"Gianna, can you stop moving like a turtle!" Annalyn shouted, waving at me. It was our fourth periodical exam in second year college, and our last topic before this was hiking. I chose BSED (Bachelor of Secondary Education) because that's what I really wanted—to teach children, since I really like kids.
Because my classmates really wanted to go hiking, I ended up getting dragged into it. Sir said he'd base our grades on the hike. I really hate hiking because I get tired quickly, just like I feel right now.
I sat down, my body incredibly fatigued. Sweat was pouring down, and on top of that, my asthma was acting up. I was finding it hard to breathe, so I didn't continue following them and just let them go on ahead while I gasped for air.
I reached for my bag and opened it. I was about to get my inhaler, but I accidentally dropped it, my hands trembling. I squeezed my eyes shut. Especially since I knew no one else could help me but myself.
I took a step, but I stumbled by mistake and rolled downhill. I almost cried because of the pain in my back. My whole body ached from what happened. I was about to stand up when a pair of shoes stopped in front of me.
"Are you needed this?" a soft, dim voice said, extending an inhaler.
"Ugh, thank you." I took the inhaler from his palm and sat up properly. I looked up at him and immediately noticed his familiar face. He looked a bit like Sir Rafael.
His coffee bean-colored eyes looked into mine, giving me chills throughout my body. I quickly looked away, especially because of his captivating charisma.
"Are you lost?" he asked in an almost husky voice. I looked away again, trying to calm myself down.
Gianna, calm down please.
I composed myself as I looked back at him. He was now looking at me intently, as if seeking his own answer through my eyes. The peaceful surroundings, the crickets, and the rustling leaves seemed to make me feel comfortable with the person I was with.
"A little. I was with Sir Rafael just a while ago." Mentioning Sir Rafael's name could help me. I knew they were related because they shared almost the same features.
"Are you his student? Good to hear. I will bring you to the nearby hut. They will pass by that area," he said in a calm voice as he stood up. I wasn't mistaken, they were related. I tried to stand up, but my foot suddenly throbbed, making me sit down again. I grimaced in embarrassment, staring at him. What must he be thinking now? That I'm clumsy? I forced myself to stand up.
His eyebrow rose when he saw me standing. He also offered his hand for help, so I accepted it. Based on his features, his well-toned body, and biceps—maybe he was older than me.
"Cedric Rafael is my older brother," he explained as we walked, making me look up at him. That's why they looked alike. "He finished his doctorate because of his gifted brain. If you're just wondering why he's so young but has a PhD. In case he didn't mention it."
I just nodded at him. We arrived at a small hut not far away. He also opened the door to the hut, so we went inside. There, I saw a different kind of gun. He quickly covered them with a large curtain.
"Don't be scared of what you saw earlier. It's nothing." Nothing? I was already on the verge of an attack from the nervousness. I just gave my warmest smile.
"I'm used to it," I said with a smile, scratching behind my ear. He nodded, and we sat on the balcony. From where we were sitting, we could see the path for those going up or coming down the mountain.
"I'll tell my brother you have asthma. Maybe he doesn't know," he said, breaking the ambiance between us. I just nodded in response. I heard his footsteps walking away, so my eyes remained on the path.
He was gone for a moment and then returned shortly. When he came back, he had juice in a pitcher.
"Have a drink first," he invited, pouring juice into two glasses. He handed me one, which I immediately took. I glanced at him several times before taking a sip from the glass.
"You said earlier you're used to seeing military guns. How did that happen?" he asked, raising his eyebrow. My eyes darted around the surroundings. How could I make up an alibi if his eyes could shake my whole system? "I see, it's fine if you can't tell me what really happened. By the way, speaking of my devil brother, he's here."
I stood up because of what he said. He was right, his brother was here, but... to my horror, he wasn't with my classmates. Where were they? I looked back at the guy beside me, but he just shrugged his shoulders.
"Gianna Marie Jamora," he said in a poetic way. I felt like melting ice where I stood. Cedric Rafael Castillo's intimidating voice gave me chills throughout my body. He was looking at me, straight into my eyes. It was as if he was going to devour me alive as he stared. "You know how worried I am? While walking here, I was plotting my speech to your parents. I thought you'd been devoured by wild beasts here?"
"Brotha, calm down. Good thing I saw her earlier. Looks like my sense of smell is stronger than theirs," he smiled ear to ear. Sir Rafael's dark expression didn't disappear, so I felt like I was about to collapse where I stood.
"The Cruise family isn't far from here. Just one kilometer away, then the Cruise land. They have many wild animals. They devour people, for safety purposes," Sir Rafael stated while looking at me. He seemed calm now, but the nervousness in my chest hadn't disappeared. Devouring people? Tigers? Wolves? But what caught my attention was his statement that the Cruise family was only a kilometer away. The Cruise family was known for their conglomerate business. Joselito Cruise, their son, I saw him in a magazine. He's a well-known businessman too.
I just bowed my head and couldn't meet Sir Rafael's very dark eyes. He was scarier than the wild animals in this place.
"Let's talk," I heard Sir Rafael's brother say. I just drank my juice and stayed on the balcony of their house. From there, I could see the vastness of the land. Not far away were tall trees.
"She's asthmatic. How about the other students? Have they gone home?" I could hear their voices from where I was. Our hut in the field was small, so even if they were in the other room, I could hear their conversation. Their voices were low, so I could hear some parts but not others.
"Good to hear. You knew, vampire." My ears perked up at what I heard. Shit! They're vampires? Are they going to make me dinner? I immediately stood up and swallowed.
I was about to go down the balcony but immediately swallowed again when I saw a shadow in the distance. I backed away in fear. When I turned around again, the shadow I had seen earlier was already on the balcony stairs. He was standing there looking at me intently. His eyes were devoid of any emotion as he stared at me.
"Why are you here?" his voice was cold and made my knees weak. My lips parted, but I couldn't speak. As I recalled, I had only turned my back, but why was he already on the balcony stairs?
"Geo," Sir Rafael's brother called, and his gaze turned to the man.
"You underestimate them, kuya," his brother chuckled while looking at Sir Rafael. Sir Rafael just shook his head and approached me.
"It's late, stay here for now."
"But sir—."
"No buts, you're safer to be here," his brother interrupted. I still didn't know his brother's name. I looked again at the man he called Geo. He looked familiar.
"I got lost, that's why—."
"Mind to have her?" Geo asked, and I immediately backed away. What am I? A toy that can be given away?
"No, she's mine, bro," the man said, patting his shoulder. He even stared at Sir Rafael's brother, but he was the one who gave up in the end. I could also feel the tension between them. His last words kept repeating in my mind. He's mine. Shit! I'm going crazy!
"Come inside for a bit, it's cold here," Sir Rafael invited, so I just nodded. I briefly looked at the man named Geo, but he was no longer there. Only Sir Rafael's brother was there, with his hands on his hips. Why did Geo disappear so quickly? Afterwards, I immediately followed Sir Rafael.
The hut they mentioned was small, but I knew it could accommodate a family. It had two rooms, a kitchen, and a balcony. I could definitely live here; it was so peaceful. Unlike my house.
"Kuya, if we declare World War III against the Cruises, will we defeat them?" his brother, who had followed us, asked. I suddenly remembered the guns I saw earlier.
"Only an idiot would do that," Sir Rafael chuckled. He opened a room, and I looked inside. It had a military bedsheet and military pillow.
"You sleep here, because I'll be outside. As for you, Karl, I don't know where you'll sleep." Karl? So that was Sir Rafael's brother's name. I smiled, looking at the bedsheet. I wanted to sleep too.
"Oops, kuya, come on."
"Can I sleep in the other room?"
"No," he answered immediately.
"Did you bring clothes?" Sir Rafael asked, and I shook my head shyly.
"Karl, extra clothes. Do you have any? Like pajamas? You probably have a pair of pajamas and a t-shirt here, right?"
"Kuya, come on." Sir Rafael didn't listen, so his brother was about to follow him into the room, but he blocked him.
"Go cook already. Hurry!" His younger brother left, while he was busy rummaging through his things. Until he found silk pajamas and a shirt, blue and seemingly for men. He handed them to me, and my eyes widened as I stared at them. Am I going to wear this?
"Don't be picky. They've been washed, and my brother doesn't have any contagious diseases," Sir Rafael added before leaving. My eyes were wide as I stared at the pajamas. I could also smell the masculine scent of the clothes.
My gaze shifted to what I was wearing. I was in jeans and a polo shirt. If I slept like this, I'd definitely be uncomfortable. As Sir Rafael said, his brother didn't have any contagious diseases, so I'd just wear them.
"Oops, sorry. You're still here? Aren't you done changing your clothes? Faster, we sleep early here. We're already asleep by nine p.m.," he said with a matter-of-fact tone. I swallowed and looked at his clothes.
"Are you okay with me wearing this?"
"What can I do? Besides, you don't have any contagious diseases, right? Also, hurry up," he said, pushing me into the room and closing the door. Even with the door closed, I couldn't help but overthink that someone might see me when I changed. The roof was made of wood, so there were small gaps. Ugh! Annoying.
WHEN I CAME OUT of the room, I kept adjusting my shirt. It was too big for me. The pajamas, fortunately, fit. I just closed my eyes and forced myself to finally go out to the kitchen. I found them there, laughing and drinking alcohol.
"You know him, Geo. Ugh, if he's not my friend's brother, I will slit his throat. He's fcking annoying. I will fcking kill her if he tried to hurt Divina. I don't care."
"Calm down, brotha. You want to start World War III on your own? They'll butcher us." Sir Rafael chuckled.
"You're here, Ms. Beautiful," Karl called me, and I immediately blushed. I just bowed my head and approached them. Food was already laid out, and there was only one plate. It seemed they were done, and they were just waiting for me.
"Gianna, I'm sorry about my brother. He's drunk, that's why he's like that. He'll sober up," Sir Rafael stated. I just nodded and sat next to Karl. Sir Rafael handed me some food, which I immediately took and started eating. A moment later, the table made a sound, and I looked up. Sir Rafael's brother was already drunk. His head was on the table, his red lips slightly parted.
I just continued eating and ignored him. The only sound I heard was the clinking of cutlery. So this was what he meant by sleeping early at nine p.m. —they were getting drunk. Who wouldn't fall asleep early then?
"After this, lock your door, then sleep." I looked up at Sir Rafael when he spoke.
"Y-Yes sir," I replied softly, continuing to eat.
UPON ENTERING, I smiled as I looked at the bedsheets. I immediately lay down and felt the softness. After this exhausting day, I could finally sleep. I smiled, feeling the softness of the bedsheets. It wasn't bad to sleep here; the blanket and bedsheets smelled like Sir Rafael's brother's perfume. I immediately wrapped the blanket around me and smiled again. I felt stupid sniffing the blanket because it smelled so good.
I was about to close my eyes when the doorknob suddenly clicked, and I immediately opened them. A moment later, I heard it lock and something fall behind me. I even heard a soft groan, and I just closed my eyes as I realized what it was. I almost hit myself when I remembered Sir Rafael had reminded me to lock the door earlier.
I was about to stand up to move away from him when an arm suddenly wrapped around my waist. My eyes widened, and I tried to fight, but I felt powerless against him. I looked at him; his red lips were slightly parted as his eyes were closed. Up close, I could now clearly see his long eyelashes.
"Kuya, why did you suddenly lose weight?" I almost kicked him in annoyance. Kuya, huh? I was about to get out of his embrace, but he seemed to tighten his grip on me. I just tried to sleep, even though I could feel him strongly behind me. He wouldn't do anything bad, right? Besides, he seemed kinder than that Geo.
