*ENRICO'S

I felt the pang in my chest when I saw Rhyon walking with a guy holding her back. They are smiling from ear to ear as they walk towards a fine dine restaurant. I don't know why I have to feel this pain in my chest.

It was pure hell for me. It's like I'm trying to live normal without Rhyon in my life. She's near yet so far. She's in front of me, only meters away but I can't even have one step close to her. I didn't know it could be this difficult not having your sister around.

Sister?

Said my brain.

Sister, yet you kissed her?

I.. I was just so eager to get near on her!

So you kissed her?

Oh, shut up brain!

Fighting with your brain is not easy, I may say.

I kissed her. I don't know what happened that I kiss her. Ang gusto ko lang ay kahit hindi nya ako maalala ay, kausapin nya ako. Na katulad ng sa iba, itrato nya ako ng normal. Pero hindi. Sa tuwing lalapit ako, nakikita ko ang takot sa kanyang mga mata. Na para bang ako ang dahilan kung bakit sya nagka ganoon. Gusto ko lang sya makausap, but my reflexes didn't cooperate.

That was the first time I ever tasted her lips. Soft and warm. Sweet and delicate.. And I've never felt the nervousness in my system to any girl I have ever kissed. Only to Rhyon. My sister. Is that bad?

Automatically, my fists clench. The guy is leaning over her, whispering something that made her giggle.. I don't know. I just.. I just don't like seeing her, smiling. Rhyon don't smile like that. She prefer smirking or rolling her cold eyes.. Not those twinkling, dreamy eyes that she has.. for him.

I can feel my chest tightening. I can feel my envy towards him. I still remember who he is. The same guy who almost kill me through his glares.. Rhyon's boyfriend? No. Probably a schoolmate. A schoolmate na akala mo kung sino kung maka dikit sa kapatid ko. Na akala mo kung sino maka hawak sa kamay ni Rhyon ngayon, habang naka titig ng malambi--

"He could melt." masamang tingin ang binigay ko sa nag salita. "Relax, man. I'm not him. Don't bite." sabay tawa ni Raymond.

Muli syang tumingin sa tinititigan ko. Namulsa sya at saka pinaka titigan sila. naningkit ang mga mata at para bang hindi maka paniwala na tinignan ako at bumalik uli kay Rhyon. Nailing ako sa reaksyon nya.

"Is that the kiddo who keeps on following you?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong nya. I nod. "Wow. Just wow! Hindi ko sya nakilala, ang akala ko ay ibang babae yon. I didn't know she could be this.. breath-taking beautiful."

I don't know. But the moment I saw the amusement in his eyes, pakiramdam ko may karapatan akong alisin ang ekspresyon na iyon mula sa kanya. Mahina ko syang sinuntok sa balikat upang lumingon sa akin. Damn, why do I have to do that?

"What? I'm busy-- gracious, she smiled!"

"Will you keep your voice down? Tara na nga, mag inom nalang tayo." aya ko sa kanya.

"Seriously, it's only 7o'clock. Dinner-- on the second thought, mag inom tayo. Gago ka Ric, nawala ka almost 7 months, tas ngayon bigla ka babalik dito sa Pinas. Marami kang iku-kwento samin!"

Sabay palibot nya ng braso sa leeg ko. Gusto ko ilayo si Raymond kay Rhyon, pero hindi ko naman nagawa ilayo ang lalake'ng yon sa kanya. Tinignan ko uli si Rhyon. Palabas na sila ng restaurant? Agad?

"Let's see more often, android. I really like it when you're smiling." sabi ng lalake.

"Sure, but Jonas, you have to tell Dad first na aalis tayo." naka ngiti nyang sagot.

Jonas, huh?

Then why does his name sounds like a broken glass to my ears. Nakakairita.

---

Let's finish this.