Chapter 13 Strange
<Mia>
I nodded at Ethan and gave him a mischievous smile. I approached Nate's adopted child and pretended to be worried.
"Damn," Nate murmured.
I went to Ethan's seat and pulled him towards the garden.
Oh gosh, I hope he doesn't get angry with me. He should understand what I'm doing.
"What the hell is happening, Kairen?!" Nate exclaimed.
"Kuya Nate, she's experiencing a severe headache," I interjected.
"Severe headache, and she's also having difficulty breathing," I added.
Nate approached Kairen and checked her condition.
"Do you have asthma?" he asked, clearly concerned.
Kairen just shook her head.
"Are you allergic to something that may trigger your breathing?"
Kairen looked at me, and I nodded at her in response. Tell him, yes... He's a doctor, after all. I mean, he studied medicine. So, just say yes.
"Maybe, Uncle, I think so. My chest suddenly felt tight, and I also had a headache, probably due to the heat," she explained. This child is really good at acting.
"Nate, take her to the room so she can rest," the person beside me ordered.
Nate nodded at Ethan, and he carried her.
I was left dumbfounded by what Nate did.
Ethan knew me very well. And I know he knew that these things are just acting.
Once they were gone, I faced Ethan.
"Ethan, did you also notice that? There's something fishy," I whispered to him, tugging at his clothes.
"Mia Zoey, don't do that again. You can't fake a person's illness," he scolded me. Here we go again.
"You're such a killjoy! And stop calling me by my full name. Well, what about you, Ethan Lee Chanx Mendoza?" I challenged him.
He touched his temples and let out a sigh.
"You're so stubborn," he grumbled, but he smiled.
"Don't do it again, okay?" he mimicked, pulling me closer by my waist, so we were pressed against each other.
"Y-yes, Doc," I replied, looking at his reddish lips.
I bit my own lips.
I've never kissed a man before. What does it feel like? I had a boyfriend once, but we broke up before we could even kiss.
He slowly leaned closer, causing me to tightly shut my eyes.
Life is too short not to experience these things. He is my husband, so my conscience is cleared.
He held me closer, his right hand cupping my cheek.
"Help!" I jolted open my eyes as I heard a scream.
"What was that?" I asked.
Ethan looked disappointed. He kissed my forehead and gestured for us to go inside the house.
"Oh no, what happened to the car?" I pointed to the car with its front crushed and windows shattered. Even the door was damaged.
Ethan pulled me inside the house.
"Calm down, Lux. You should be ashamed, your child is here," I saw Kuya Mark hiding behind Kairen. They're here.
"Mark, can you explain what happened to my car and stop hiding behind her," Nate said, trying to contain his anger.
"Help me calm down, Ethan. Our brother is going to kill me," Kuya Mark pleaded, hiding behind Ethan.
"I really want to kill you, Mark," Nate said with irritation.
"What did you do again, Mark Ruiz?" Ethan calmly asked.
Nathan was trying to control his anger, while Ethan remained relaxed but concerned for Kuya Mark.
"Why are you accusing me again, Nathan? It's not like I did something serious," Mark retorted while still hiding behind Ethan.
"Mark, can you fucking act your age?" Nathan snapped, undoing the top two buttons of his shirt.
"I'm older than you, huh? You're shouting at me as if I did something terrible. I just bumped your car, as if it won't be paid for," Mark complained, still hiding behind Ethan.
"Right. You used it without permission and then crashed it. You're so amazing, brother Mark," Nate sarcastically remarked.
Ethan signaled for me to sit down.
"Hey, I asked for your permission!" Mark shouted at his brother.
"Did I agree?" Nate raised an eyebrow. Ethan moved closer to me.
"Silence means yes," he reasoned. "I'll have it repaired. If you want, I can buy you a new one." He boasted.
"Really? Pay off your debt to me first before replacing my car that you crashed. You're so full of yourself. Buy me the latest sports car," Nate demanded.
"Yes, I'll buy you one! Just wait!"
I looked at the woman next to me. She's really beautiful, with smooth skin. She looks like a Barbie. I couldn't take my eyes off her.
Where did Kuya Nate find this girl?
"I want you to pay me now," Kuya Nate sat in front of us and looked at the girl beside me.
I looked at Kaye; she just stared at the carpet while biting her lower lip.
It seems like Kuya Nate has feelings for his stepdaughter.
"Wait for a moment!" Kuya Mark responded irritably.
Kuya Nate raised his eyebrow at him.
"May I remind you, brother Mark?" There was an emphasis on the word "brother." "You have a lot of debt with me, and I thought you had plenty of money." Kuya Nate was tricking this man.
"Enough with that, Nate. He doesn't have money; I lent him," Ethan said. "You're rich, and he doesn't have a stable job. You should get your car repaired first or sell it. You have plenty of sports cars."
Hmm, Ethan is defending Kuya Mark. He's so kind.
"Don't take his side too much, Ethan. You know how much of a dumbass and stupid he is, and why did you lend him money?" Nate raised his eyebrow at Ethan.
"Hey! Don't call me a dumbass and stupid, Nate, as if you're so intelligent! And don't act like you're better than me. I told you, didn't I? I will pay for it!" Kuya Mark retorted, trying to keep his temper.
"Yeah, from now on, you're not allowed to enter my house."
Kuya Mark couldn't believe what his brother said. "What?! You're so bullshit! That was just a car, and your house is ugly anyway, so I won't bother entering."
Nate ignored Kuya Mark's words and made a call.
"Guards! Don't let my brother Mark enter my house. From now on, he is banned from my house."
"Yes, sir, copy, sir," I heard the response from the other line.
Nate ended the call and crossed his arms.
"Hey! Don't treat me like that, Nate! I'm still older than you. Don't boast around like that," Kuya Mark challenged.
I felt Ethan's arm around me, and I looked at him, but he was busy with his iPod.
"Kaye, go to your room and ask the maid to call your doctor."
Why did he send Kaye away? Now I have no one to talk to.
Ethan stopped what he was doing. "Why don't you let her bond with Mia? Don't hide her in her room, Lux."
"Kaye now!" Nate shouted angrily, causing Kaye to startle and leave with her head down. The child seemed afraid of him. Poor thing, she seems scared of Kuya Nate. I'm scared of him too.
"Don't be hard on her," Ethan said.
"She must be in her room and rest. You see that she's unwell," Nate reasoned.
Ethan just shook his head.
It's my fault that I didn't make her stay.
I just wanted to find out if Kuya Nate has other feelings for her. The way he looked at her was different.
"And you," Nate turned to Kuya Mark. "Get the hell out of here."
He's so rude.
"Me?" Kuya Mark pointed at himself. "You have no respect for me, huh?"
"Because you're older than me?" Nate interrupted Mark. "Stop using that card on me, Mark. It won't work. I tolerate your shitty actions and won't let it happen again. You should learn your lesson. Yes, you're older than me, but your life doesn't have direction." He mocked.
Boom, burn!
I try to suppress my laughter.
Kuya Mark showed his middle finger to us. "We're not done yet, Nathan," he threatened. "You're so arrogant. I hope the people you live with can tolerate you. I didn't know you were a pedophile." He mocked.
I really wanted to laugh at what Kuya Mark said.
This is getting interesting.
"I'm going to kill you!" Nate yelled with frustration at his older brother.
"Bring it on, man!" Mark challenged, forming his fist.
"Stop it, Nate. Stop picking fights with a monkey," Ethan said, and I couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Hey, you two. Stop going against me. I don't care even if you're twins! Hmmph!" Mark grumbled.
I gasped when Mark suddenly punched Nate, and Nate retaliated by punching his older brother as well.
They continued fighting, and Ethan didn't do anything to stop them. He seemed calm and indifferent.
"Ouch! Ouchy! Stop! Stop! I surrender!" Mark shouted when his older brother cornered him.
"Mark! My sports car! Damn it! What did you do?!" Nate asked furiously, running his hand through his hair.
"Add it to my account. Tsk! It's just a sports car. Tsk! Tsk!"
Nate pointed at him. "If you do something horrible again, I will kill you!"
Mark continued to mock his second brother as he left us.
As Mark finally left, Nate wiped the blood from the cut on the side of his lips.
I raised both hands in a surrendering gesture as Nate looked at me angrily.
What's his problem with me?
He's been acting this way towards me for a while now. It seems like he doesn't want me here. I feel like Nate has been acting strangely lately.
