CHAPTER 4
1170 Words
The next morning, I woke up to find Brother Vince missing from beside me, causing me to sit up abruptly and panic. Even though I hadn't fully woken up yet, I rushed out of the room, thinking that my brother had left the mansion without even saying goodbye to me.
"Nana, where's my brother? Did he leave already?" I asked the maid frantically as I entered the kitchen.
"I think your brother is at the swimming pool, dear. I saw him earlier wearing swim trunks," she replied.
I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The frown on my face disappeared, replaced by a broad smile. "Thank you, Nana," I said gratefully.
I quickly left the kitchen and rushed back upstairs to my room. Once inside, I hurriedly searched through my closet for something to wear. When I spotted the red swimsuit with its tag still on, I grabbed it and hastily put it on.
After getting dressed, I wasted no time and hurriedly made my way out of the room again. In my haste, I nearly slipped on the stairs, but I managed to grab onto the handrail just in time.
When I reached the swimming pool area, I could see Brother Vince emerging from the water. He wasn't wearing a shirt, just black swim trunks.
My smile widened. "Brother!" I called out to him.
Brother Vince turned to look at me when he heard my loud voice, his gaze locking onto me, and he seemed momentarily stunned when he saw what I was wearing. I quickly ran towards him and jumped into the pool, diving underwater for a moment.
But when I resurfaced, I quickly looked around, unable to see Brother Vince anywhere.
"Brother!" I called out again.
Where is he? Did he leave? That was fast.
"Brother Vince!" I called out to him again, but he didn't respond. "My brother!"
Suddenly, something wrapped around my waist, startling me.
"Gotcha!" My brother's handsome face emerged in front of me from under the water.
"Come on, Brother!" I exclaimed, playfully hitting his muscular chest. "You scared me!"
He laughed, tightening his arms around my waist and lifting me slightly out of the water so my arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.
"I thought you were leaving, Brother. I almost cried!" I said, half-jokingly.
He just smiled at my words, his gaze drifting down my body, causing his Adam's apple to bob up and down as he looked me over.
"You look pretty in that swimsuit, sweetheart. You're really growing up," he commented.
I smiled back. "Of course, in just two days, I'll be eighteen, a full-fledged adult, Brother."
He gave me a sweet smile in return. "You've grown up so fast; it feels like just yesterday you were in diapers. I used to sing to you to put you to sleep because you were such a crybaby."
I pouted. "That was then, but now I'm not a crybaby anymore, you know. Even if you pinch me, I won't cry anymore."
His smile widened. "That's good to hear because if you start crying, I'll make you cry even more!" And suddenly, he started tickling me, causing me to laugh uncontrollably.
"Brother, stop it! Hey!" I laughed and scolded him while trying to catch his hand underwater. "Please, stop! I might get undressed, Brother!"
He stopped tickling me and cleared his throat.
“So, wanna challenge me, sweetheart?” he mischievously asked me. “What if we have a breath-holding contest underwater? Then, whoever wins gives the other three wishes. What do you think?”
It was like a lightbulb suddenly lit up in my mind. “Are you sure? Any wish, no exceptions?”
“Yes. So, what do you say, game?”
I nodded eagerly. “Game, Brother! I'll beat you, so you better be ready for my wishes, because if you fail to fulfill them, I'll disown you as my brother!”
My brother burst into laughter at my words. “No worries, sweetheart; Brother keeps his promises.”
I got excited. “In that case, start counting, Brother!”
This is it, my chance to ask him for the things I've always wanted but he never granted, like studying abroad so we can be together.
“One,” he started counting.
I quickly straightened up and tried to remove his arm from my waist, but he tightened his grip even more.
“Two.”
“Brother, let go of me; you might cheat.”
But he just smirked. “Three!”
We were both submerged underwater.
I closed my eyes to avoid the sting of the water, my hands gripping onto my brother's shoulders.
I need to win this game. Three wishes and that's enough for me to finally achieve what I want. First, I'll ask him to let me study abroad. Second, I'll ask him to stay with me if he agrees with my first wish. And third, if he doesn't agree, I'll ask him to stay here in the Philippines for at least three months so I can still be with him because, truth be told, I'm already longing for him too much.
As I felt my breath running out, I opened my eyes underwater, only to meet my brother's gaze, which I didn't realize was fixed on me.
I shook my head at him, signaling for him to come up so I could win because I was running out of air.
!
But he just stared at me; instead of coming up, he just gently caressed my cheek.
No, I really can't take it anymore; I need air!
But I can't afford to lose! I need those three wishes from him!
I quickly removed my arms from around his neck and tried to tickle him, thinking I could make him let me win. But I didn't expect his grin and his quick capture of my hands.
So, I don't have a choice. It looks like I'm going to lose.
I snatched my hands away from him and looked up, hoping to come up for air. But I didn't anticipate his sudden touch on the back of my neck, and in an instant, I realized that our lips were so close.
I was shocked; my eyes widened.
Oh my god!
D-Did he just . . . k-kiss me?!
I felt paralyzed underwater as I stared at him, but his eyes were closed, and his lips continued their gentle movement against mine. I could feel how soft his lips were, and I eagerly inhaled his warm breath.
It seemed like more than a minute passed, with his lips moving against mine before he pulled away, grabbing my waist to lift me up.
I quickly gasped for air as I surfaced from the water; I immediately wiped my face and looked at my brother.
Our eyes immediately met.
“Wha-What did you do to me... earlier?” the question came out of my mouth, but I could barely hear my voice because it was so weak.
- Writer
