15

"You shameless child!"

His mother shouted angrily when he got to where he was. She was crying and so was her dad.

His mother immediately slapped him and used some hurtful words. He then immediately entered the room where his brother was.

He also followed there and approached his mother who now could not hold back the tears.

"I-I'm sorry ma ... I didn't mean to." She answered tearfully but instead of forgiving her mother, she got even angrier.

"Stay away! I'm not your child! I don't have a rebellious child!" furious cry of his mother.

He did nothing but repeatedly apologize to the parent. Even though her mother forced her to leave, her father silently wept as he looked at his twin and ignored him.

So he just left the room where his brother was.

She blames herself for what happened to Ariela.

A few hours later he returned to the bedroom, and there he found his mother asleep, presumably because she was tired of crying.

He looked at the bed, and that's how he felt when he saw no one lying there.

Her brother is not in bed.

He looked around the room and saw his brother at the open window.

He was about to approach it when suddenly it just jumped there. Reason for him to shout ...

****

Sariela Arguaza

"Sariel, wake up !!"

I gasped and rolled over when I heard that loud shout along with a slight shake of my shoulder.

I was sweating profusely, and the force of my heart pounding with fear.

I thought ... I thought it was true.

But It was just a dream.

A dream that I've been dreaming for tha past years. It's haunting me again.

But this time it's different, it's complete and not just a part of what really happened years ago.

I went again and then I sobbed quietly. I didn’t even pay attention to the place I was because of my fear.

I’m scared, I don’t know why but I’m still scared when I remember or dream about what happened then.

Suddenlly, while I am in the middle of crying. A warm arm pulled for a hug.

When I looked to the person beside me, I was greeted by Aius face. Worried is written all over his face.

I cried even more when I saw the concern on his face. It feels good that someone's worrying about me. It feels the first time.

"Shh, it was just a dream, Sariel." whispered Aius to me while still hugging me tightly.

A few minutes passed and I finally calmed down.

"What is the date today?" I ask Aius who's now, busy wiping my face using wet wives while I am here, lying on his bed.

I was embarrassed when I realized what was happening, but I just put it aside. I love what I'm feeling right now. I feel like I am an important person to him.

"August 24." Aius answered sparingly.

"Can you accompany me later, when the sun rises?"

"Where?"

I smiled sadly and then also sadly answered him. "Cemetery."

"Why?"

"Gonna visit my twin sister's grave." My answer is sparing.

I thought about his death anniversary today. So maybe I remember what happened then, maybe Ariela was visiting me. Maybe she miss me, huh?

"Alright then. For now let's sleep." Aius said after he arranged the ones he used to clean my face. Then he lay down on the bed, next to me.

Wait. Beside me?! I seemed to wake up when I thought we were going to sleep.

That's why my eyes widen when I look at him.

"Will you sleep next to me ?!" can't believe I asked him.

"Oh, yeah? Why? What's wrong?"

"What are you? I'm a woman and you're a man! It doesn't look good."

"Whatever you say, we'll just save it and we won't do anything else. Unless ... you want to do something?" he said teasingly.

An image of him on too of me, topless and sweating bullets, while I am underneath him flash through my mind.

My cheeks heated in so much embarrassment.

"what the heck I am thinking ?!" I just asked myself.

"You're blushing. Thinking of something?" Aius asked teasingly again.

"H-no, ah! I have another boyfriend man!"

"Yeah? A boyfriend who's obviously cheating on you?" He said sarcastically which calmed me down.

Alright, whatever he say. I just sighed.

"Tss you take care of that!" just agreed and I turned my back on him.

"Besides, in the movie we're going to make it's even worse here. Better yet, let's train ourselves with each other." He told me.

"Yeah." I answered him with a stingy nod because my drowsiness was slowly pulling me away.

"I like you ... so much." Aius whispered before I finally fell asleep.

But I didn't understand you very well because he was so weak when he said that, add that I'm already drowsy.

***

The next day I woke up because something heavy seemed to hit my stomach.

And when I open my eyes, I was greeted by Aius, sleeping face.

I stared there.

He's handsome.

Cute.

And hot.

My heart is pounding.

I can't believe that right now, Aius Frosco. My Ultima crush is just beside me, hugging me tighly as he sleep peacefully.

I smiled at my thought. It feels good. Waking up beside him feels good.

And for some reason, I feel my heart beating fastly and loudly for him.

I looked at his slightly pitying lips. He's lips looks inviting.

I just stared at his lips until I didn't realize that my face was getting closer and closer to his ..

I feel like I want to kiss those inviting lips of him.

But even before I could do what I had in mind, I immediately turned away as well, when I saw his eyes gradually awakening.

"Hey, morning." He said huskily.

And damn, men! He sounded so seductive!

"M-morning." I also greeted her and then got up to get myself ready and prepare our breakfast.

After I cooked we ate well.

"What time do you want to go?" Aius asked as we ate.

"Ah..it's 9am if it's okay?"

"Alright, 9am it is."

We only ate for a while. So I arranged what we ate.

After thirty minutes of preparing ourselves, we're good to go now.

"You know what? I live my life blaming myself for what happened years ago." I said that to Aius while just staring into the distance. As my heart continued to ache in excruciating pain.

We are now in the cemetery where my sister and grandmother lie.

.I also told him everything that happened years ago.

I don't even know why I told him that, e. To think that I don't want anyone else to know, Even Jared doesn't know it.

But I couldn’t understand why I was so quick to say that to Aius. .nothing, I feel like he can help me, e.

"It's not your fault, Sariel."

"It's my fault." I told him, because it's true, e. It's all my fault.

"No, it's not. Everything happened for a reason." Aius's words seemed to intensify me.

"Yeah? .and the reason behind that incident is my fault, right? Mama was right, if I hadn't reprimanded her then, if I hadn't left our house that night, Ariela wouldn't have followed me and she wouldn't have been raped by the people hanging around the corner. "

.my long explanation, my tears heralding dripping. But I force myself not to let that down. I'm tired of crying.

He was speechless so I continued.

"And if Ariela hadn't been raped, she wouldn't have committed suicide, Pala wouldn't have gotten sick..and most of all ... if..if h-all that wouldn't have happened ... "I can't finish what I'm about to say all of a sudden my tears start to fall, there are sobs that are already escaping on my lips.

But despite my sobs and tears I struggled to finish what I was going to say. ."H-Lola wouldn't have rushed to the Airport just to get home to the Philippines ... H-She wouldn't have died, she wouldn't have been the accidental passenger of the taxi she rode in!"

This time, I was crying when I said that. .the pain I feel has no place in my heart. I feel like breaking down.

I just wanted to end my life. But I can't, papa and mama still needs me.

As I cried I felt Aius hug me, and his gentle caress on my back.

"Shh, stop crying..it's not your fault, okay? Don't blame yourself. "Aius spoke to me.

I just moaned and moaned as I was inside his arms. I also pressed my face tighter against his chest.

"I-I'm scred, Aius. W-what if karma hit me fro what I did years ago? .what if ... what if ... "I was afraid to admit to him.

Totoo naman, e. I was afraid that I might be killed because it was my fault that Ariela and Grandma died.

"No. Don't be scared, I got you, okay? I won't let anyone hurt you." Aius whispered weakly.

And as if on cue, I stopped crying. .the pain in my heart has also been somewhat reduced due to the pain. But that was replaced by a strange pulse, a pulse that I knew was not a good destination.

I ... think I'm starting to feel something for him.

"A-Aius ..." I whispered softly to him while staring into his eyes. .I couldn't get my mind to say anything to him.

"It's okay. I'm always here for you." he was still weak. Then I saw his face approaching me.

And the next thing I knew, his lips were on my lips now. He's kissing me softly.

.and with so much softness I felt drowsy. His lips caressed my lips so gently.

My heart seemed to want to come out of my chest because of the strength of its beating.

Minute had passed. He's stilk kissing me. .he tilted he's head for his better access on my lips to kiss me more, and I just let him.

I know I should stop him for kissing me, but I can't. I just stood still on my feet.

Stop him, you're cheating!

.it seemed as if I was burning away from him when suddenly those words entered my mind.

Damn it! What did I do ?! Why did I let him kiss me ?!

Oh Goodness! I'm sorry!

Aius looked at me in confusion. He didn’t seem to understand why I suddenly walked away from him.

."I-it's not right, Aius. I ... I shouldn't let you kiss me." I speak weakly. So I just want to be eaten by the earth now because of my shame.

"Why? What's wrong with me kissing you?" Kunot when he asked me.

"I have a boyfriend for fuck's sake, Aius!" he said tearfully.

."Yeah? Is that your reason? Then, I am not sorry for kissing you. I won't regret it." he said hard as his jaws tightened.

"Aius—"

"I don't care if you have a boyfriend! He's obviously cheating on you, can't you see? Open up your eyes, Sariel! Don't be stupid for him! .he doesn't deserve you, and you don't deserve him too! "he growled at me.

"Even he's cheating on me, the fact that we didn't break up is reason enough to remind me that he's still my boyfriend! And what makes me different from him? I let other men kiss me, while we're stilk together !. i cheated too! "i shouted at him.

"Then break up with him!" Aius shouted at me. He looked frustrated for some reason.

"W-what?" I can't seem to believe my drone. Is he really suggesting that?

"I-I can't ..." I said weakly.

"Yes, you can! You just don't want to! Come on, Sariel ..wake up! Stop hurting yourself! "

"But—"

"Ehem!"

I immediately stopped speaking when suddenly someone sneezed behind us. And when I looked at my back, my mother's face greeted me.

"M-ma, so-sorry. A-we're leaving. I'm sorry p-po." trembling lips I said. .then then pulled Aius who was now staring at me in astonishment. Confused by what I did.

Before we finally left, I saw my mother's speech, but I couldn't continue.

***

"Why did you do that?" while on the trip Aius asked me.

"What?"

."To your mother."

"Ah, is that so? He doesn't even want me to go to Ariela's grave. He says I don't have the right to go there because it's my fault."

He was silent because of what I said.

"But it's okay. I'm okay with that..I can go there when mama isn't there. "I comforted myself. I don't want to cry again.

"Where will I drop you?"

"Just in Jared's condominium building."

"What ?!" Aius seemed incredulous to ask me.

"Yeah..i have to talk to him ... and apologize for what had happened to us ... I..ahm also want to hear his explanation. "nahihiyang usal ko pa.

"Seriously?" Aius sighed fantastically.

"If you don't want to, it's okay. Just take me down there on the side, I'll just take a taxi."

"Nevermind."

Aius also took me to Jared's condominium building. Then he kicked the car away so I went straight into the building, until I could get on the elevator.

.

.

To be continued....