*Ice Collins

"Are you sure about this? Imposible naman yung sinasabi mo kasi alam ko makakalimot ang utak ng tao pero hindi yung puso nito. Wag nyo na ipilit yang sinasabi nyo,  hindi ako maniniwala!" galit na sigaw ni Cleo habang naka titig samin ng kakambal ko.

"That's the truth. Kung ayaw mo maniwala feel free to believe in your hopeless-romantic-beliefs. Mas marunong ka pa e! Nakikita mo itong magaganda, nakaka-akit, expressive, nakaka humaling at perpektong gray eyes ko? Ito mismo ang naka saksi ng pagka matay ng EnRhyn mo!" Freeze.

"No! That can't be true! Hindi pwede! Enrico and Rhyon are the one! Meant to be sila!" Tili ni Cleo.

"E sa di nga sila mag kakatuluyan wag mo na ipilit Cley. Hindi pwede mag kamali ang gorgeous eyes ko. Tignan mo, nanlalaki na yang panget mong mata." Freeze.

"God you called my green eyes ugly!? Look at yours! Mama has blue eyes and Dad has green! Hindi ka nila anak, look at that little monster over there. He got blue-green eyes. Baka ampon ka, wala kang kagaya ng mga mata namin." Cleo. Pointing me. I can feel the nerves in my heard exploding.

Freeze frown. "Baka ikaw ang ampon, tignan mo ugali mo. Galing pang ampunan." sabay lingon sakin. "Papayag ka na inaapi nya ako? Ako ata ang bunso nyo pero tignan mo, akala mo kung sinong bratinela."

Bakit ba narito ako? I never want to be with anyone. I'd rather jail myself in my room than be with this bitch.  Napaka ingay. Slowly I raised my hand and point the door. Cleo followed as her eyes get widen.

"Out. " utos ko. Isang malakas na hampas sa balikat ang natamo ko habang nag tatagis ang bagang nya sa pag titig sakin. Freeze immediately  ran between us.

"Hey! What was that for? Hindi nyo kailangan mag patayan dahil lang dyan. Ang sadista mo,  Cley." Freeze look at me. Squinting his eyes on me. "Tarantado ka talaga kahit kelan." Naiiling na sabi nya bago bumalik sa kama.

"Remember this, Ice. Pag nalaman ko na may kinalaman ka sa nangyari ka Rhyon noon, I will make sure ako ang makakalaban mo! "

"Is that a threat? " I said shuffling my cards.

"I'm warning you little brother." Taas kilay na umismid sya at lumabas ng kwarto.

"Bakit ba hindi kayo magka sundo? Kulang na lang bigyan ko kayo ng kutsilyo para mag patayan na lang kayo! Ano ihahanda ko na ba?  Nakakahiya naman sa inyo you're into each other's throats!"

"Give me. " nilahad ko ang palad saka sya tinitigan. "Uunahin kita."

"Tangina mo! Bumalik ka na lang sa lungga mo bago ko malimutan kakambal kita." Naka simangot na utos nya. Tumaas ang kilay ko saka sya pinag masdan. "Ano ba yon? Dedede ka ba? Utong lang meron ako." I grimaced.

"You tell me what happened." He sat on his bed and scratch his brow.

"Uncle Rhyne called yesterday.  Tinakbo daw sa ospital si Rhyon after loosing her conscious.  I went there with Dad and saw Enrico and Jonas.  I don't know what happened its not that they are keeping a secret to us but we all know she was drowned to drugs. But aside from that wala na tayong lead para malaman kung sinu-sino ang mga taong nasa likod ng nangyari kay Rhyon. We are all aware na obsess ang batang iyon kay Enrico but what shocked us is when Rhyon kissed Jonas right in front of us."

I didn't say anything. Hindi ko kailangan mag halungkat ng mga bagay na ako din ang mahihirapan but Rhyon is different.  She's  my favorite piece. And I'll do everything to get the justice she deserved.

I don't care about them.  Wala akong pakielam kung ano ang nangyayari basta hindi kasama si Rhyon.  I've been watching her. She's.. My baby. I wonder why she wasn't became my sibling. I prefer her than that annoying bitch.

"Cleo don't like Jonas. Pinipilit nya na baka confuse lang si Rhyon that time."

"Don't mind her.  She's a bitch."

"Ewan ko sayo.  Kayo na nga mag kamukha di mo pa makasundo."

Hindi ko sya pinansin at lumabas ng kwarto.  Nakita ko pa si Cleo na papasok pa lang ng kwarto nya. Isang irap ang binigay nya kaya tinitigan ko sya. Hindi kami ng iwas ng tingin kahit pa sabihin naka harang kami sa hallway. Nakakairita ang pagiging pakielamera nya. One time I tried to cover her face using pillow so that I won't see her face anymore but I changed my mind knowing she'll nag me in my dreams after.  Ayaw ko na hanggang panaginip nang bubulabog ang gaya nya.

"Son of a bitch. " Cleo growl.

"You too." I turn my back and started walking when I felt the stinging pain in the back of my head.  Tinignan ko ang heels nya na aabot sa anim na pulgada ang taas at alam ko na ang tulis ng takong nito ang tumama sakin. Dahan-dahan ang pag lingon ko sa kanya seeing her smirking made my blood boil.

"Serves you right,  asshole."

"Really?" Tinignan ko ang sandal nya sa paanan ko. Her eyes narrow and changed it to horror when I raised my left foot and hardly stepped on her heels.

"God! My Gucci! How dare you Ice! Daaad!" She started hysterically calling our parents.

Freeze went out from his room. Heavy footsteps coming on our way. Hindi ako nagulat ng madatnan si Dad na natataranta. I was about to leave the place when I saw Mama looking at me. I look at her for a minute and I was the first one who averted my eyes.

"What's going on? What happened sweety  are you alright?" Dad ask as he look at my evil sister.

"That little monster broke my Gucci! Dad naman sa Paris ko pa nahanap iyan and he just stepped on it as if it was just a stupid toy!" She said wailing.

Right before my eyes I'm seeing a hippopotamus in a dress while griping my father's clothes.

"Ano na naman ginawa mo brader! Ang ingay pa naman nyan, bahala ka mag patahimik dyan!" Freeze furrowed looking at us.

"Anong ibig mo sabihin? Ang kapal kapal mo!" She said over reacted. As if we did all things to ruin her oh-so-sweet-girl picture.

Freeze rolled his eyes. I was about to leave when Mama grab my arm. I tsked before looking her.

"What happened, Ice?" Her concern voice I always ignore soothe within me.

"Noth-"

"What's that brother? Is that blood! Good fuck Cley tignan mo papatayin mo pa ang kakambal ko dahil sa kaartehan mo! Ang isip bata mo kasi!" Sigaw ng kakambal ko habang tinitignan ang likod ng ulo ko. I tried to avoid his hands but as Freeze himself, hindi sya mag papaawat. "Tsk! Dapat dyan kinakadena. Daig pa ang tigre sa pagka wild!"

"Patingin!" Dad said looking at my head. Hindi ako kumibo. I look at Cleo and she's looking at me as if nag sisi sya na nag inarte pa sya dahil ako din naman ang pinansin ng mga magulang namin. I gave her bored look and shove my Dad a little for being over reacting. "Kawawa naman ang baby ko, may sugat na! Ano ba kasi ang ginagawa nyong mag kakapatid! Hindi naman kami ganyan ng uncle nyo noong bata bakit daig nyo pa ang tubig at langis! Tsk tsk, kawawa naman.." Sabay ihip pa nito. Just what the fuck.

"Come on, Ice. I'll treat that." Mama wrapped her arms around mine and took me to my room. But before that she glared at Cleo. "We will talk after. Don't go anywhere."

"Mom!" Cleo.

"Hala yari!" Freeze voice out.

"Freeze enough!" Dad. "Bebe naman wag mo na pagalitan yung anak mo, kawawa naman. Iisang babae lang yan dalawa naman si Ice at Freeze. Baka pinag tulungan nila ang ate nila."

I shrug. This is the reason why I hate going out in my room. My family itself is enough to shatter all the good silence I have in my body. But who would believe at Dad. Alam ng lahat kung gaano kamaldita ang babaeng yon.

-

Pag labas ko ng elevator ay ilang hakbang pa bago ko narating ang isang pinto. I pressed the codes and went inside. Agad sumalubong sa akin ang amoy ng pabango ng lalaki. My brow arch as I went to the only room of this pad. My eyes squint as I watch her looking at the man beside her.

Her eyes slowly avert to mine. Her fingers playing his eyelashes while looking at me. She slowly sat up and comb her hair. I look at her eyes and realization hit me. I smirk.

"Kuya." she gave me sweet smile as she stood up. Wearing a cute dress she took her blue satin robe and wore it. "paano mo nalaman na narito ako? Did mom told you?"

"Stop that crap Rhyon. What is that guy doing here?" She look at me puzzled.

"Hindi po kita maintindihan-"

Nang nakalapit sya ay hinaklit ko ang braso nya. Tinitigan ko sya sa mga mata at unti-unting nawalang ng emosyon ng mga iyon. May maliit na ngiti sa labi nya kasabay ng pag tulak nya sakin. Muling binalik ko ang titig kay Jonas na natutulog. Saka ako lumingon uli kay Rhyon.

"Stop pretending. What are you planning to do?" Ako

"I have no plan kuya." Her cold voice brings back the happiness in me.

"Then what is that guy doing here? Tell me the truth. What are you planning little bitch?" Alam ko na hindi pa nya naaalala lahat..

But Rhyon is back.

"I have no plan. Really."

I'm watching her as she sat beside him. Tinitigan nya ito saka lumingon sa akin. I saw pain in her eyes. Hindi nya itinitago iyon. She's always true to me. Always. Hindi ko maiwasan di makaramdam ng inis dahil sakin lagi ang batang nasa harap ko. Through good and bad times. Broken or not. Sleepy or hungry. Everything is with me but this guy in front of me. Fuck him off.

He just stole my favorite piece. Just like Enrico.

"I have no plan because I am not ready. I have to compose myself first kuya. I need it. I need strength to keep going.."

Seeing her getting back to who she is make me happy. Pero kung ang pag babalik nya naman ay ang mas pinahinang bersyon ng totoong pagkatao nya ang makikita ko, mas gugustuhin ko pa na makita syang naka ngiti. Kahit na ba hindi nya kami maalala noon. Kesa ngayon.

Because Rhyon never looses her composure. She never needed anyone aside from me in her fragile moments. Just me.

"Stop crying, android." He whisper.

Not him.

*Rhyon's

I can feel my body trembling in fear. In sadness. Pakiramdam ko pag mag isa ako, nasu-suffocate ako. Anxiety is starting to build within me. In a dark room where no one's with me. A dark messed smelly room. I remember. I remember the day Enrico despised me. I remember all those words he threw just to push me away. I remember the disgust and hatred in his eyes while looking at me. I can still feel my cold feet by looking at his cold eyes, telling me I don't deserve someone like him. Slapping the truth that I will never be love by him.

Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko. Masakit. Mas mahirap pa sa pisikal na sakit. Kahit anong haplos ko dito kahit anong hampas, hindi ko maalis yung sakit. Para akong mababaliw habang paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa alala ala ko ang lahat.

Minahal lang kita pero naging ganito ang epekto mo sakin.

Naalala ko na. Sinira ko ang buhay ko dahil sa pag mamahal na yon. Pag mamahal na binigay ko ng buong buo kahit alam ko na walang kapalit. Na kahit sarili ko pinipilit ko paniwalain na kaya ko. Kaya ko makuha yung pag mamahal na binibigay nya. Pero hindi. Sinuko ko lahat para sa kanya.

"Stop crying android. I'm always here for you.."

I look at Jonas. There's pain in his eyes mirroring mine. He wipe my tears but it felt more heavier. My eyes are heating from the passion I'm seeing in his eyes. For over a year of loosing my memory, he was with me all through out. He put both of his hands on my face and rest his forehead to mine. Isang hikbi ang kumawala mula sakin na ikina pikit ng mata nya.

"It hurts.." Sumbong ko. Ang sakit sakit parin. "Bakit ako pa? Bakit sakin pa nangyari to?"

"Because you were strong enough to face things alone. God gave you this pain so that you'll realize sooner that everything isn't just about you alone. That even you're tough. Even you have this cold heart, you still needed someone to protect you. And I'm here, android. I regret letting you slipped away from me but when I saw you again, I took a mental note of not letting you go.. Even if it means breaking the friendship we have and be more.." Naka titig na sya sakin. "I never said I love you, but I always let you felt it. The very first time I saw you, I already knew I cant resist you."

Hearing those words made my chest more painful. Hindi ko sa kanya gusto marinig ang mga salitang iyon. Pero mas masasaktan ako kung sa taong yun ko ito maririnig. Naguguluhan ako.

"I don't like this pain. I'm new to this. This is not me." Bulong ko.

Lumayo ako sa kanya at saka tumitig sa labas ng floor to ceiling na salamin. I can see the whole city in this place. This is my unit. Hindi alam ng mga magulang ko ang lugar na ito. When I left the hospital with Jonas I told my parents not to follow us. I know Enrico was there. Pero hindi ko maatim ang presensya nya. Pakiramdam ko nasasakal ako sa mga tingin nya.

Nang dahil sa kanya nasira ang buhay na meron ako.

I hate him for that. Nung hindi ko sya matandaan, lagi ako na papaisip kung sino ba sya sakin. Pero ng malaman ko kung ano sya sa buhay ko, nakaramdam ako ng puot para sa kanya. Maybe that's the reason why I hated him so much that even when my memory was gone, my heart couldn't forget him.

"Take me."

I saw how his eyes get widen. I want to forget about him. Everything about him. I promised that I'm only for him, but the mere fact of saying his name made this hatred rose up from my chest.

"Where are we going? You want out of town? I'm gonna tell Uncle Rhy-"

"Take me. Do me Jonas." determinadong utos ko sa kanya. There is fire in his eyes.

I saw smile in his eyes. Dahan dahan syang lumapit saka nilingkis ang mga braso sa bewang ko. The hot breath from him to my neck made the butterflies in my stomach swirled. I closed my eyes, wrapping my arms around his body. Matangkad si Jonas kaya napapa tingkayad ako. He gave me wet butterfly kisses on my neck up to my earlobe to my jaw. Last to my lips. It was just soft and gentle kiss. My heart pounded and I know this feeling. I answer it with the same passion as he pulled off. There's spark in his eyes and a gentle smile on his lips.

"Jonas.." I whisper trying to catch my breath. Not that it was an aggressive kiss but a gentle kiss that took my breath away.

"I'm sorry android but I can't.." I saw pain in his eyes. Bakit? Am I not attractive e-- "not that you don't turn me on.. God knows how much I want you. Own you. Pero sabihin mo sa akin yan pag bumalik ka na. Pag bumalik na yung Rhyon na nakilala ko noon. Yung matatag at di basta basta bumibigay na babae. Yungbipag lalaban yung pag mamahal nya at paniniwala. In that thought, I'm willing to give you my everything. Name it, Rhyon. Name everything, from time, love, passion, love making to every materials you wanted. My heart, body and soul together with my mind and spirit. Ibibigay ko sayo. Wala akong ititira para sakin. Basta bumalik ka lang.. I want the strong woman I loved. I want my android back."

He kiss me passionately. Pinakiramdaman ko ang dibdib ko. There's fondness in him. Before.. I only see Enrico in every guy I met. But now.. While kissing Jonas. feeling his every love by this kiss.. I only think about him. This guy in front of me.

Maybe

Maybe I was locked up in the thought of only Enrico is the one for me.

Maybe.

Maybe we don't meant for each other.

Baka hindi sya para sakin.

Baka ibang lalaki ang para sakin?

After the kiss, nag aya matulog si Jonas dahil wala pa daw sya maayos na tulog. I let him sleep and because I was tired too, tumabi na ako sa kanya. Pero bago pa man ako makatulog ay may panauhin na agad ako.

Not him.