Hoax (VBoys Series #1)

012

EUNICE

"They left. Monthly check up ni Dainniel."

Tumango na lang ako nang sabihin 'yon ni Jaiden. Umupo ako sa may dining table while he stayed standing up on one end. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako kikilos when he's here, in front of me!

"Kailan ka dumating?" he asked casually as he poured water into two glasses. I didn't know if it was just me, but his voice got deeper.

Hindi ko mapigilang pagmasdan siya. He got taller. He's probably taller than 6'0 now, dati ay 5'11 lang siya. He also looked more handsome than before, if that was even possible gayong sobrang guwapo na niya dati pa. Maybe because his features matured a bit? How old was he? 26? Ang bata niya pa.

"Kahapon lang." tipid na sagot ko once I finished admiring him. Wait, that sounds weird. Checking him out? Ugh, that sounds even worse.

He nodded at me. Inabot niya ang isang baso ng tubig, kaya tinanggap ko 'yon. I didn't want to be rude. Besides, we're step siblings now.

Siblings. I hate using that word to describe the both of us. It just sounded so... wrong.

"Doctor?" Jaiden suddenly asked, making me turn to him. I nodded, then he nodded back. "Congrats."

"Thank you," I said to him. "Ikaw? Engineer?"

He smiled a little and nodded back. Nag-iwas na lang ulit ako ng tingin. I didn't know what else to say. It was just getting more awkward each moment. Inaantok pa man din ako. I wanted to sleep dahil napuyat ako kagabi.

Tumayo ako mula sa kinauupuan, making Jaiden look at me. I cleared my throat to stop myself from stuttering.

"Aakyat muna ako. Occupied ba 'yung guest room?" I asked, mainting eye contact with him.

He pursed his lips a little. "Doon ako."

My lips parted, pero kalaunan ay tinanguan ko na lang siya. Tsk. Saan naman ako niyan ngayon?

"You can stay in my room," he suddenly said na ikina-kunot ng noo ko. He probably noticed my reaction dahil bigla siyang tumikhim. "I mean, my old room, where I used to stay at."

Dahan-dahan akong tumango nang ma-gets. For a second I thought he was offering me to stay in the same room as his. Kinabahan ako roon, ah. Sandali rin akong nagtaka. If he has his old room here, why stay at the guest room? Weird.

I went inside the room that he said is his old room. When I looked around, that's when I noticed Jaiden's room. The walls were black and white, and everything was neatly arranged. It wasn't the first time I saw it. Nadala na niya ako rito noon, but that was almost eight years ago.

Hindi ko na muna 'yon pinansin at natulog na lang. I took my shoes off and flopped down on the bed. Agad naman akong inantok dahil sa lambot ng kama. Seconds later, I was already drifting into dreamland. Nagising lang ako when I felt someone waking me up.

"Ate, ate! Wake up na!" I heard Dain's voice.

I slowly opened my eyes, rubbing them in the process. Nakita ko si Dain na hinihila ang kumot ko. I smiled at him, cupping his cheek.

"Ito na, I'm awake," natatawang sabi ko. "Do you want to play na?"

"Yes, Ate! Let's play!" masayang sabi niya at hinila ang kamay ko, then he turned to another direction. "Kuya, let's play!"