Hellooo! I'm sorry to have disappeared for weeks huhu. My family had COVID and I also got sick kaya *sad face* but it's all okay now hehe. Thank you sa mga nagsend ng concerns and get-wells sa twitter!

I'll be updating more sa tomorrow kaya two chapters lang siya today. Ang brain ko ay dead at walang hospital na pwedeng magresuscitate. Although, I hope you enjoy this still :33

We all miss you! harthart

ㅡ

Mallory looked like he wanted to kill someone.

"Laki ng ngiti mo ngayon, Rookie boy." Venice chuckled. "What's the good news? Perhaps... it has something to do with your presence here?"

They were standing outside his aunt's house, waiting for his little sister to open the door. Nang malaman niya ang plano ng dalawa kanina ay malapit na siyang sumabog. Mallory was about to cancel his night trip down here, to prevent the two from going out, but he knows how much Roan misses him. Ayaw naman niyang palungkutin ang bata.

Kaya naman, kahit na gusto niyang suntukin si Rook sa mabilis nitong pagpa-plano, he has no choice but let him follow them to the house. Isa pa, hindi naman niya pwedeng kontrolin ang desisyon ni Carter. If she agreed to it, then he doesn't want to say anything. She imprisoned herself for so long that she deserves this break ㅡ one that does not only revolve around him and Natalie.

Iyon nga lang...

"Hihihi, oo. Magda-date kami ni love of my life, Ven." the stupid kid in Mallory's eyes said with dumbly, dreamy eyes.

He swears... he's not just going to want, but will be killing someone anytime soon.

Sumama ang tingin niya. "Date?"

Ang alam niya mag-uusap lang ah! Ba't may date na?

Hindi nasagot ang tanong niya nang bumukas ang pintuan. Carter stood at the door with furrowed brows in her knit sweater and shorts, hair tied up in a messy bun. She frowned at them, questioning their presence outside her aunt house. It took her a few more seconds to remember what every person outside came for.

"Saan si Roan?" tanong ni Mallory at lumapit sa kapatid bago pa maunahan ng kaibigan niyang tila bituin na ang mata.

"Tulog." she glanced at Rook. "Sandali lang. Pumasok muna kayo."

Magiliw siyang binati ni Venice na sumunod kay Mallory. Rook was the last one to come in, and despite Carter waiting for all three to enter to close the door, Mallory took the job and ushered his sister inside. Hindi kailangan ng tatlo na maging matalino para marealize na nilalayo ng lalaki ang dalawa.

Rook, although feeling a bit down, discarded his eagerness and followed his future brother-in-law's conditions. Kung hindi lang sila related ni Carter, matagal na niyang naprangka 'tong si Mallory. Pasalamat na lang 'to at kailangan niyang magpabango.

Carter, unaffected by her brother's attitude, excused herself to change. Venice accompanied her to Roan's room, staying there for a while kasi naiinis daw si Mallory at patawa-tawa lang siya sa sala. Hindi iyon nagets ni Carter. But when she arrived downstairs, ready to go out, a question was instantly thrown at her.

"Hoy, magkakape lang kayo 'di ba?"

Frowning, she nodded. Sinulyapan niya si Rook para makonpirma. Iyon naman talaga ang pinag-usapan nila.

"E ba't sabi nitong isa, date daw?" dagdag ni Mallory sabay turo sa kaibigan.

His words made Rook's eyes widen and for his cheeks to flush red in embarrassment. Nagjo-joke lang naman sana siya kanina kasi sa puso niya ay date 'to! Pero hindi naman kailangang ibuking ni Mallory ang mga fantasies niya! 'Di ba? 'Di ba?

"Siyempre, Mal! Date 'yon sa'kin. Sa'kin lang naman. Inassume ko lang. 'Di ko naman sinabing fact 'yon! Alam mo 'yong opinyon?" mabilis na saad ni Rook.

Mallory's glare deepened. "Tingin mo hindi ko alam?"

"Siyempre, bro-in-law. Ikaw pa. 'Matic na 'lam mo kahit period cycle ng malapit na langgam- hehe joke. Joke." agad na bawi ni Rook nang maramdaman ang talim sa mata ng kaibigan.

"If he wants to treat it as a date, then a date." Carter inserted casually, finished tying up her shoes. "Aalis na kami." paalam nito.

Agad na napatingin si Mallory sa relo. Isang minuto bago mag alas-singko. "Five-thirty, dapat 'andito na kayo."

"Eh?! Thirty minutes lang?!"

"Bakit?" sumama ulit ang tingin ni Mal sa kaibigan. "Ilang oras ba ang kailangan sa kape?"

"Baka mahaba ang pila, hehe."

"Alas sais. Ah, 'di, five-fifty-nine."

"Malay mo, Mal, baka may importanteng pupuntahan ang barista at madelay."

"Isa lang nagtatrabaho sa coffee shop na 'yan?"

"'Di marunong cashier eh..."

"Ba't nasa coffee shop pa kung gano'n?"

Rook pouted. "Cashier naman siya, 'di barista."

"Isa lang coffee shop sa Manila, Rook?"

Carter rolled her eyes at their conversation. While it was amusing to witness one-hundred different ways to ruin Rook's excitement, the way his face drooped down quietly tug her heartstrings. Kaya naman para hindi tuluyang maging sad puppy itong lalaki, she stepped forward and grabbed him by the arm, staring hard at her brother next.

"Uuwi na ako bago mag-alas-otso."

Mallory's reply was fast. "Okay, sis. Ingat."

And, Rook, while trying to focus on Mallory's lack of hesitation when his sister decided the time ㅡ which he found unfair ㅡ he couldn't. The moment Carter grabbed his arm, his brain's capacity to understand things had minimized and centered on the heat on his skin. Nagpasalamat tuloy siya ngayon sa decision na huwag maglong-sleeves.

Although, before completely leaving the house, Rook did not miss the disgusted expression Mal had because of his blushing face.

08/17/2021

bro-in-law
Tangina. Baduy mo kiligin.
Ingatan mo kapatid ko o magsisisi ka buong buhay mo.
May copy pa ako no'ng natalo ka sa dare at kailangan mo magcross-dress ng sailor moon. I am watching you.
sent • 5:04 pm