WHEN VYRLLE turned eighteen, masyadong naging mabilis ang mga araw. It's like yesterday, they were celebrating their birthday, and now, inaayos na nila ang mga kailangan nila para sa OJT.

She brushed her hair and tied it up. Mas gusto niya sana na sa ibang company siya mag OJT but her brother pulled her out and she ended up in their company.

"Tired already?"

Pagod siyang tumingala at nakita ang mukha ni Light na nakangisi sa kanya. He's wearing their company's uniform.

"Shhh, leave me alone." Masungit na sagot niya rito.

Tinawanan lang siya nito at inilapit sa pisngi niya ang hawak nitong iced coffee.

"Inaayos mo pa lang ang magiging cubicle mo, 'yang mukha mo hindi na maipinta." Natatawa na sabi nito. Vyrlle grunted and get the iced coffee. "Relax, next school year pa naman 'to. Loosen up, Vyrlle."

Nasabihan na sila na they still need to attend a few class before they'll start their on the job training. Pumunta lang siya rito para malaman in advance kung saang department siya idadala ng kapatid niya.

"Why are you here?" Vyrlle asked.

Light clicked his tongue and looked away. "I just want to see your brother and tease him a little?"

"Childish," she commented and laugh a little.

"Busy ka ba mamaya?" Light asked, making her brows furrowed.

"Not really, just need to attend a meeting for our club and I'm free. Why?"

"Laro tayo?"

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya kay Light. Vyrlle sipped on the coffee he gave and slowly nod her head. Matagal na rin siyang hindi naglalaro. She wanted to try the new hero na ibinibida sa kanya ng Papa ni Light. She's been an Alucard user ever since she started playing Mobile Legend. It's time to pick some hero she's not familiar with.

"Tatawag ako kapag nasa bahay na ako." She answered and Light nod his head, bago ito nagpaalam na aakyat na sa office ng Kuya niya.

Pinagpag niya ang uniform niya at kinuha na ang bag niya, joining a club in her 2nd year was not a good idea, dapat pala ay hindi niya na 'yon kinuha noon. Wala sana siyang iniisip ngayon na 3rd year na siya. Sadly, she just can't excuse herself just because she's now in her 2nd semester this school year, dahil dinaig pa ng mga professors nila ang president nila sa club. That witch!

Vyrlle was humming softly while walking and familiarizing their company. Busy ang mga tao, makikitaan ng pagod but their faces were somehow happy. Hindi toxic. Paano na manage ng kapatid niya na mamaintain ito ng ganito?

"Ma'am, sa school na ho ba tayo?" Tanong sa kanya ng personal driver niya nang makita siya nito.

"Opo," she answered and open the car door on her own and slid herself inside.

Her twin already got her driver's license with the help of her boyfriend, Leo. Rayos was very lucky, she wasn't expecting na magtatagal ang dalawa. But she's guessing that the more you go with the flow, with less expectations, the more na tatagal sayo ang isang bagay o tao na iniingatan mo.

Jillian on the other hand was still waiting for their graduation, kulang na lang ay hilain nito ang araw. While she on the other hand doesn't want that day to come. Pakiramdam niya ay kulang pa ang ilang buwan at taon na kasama niya ang pamilya niya.

"Tagal mo naman," reklamo ni Jillian nang makita siya nito.

Hindi na siya nakapagpaalam sa driver niya dahil hinila na siya ng kaibigan papunta sa room ng Club nila. Vyrlle was tempted to run as President for Supreme Student Council Government last election pero umatras siya dahil narinig niya ang pagrereklamo ng president nila noon.

She will be a good role model for her schoolmates but, doing those kind of tasks? She'll passed.

"I need to visit our company and prepare my cubicle," sagot niya kay Jillian habang hila hila siya nito.

"What? You're so excited, next year pa 'yon ah?! Not to mention 2nd semester pa ang OJT natin. Sino sa atin ngayon ang nagmamadali na matapos?" Jillian sarcastically asked. "Oh shoot! Yung pinsan mo na walang kasing ingay."

Mahina siyang natawa nang marealize niya na si Nicha ang sinasabi nito. Kahit anong ingay ni Nicha, kunwari ay napipikon si Jillian but the truth was, silang dalawa talaga ang magkasundo lalo na sa panood ng anime.

"Can you stop pulling me now? Masakit sa pulsuhan." Mahinang reklamo niya rito.

Dinaanan muna nila si Nicha bago dumeretso sa room ng Club nila. Medyo nagtagal sila dahil kailangan pa nila mag brainstorm para sa ganap nila this year for their foundation day. Good thing they're now starting their second semester at wala silang P.E. Hindi sila kasali sa mga magpe-perform. Although, Jillian signed up for Juliet role, kahit hindi naman ito kasali sa Theatre club.

Sobrang late na nila natapos. Vyrlle already texted Light that she can't play. Pagod na ang utak at katawan niya.

"Kuya, wait lang! Pakibagalan po," utos niya nang mapansin ang isang babae sa waiting shed kasama ang mga bata at inabutan ito ng pera. There's no public transportation, na dumadaan sa highway na dinaanan nila especially if it's raining. "Paki tabi po ang sasakyan malapit sa waiting shed."

Vyrlle softly smiled at herself. Simula bata siya, ugali na niya ang tumulong, mamulot at alagaan kung ano man 'yon. Lorev was the puppy she brought home back when she's still a little girl. Bumaba siya sa sasakyan at tinakbo ang pagitan ng sasakyan at waiting shed.

"Hello..." She greeted, bahagya pa ito na napatalon at humawak sa dibdib nito. "I'm sorry, did I startle you?" She shyly asked.

"Hindi. Hindi naman." Mabilis na sagot nito na ikinatawa niya.

"I'm Vyrlle Ion Clemente, 20 years old."  Vyrlle introduced herself.

"Hi? Hehe... Isabella." The woman shyly introduced herself too and shake her hand. She's beautiful. Ayon ang nasa utak ngayon ni Vyrlle.

"I saw you... kanina... you helped those kids. I like you." 

"Sorry, hindi tayo talo. Tsaka bata ka pa!"

Kumunot ang noo ni Vyrlle sa sagot nito.

"Ate. I'm straight." Bumaba ang tingin niya sa mga maleta na dala nito. "Saan ka pupunta ate? Maybe I can help you? Punuan ang mga bus kapag ganitong maulan." She explained.

"Hala, asan kana ba? Malas!" She hissed and pulled her hair.

"Ate?" Tawag niya.

"Wala na pala akong pupuntahan. Mag ho-hotel nalang ako- dumbass! I'm broke." She groaned.

"Pwede ka munang mag stay sa house namin, we have spare room." Vyrlle offered, wala rin naman ang kapatid niyang lalaki sa bahay. It seems like he bought a new house or he's living with Light.

That was Vyrlle thought. Muntik na niyang ipabalik ang sasakyan sa daan nang makiya niya ito na nakatayo sa harap ng pintuan nila.

"Who's she?" Agad na tanong nito nang makababa sila sa sasakyan at dumapo ang tingin nito sa babae na kasama niya.

"She's Ate Isabella, my friend. She'll be staying here for a week or so... Be good okay?" Bilin ni Vyrlle at tinapik ng mahina ang dibdib ng kapatid niya.

Her brother eyed her new found friend boredly.

"Go, change. Ako na ang bahala sa bisita mo." He said.

With his brother reputation when it comes to women, alanganin siya na iwan ang bisita niya rito but they're in their house. Wala siyang dapat ipagaalala dahil hindi gagawa ng kalokohan ang kapatid niya, lalo na at uuwi ang mga magulang nila ngayon.

Her new found friend, Isabella, stay with them for a week bago ito lumipat sa condo unit na nakita nito. She started working as their brother's secretary too. And then the next thing she knew, they were already together.

"Wait, what?!" Nabitawan niya ang cellphone sa sinabi ni Rayos.

"I saw her entering our brother's room. Wala siya sa guestroom, I guess they're already dating or..."

"Oh my God!" Nasapo niya ang noo.

[Hi, didn't mean to butt in but don't worry. Seryoso ang Kuya niyo ngayon.] Light commented. Nakalimutan niya na kausap nga pala niya ito habang naglalaro sila.

"What the fuck?!" Pabulong na singhal sa kanya ni Rayos.

She just shrugged and continue to play. "Hayaan na lang natin. I like Ate Isabella, let's give our brother a chance." Vyrlle said.

Sariwa pa sa utak nila ang ideya na nag d-date pa lang silang dalawa, but time flies so fast, patapos na sila sa 3rd year nila nang umuwi ang kapatid nila at sinabi na buntis na ang Ate Isabella nila. Was he that serious, para buntisin ito na wala silang label? A punch from their father must've been hurt and wake my brother up.  Because a week after their announcement, they're engaged. Everything happened so fast! Hindi siya makasabay.

When their brother turned 30, nagulat na lang sila sa bagong sasakyan nito. A gift from his wife. Turns out that his wife was a heiress of a multimillionaire business tycoon.

"22 na kayo right?" Their brother's wife asked.

Napalunok siya at nginitian ito. Please, she doesn't want any extraordinary gifts. Tama na ang Kuya nila, nakontrol na nga nila ito sa paghahanda tuwing birthday nila.

"Turning 22, Ate. But you see, we're busy. Walang handaan na magaganap." Rayos answered.

They're now in their 4th year and few months from now, manganganak na ang sister in law nila, kasabay noon ay ang starting ng OJT nila. She's excited to see the baby, because she wanted one for herself too. Hindi niya lang masabi dahil magwawala sigurado ang kapatid niya.

Light: Laro?

Nagulat siya nang makita ang message nito. Madalang na lang siyang gumagamit ng Instagram, she used Telegram and messenger often.

Vyrlle: One game?

Light: 2? Buhatin mo ako, miss?

Vyrlle: Pa humble. Load mo ako? Mabagal ang net sa amin.

She waited for his reply, pero ilang minuto lang tumawag ito sa kanya at pinapalabas siya sa bahay nila. Vyrlle was wearing a maong short and oversized hoodie. Nagpaalam lang siya kina Rayos at Isabella na lalabas siya kasama si Light.

Nang makita siya ni Light, agad na binuksan nito ang pintuan ng sasakyan mula sa loob. He's wearing his usual t-shirt and jogging pants. Magulo ang buhok. Halata na nasa bahay lang ito at walang ginagawa.

"No work?" Tanong niya nang makasakay siya at inaayos ang seatbelt niya.

Vyrlle raised her brow when he saw him glancing at her legs and gulped hardly before looking away. Napatingin din tuloy siya sa legs niya, maybe it's not a good idea to wear shorts?

"Yes, day off." She slowly nod her head at his answer.

Hindi naman ganoon kalayo ang bahay nila sa bahay ni Light, lalo na at nagpalit din ito ng sasakyan.

"Wala sina Tito?" Kinakabahan na tanong niya nang makapasok sila sa loob ng bahay.

Walang tao.

"Tayo lang," Light answered cooly. "Akyat ka na sa kwarto ko, igagawa lang kita ng meryenda."

She nod her head and walk upstairs. Papunta sa kwarto nito. His room looks like a room of a teenager Light, dark blue ang paint, may picture silang magkakapatid sa bed side table nito, a computer set and a built in closet.

Umupo siya sa dulo ng kama, she crossed her legs as she patiently wait for Light. Hindi naman ito nagtagal, he walk inside his room holding a tray, hindi nakakatakas sa paningin ni Vyrlle ang patingin tingin nito sa kanya.

Nagulat siya nang marahas itong bumuntong hininga at pinatong ang hawak na tray sa lamesa na katabi ng computer set nito at may kinuha na comforter sa likod niya, pinagpag niya 'yon at marahan na pinatong 'yon sa legs niya.

Her eyes widened a little.

"W-what?"

"Dalaga ka na," he answered shortly.

Kinuha nito ang tray na may sandwich na gawa nito at pinatong sa kama, sa tabi niya mismo. Kapagkuwan ay kumuha ito ng isang unan at umupo sa gaming chair nito, the pillow was on his lap. She's confused.

Tahimik silang dalawa nang magumpisa na ang game, she didn't even bother to eat kahit namatay ang hero niya at naghihintay na makabalik sa game ulit. Her eyes were sometimes landed on Light. Mariin ang pagkagat nito sa labi.

"Have you kissed someone other than your ex fiance?" Hindi miya mapigilan ang magtanong.

Bahagyang namilog ang mga mata nito. He cleared his throat and slowly nod his head.

"Sa club," he answered, breathless.

"Have you... fucked someone?" Vyrlle asked again.

"What kind of question was that?" Naiiling na tanong nito sa kanya. Light stared at her. "The only woman I want to mercilessly rail right now is still off limits."

☕