Chapter 5 - Six months ago

☞ SIX MONTHS AGO ☜

Maddox's point of view

My brother Marlowe and I are here today at Jungle K to follow our sister because she is with her boyfriend, whom I don't want for her. Simple lang naman for the fact that mukha siyang adik.

"Kuya, we've been going around for a while now, they're gone, let's just leave them alone," Lowe sneered at me.

I glare at him, dahil kanina pa siya nagrereklamo. "Don't talk, just open your eyes and find the f*ck where they are."

I heard someone giggling. Narinig din siguro ni Lowe, kaya pareho namin nilibot ang paningin namin sa paligid, to see whether there is anyone else here aside from us. I noticed someone's head with a bunny not far away, so we walked carefully to ensure she wasn't able to notice us. We passed on the other side, nakatalikod lang siya sa amin. I think she is counting when she will peek to see where we were a minute ago.

"Where did they go?" she murmurs.

She looks stupid, though. Is she a spy? Well, hindi ko malalaman if hindi ko siya tatanungin. "What are you doing?" I ask her.

Nang humarap siya sa amin, the corners of her eyes become wider, and she shrieks in the middle of her throat. "Waaaaah!" Did I startle her?

She puts her right hand on her pulsating heartbeat. "Homaygoshh! You just gave me a heart attac..." She didn't finish what she was about to say when she looked up at me. Who wouldn't be surprised by our stance, given that we look like ninja turtles? I also took a chance to look at her and assess how she looked.

She has perfect porcelain skin, which is terrifying to touch since it may be scratched if it's mine. Given my callous hands, I like her facial expressions most, especially her eyes shaped like almonds, perfect for how she widens her eyes, and when she glances at me, it's as if she's sucking me in, in the same way that I've suddenly calmed down from being grumpy. Her lips had a seductive pinkish curve. I groan. If I don't have a chance to stop checking her out, I may kiss her right here right now. Damn. This isn't part of the plan, she held me captive by her beauty in just a second.

"Ahhhm? Guys? Is this perhaps a staring contest? You know you two didn't lose, panalo na talaga kayong dalawa. Damn, you two didn't blink for a second," Lowe snaps between our staring contest.

She blinks her eyes several times. "Oh, I think I just saw a Greek god in front of me. It's like he has magic, and I was suddenly mesmerized by him," the girl exclaims. Lowe tilted his head to look at me, and he scrunched up his face. I glared at him dahil alam na alam ko na kung ano 'yung sasabihin niya.

"Ha! This? A Greek god? Naahh, I'm the most handsome ever, sa aming magkakapatid," he said while chuckling and winking at her after.

"Oh, gwapo ka rin naman," the woman says, smiling at him. Bigla namang lumukot 'yung mukha ni Lowe. I grin at him. Damn. Hindi ako palangiti pero dahil sa babaeng ito parang araw-araw na ata akong ngingiti nito.

"By the way, anong pangalan mo, miss?" I ask her. Kanina pa ako nagtitimpi dahil gusto ko ng malaman ang pangalan niya.

"I'm Sariel," she says, holding out her hand to me, which I accept immediately.

"Maddox, I hope we will get along," I say, slightly squishing our hands. I felt her body flinch for a split second before she gave me her loveliest smile. And I feel like I'm going to melt after this. Ha! kabaklaan na naman 'to.

"That's enough, Kuya, tama ka na, nakakita ka lang ng maganda parang na ulol ka na diyan." Lowe shoved my hand and replaced it with his hand. I clench my jaw and am about to smack him when Sariel still looks at me smiling. Damn. Maybe I just found my love of my life in the middle of this fucking forest.

"I'm Marlowe, call me Lowe."

"Nice meeting you, Lowe," Sariel's says, pulling her hands after. Lowe looks like he got lost. I just smirked at him.

"So? You guys are brothers?"

"Yup." Lowe beams, popping the p. Sariel nods her head.

"So, What are you doing here, pala?" She asks, looking at both me and my brother.

"Oh, it's confidential. Family matters," I say, not looking away at her.

"How about you? What are you doing here alone in the middle of this damn jungle?" I muses.

"Ahhm, I'm here with my best friend slash with her boyfriend, but you know hindi ko talaga gugustuhing maging third wheel, so I make a detour myself, and that's when I get lost and then find you," she quips and winks at me. I smell someone's being naughty here.

"Oh, hindi na namin maaabutan 'yung sinusundan namin, lalabas na kami siguro," Lowe gave a lopsided grin at her.

"So? Pwedi ba akong sumama sa inyo? If you don't mind?" She looked at me with a smirk.

"Sure, I'll lead the way out," I said, nodding at her at nauna nang maglakad.

I'm not certainly sure sa nararamdaman ko sa babaeng ito, but this is the first time I can't help but feel drawn to the sparkle in her eyes and her smile. I mean, I did fuck with the girls, nakipagtitigan at nakikita ko 'yung mga ngiti nila pero wala akong nararamdaman manlang. The other saying that they're my girlfriend, but I don't really have a girlfriend, they are just my flings, it's just pure lust and needs, you know. But with this girl? Damn. Kapag siguro sasabihin niyang boyfriend niya na ako ngayon ay hindi ko talaga siya tatanggihan.

When I found the way out, we went to the nearest ice cream parlor. Well, Sariel requested it, and who am I to refuse? She's just so irresistible.

Nang makapasok kami sa ice cream parlor, I looked for a table near the glass wall so we could see the people outside. When I found a place to sit, I went straight to it. Nilingon ko si Lowe at Sariel, who were already following me.

"What do you want?" I asked Sariel when they reached the table.

"Chocolate sundae with oreo for me, Mahal. Opppss—Maddox pala." I just laughed and winked at her.

"Sure," I muse.

Tilting her head to the side, she looks at me and asks, "Can I call you mine? I mean Maddy?" She's grinning wide.

"Yeah, sure, why not?"

"Ayon, thanks, Maddy." I nod and smirk at her. When I turn to look at Lowe, his face is contorted. I also ask what he wants because I'm in a bit of a good mood today because of Sariel. When I got his order, I immediately went to the counter to order.

After a moment of waiting, the orders are done. Binitbit ko na 'yung tray na may laman ng ice cream tyaka ice coffee.

"Here's your order, ma'am," I say, taunting Sariel. After sitting down, nilahad ko na 'yung order nila.

"Thank you, sir, for your good service," she said, shaking her head with a smile. Damn. I'm becoming gay right now. Why am I feeling that butterflies swirled within me?

"You really like ice cream very well?" I ask her, not minding Lowe, nandito man siya kasama namin, but I'll pretend na wala siya dito.

"Well, definitely yes. I really like ice cream," she answered while still savoring the ice cream.

"Sabagay, you girls really like ice cream," I say. I'm not a big fan of ice cream, but if she likes it, I'll start liking it for the time being.

"Do you like it? It's delicious too." She handed her ice cream cup. I didn't refuse, and I took some with my spoon.

"Hmmm. It's delicious. No doubt," I spat.

Of course, she wouldn't choose it if it wasn't delicious. Even if it's just ordinary ice cream, it's still delicious for her.

We got quiet for a moment for the fact that we were busy munching our food. Sariel got up and made excuses to go to the restroom.

"Do you think our sister is okay with that asshole alone?" Lowe asks after Sariel leaves.

"Tsk. If she isn't, I'll kill that boyfriend of her if he gets to touch her," I spit, gritting my teeth.

"Kalma, big brother, I think he's harmless, naman," he says, sipping his iced coffee.

We waited a minute for Sariel to get back. I glance at the restroom kung saan siya pumasok. Ilang minuto pa bago siya lumabas. She was about to walk straight towards us, but someone stopped her—a man in his business suit.

"What's that bastard doing in here at this kind of ice cream parlor?" I murmur, but Lowe hears what I'm just saying.

"Who are you talking about?" he asks, turning his head where I am looking.

"Holy sheemms. Is that what I'm thinking who it is?" I nod to reassure him.