Hi! I'm so sorry for not updating for more than a month. Sobrang busy lang talaga ngayong December due to Christmas Parties and all. Anyhow, here's an update. Happy new year guys!

xxRaice

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"Kuya, thank you." I told him out of the blue.

"For what?" He asked me as he eyed me suspiciously. We were silent for a couple of minutes and then I just told him thank you. I guess he really had the right to be suspicious.

"For everything. For the almost eighteen year that we've been together, we had our ups and downs but honestly, I wouldn't trade all of those for anything. The memories that we have will always have a special part in my heart. I know there are times when I tend to be selfish but you chose to look past that. You still tried to understand me. I guess if there's an award for the best sibling in the world, you could easily be given one." I told him and he just gave me the "what-the-heck-are-you-talking-about look. Instead of explaining things to him, I just moved closer to him and I hugged him tight.

"I may not be the best sister that you could ever have but I hope..."

"Stop it Lauryn Katreena. I wouldn't even dare to ask for another twin besides you. I couldn't imagine being a twin with somebody else. Yes, you may have your flaws but who in the world doesn't have one? Your flaws make you unique and I learned to accept every bit of it. And honestly..." He said then he stopped talking. The anticipation was building up inside me and when he continued, I just wished he never even had the chance to talk. At all.

"... you're the best nightmare that I could ever have."

"I hate you kuya!" I shouted as I tried to hit him in his arms. He, on the other hand, just kept on laughing. It must have been that he was really expecting this kind of reaction from me.

"Matulog ka na na nga." Kuya said and I had to stop myself from punching him again because of that. Naramdaman ko na bigla yung pagod ko sa dami ng nangyari ngayong araw.

"Can I stay here for the night? Pleeeease?" I asked him, moving a little closer to him. His face doesn't show any sort of disgust from what I'm doing so I guess he'll be saying yes any minute now.

"Kat, you're too old for sleepovers."

"Says the guy who's the same age as me. Come on. Minsan lang naman kuya e. Sige na, please?" I insisted while trying my very best to look cute. As in with pout pa and all. I know he hates it when I make pa-cute but I just had to do it.

"Ugh. Ayusin mo nga 'yang mukha mo Lauryn Katreena!" Sigaw niya sa akin, as expected.

"No! Pumayag ka muna na dito ako matutulog!"

"Fine, fine! Dito ka na matulog."

"Yay! Thank you kuya!" I told him as I pulled him in for a big bear hug. Nung una, hindi pa niya ako niyakap pabalik pero after a few seconds, niyakap niya na rin ako.

"Ano bang nagustuhan sa'yo ni AJ? Masyado kang childish." Bigla niyang hirit kaya humiwalay na ako sa pagkakayakap ko sa kanya.

"E ano bang nagustuhan sa'yo ni Nicole? Masyado kang serious." Sagot ko naman sa kanya.

"You think?" Tanong niya sa akin. Shemay. Mukhang tinamaan talaga ng lintik 'tong si kuya. Kailan pa ba siya naging self-concious?

"At times, yes but that makes you who you are. I know I shouldn't say this since I'm the friend of Nics but if she can't handle the amount of seriousness that you have, then she's not worth it." I answered then that was the end of our discussion. Umayos na kaming dalawa sa pagkakahiga and we drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, nagising kami ni kuya sa boses nina mommy at daddy. I thought they were fighting over something but apparently, I got that wrong. They were gushing over me and kuya. Like seriously? Wala na ba silang ibang magawa?

"Dwight, look how big they are now. Dati, buhat buhat lang natin sila. Bakit ang bilis ng oras?" Mom asked and then I heard her crying. I sat up immediately because of that.

"Ma, stop crying will you? Baka mapano pa si baby niyan e."

"G, listen to Kat. You need to relax, okay?" Dad said. "And you really don't look that nice when you're crying,." Pagpapatuloy niya kaya pinaghahampas siya ni mommy. Langya. Ayan na naman sila sa kulitan nilang dalawa na 'yan. Ganyan na ganyan daw yung eksena lagi sa bahay ni lola before e. Lolokohin ni daddy si mommy tapos mapipikon si mommy kaya hahampasin na lang niya si daddy. Hindi na talaga sila nagbago. Tsk.

"Seriously though, kuya might get mad when he hears us. Wala akong balak na makitang nagbebeast mode 'yan."

"I heard you Kat." Kuya said. Shet. I am so dead.

"You're just dreaming kuya. Go back to sleep."

"Baliw. Kanina pa ako gising. Ikaw lang talaga 'tong tulog mantika." Wait. What? Ang daya! Bakit hindi ko man lang naramdaman na gising na pala si kuya kanina? Oh my god. Baka kinunan na niya ako ng picture o kaya may drawing na yung mukha ko!

"Bakit hindi mo ako ginising?!"

"I tried but as expected, I failed." Sagot niya sa akin with his poker face. Damn it. I know something happened here without my knowledge. He doesn't answer with a poker face unless he did something against me.

"Anong ginawa mo kuya?!" Sigaw ko sa kanya, frustration starting to build up inside me.

"Nothing." He answered plainly. Nice try kuya but I know you very well.

"Sinungaling! Ano kasing ginawa mo?!"

"Well, AJ called a while ago through FaceTime..."

"Shit." Hindi pa man tinatapos ni kuya yung sinasabi niya, alam ko na kung saan 'yon papunta. I instantly checked my phone to confirm my guess. Lo and behold, tama nga ang hula ko. Masasapak ko 'tong si kuya ng di oras e!

From: AJ

I didn't know you were that clingy when

you sleep. Haha.

From: AJ

Don't worry. You still look cute. :)

From: AJ

Call me up when you're awake, okay?

Upon reading the messages of AJ, I ran out from kuya's room and locked myself in my own room. Oh god. Wala na akong mukhang maihaharap kay AJ. Nakakahiya talaga. Kung alam ko lang, hindi na ako nakitulog sa kwarto ni kuya.

Instead of calling AJ, I took a bath and fixed myself. I kept myself busy just to divert my attention. Eventually, I failed. Naalala ko pa rin yung posibleng nakita ni AJ through FaceTime. Oh god. Why did I have a brother like Liam?

After a few minutes of rolling over and over in my bed, I heard my phone ringing. I didn't even need to check who was calling. I knew right then who it was. As much as I like to avoid him all day, alam kong hindi naman pwede. So I answered his call.

"Hello?" Mahina kong sagot sa kanya.

"Open your door."

"Huh?"

"Just open your door. Come on."

"Fiiiine." I told him and did what I was told. When I opened the door of my room, my view was blocked by a bouquet of roses.

"What the?"

"Good morning Lauryn!" Bati sa akin ni AJ at sobrang laki ng ngiti niya.

"What's with you?" I can't help but ask.

"Lauryn, you don't answer a greeting with a question."

"Fine. Good morning AJ. Now, answer my question."

"Well, you weren't calling me then you weren't answering my calls a while ago. So I thought I had to make it up to you. Honestly, Liam didn't answer my call through FaceTime. I was just messing with you through text."

"Ugh. Nagalit ako kay kuya for nothing?! I hate you!"

"No you don't. Come on, tita said breakfast is served." He said as he held my hand tightly. He's right. I don't hate him. I think it's the other way around. Damn it.