•••••Raven's POV•••••

"Apologize?" I looked at Miyahara in confusion. Is he being serious?

He nodded but I remained silent. Leaning against the wall, still processing everything he said.

"I'm serious, Raven." he finally said after being silent for a few minutes.

Bigla akong napahawak sa ulo ko ng bigla itong sumakit, pero hindi ko pinahalata sa kanya na nasasaktan ako.

"Ayos ka lang?" he asked. I raised my head to look at him.

"Question, may kapalit ba itong ginagawa mo ngayon?" Ignoring his question, now it's his turn to look at me in confusion. "Velasquez ordered you to do this, right? You wouldn't have done this if he didn't tell you so."

Umiling siya kaagad sa sinabi ko. Is he really being serious about this? I looked him in the eyes at nakikita ko na seryoso siya. Ano ba kasing nakain niya at naisipan niya itong gawin?

"Believe me, I was really planning to tell you kahit na hindi pa ako inutusan ni sensei na kausapin ka. Nagsisi ako sa mga sinabi ko sa'yo because I realized that you shouldn't be the one to blame for Rin's death. Wala kang kasalanan, Raven. At tungkol rin sa sinabi ko about sa parents mo, I'm sorry. Hindi ko dapat sila sinali sa away natin. In fact, I was being childish. Nagpadala ako sa galit ako at dahil dun ay nasaktan ko ang feelings mo. I admit, I was so hurt when I saw you cry. I didn't see that one coming from you kaya nagsisi talaga ako. Ayokong magpa-iyak ng babae, lalo na ikaw na bago ko pa lang nakilala. It was so wrong of me and I didn't know what you've been through so I'm gonna say this again, I'm so, so sorry. I'm not expecting you to accept my apology right here and now pero gusto ko lang malaman mo na I truly meant every word I said." He took a deep breath after he said everything what he wanted to say.

Yun na ata ang pinakamahaba niyang sinabi sa akin. It's so unlike him. I looked at him for a minute again, pagkatapos ay nagbuntong-hininga nalang ako.

"It's not like I'm hungry for your 'apology' but," I met his gaze, letting myself get drowned by it for a second. "I accept it."

He painted a surprised expression on his face as he was struggling to find the right words to answer until he was able to say anything, "R-Really?"

I nodded. By that, he jumped in happiness. Para siyang bata na binilhan ng laruan ng kanilang magulang. But in a snap, napakalapit na niya sakin at walang pasabing niyakap ako.

"Thank you, Raven. I'm more than glad you accepted my apology." I was shock. Hindi ko magawang kumalas sa pagkayakap sa kanya. He's so warm. When was the last time I felt this kind of warm?

After a few minutes ay kumalas na rin siya sa pagkayakap sakin. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa ginawa niya sakin today. This feeling is weird.

"P-Pasenya na. Masaya lang talaga ako eh." Napakamot siya sa ulo niya. "What can I do for you?"

Nalito ulit ako sa sinabi niya. Even siya ay nagulat rin sa kanyang sinabi. I guess hindi niya talaga plinano ang mga mangyayari ngayon. Maybe he planned pero iba ang nangyari.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I-I mean, I'm your servant for the rest of the school year, remember? Pangbayad na rin sa nagawa ko sa'yo." He said. "I insist."

I sighed again. How did it end up like this? When I woke up this morning, I was just planning to take Squishy to a walk but then I saw him and brought him in my house. Life is full of surprises.

"Fine, whatever. First off, don't you think you should breathe? Parang nawalan ka na ata ng hangin dahil sa haba ng sinabi mo kanina." I rolled my eyes at him.

Tumawa lang siya. "I don't need to. As long as you've forgiven me, sapat na 'yon."

Bumuntong-hininga nalang ako. I gestured him to follow me in the kitchen. If he insists na babayaran niya ako sa kasalanan niya sakin, then I know just what he must do.

"Get us something to eat."

"Y-Yes ma'am!"

Nilingon ko si Miyahara na nakasunod at nakatingin lang sakin. I gestured him to sit down.

"Ang laki naman ng kusina niyo." The maids served us food. They served Miyahara pizza while they served me my favorite Red Velvet Cake. "Thanks." I rolled my eyes again as he thanked one of our maids.

"Ethan left me a pizza to eat. Pinainit ko 'yan kanina kasi 'yan sana ang kakainin ko but I changed my mind." I said as I started eating my cake.

"Favorite mo talaga 'yan 'no?" sabi niya at nagsimula na ring kumain ng pizza.

To be honest, we didn't talk until we finished eating our foods. I don't know how to start a formal conversation so I just let the silence ate us. Nagsimula nang linisin ng mga maids namin ang aming mga pinagkainan kaya nagsimula na akong magsalita kay Miyahara.

"Take me somewhere."

Nagulat ulit siya sa sinabi ko. Seryoso, bakit ba siya palaging nagugulat?

"W-What?"

"I said," I sighed as I was trying to explain to him. "Take. Me. Somewhere. I want to go to different places here kaya dalhin mo 'ko doon."

Gulat pa rin ang ekspresyon niya. "Hindi ka pa ba nakapagpunta sa iba't ibang lugar dito?" gulat na tanong niya.

I shook my head. Parang nakuha naman niya lahat kaya 'di nalang siya nagtanong pa. "So, are you in?"

"O-Oo naman! Ang easy lang kaya niyan." Nawala na ang gulat sa mukha niya. "So, when do we start?"

I tried to remember everything that Ethan said to me before he left for work. Kapag walang pasok, o kapag ayaw kong pumasok ay dito lang daw ako sa bahay. Kung lalabas man to take Squishy, his dog for a walk ay dapat hindi ako lalabas sa subdivision na ito. I'm used to this kind of life. Ever since I was a kid, Ethan is so strict when it comes to me. He's so overprotective that makes him so annoying. Pero hinahayaan ko nalang siya. Sa totoo lang ay 'di ko alam kung bakit napaka-overprotective niya sakin at kung bakit takot siya na lumabas ako dito sa subdivision na mag-isa. I tried to ask him that many times but he's always changing the subject. Dumating nalang talaga yung point na nasawa rin ako sa kakatanong. It's not like I have friends to bond with anyway.

"Raisin?" Nabalik lang ako sa realidad nang magsalita si Miyahara.

"Right. Are you free tomorrow?"

"Sunday naman bukas kaya, oo."

"Then it's settled." Tumayo na ako para tumungo sa living room namin. Sumunod naman si Miyahara sakin.

"Bakit ka nga pala hindi pumasok ng isang linggo? Nag-alala kami lahat sa'yo. Dahil ba sa nangyaring away natin? Dahil ba nagalit ka sakin?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

This time, ako naman ang umupo sa sofa at siya naman ang sumandal sa dingding. Kailangan ko pa ba talagang sagutin lahat ng mga tanong niya? I let a sigh first before answering his question. I guess as much as possible ay sasagutin ko nalang ang mga tanong niya ng maikli.

"I had a fever and Ethan went so overprotective that he told me not to go to school for a week. Umabsent nga siya sa trabaho para alagaan ako and missed a lot of business meetings just to be with me until I feel better."

"Ano? Nagkasakit ka? Kamusta na ang pakiramdam mo ngayon?" He asked worriedly.

"I'm fine now. Don't worry."

Seryoso siyang nakatingin sakin.

"Sino ba si Ethan?"

I think he has many questions prepared in his mind. I'm not really the type of girl who answers other people's question easily especially when they start asking about my personal life. Naiinis nga ako sa media minsan everytime they interview Ethan. It's because it's their job kaya masyado silang persistent, nakakainis. But sasagutin ko na lang since wala naman akong gagawin ngayon at medjo boring na rin dito sa bahay.

"Ethan is my cousin. But his parents adopted me kaya naging step-brother ko siya." Bigla akong nakaramdam ng lungkot.

I still remember those times nung kasama pa namin ang mga magulang namin ni Ethan. Sila lang ang mga tinuring kong mga magulang simula pa noon pero hindi rin naman sila nagtagal sa mundong ito.

"So ang mga magulang lang ni Ethan ang tinuri mong mga tunay na pamilya?" I nodded to his question. "But where are they now?"

I hesitated to answer for a moment. "They're... Dead."

A flashed of sadness ran into his eyes so he apologized immediately. I treated them as my only family but why did they have to leave? Hindi ko nagawang umiyak sa mga oras na 'yon kasi nagalit ako ng sobra. Bakit sa dinarami ng tao sa mundo, sila pa talaga ang kinuha't nawala? Ethan assured me na ayos lang siya; Na may rason ang lahat; Pero alam ko na nasasaktan siya ng sobra. His heart broke in a million pieces.

"So... Nasaan ba si Ethan ngayon?" Kahit na may bahid na pag-alala sa kanyang pagtatanong ay pilit niya paring lakasan ang kanyang loob na tanungin ako.

Then maybe I should answer to the best of my ability.

"On a business trip. He's the CEO of the Asano Industries, the company that our family ran for generations." His eyes widened in surprise because of what I just said.

"A-Asano Industries?! 'Di ba isa 'yan sa mga top 10 industries sa buong bansa?! Hindi ko alam na ang pamilya niyo pala ang may-ari ng kompanyang iyan." Gulat niyang sabi sakin.

"It's not a big deal, hindi ba?"

"Kung sa bagay. Just recently I heard my dad talking about the company. He was talking about how successful your company is." sabi niya.

"I see. I wanted to help Ethan in his job but he won't let me. Kayang-kaya ko namang gawin ang trabaho niya." sabi ko.

It's true. I wanted to help him all these years simula nang ibigay ng mga magulang namin ang kompanya sa kanya dahil siya naman ang nakakatanda sa aming dalawa at tunay na anak. But he never let me since it's 'too dangerous' for me.

"Wait, ilang taon na ba si Ethan?"

"Nineteen years old." Nagulat na naman siya sa sinabi ko.

"T-Teka, seryoso? Isang taon lang ata ang gap namin eh!" Napa-facepalm siya.

Can't blame him since napakabata naman talaga ni Ethan para maging CEO ng isang napakalaking kompanya eh.

"Uh-huh. Pinasa kaagad kay Ethan ang posisyon nang pumanaw ang mga magulang namin. He has the skill and potential to be the new CEO of the company kaya walang pasabing binigay sa kanya ito at the age of sixteen."

He was speechless for a few minutes. Nagbuntong-hininga siya bago nagpatuloy ulit sa pagsasalita.

"He's lucky. Gusto ko ngang subukan ang trabaho ni papa eh. Kaso lang, 'di niya ako pinapayagan kasi delikado raw." Natawa siya ng mahina sa kanyang sinabi.

I don't know why but something just felt something right inside of me. Butterflies in my stomach? My heart pounding so fast? I don't know. It's just so weird looking at his smiles.

"Maybe he'll give you the job when the time comes."

"Hopefully." He smiled at me and that's when I felt that weird feeling again.

Tumikhim ako para mawala itong 'weird' na feeling.

"Anyway, may tanong ka pa ba? Kasi kung wala na, you're free to go." To be completely honest, Ethan wouldn't be happy once he knows that there's a guy here in our house.

"Actually, meron pa. Bakit nga pala hindi ka nakakapunta sa iba't ibang lugar dito? Dahil ba sa pagiging strikto ni Ethan sa'yo?"

Tumango ako. "He's willing to kill anyone just to protect me. Nakakalabas lang ako ng subdivision kapag kasama ko siya which happens only once in a blue moon." Tumango lang siya sa sinabi ko.

"Hindi mo sinabi na napaka-strikto pala ng kapatid mo. Also, I didn't know na may kapatid ka. Akala ko ay jowa mo siya." Tumawa ulit siya.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut it. Hindi ko naman siguro talaga siya tinuring na kapatid."

Napatigil siya sa pagtawa. The question "why" is painted across his face.

"He's so annoying and we're totally different. He keeps a lot of secrets and," Tumigil ako saglit. I've said too much. "I think I've said enough, Miyahara."

"Oh, I understand. Pero," He looked around para tingnan kung may iba bang nakikinig sa usapan namin. "Ayos lang ba sa kanya kung lalabas ka ng subdivision na ako ang kasama mo? I mean, 'di pa niya ako kilala and he cares too much about you."

"Technically, no. But I need to see what's out there. It's boring staying in this house forever." sabi ko.

Tumango lang siya sa sinabi ko at umayos na ng tayo. Just for once... gusto kong makalabas ng subdivision na ito na hindi kasama si Ethan.

"Nasagot na ang lahat ng gusto kong malaman. Without a doubt, I'll get to know you soon." He smirked at me.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "What's with the smirk?"

Umiling siya. "Something just reminded me about your dog named Squishy. Cute name. Didn't know your into dogs and cute names."

Seriously, he's definitely messing around everytime he speaks that way.

"Goddamit. Squishy is Ethan's dog. Not mine."

Tumayo na ako sa pagkaupo. Then I walked him to the door.

"Is that so? Well, you both are getting along very well."

"Of course! I always take him for a walk when Ethan isn't around."

Tumawa na naman siya.

"Oh sege na, aalis na ako. It looks like I spent my whole day sa bahay niyo, Raisin." He said.

Doon ko lang din napansin nga tama nga ang sinabi niya. We lost track of time.

"Looks like it. You know your way out, right?" He nodded.

"Salamat sa araw na ito, Raven."

I looked right into his eyes. He's so pure and so is his words. His heart... I can feel it. How did I ever feel it? I closed my eyes and shook my head.

"You better go. It's getting late." Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow." Tumango lang ulit ako at sinara na ang pinto.

I leaned against the door as I released a huge, deep sigh.

What a day.

•••••Someone's POV•••••

"Sigurado ka ba na nasa bahay lang siya ngayon at tanging mga katulong lang ang kasama?"

"Yes. Hindi ko siya pinapasok kasi tinamaan siya ng lagnat. Pero 'wag kayong mag-alala, maayos na ang kalagayan niya. I made sure of that."

"Good. It's good for her to stay inside the house because the outside world's so dangerous for her. Alam kong napalapit ka na rin sa kanya pero naiintindihan mo naman ako 'di ba, Ethan?"

"Opo, sensei."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Konnichiwa, UniqueKorns! I appreciate all your comments at naghihingi ng update. I love you so much guys! I'm planning to join The Wattys this year to have some fun. I don't plan on winning since it's impossible. Lol. But more importantly, thank you for helping me reach this milestone! Inspirasyon ko kayong lahat. I love you ng sobrang-sobra.