Chapter 4

"Good morning, Ate Skye!" Bianca greeted, still scratching her eyes. It looks like she just woke up.

I peeked at her "Good morning! Nasaan si Caden?" Binuhat ko ito dahil hinihila na nito ang dulo ng apron kong suot.

Kasabay niyon ang paglabas sa silid ni Caden, hawak hawak nito ang race truck na binigay ko.

"Who put this on my face?" He sounded annoyed. Napansin ko rin na may nakalagay na make-up sa mukha nito.

There's only one to blame.

Nilingon ko si Bianca na nag-iiwas ng tingin habang nakabusangot ang mukha. "Bianca..." I uttered calmly.

"W-what po? I didn't do it." She tilted her head to one side a sign that she's lying.

"Liars go to—"

Hindi ako nito pinatapos "I saw Mom's makeup, that's why I applied it on his face. Kuya has a good skin po kasi." She explained.

Bianca's only five, but the way she mixed that eye shadow was actually good.

"You should ask for permission first, say sorry to your Kuya." Usal ko dito, nakayuko ito habang pinaglalaruan ang sariling daliri.

"I'm s-sorry, Kuya Caden." She murmured.

"It's fine," Umalis na ito sa harapin namin at nagtungo sa banyo.

"Can I put some makeup on your face?" She asked. She sat on the chair while playing with the utensils.

"Sure! Basta kakain ka ng marami." Her face brightened while nodding continuously.

Maagang umalis ang mga magulang ko dahil may biglaang meeting daw sila na dapat daluhan. Sinabi pa nila na baka matagalan sila bago umuwi. My Mother owns a company, simula ng bumuo sila ng pamilya ni Dad mas naging gumon sila sa trabaho.

"What's your favorite color, Ate?" Bianca asked me, nakaupo ako sa sofa habang siya'y nakatayo dito.

She's so cute while holding that big palette and brush.

"I like maroon," I answered.

Hindi ako tumitingin sa salamin dahil gusto kong ma sorpresa sa kalalabasan nito. Nakita ko si Caden na nanonood sa lapag habang may hawak na tablet.

Minsan pinagsasabihan ko sila na masama ang masyadong pagtutok sa gadgets dahil baka maagang lumabo ang mga mata nila. Gumawa pa ako ng talaan kung kailan sila pwedeng gumamit ng naturang bagay. Mabuti na lang sumusunod at disiplinado ang mga ito.

I stood up when someone continuously rang the doorbell. Who could that be?

"Good morning!"

My eyes grew bigger, agad kong tinakpan ang mukha ko.

"What are you doing h-here?" I shouted.

"I bought something for you! Anyway, why are you covering your face?" Naestatwa ako ng lapitan ako nito saka pilit na inalis ang braso sa mukha ko.

My cheeks heated up when he laughed out loud.

I glared at him "Anong nakakatawa? Umalis ka nga!"

After a second or two, he stopped laughing, "You look cute, sweetie." Akmang kukurutin nito ang pisngi ko nang mahina ko siyang tinulak.

"Leave!"

"Hindi mo man lang ba ako papapasukin?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance "Sorry, no pets allowed." I counterfeit a smile, sumama ang mukha nito dahilan para palihim na sumilay ang ngiti sa mga labi ko.

"Hi po!" Agad kong nilingon si Caden at Bianca, nakatapak pa ang mga ito.

"Hello kiddos, pwede ba akong pumasok?" Pinahinhin pa nito ang sariling boses.

Ugh!

"Opo! You were the guy who gave us ice cream diba?" Caden asked.

"So, nagkita na kayo?" I raised a brow, bakit hindi nila sakin naikuwento 'yon?

"Opo, he saved us! Naghihintay po kami sa labas ng school when a weird guy suddenly sat beside us." Caden continued talking.

"Let's continue this conversation inside." I looked up at Cole, "and you, sumama ka." Kahit na ayoko kailangan pa rin dahil baka kung sino na ang nagmamasid sa mga kapatid ko. Gosh, I don't want them to get involved.

Naupo silang lahat sa sala. I went to the bathroom to wash my face, she can start again settling those eyeshadow later.

"You're scaring us, ate." Bianca mumbled, kinakain na nito ang dala-dalang tsokolate ni Cole. She doesn't seem scared at all.

"Naalala niyo ba yung mukha nung lalaki?" I questioned, getting more frightened done ever.

"He was wearing a cap that time, hindi ko masyadong naaninag." Cole retorted.

What if he's now after my siblings? Paano kapag patuloy kong binabago ang mga pangyayari mag-iba rin ang kalalabasan? Pero, ano pang silbi ng mga tsansang ito? This is getting more frustrating!

"Hey, you look bothered. Huwag mo 'yon masyadong intindihin, maybe we just misunderstood the situation." Cole said. That idea calmed me.

"Sa susunod sasabihin niyo sakin kaagad ang mga ganoong pangyayari ha." Ani ko na tinanguan naman ng dalawa.

"Are you hungry? Nag-prito ako ng itlog saka hotdog." Sabay tingin sa mesa, tinakpan ko kanina ang mga ulam saka marami pa namang natira.

"Great combination," he smirked, is he being sensual?

Tumayo ito na parang sa kaniya ang bahay, siya pa mismo ang nagsandok ng kanin para sa sarili.

This guy is really something, he has the looks and really odd.

Kumuha ako ng baso saka pitsel mula sa ref, marahas kong binaba ito sa harap niya. I counterfeit a smile before sitting beside him. While scrolling down my phone an IG story caught my attention.

It was Adriana, nakataas sa ere ang kamay nito habang may suot-suot na singsing.

Happy and Contented

"You're getting married?" I'm sure that shock was written all over my face.

Natigil ito sa pagkain "Hell no!" Nilingon nito ang cellphone ko, "basahan mo kasing mabuti!" He shouted.

Huli ko ng napansin ang pangalan sa gilid, it wasn't tagged to him. I let out a harsh sigh, that made me anxious.

"Kayo lang nu'ng nakaraang linggo, ah? Anong nangyari?" There was something in his eyes I can't tell "Am I being nosy? You don't have to answer!" Aniko, yes, I do sound panicky.

Tumawa ito habang umiiling, he's being playful again. "You're so adorable," He pinched my nose. I felt again something strange in my stomach. Is this what they used to call butterflies in my stomach?

You're being lame, self. Ew.

Pinabayaan ko na lang ito sa kusina. Nagtungo ako sa hardin namin saka naupo sa duyan upang magpahangin. I want answers. I want peace of mind.

"Hey, still bothered?" He asked, "I want to be honest." Naupo ito sa katabing duyan saka marahas na bumuntong hininga. "I think someone's following you."

Awtomatikong kumunot ang aking noo sa sinabi nito.

"A-ano? Paano mo nalaman?" Stuttering.

He showed me an Identification Card.

Lieutenant Nicolas Rae Velasco

I gasped "You're a—"

He nodded "Detective, I'm on my thirty-day vacation but I saw someone observing you nonstop." Cole stated.

So that was the reason behind.

"The roses were just a trap, inisip ko na baka taga-hanga mo lang 'yon, pero nagkamali ako." Tumigil ito sandali tila nag-iisip "Kahit kanina, akala siguro niya walang nakakakita sa kaniya."

Mas lalong nadagdagan ang kaba ko sa sinabi niya. Ano na ang gagawin ko?

"I'll help you," He smiled, "don't worry."