The way I'm scowling must have been really obvious because I heard Apollo laugh beside me. The audacity of my boyfriend, really. Gustong-gusto naman niya na nakikita akong naiinis. Actually no, hindi ako nagseselos. Naiinis ako. My stepsister even has the guts to bit her lips sensually and twirl tendrils of her hair between her fingers and wink at Apollo in front of me. In front of me.

Yes, in-fucking-front of me.

"Are you being serious right now, Matilda?" I snap at her face. Ni hindi man lang siya nahiya na ina-attract niya si Apollo ng harap-harapan? Nasa'n ang hiya? Nasa'n ang hiya Matilda? Natabunan ng red lipstick mo? Nasa Victoria's Secret panties mo?

I'm being petty, I know.

She rolled her eyes at me and flipped her hair and walked to the couch to sit. "What? Masama ba'ng kilatisin yang ka-date mo? I was just being a sister. Don't be such a crybaby, Caly." She winked at Apollo, "Right, Father?" She emphasized the last word and I almost kicked her calves because I heard it hurts like a motherfucker.

I'm cussing, goddamn it. She makes me mad.

"We had a date not because manliligaw ko siya," She didn't even hide the way her face brightened, "We've been together for awhile now, sister." And then she frowned. "Stop flirting with him, okay?" She clicked her tongue.

"Boo-hoo. You're no fun." I rolled my eyes at her and sat on the couch across her. 

I looked at Apollo and saw him raise his eyebrows up as if waiting for me to command him, good. So good to know I'm still the boss. I raise my eyebrows at him too and he chuckled. I patted the space beside me and he gladly followed my silent instruction. 

"Ang hot naman ni Father, Caly." She said as she moaned, ew? "Hi, lover boy."

I felt Apollo placed his arms on the back of my head, "Hindi ka pa ba aalis?" I can't help but be rude to her.

Hospitality, be damned.

"You're so possessive, sister. Mag-share ka naman." The fucking-

"What do you think of Apollo, laruan?"

"It'd be fun playing with him." She said teasingly. She looked at Apollo again and said, "Do you want to play a game, Father?"

"Matilda." I sternly looked at her, "Leave."

She laughed as she grabs her bag and fixes her dress. And by fix, her dress means cupping her boobs and straighten the crumpled parts of her dress. She must have seen my shocked face because her laugh doubled and she was flipping her hair off of her shoulder and let it cascade down her slender back. 

The nerve- "Alright, alright. I'll go." She walked to the door and I was scowling at the place she sat. This fucking- "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. But damn baby, you're probably the hottest guy I've seen in my entire life." 

I almost had a whiplash with the way I snap my head at her. The flirt- "Bye, bye sister." Her evil laugh echoed at my condo and the sound of my door closing almost made me growl.

And by a growl, I mean feral.

I heard Apollo's muffled laugh and it annoyed me even more. I looked at him and smacked her chest. I don't fucking care if he looked cute when he laughed even more like a kid in a candy store. I don't fucking care, okay.

"Baby," He said as he tried to grab my arm when I stood up but didn't succeed in it.

Baby? Baby his face. 

Baby. His. Face.

He laughed as he followed me to my room. I removed my heels and untied my hair from being ponytailed. Never minding the scowl pasted on my face. That bitch really knows how to ruin my day. I'm fully aware that I'm brushing my hair forcefully because it somehow hurt but I don't care.

Galit ako!

He pulled me to him and sat on the edge of my bed with me sitting on his legs. Ano ba?! Ayoko- "Ba't pati sakin galit ka?"

I didn't look at him. I heard him sigh but I can still feel his smile. Damn it, don't smile! "Di ko naman siya kinausap ah? Di ko nga siya pinansin eh."

Di daw- "Gustong-gusto mo kasi na flini-flirt ka niya. Aba aba Apollo, kailan ka pa natutong maging pipi sa mga babaeng lumalandi sayo harap-harapan? Nasa'n yung sorry I have a girlfriend? Biglang nawala? Nakalimutan mo? Nakalimutan mong sabihin na hey, don't flirt with me nasa harapan mo ang girlfriend ko? Ano bigla kang nawalan ng sasabihin? Bakit? Nagandahan ka sa kaniya? Nagandahan ka nga siguro ano-"

He kissed me. It shut me up. 

"There. Lumabas din." He sighed and smiled at me. His arms finding its way to encircle my waist. He kissed my shoulder and looked in the mirror in front of us. He stared at our reflection and I did too.

"Alam mo ba lagi pag kinukwento mo ang kapatid mo, namumula ang ilong mo? Yung tenga mo parang may usok na lumalabas." He chuckled and bit his lip. 

I hate it when he does that. "Kasi nagagalit ka pero laging papuri ang lumalabas sa bibig mo. Si Matilda maganda, si Matilda sexy, si Matilda ganito ganyan. Si Matilda, si Matilda, si Matilda." 

Di na'ko galit. 

"Hindi ako nagsalita kasi bakit ko pagaaksayahan ng oras kausapin ang kapatid mo kung sa pagkakwento mo pa lang sa kanya eh nagagalit ka na? Kung kinausap ko siya eh di mas lalo ka'ng nagalit. Kung kinausap ko siya eh di mas lalo niya akong kakausapin. May palitan ng conversation. Girls like Matilda craves little attentions. They'd slowly crawl into that small hole and dig their way to make it bigger. Don't you get it, baby? You're a lawyer, you should know that."

Eh kasi naman eh. I sighed, "You're right." I bit my lip and I saw him lift his hand up. His thumbs removing the grip of my teeth on my lower lip and then brush it. "She just, she just really knows how to push my buttons. Tsaka ba't ganon? Sa harap ko talaga? Nainis lang ako. I'm sorry."

"Forgiven." His voice low and hoarse. "Ang cute mo kaya magselos."

I pouted, "Akin ka lang kasi."

He smirked, "Why, Caly. Are you that obsessed with me?" He was teasing me. I shook my head and tried to stand up. Tried being the hint before he pulled me again but this time to lay on the bed. "I'm sleepy, baby."

"Then go to sleep," I said as I tried to lift my weight and supported it with my hands on the sides of his face. I felt his arms pulled my body closer to him. His fingers slowly tracing the contours of my face. I watched as he licks his lips and stared at every inch. His pupils dilating because of the light that only the moon gave us. It was almost enchanting. 

But then he was beautiful and he was touching me so it's not. It's real.

What he said, well, what he said made want to kiss him.

"God, you're a beautiful thing aren't you?"

And so I did.