His Darkest Obsession

Chapter 04: Hikari

His jaw dropped. She has a black wavy hair down her waist, small face and long bangs that basically cover her eyes.

And her curves and bumps… even though she's wearing a towel, he can guarantee that there's something wonderful hidden inside it.

He unconsciously gulped.

"Sino ka?!" muli siyang nabalik sa kasalukuyan nang marinig ang sigaw nito.

Yakap yakap nito ang sarili at medyo nanginginig dahil siguro sa takot at unti-unti na ring umaatras.

He sighs.

"Ari, it's me."

She was stiff.

His nervousness went back. Magagalit kaya ito?

"Ari—"

"K-Kuya Hinata?"

He smiled softly, "It's your Kuya, Ari. I'm back."

Everything went silent for a while and he thought that she was really angry.

Hindi niya rin naman ito masisisi dahil talagang iniwan niya ito ng matagal. Kaya naman handa na sana siyang humingi nang tawad nang ikinagulat niya ang sumunod na nangyari.

He saw a figure flash and the next thing he knew, a pair of arms was wrapped tightly on his neck and a soft wet yet warm body was glued on his own.

She hugged him.

Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan niya ang taong nasa bisig at muling natigilan nang makitang yumuyugyog ang mga balikat nito.

She's crying.

Guilt consumes him and he quickly hugs her back. Wrapping his arms around her tiny waist, he pulled her even closer to him.

"I'm sorry," he finally said those words. "Sorry kasi natagalan si Kuya. Sorry kasi hindi nagparamdam si Kuya nang ilang taon. Sorry kasi iniwan kitang mag-isa. Ari, I'm so sorry." sunod-sunod niyang bulong nito at mas lalo lang itong naiyak.

He gently caressed her back and let her cry for a few minutes.

Noticing that she's calm, muli siyang nagsalita.

"Ari, galit ka ba kay Kuya?"

Saglit itong natigilan bago siya tiningala.

His sight met a pale innocent face. Her face wasn't flawless like any other girl since he knew she was never able to take care of it. Pero wala itong pimples or blackheads. It's just dry. But since she just came out from the bath, her face was slightly rossy and she looked damn cute to him.

He smiled and gently stroked her face.

"Ari?"

"N-No."

Mas lalo siyang napangiti. "Really? Hindi ka galit kay Kuya?"

Mahina iting umiling. "K-Kasi sabi mo naman noon babalik ka. Kaya kahit natagalan, alam kong babalik ka parin kaya hindi ako galit."

He laughs at her innocent remarks. She's still sensible and right now, he knew that their relationship was as good as if he never left. That's why he relaxes instantly and just does what he always did in the past.

"Then give Kuya his kiss? Matagal na rin simula nung huli. Ari, marami ka nang utang."

Ngumuso ito. "Pero wala ka rin namang nagawa para sa'kin. Why would I give you a reward kiss?"

He grimaced. "Right. Hmm, then what about a greeting ki-s? Come on. It's been years, Kuya misses you."

Saglit itong natigilan bago tumango tango.

"Okay!"

Immediately after, he felt her butterfly kisses all over his face. Just like in the past, she'll kiss his lips at last. However, he was not confident she would do it. After all, she's already a teenager and he's an adult. No matter the situation, it's not appropriate to kiss your own brother in the lips—

But, his thoughts were cut off when he felt soft yet warm wet lips touch him.

His eyes widened when he realized what she did. She really kissed him! On the lips!

Looking at his reaction, she tilted her head sideways in confusion.

"Kuya, ayos ka lang?"

He blinked. "Ari, was that fine?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, y-you kiss me on the lips. I didn't mean harm on it but I thought you'd be uncomfortable—"

"Bakit naman?"

Natigilan siya. "Anong bakit naman?"

"Uhm, bakit ako hindi magiging komportable? Diba ginagawa naman na'tin iyon noon?"

"Right, but we're not kids anymore—"

"So you're distancing on me? Ayaw mo na ba sa'kin?"

Mas lalo siyang natigilan sa sinabi nito.

"Ari?"

Humiwalay ito sa kaniya at umatras. There was a hurt expression her face.

"Y-You never set boundaries in the past pero ngayon ginagawa mo na. Dahil ba limang taon na ang nakalipas kaya ayaw mo na sa'kin? Kaya pa-unti unti ka nang lumalayo? Gagaya ka rin sa kanila na walang pake sakin?"

"Wait wait, Ari, hold on! That's not what I mean."

"Pero bakit?!"

He sighs. Looking at her eyes, he knew that she wouldn't understand even if he would explain.

After all, gaya nga nang sabi ng Mama niya kanina, her IQ and EQ are running slow like a snail. She couldn't understand words as fast as anyone could and she was ignorant.

Like an innocent baby.

So maybe that's why she didn't know that it's not appropriate for a man and woman to kiss on the lips casually even if they're related.

He sighs again.

"No, Ari. I'm sorry. I'll take it back, okay? Kuya didn't mean that. You can actually. You can do whatever you want."

Agad lumiwanag ang mukha nito at lumapit ulit sa kaniya.

"Really? Like what we always did in the past? Y-You'll accompany me in the cabinet if Ma'am and Sir would lock me up? Will we sleep together again? You'll protect me from monsters this time? You won't hinder me from kissing you?"

He caught some words from her sentences.

"Ma'am? Sir? What the heck?"

"Well," nag-alangan itong ngumiti. "Sabi ni Ma'am yan daw ang itawag ko sa kaniya lalo na kapag may mga bisitang dadating."

He clenched his jaw at what he heard. He suddenly felt disgust towards his parents and couldn't help but recall his goals back then.

Before he left, he promised himself to work harder so he would be a wealthy man with power that can protect his sister and let her taste freedom.

Now, looking at her situation, he knew that he had to work even more harder.

Just how much did they brainwash her?

"Kuya?"

He immediately smiled. "It's okay, Ari. And yes, we'll do what we always did in the past, okay? Definitely."

"Yehey!" and she went back hugging him again.

Seeing her dependence on him, he knew he had to do his best and everything.

She has to live a life for herself. And I'm going to make it come true someday.

****