The Identity Of The Sinful Miracle

∽ F I F T E E N ∽

 ∽ m i r a c l e ∽

"So, we're gonna live together, huh?"

"Yeah, that’s right," I told Nate. I had already reported everything to him. He got worried, of course, that was why, from now on, he would be eyeing me like a wild hawk. Overprotective Nathan was creepy.

Nathan owned this manor. Well, the title of the house was named after him. It was kinda convenient to live here since it was just a ten-minute ride to school.

"Nate, I wanna go to my room," I told him. I was 19:45 and we were just here in the movie room, he was watching a movie and I got bored out of it.

"Okay. You already know your room, right?" he replied while his attention was still on the television.

I didn’t like how he treated me right now. How could he be so fixated to the TV? I didn’t like it. Even for a bit.

“I said, I want to go to my room,” I repeated, each word was emphasized.

"Yeah, good night, Hime."

I slightly pouted my lips. Nate was not paying attention to me. I huffed silently and stood up in annoyance. "How could you be so useless as a brother?"

Immediately, he panned his head to my direction full of confusion. "H-Hey! What have I done?"

That delighted me. I smiled sweetly at Nate. "Good, I now got your attention."

"Hime!!" Nathan suddenly bellowed, rising from his seat. He charged fast towards me. My thoughts were still appalled. And without a word, Nathan pounded me a tight and big hug!

"Nathan?!" I squealed.

"Hime!" he exclaimed and strengthened his hug. "I swear! I promise! Cross my heart! I'll give you full attention, okay?"

"H-Huh?!"

"That's why don't be sad, aye?" he told me in a desperate tone. "And don't ever be mad at me again, okay, Hime?"

"Nate!" I scowled at him while trying to remove his arms around me. "You're overreacting!"

"Tell me first that you won’t call me a useless brother!" He insisted.

"You're being childish! Nate!" I wriggled against his grasps, but he was just tightening it.

"No! Hime! I don't wanna."

I facepalmed. Sometimes, Nate was being like this, as if it was a big offense that I called him useless. Well, that was really a huge offense. “Fine, fine, Nate. You're not useless, okay? You're the most useful, coolest, handsomest, and bestest twin brother. Well, I mean, ever." I told him. Never mind the redundant words. Those are intentional.

"Really?" he said in a hopeful look.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Okay, then," he replied. It seemed like he had returned to his senses. "Let's go to sleep?"

I nodded as my response, and then he swung his arm around my shoulders. We started walking and Nate stated that he was going to sleep in my room. So, I agreed.

~ ♕ ~

When the morning came . . .

"I’ll go with Kuya Mike." I insisted.

"No! You’ll go with me!" Nate persisted.

We’d been arguing about this since the moment we woke up.

"Can’t you spell it out? I said I don’t want to," I told him stubbornly and folded my arms.

"Then why?"    

"It’s because, you ugly creep, your fangirls might get mad at me,” I explained to him while making face. “You will never know the struggle.”

"You know that we’ll take care of you, right?"

"We? I ain’t a baby."

He ran his fingers through his hair. I won this argument. Again.

"You can do nothing about it. I’ve already talked to Kuya Mike a while ago, and he’d said his 'yes' to me."

"Tsk, fine,” Nate grumbled. “Next time, you’ll go with me."

I grinned at him. "We’ll see."

Before going, Nathan tucked my loosened hair behind my ear and kissed my temple. "See you later, Hime," he said in a sweet tone and left shortly.

After a while, my dear older brother Mike arrived. Once we reached the school, Kuya Mike and I both said our goodbyes. As I entered the school premises, I noticed that these strangers were looking intently at me.

I scoffed mentally. Okay, what the hell? Like I could care less about whatever they were thinking.

"Nat!"

Oh. The two. It had been a while since I saw them. And here goes the clingy Ash and Elli again. They were both had worried looks on their faces. About what? About who?

"What's wrong?" I asked them.

They didn't want to answer my question, so the two dragged me to the bulletin board area instead.

"Who the hell did this?" I hear Nate asked in a firm voice. He wasn’t that far, so we made our way to the bulletin area. "Can somebody answer me?" Nate demanded with authority. Nobody wanted to answer him and they only bowed their heads apologetically.

Nate quickly saw me. I gave him a perplexed look and he just wryly grinned at me.

"So?" I spoke. “I got the feeling that I’m related to this matter and I’m expecting this will be exciting. Now, amuse me.”

Then the crowd became silent. Weird. They were just staring at me. They looked like zombies. Wordlessly, they shifted their heads back to the bulletin board. Grimacing, I also gazed at the board. There were pinned photos. Photos of . . .

I unconsciously arched my eyebrow. "Pft, boring," I ruefully said.

Much to my dismay, I started walking away. Everyone was confusingly looking at me, whilst Nate was making a face.

"Do you all think I’d be bothered because of this?" I said in a bored and deadpanned voice. "You should have prepared better content, losers." Then I changed my expression into a dark, menacing glare. "Because this smells like a whole lot of bullshits," I emphasized all the words I said and started walking while shooting them all with predatory gazes.

Bunch of weird kiddos. Those photos were all about me and Kuya Mike. Yesterday, when we were exiting his car and entering the office building. Who would have captured those? I had been with Kuya Mike since my first day in this school. Why bothering me now?

As we arrived at our homeroom, the two girls flocked me up.

"You’re not affected by it, Nat?" Elli questioned.

I breathed out, "Like what I've said, it's nonsense," and replied boringly.

"I wonder why you’re with Nathan’s older brother?" Ash nonchalantly said while puzzledly looking at me.

Goshdamn it!. How can I be so stupid not to notice that?! I wasn’t informed that everyone knew Kuya Mike as Nathan's brother! At least, Nathan should have told me! I only felt my face flushed pale. "A-Ah . . . W-Well, uh, as you see . . ." I swallowed a lump on my throat. It caught me off guard!

That was the reason why they were hollering about this issue. Damn it. After all of those words I had said. Of course, people would think that Kuya Mike and I had a lovey-dovey relationship. Then I’d be the damned character of this story. For me, at least, it was a nonsense issue. But now . . . I don’t know.

I only inhaled, then exhaled. I should give them an answer. "It's—"

"Miss Cute!"  It was Sean who cut my sentence and he draped his long arms around my neck, hugging me from behind. Oh, thank heavens! I had no better answer to reason. That was then when I realized that he was actually hugging me!

"Sean!" I snapped, trying to remove his arm. "Let go."

"Don’t wanna!" The clingy guy pressed on and pulled me a little closer to him. “You were so cool a while ago, Nat! I could’ve kissed you!”

“What the f—!” That almost gave me a heart attack! “Let me go, you creep!”

In my defense, I quickly grabbed the wrist of his arm that was wrapped around my shoulder and held it down firmly. With my free hand, I clutched his deltoid muscle and swung back to escape from his grip. As I held wrist, I pressed it hard against his back to lock his movements, then I kicked the back of his knee to let him fall on his knees.

"When I said to get your filthy hands off me, just concede." My voice became hallow as I started to threaten him. "It’d be a pleasure to break some of your bones."

I sensed Sean stiffen as he growled in pain. "O-Oh-kay, Miss Cute . . . I-I get it!" With his shaky voice, I freed him from my assault and he went away with a dejected face.

His friends started to laugh, making fun out of Sean. I only sat on my chair as Justine began to pester me again. He got tears in his eyes because of his laughter. “You’ve really done it, Elite Girl!”

“Shut up and don’t come near me.” As I showed him my hostile sides, he left me be.

Finally.

I looked at Nate, he was smirking at me. I gave him a rueful sideward grin, but my eyes were boringly staring at him. He only laughed with amusement in his tone and just winked at me. Disgusting. It looked like my whole school year would be like this.

~ ♕ ~

Second subject. Physical Education.

P.E. class was always boring. Last week, we had a ballroom dance lesson. The teacher wanted us to wear a dress with heels. And because of that, I cut class. Elli and Ash tried to stop me from cutting, but yeah, I was as wise a monkey, so I managed to escape from my hellhole of school.

We all went to the locker room to change clothes. But my clothes weren’t here. I was about to close my locker when a note fell on the floor. What's this? A love note? Hell~ I picked the note and read it, saying: "If you want to get your P.E. uniform, get it here in the pool area."

What the freak, humans?

"What's wrong, Nat?" I eyed Ash. Her face was full of concern.

I calmed myself and removed all the irritation in my nerves. "My P.E uniform is missing."

"What?" Elli said in a surprised tone, and then searched my locker.

Is this what you call ‘bullying’? I didn't want these two girls to get involved in this immaturity and hid the note in my pocket. When she didn't find any, I only shrugged my shoulders.

"What to do now? You won’t attend the class?" Ash asked worriedly.

"There’s still a way, though," I answered. “I’ll go to the Auxiliary Office.”

"Right," Elli concurred. "We’ll help you."

"You don’t have to. You two might get late to class." I refused her offer. "I'll be fine."

"Really? You might just cut class, Natsumi." She eyed me suspiciously.

I secretly gulped. Ellianna was doubting me. "No, I won't. I'll be back, I promise."

She sighed, "Fine. Be back, okay? Otherwise, you'll be dropped on this subject."

"Sure . . ." I prolonged the stressing sound while boringly staring at them with my palm raised.

"All right. Let go, Ash." Elli dismissed the small fuss between us, while Ash nodded. And then they were off.

Now, this might be fun.

I made my haste to the pool area. And there was the Young Hag. "As I expected, you'll come," she greeted with a mocking smile.

I only rolled my eyes. "So? You’ll give my uniform back?"

"Of course, I will!” She was a sly woman and pointed out my clothes being soaked in the pool.

Well, I have no choice then. I never want to attend class, anyway.

With a bored look, I told her, "Thanks for helping me to cut class, Miss I-Do-Not-Know. Bye, bye."

It seemed like they didn’t expect that response from me. So instead of leaving me alone, one of the girls pushed me on the pool!

"Stop acting so high, you s**t!"

What the hell they’re talking about?

"You better stop flirting to Chance, you stupid, ugly w***e!"

Do I?

"And my gosh! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? You’ve been hoeing Nathan, now his brother?!"

Uh . . . What?

"Come on now, girls! Le’ggo leave this s**t alone." The Young Hag looked at me with a big, proud smile. "I advise you to be more excited, ‘cuz there’ll be more!" That was her final threat then they left.

"Yuck. Their thick skulls aren’t a sight to behold,” I said to myself. I should feed them brains next time.

I got out of the pool and sat on the edge. Now I was bathed. "Now what to do?" I should call Nathan, but my phone was with me when I fell into the pool. As I stayed there, with my chin slumped on my palms, I looked down at my reflection. I might as well enjoy swimming here. No one was using it, though.

But before I could jump down, I sensed a soft thing covered my head.

Oh, it’s a towel.

Arching my head up, I searched for the person who gave me the towel. "Ancy," I addressed uninterestedly.

"Shut up," he hissed while shaking his head. He never liked me calling him by his nickname. We were not friends, he said.

“You’re hurting my feelings, Ancy.” Now I’mma act dramatically. “After all the things we’ve been through.”

“Stop it, Natsumi. Don’t make things sound so weird.”

I only laughed. He’s more serious than I thought.

"Oh, please, loosen up a bit! I never understand why everyone’s head-over-heels to you when you’re nothing but an old man trapped inside a teenage body."

I heard his sigh. “Why do I feel like I want you to push on the pool again?”

“You may~!” I replied enthusiastically.

“Whatever. Come on now.” Chance pulled my collar to make me stand.

"It is a pleasure to follow you, but where . . . are you taking me?"

He facepalmed. "I'm just offering you help."

"Really? You should’ve told me sooner."

"I hate you," Chance muttered.

"Sweet." Then I whistled. I covered the towel around my body as we began to walk. "So . . . Ancy, why were you there in that scene?"

Chance, who was in front of me, shifted his head to the side and eyed me in a barely two seconds. Then he answered, "I was trying to get some peace of mind, then I saw you."

"Now I'm a nuisance to your search of that peace of mind?"

"Apparently, yes," he said without a second thought.

"I hate you, then, " I returned what he said to me a while back.

"I appreciate that, thank you."

I puffed my cheeks secretly with an annoyed glare. "Where are you taking me, by the way, mister?"

"In my room."

I narrowed my eyebrows. That surprises me! "Wow," I muttered bleakly. "If it is in your room, then allow me to refuse that."

"Don't get me wrong, lady." Chance answered calmly as if that didn't waver him. "I'm just helping you out."

"Ow-kay . . . mister." I snorted sardonically. "You're such a gentleman."

Then Chance abruptly faced me with his scowling gray eyes. "I don't know what it is on your mind, but . . . never mind. If you don't want my help, then—"

"No, I want it." I finished my sentence before he could finish his. "I want your help. Please. Ancy."

He let out a sigh and turned his back on me. Chance started to walk and I just followed him without any complaints or words. As soon as we came to his room, I couldn't help but feel amazed. "As expected to the elite kid."

"Says the one who's not," he shot back and headed inside.

Chance eyed me, giving me the look to feel free to come inside. I obliged and took a step in. He instructed me, telling that if I entered the bedroom, I was going to see the walk-in closet. Chance even said to me that after I picked my clothes, I was free to go to the bathroom. I was currently rummaging the closet, then I discovered that there are women clothes in here. I also found the uniform for our P.E. class. And not to mention the undergarments.

"Hey, Chance!" I called out. I was sure that he heard me.

"What?" he responded.

"Why do you have women's clothes in here?"

"Your Fairy Godmother brought 'em here." His sarcastic remark.

I scoffed while shaking my head, "Idiot," and muttered.

Once I was done picking clothes, I headed to the shower room. I checked the surrounding first if there were secret cameras inside. Well, there was nothing wrong to be cautious. But I found nothing. I inhaled and exhaled. It felt so new. It was not comforting to be in someone's bathroom. But I should hurry. I still had my class. One by one, I stripped my clothes off, leaving me n***d. I took a quick bath because my time was limited.

When I was about to wear my uniform, there was a mirror beside and sighted my reflection. I saw my scars all over my body. I had kept these scars for as long as I could remember. They had never been so pretty, but there was a part of me. It reflected me the who I was, and who I am. And I couldn't discard them. I decided to keep them, to never forget the things I had done.

I snapped out of my daze when Chance spoke, saying that I needed to hurry. So I hurriedly wore the clothes and packed the used clothes in a plastic bag. I would bring these with me. I got out of the room and Chance was waiting for me with his arm crossed. Then he loosely heaved a sigh and walked towards me. It surprised me when he handed me a pair of shoes and socks.

I could admit, I was in awe. He just saved me out of the mess that the Hags made for me. And he did it again.

"Do you feel all right now?" he asked me as we were heading to the exit of his private room.

I shrugged. "Well, yeah. Why can't I be?"

"Nathan told me that you were sick, that was why you were absent in two consecutive days."

What? But oh well, let me tell him a lie. "Yes. I fell on the stairs last two days ago and hit my head really hard which caused me to lose my consciousness."

I noticed a glimpse of Chance's worried expression. I wanted to smile, but I hid it. "Then I was knocked out for twelve hours and woke up with a severe headache. And then, just yesterday, I had a check-up. The doctor told me that there is no major injury, I only need a complete whole day rest."

"Did you bleed?" he questioned and I was about to laugh. He actually bought my acting!

"Oh, no. Just a bruise on my head."

"Are you sure you can play right now?"

"Hmm, well, yuh, I can." Then I gave him a proud smile.

"Don't force yourself, if you still can't."

"But where do I need to go if I don't attend class?"

"I can let you stay here just for this time," he suggested with a bored voice.

"No kidding?"

"Why should I?"

I stuck out my lips. "Well, on the other side, I might attend this class," I told the two girls that I wouldn't cut class. He stayed silent and didn't insist on his plea. I went outside, while he remained inside. "How about you, Ancy?" I asked him. "Aren't you going to attend class?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I don't need it."

"Eh . . ." I uttered, "okay." and stared at him and he returned the stare.

His eyes were unusual ones. Broken, cold, and gray. Sometimes, I was drowned in his eyes. They were just too deep as the oceans. And sometimes, I was caught with the current.

When I noticed that the stared was not cut, I was the one who removed it first. "Thank you for your help, Chance," I told him. "I owe you again."

"You don't need to owe me," he answered. "It's nothing."

I only smiled gratefully. Broken yet a kind one. That was who he was. I had just discovered something. I was attracted to him, especially to his eyes. One reason, because I was attracted to broken things.

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