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"So, ikaw pala si George. I'm Inno. Ang tagal ka din tinago ni Dos, 'no? I'm glad to finally meet you."

George smiled as she shook Inno's hand. He's Jarvis' older brother na mas matanda ng isang taon kay Dos. He's taking up Business Management sa USDA and is about to be a sophomore student next year. She also learned that he actually started working already for their family business this summer. Dos daw will be working next year pa.

"Hi Ate George. I'm Seven," ani naman ng isang kasama ni River. "I'm Kuya River's younger brother and also Box's. We're twins, though."

Ang cute nung smile ni Seven. They all looked so handsome and tall din. Medyo nakakalula 'coz, how is that even possible? Seven sila tapos lahat ba ang cute and gwapo.

Noon niya lang din napansin ang katabi ni Seven. If her guess is right, he must be Yvo. Dos' younger brother. So she smiled sweetly at him be he just glared at her before looking away. Nagulat siya.

"Tulog pa yung birthday girl pero pwede na tayo mauna mag-swimming," ani maya-maya ni Inno. "It's just us and a few of Annika's friends so you don't have to worry."

She smiled in response and nodded. Dos held her hand to pull her to the pool area pero hindi nakaligtas sa paningin niya si Yvo who was looking at their hands clasped together. Pero mukhang napansin ni Yvo that she was staring so he immediately turned away and ran towards his cousin.

"Don't mind him," ani bigla ni Dos kaya't napabaling siya agad dito. Mukhang napansin din nito ang mga tingin ng kapatid sa kanya. "Napagalitan ko lang bago pumunta dito that's why he's not in the mood."

But it wasn't. Yvo looked really energetic and very accommodating with his other cousins. Kendall too. Parang siya lang talaga yung parang hindi gusto nito.

"Hey," she called the boy when they got the chance to be alone. "You're Yvo, right? I'm Ate George. Kendall's 'ate'. I'm you brother's um... friend."

Sa halip na sumagot ay tinaasan lang siya nito ng kilay bago bumalik sa paglalaro ng kung ano sa gaming console nito. It looked a lot like the one Red's currently addicted to.

"Are you playing Tekken? My brother plays that too! I tried once but I lost almost immediately—"

Her eyes grew in size when all of a sudden, Yvo stood up and left. So tama nga ang iniisip niya kanina. Yvo didn't like her. Or at least the idea of her being there. She couldn't help but heave a heavy sigh because he's Dos' baby brother. It would be nice if she'd get along with him too.

"He gets jealous easily."

She almost yelled at the sudden statement from behind her. Si Jarvis lang pala 'yon. He held to glasses of what seems to be juice. She hoped it was just juice. She's still just 14—er, 15 since she turned last January.

"You scared me," she said while clutching her chest. "You shouldn't creep on people like that, Jarvis. You're gonna give people a heart attack."

"Sorry," he said as she took the cup. "Pagpasensyahan mo na lang din si Yvo. Napaka-seloso lang talaga niyang bunsong lalaki namin. Don't worry. He'll warm up to you eventually."

"I hope so," she mumbled. "My brother and sister adores Dos. Sana I get to be a big sister din to his brother."

The grin on Jarvis' face grew wider. "So I guess you two are serious, huh."

"N-No!" Napatingin agad siya kay Jarvis. "I mean, not that serious, serious. Just um... you know..."

She bit her lower lip. She didn't know what to say. She sounded so defensive and guilty. Gusto niya na uli ilibing ang sarili sa lupa.

"Basta!" she exclaimed as her cheeks heated up. Natawa tuloy si Jarvis and playfully pinched her cheek.

"Cute," anito. "I was just joking. Sino ba naman ang nasa isang seryosong relasyon at fifteen and eighteen?"

But she was serious. And she felt that Dos was too. Gusto niyang bawiin yung pagtanggi niya but he did have a point. Masyado pa siyang bata. Pero mali ba if she feels na si Dos na talaga ang prince charming niya?

"You ba, Jarv," she suddenly said to change the topic. "Do you have a girlfriend? Or like someone you like?"

Jarvis smiled and folded his arms. "I could tell you but... then I have to kill you."

"You're so madaya!" she yelled. "I told you my secrets noon tapos now ayaw mo sabihin yung sa'yo. Is it because you like Lia? Kaya you feel awkward?"

Tumawa naman agad ito at umiling. Lia and Jarvis are close din 'coz they all hang out together during breaks. So it wasn't so far-fetched.

"Lia would skin me alive if I were to court her," he said. "I only see her as a friend."

"Oh," she nodded. "Then who? Is it your classmate? A girl from a different school?"

"I haven't found her yet," he simply answered making her pout. Napaka- playing safe nung answer niya.

"Who knew you were the romantic type." She rolled her eyes at him earning her another round of laughter. "Sige na nga. I won't make kulit na lang. But you have to let me know once you find her. Promise?"

She took out her pinky finger as some sort of pact. Jarvis chuckled before he accepted it and nodded.

"Promise."

Nagusap sila ni Jarvis about many things. Hindi nila namalayan that almost an hour passed until he got called over by his cousins to play in the pool.

She smiled while watching them toll the ball around. Pinagkakaisahan ng mga ito si Yvo who were a bit shorter than his cousins and brother. Siguro dahil bata pa kaya ga'non. Kendall was also on the other side of the pool playing with Box. She chuckled at how cute they looked together. Parang hindi na ito naghiwalay since they got here.

It felt really nice to meet new people. Especially those who are important to the person you really like. Sabi nga ng mommy niya, you should love the people that person you love loves.

Love. She smiled. Maybe she does love Dos. But, how do you know that like is already love? She's too young.

"Wh—Aah!" She screamed when she suddenly fell into the pull. Pero agad naman siyang inahon ng kung sino man ang humila sa kanya sa pool. She even heard a snicker. "What the fudge?!"

She coughed and wiped the water off her eyes to get a clear view of the culprit.

"Dos!" she yelled. So it was him! Napaka-bully talaga nito!

"I brought you here to swim," he said smirking. "Kanina ka pa nakaupo sa poolside so I thought of doing you a favor."

"Favor?!" she blurted out. Her arms propped on Dos shoulder while his arms were around her legs to boost her up since they were almost at the six feet area of the pool. "I could've died!"

Instead of feeling sorry, Dos just laughed at her. And hearing his laughter was like a magic word that automatically washes away her annoyance. Natawa na lang din siya.

And as if pulling her into the water wasn't enough, bigla itong lumubog sa tubig. Kasama siya siyempre kaya nang umahon muli sila ay nakayakap na siya dito habang umuubo dahil napasukan ng tubig ang ilong niya.

"Dos! Ano ba?!" she shrieked as he laughed. His arms wrapped around her body tightly. "You're so annoying—"

"Naririnig ko na!" Nagulat kami nang biglang sumigaw si Kuya Inno. With his statement she heard Dos groan. "Naririnig ko na ang sirena ng pulis!"

Her cheeks instantly burned so she hid her face at the crook of Dos' neck. They were watching pala!

"Inggit ka lang, gago," he cursed while holding her. It was like he was protecting her or something.

"Wala ka naman pala, Inno!" she heard River tease the guy. "Kapag inggit kasi, pikit."

She didn't quite understand Kuya Inno's rants because he spoke so fast. Like he was rapping or something. River kept teasing him still while Seven joined in too.

But the two of them—Dos and her, stayed in that position. She wasn't sure kung puso niya lang ba yung parang gusto kumawala sa dibdib niya or pati yung kay Dos. Eitherway, she didn't want to let go. She just wanted to stay there. In his arms.

"Oh, Yvo. San ka pupunta?" she heard River suddenly say. Doon na siya nag-angat ng tingin and looked straight at the boys on the other end of the pool. "Ayaw mo na maglaro?"

Again, the little boy's eyes were blank as he looked straight at her. Nakaharap na din si Dos sa kapatid at mga pinsan nito.

"No," maigsing sagot nito bago unahon sa pool. The boys all looked confused and Seven just shrugged.

Agad naman siyang napatingin kay Dos. His brows were furrowed and looked as if he had an idea why his brother acted that way. He carried her towards the edge of the pool and boosted her up to sit there. Pagkatapos ay umahon na rin ito.

"Dos?"

The guy turned to her and she almost gasped when she saw his expression. Parang galit ito.

"I'll be right back."

With that, Dos walked towards the direction Yvo went. She panicked a bit kaya napatayo siya at akmang susunod sana dito. But Jarvis suddenly stopped her.

"Don't, Rhi," he said holding her by her shoulder. She looked up. "Hayaan mong pagusapan nila 'to."

"But—"

"Tama si Jarvis, George," ani naman ni Inno who also just got out of the pool. "Mas mabuting pag-usapan nila 'to. Don't worry. Dos and Yvo will be fine."

Though Inno and Jarvis assured her that everything will be fine, hindi niya pa rin maiwasan ang mag-alala. She knows Yvo's acting up because of her and ayaw niyang mag-away ang dalawa because of her.

Nagulat naman siya nang may biglang humawak sa kamay niya. It was Seven. He was smiling at her.

"Let's just play, Ate George," he said. Ang cute cute ng boxy smile niya so how can she refuse him?

She smiled back and nodded. They just played in the water and soon after, nagising na ang birthday celebrant. Maya-maya din ay bumalik na si Dos.

Kuya Inno introduced her to Annika and she was so adorable! Whenever she smiles, it's like cat whiskers appears on her cheek. Also, she's very sweet and a pilya kid. Hindi niya na mabilang kung ilang beses nito inasar-asar ang mga kuya.

I wonder who her brother is? Hindi kasi namention ng mga boys kung sino ang kapatid ni Annika among them. Maybe Inno and Jarvis'? Basta ang sigurado niya ay hindi ito kapatid ni Dos since he said it was his "cousin's" birthday.

"So, Georgina. It's nice to finally meet you," Dos' Aunt said. She look really young and beautiful. When she gets older, she'd love to age like her. "Dos, River and Jarvis has told me so much about you. You're currently a third year student?"

"Yes po, tita." She smiled and nodded politely. "This school year po I'll be in my third year na."

"That's good. How's your studies doing, by the way? From what I heard from River, you're in the student council and also the Theater Club?"

"Performing Arts po, tita," she said and smiled. "Mahirap po but I can manage. Dos helped me a lot po last school year so I learned a lot about time management."

"That's good. That's good. Mabuting ma-manage mo ng maigi yung oras mo at the same time live up to your potential," Dos' aunt added. "Have you decided on what course to take in college?"

Umiling siya. Truth be told, she still has no idea what course she should take. She likes fashion so she thought of doing fashion design but practicality wise, it wouldn't help her family's business.

Even though her mom told her to take whatever course she wanted, mas gugustuhin niya pa rin na makatulong sa family niya so she's carefully considering her options. She is by birthright the one to inherit their design firm.

"Tita, ready na daw po yung dinner," Box said in a very polite manner. Ngumiti naman agad si Tita Saturn bago tumango.

"Call everyone," she instructed him. "Maiging sabay-sabay tayong kumain."

"Yes po, tita," the boy answered smiling too. Then bumaling ito sa kapatid niya who was standing beside him. "Let's go."

Kendall was already smiling and nodded. Sumunod ito agad kay Box but of course, it was after paying respect to Tita Saturn.

They were all seated in the grand table, with Kuya Inno, Jarvis, River, Seven and Annika. Her friends already left after the birthday party. Dos sat next to her and they were just waiting for Box, Kendall and Yvo. Wala ang parents ng mga ito since they all had businesses to attend to. But they did send video greetings to the birthday girl and called.

"Asan na ba ang mga batang 'yon?" Tita Saturn wondered before turning towards Inno. "Inosencio, sundan mo si Borromeo sa itaas. Baka naglalaro nanaman ng computer games yung dalawa dinamay pa si Kendall."

"Yes Tita—"

"Ate!" Nagulat siya nang biglang patakbong lumapit sa kanya ni Kendall. Bigla siyang kinabahan. "Ate George!"

"Kenny?" she immediately hugged her crying sister. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Ate... si Yvo po..." her sister started while wiping her tears. "He yelled at me po. He said that I'm gonna take Box away from him too like how you took kuya Dos away from him daw."

Her heart ached for her sister as she gently brushed her hear. Hindi niya rin napigilang mapatingin kay Dos who looked furious as he stood up.

"Oh, Kenny," she consoled her sister. "Yvo didn't mean that..."

But she can't fully blame Yvo. He's just a kid and he didn't mean what he just said. He was just upset because he misses his brother

"Dos," pigil niya agad dito when he was about to leave. "It's okay. We know didn't mean it."

"I know but that doesn't mean that it's okay to say that to Ken."

"But—"

"Kuya!" Box yelled as he ran inside. "Kuya si Yvo umali dala po yung bag niya! Sabi niya maglalayas na daw po siya!"

Fudge.

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