I took a deep breath in the cold wind. My mouth felt like it was about to smoke. I was wearing a thin white dress that only reached just above my knees. My white dress was now almost the same color as my skin. I raised my palms and placed them on my lips to catch the warm breath. Then I rubbed them to ease the cold. My lips are getting redder from the cold. I licked my lips from time to time to prevent it from drying out. Because of the cold, my lips and throat were getting dry. We've been walking in the woods for a few minutes now, but they haven't stopped to gather firewood. The wind isn't strong, but it's extremely cold. Maybe because of the trees? There's still some sunlight peeking through the leaves, but it's still cold. Silas and his friend Elle are ahead of me. Neth and I are behind, trailing. The curly tips of my hair swayed as I let it fall on my back. It was touching my lower back. My hair is long, thick, and very black. My eyes are round and very dark. My lips, almost t
“I was scolded by Kuya earlier when you disappeared! You shouldn't have left because I knew the way back!” Neth scowled at me. “I'm sorry. I got lost looking at the trees...” I suddenly felt embarrassed. She got a scolded because I got lost.“Weren't you hurt? Luckily, Kuya found you! As soon as he jumped down from the tree, he immediately looked for you! I was almost in tears explaining that you were missing!”I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair where I had felt the snake earlier.“I wasn't hurt...” “You should listen to Kuya! I got scared when you yelled at him earlier! Do you know that Ate Laura and I never do that to him?”I nodded and smiled. I directed my gaze to Silas, who was in front of us. Neth and I following behind them again as we headed home. I didn't know the way, so I couldn't take the lead. Silas was pushing the wheelbarrow loaded with gathered wood. A knife with a snake on it was on top of the wood. I wondered what he was going to do with it. He di
“Why do you look like that? What happened to you?” Gineth greeted me as I entered. “Didn't Ate Elle see you? She's calling for you, and Lola wants Kuya Silas because it's time to eat.”I ran my fingers through my hair and bit my lower lip. Why do I get so angry when it comes to Silas? I'm not usually like this, it's just now. Maybe it's because this is the first time I've ever had an argument and shouting match like that. Maybe this is how I get angry, and I just didn't know it. “Kuya!”I closed my eyes tightly when I heard Neth calling her brother. Neth was looking at my back, and it seemed Silas and Elle were also inside. I heard Elle's faint laughter as Silas walked past me. Silas didn't even greet his own sibling. Without looking back, he headed to his room.“He said he's going to take a quick shower to cool off,” Elle told Neth.The girl glanced at me with a meaning in her eyes before going to the kitchen. Neth followed her gaze and looked at me, appearing confused. “Did you an
"Are you sure he's my uncle?"I turned to look at the man again whose eyes were devoid of emotion despite hearing my question. "Yes, Athi... Why? Do you have any doubts?""I just thought he's too young, Grandpa.""He's five years older than you. Don't you like that? I'm sure that you two will get along."The man's eyes were deep and sharp and his gaze was penetrating. He was looking at me, yet not speaking. He was leaning against the doorway of Grandpa's mansion. He waited for me to approach so we could leave already since I would be staying with them for a while. "I don't think so..." I was sure the man heard me, but his reaction remained unchanged. He is like a living statue, observing me emotionless. I don't think I would like to stay with him for long. I'm a bit childish. Maybe because I grew up with my grandfather who was willing to give me everything I like, everything I want, and treated me like a fragile glass. They spoiled me for everything but they didn't tolerate me whe
"Are we almost there?"He just nodded his head. He never spoke to me again. I pouted and remained silent as well. It’s strange but I’m completely comfortable even if he doesn’t talk. I feel like I’m used to him being like this.He didn't explain how we met and I really can't remember him. I closed my eyes and thought about the events ten years ago like he had mentioned. I tried to recall despite the headache it was causing. It's blurry—that's the first thing that came to my mind. It’s weird but I don’t know what happened ten years ago. My memories from those times were clouded. I opened my eyes and stared at him. I really couldn't remember the two of us meeting before. My eyes wandered as we left the province. There were many cars and people on the road. I grew up on a ranch so I was surprised by the towering buildings we passed. I lost my attention on him because my gaze was captivated by the outside scenery. "Are you still studying?" I was surprised when he spoke. I nodded at h
"Let her stay upstairs, Kuya! She doesn't have any other room to use!" Laura glanced at me, but my gaze was on Silas. He was opening the rooms and carefully inspecting each one, assessing if any of them could be rearranged to accommodate me. My room, adjacent to his, was clean and comfortable. I couldn't understand why he didn't want me there. “That floor is mine—”"That used to be yours. You had it all to yourself because we didn't have anyone else living here. Grandma and Grandpa have preferred the second floor to avoid going up and down. Same goes for Gineth and me. You're alone up there on the third floor, let Athena stay there."He irritably brushed his hair upwards before glancing at me. I stepped back and partially hid myself behind the door frame. He and Laura were inside a room that was dirty and dusty with peeling paint on the walls. My eyes avoided his and shifted at the broken doorknob. "I'll fix this and move her in here later! I don't want anyone upstairs!" He walked
I tied my hair in a messy bun while typing my report on my laptop. It's already vacation now but Mrs. Monte left me some tasks that will help for the upcoming school year. The chair I was sitting on spun around in surprise as the door to my room suddenly opened. I stood up when I saw Silas enter and only wearing his lower clothes. I couldn’t help but stare at his body. His hair was damp as his toned stomach with eight-pack abs were shining because of sweat.I took cautious steps as I approached him. Even though I hadn't locked the door… I hoped he wouldn't just walk in so casually. I used to be quite childish back in the province, but after he brought me here, I became more careful about how I should behave. I'm cautious about showing my true nature because I'm afraid of his reaction—afraid to be scolded. It felt like his eyes, like that of a hawk, were often fixed on me, waiting for me to make a mistake.“Would you please knock next time?” I asked with my low voice.I didn't mean an
I stared at Silas who couldn’t wipe the smile off his face while talking to the woman. I had my hand under my chin and pouted. I was thinking he probably was forced to take me because of Grandpa’s plea. That whatever I do here, he would never like me. I took my eyes off them to look at the people I’m with on the table. I discreetly took a deep breath and couldn’t help but look at the two again. I put my hand down when I saw them heading to the outback of the house. “That’s their niece. Athena.”Once again, I broke my gaze away from Silas when I heard Grandma say that to the father of the woman with Silas. “Their niece?”I smiled when the man looked at me. “Yes. Athena’s mother is Gineth, Laura, and Silas’s cousin. Athena’s grandfather, who took care of her, is the cousin of Silas’s father,” Grandma explained. I also nodded now that I learned how we all became relatives. He is my Uncle because my mother is his cousin. “Agatha got married at such a young age.” Grandma glanced at m
“Why do you look like that? What happened to you?” Gineth greeted me as I entered. “Didn't Ate Elle see you? She's calling for you, and Lola wants Kuya Silas because it's time to eat.”I ran my fingers through my hair and bit my lower lip. Why do I get so angry when it comes to Silas? I'm not usually like this, it's just now. Maybe it's because this is the first time I've ever had an argument and shouting match like that. Maybe this is how I get angry, and I just didn't know it. “Kuya!”I closed my eyes tightly when I heard Neth calling her brother. Neth was looking at my back, and it seemed Silas and Elle were also inside. I heard Elle's faint laughter as Silas walked past me. Silas didn't even greet his own sibling. Without looking back, he headed to his room.“He said he's going to take a quick shower to cool off,” Elle told Neth.The girl glanced at me with a meaning in her eyes before going to the kitchen. Neth followed her gaze and looked at me, appearing confused. “Did you an
“I was scolded by Kuya earlier when you disappeared! You shouldn't have left because I knew the way back!” Neth scowled at me. “I'm sorry. I got lost looking at the trees...” I suddenly felt embarrassed. She got a scolded because I got lost.“Weren't you hurt? Luckily, Kuya found you! As soon as he jumped down from the tree, he immediately looked for you! I was almost in tears explaining that you were missing!”I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair where I had felt the snake earlier.“I wasn't hurt...” “You should listen to Kuya! I got scared when you yelled at him earlier! Do you know that Ate Laura and I never do that to him?”I nodded and smiled. I directed my gaze to Silas, who was in front of us. Neth and I following behind them again as we headed home. I didn't know the way, so I couldn't take the lead. Silas was pushing the wheelbarrow loaded with gathered wood. A knife with a snake on it was on top of the wood. I wondered what he was going to do with it. He di
I took a deep breath in the cold wind. My mouth felt like it was about to smoke. I was wearing a thin white dress that only reached just above my knees. My white dress was now almost the same color as my skin. I raised my palms and placed them on my lips to catch the warm breath. Then I rubbed them to ease the cold. My lips are getting redder from the cold. I licked my lips from time to time to prevent it from drying out. Because of the cold, my lips and throat were getting dry. We've been walking in the woods for a few minutes now, but they haven't stopped to gather firewood. The wind isn't strong, but it's extremely cold. Maybe because of the trees? There's still some sunlight peeking through the leaves, but it's still cold. Silas and his friend Elle are ahead of me. Neth and I are behind, trailing. The curly tips of my hair swayed as I let it fall on my back. It was touching my lower back. My hair is long, thick, and very black. My eyes are round and very dark. My lips, almost t
I'm really, really bored, and I miss the province so much. We're no longer at their house in Manila, and I think we're in a faraway province now. It's just too remote, and it feels scary to walk alone in the woods before reaching the road. It's so different from the province I grew up in. The people there are friendly, and there are many things to do. Just looking at the tall trees here makes me feel like we're surrounded by wild animals. It doesn't even look like a vacation spot. It looks more like a hideaway because the roads and houses are so far away. We're in the middle of the woods, and even though Silas often practices at the back, there's no one else to hear. “Are you going out, Kuya?”My thoughts were disrupted when I smelled Silas's pleasant scent. It must be his shower gel. His siblings mentioned that he doesn't use cologne when they talk about him. He's still at the back, so I can't see him but I can smell him.“I'm going to get some firewood for the fireplace. The weath
I stepped back when he stopped in front of me. I stopped retreating when I felt the wall behind me. I glanced sideways to avoid making eye contact with him. I just wanted to disappear into the bushes next to me or perhaps be swallowed by the ground. “Do you know that it’s not right to hide and secretly listen between two people’s conversation?”“I’m not hiding!” I looked up at him and it was too late to regret what I had just said.A corner of his lip lifted into a smirk as he leaned one hand against the wall above my head. I lowered my gaze as he moved closer; his face inches from mine.“Oh . . .” He sounded sarcastic. “You are not hiding? So, you mean you admit you overheard our conversation?”I closed my eyes tightly and couldn't speak. I should have just gone straight to the kitchen! What possessed me to stop and eavesdrop on their conversation? “Don’t scare her!”My eyes flew open. The woman behind him laughed as she looked at me. I swallowed hard as my gaze met with Silas. H
I stared at Silas who couldn’t wipe the smile off his face while talking to the woman. I had my hand under my chin and pouted. I was thinking he probably was forced to take me because of Grandpa’s plea. That whatever I do here, he would never like me. I took my eyes off them to look at the people I’m with on the table. I discreetly took a deep breath and couldn’t help but look at the two again. I put my hand down when I saw them heading to the outback of the house. “That’s their niece. Athena.”Once again, I broke my gaze away from Silas when I heard Grandma say that to the father of the woman with Silas. “Their niece?”I smiled when the man looked at me. “Yes. Athena’s mother is Gineth, Laura, and Silas’s cousin. Athena’s grandfather, who took care of her, is the cousin of Silas’s father,” Grandma explained. I also nodded now that I learned how we all became relatives. He is my Uncle because my mother is his cousin. “Agatha got married at such a young age.” Grandma glanced at m
I tied my hair in a messy bun while typing my report on my laptop. It's already vacation now but Mrs. Monte left me some tasks that will help for the upcoming school year. The chair I was sitting on spun around in surprise as the door to my room suddenly opened. I stood up when I saw Silas enter and only wearing his lower clothes. I couldn’t help but stare at his body. His hair was damp as his toned stomach with eight-pack abs were shining because of sweat.I took cautious steps as I approached him. Even though I hadn't locked the door… I hoped he wouldn't just walk in so casually. I used to be quite childish back in the province, but after he brought me here, I became more careful about how I should behave. I'm cautious about showing my true nature because I'm afraid of his reaction—afraid to be scolded. It felt like his eyes, like that of a hawk, were often fixed on me, waiting for me to make a mistake.“Would you please knock next time?” I asked with my low voice.I didn't mean an
"Let her stay upstairs, Kuya! She doesn't have any other room to use!" Laura glanced at me, but my gaze was on Silas. He was opening the rooms and carefully inspecting each one, assessing if any of them could be rearranged to accommodate me. My room, adjacent to his, was clean and comfortable. I couldn't understand why he didn't want me there. “That floor is mine—”"That used to be yours. You had it all to yourself because we didn't have anyone else living here. Grandma and Grandpa have preferred the second floor to avoid going up and down. Same goes for Gineth and me. You're alone up there on the third floor, let Athena stay there."He irritably brushed his hair upwards before glancing at me. I stepped back and partially hid myself behind the door frame. He and Laura were inside a room that was dirty and dusty with peeling paint on the walls. My eyes avoided his and shifted at the broken doorknob. "I'll fix this and move her in here later! I don't want anyone upstairs!" He walked
"Are we almost there?"He just nodded his head. He never spoke to me again. I pouted and remained silent as well. It’s strange but I’m completely comfortable even if he doesn’t talk. I feel like I’m used to him being like this.He didn't explain how we met and I really can't remember him. I closed my eyes and thought about the events ten years ago like he had mentioned. I tried to recall despite the headache it was causing. It's blurry—that's the first thing that came to my mind. It’s weird but I don’t know what happened ten years ago. My memories from those times were clouded. I opened my eyes and stared at him. I really couldn't remember the two of us meeting before. My eyes wandered as we left the province. There were many cars and people on the road. I grew up on a ranch so I was surprised by the towering buildings we passed. I lost my attention on him because my gaze was captivated by the outside scenery. "Are you still studying?" I was surprised when he spoke. I nodded at h