa kapatid at tinanggap ang invitation nito sa laro. He choose the safest hero, gamay na niya ito, at ginastusan na rin niya ng malaki.  Sun. His monkey fighter class hero.

"Nice pick," Xyria commented.

Hindi niya pinansin ang kapatid at hinayaan lang ito na pumili ng sariling hero nito. She choose Granger as her hero.

The game started just fine. Mas lamang siya kaysa aa kapatid niya pero nang malapit na niyang maubos ang mga tore sa gitna, Castiel called.

Dahilan para mawala siya sa game.

He cursed and prayed na kung nasaan man si Castiel, wala sana ito sa mabuting kalagayan. He cancelled the call immediately but once again, the demon called him. Paulit ulit yon hanggang sa matalo siya.

"That's cheating, Ate!" Singhal niya sa kapatid.

"Sa akin ipapangalan, ikaw ang gagawa. I love you, brother!" Nakangisi na sagot sa kanya nito.

"Did you already signed the contract?" Light asked while texting Castiel profanities.

"Of course, don't worry. I already prepared everything you need."

Nakahinga siya ng maluwag dahil doon. He's busy with the construction of their mini village plus his other projects.

"Kailangan ang alis?" He asked again.

"Bukas."

Napalingon agad siya sa kapatid niya.

"Don't worry, as I've said, I already prepared everything that you need." She answered smirking, emphasizing the word 'everything'.

Wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi ang tumango na lang.

HECTIC ang schedule nilang dalawa na magkapatid. Most of the time si Vyrlle at Leo ang magkasama dahil pareho lang sila ng course na kinuha, dahilan para lalo siyang paginitan. Rumors were spreading that she was seducing her own twin boyfriend. As if!

"How are you?" Leo asked her.

She glared at him. "Lumayo ka nga sa akin!" Vyrlle hissed.

Natawa lang si Leo at itinaas ang dalawang kamay sa ere. "Pupunta ako sa building ng kambal mo, sama ka?" He asked.

Marahan lang siyang umiling at pasimple ito na tinaboy. She needs to do her report first, hindi pa siya tapos mag research dahil palaging puno ang library nila at hindi rin naman sapat para sa kanya ang nakalap niya through the internet.

Umangat ang tingin niya nang may umupo sa harapan niya. It was Jillian. Agad itong nagsalong baba at bumuntong hininga.

"If you're just going to sigh there, get out." Masungit na sabi nito.

Jillian scoffed. "No way, I'm going to bother you — on second thought... Ka group pala kita. Let me help you."

Nakahinga siya ng maluwag dahil doon. Hindi na niya alam kung ano ang uunahin niya sa dami ng mga activities at assignments na pinapagawa sa kanila. Not to mention that they need to join a club. Dagdag pa sa pagod niya!

"Babe, should we ask for your cousin help?" Jillian asked her.

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "We don't need my Kuya Laur's help." Mariin na sagot niya.

"We do! Alam mo ba 'to?" Sarkastiko na tanong niya rito at ipinakita ang naidagdag niyang info sa output nila.

"I can ask my brother..."

"Nope! I'm going to ask your cousin!" Pagpupumilit nito. Hinayaan na lang niya. Ang gusto pa rin naman nito ang masusunod. "Hindi na kita nakikita na naglalaro."

"Busy tayo, malapit na rin ang midterm, kailangan ko mag review." Dahilan niya.

But the truth was, hindi available ang gusto niyang kalaro. He's much more busier now. Unlike before.

"Oh, goodness! Feel free to bother him. He won't mind it, trust me!" Kumpyansa na sabi nito.

Vyrlle rolled her eyes playfully. "Palibhasa panay ang panggugulo mo sa pinsan namin!"

Jillian chuckled softly, "excuse me, miss. Hindi po panay! Nag-iingat din ako ano? And fyi, I already stop. Tsaka na, kapag graduate na tayo."

"Hirap mo naman paniwalaan." Vyrlle teased.

But truth to her words, a week after she told her that, Jillian literally stop. Just like her, mas focus ito ngayon sa pag-aaral kahit panay ang tukso ni Nicha rito.

"May balita ka ba sa crush mo?" Rayos asked.

Binitawan niya ang ballpen na hawak at pinaikot ang swivel chair niya para maharap ang kapatid. Katatapos pa lang nitong maligo at tamad na umupo sa kama nilang dalawa. Umiling lang siya. She's busy. Hindi niya mahawakan ang cellphone niya at wala na rin naman ang instagram nito para makibalita kay Light.

"Really?" Hindi makapaniwala na tanong nito sa kanya. "I heard from Kuya that he is in Chicago, your man is now starting to build buildings abroad."

Matamis siyang ngumiti. "Good for him," she uttered.

Vyrlle wondered if gamit nito ang white hard hat na binili niya para rito. Though, ang alam ni Light ay galing ito sa tatay nito. She wanted to see him wearing his usual outfit, kapag papasok ito sa trabaho. She wanted to see him doing his job, she wanted to see with her own eyes how his eyes sparkles as he do what he loves the most.

Pinaikot niya ulit ang swivel chair niya at hinarap ang laptop niya at ang mga nakakalat na papel sa lamesa niya, para itago sa kambal niya ang mas malawak na ngiti nito. She's proud. Very proud of him.

Hindi niya man ito nakita kung gaano ito kasaya noong makapasa ito at maging lisensyado na Architect, at least one day, she can visit every buildings he designed, and every projects na nakapangalan kay Light.

And in order to do that, kailangan niyang makatapos sa pagaaral. Her goal was to graduate with Latin honor too. He was her inspiration, and her family. Vyrlle wanted to make him proud of her too.

"You're proud of him. You can't hide that smile of yours from me, Vyrlle Ion Clemente!" Natatawang sabi ng kapatid niya at naramdaman ang mahinang pagtapik nito sa balikat niya.

She chuckled and lift her head up. Ngumuso siya para maitago ang ngisi na nakapaskil sa mga labi niya. But she failed miserably, lalo na at mas malawak pa ang ngiti ng kambal niya kaysa sa ngiti niya kanina.

"So what if I am?" Depensa niya at pinakawalan na ang ngiti na pinipigilan niya kanina lang.

"Damn! Don't let him see that smile! Ikaw din!" Pangaasar nito.

"Ha! No way, Cay! No way in hell!" Natatawang sagot niya.

Not now, maybe someday...

☕