Rename the White and Black

CHAPTER XVII - RED

“Good morning,” I greeted them. I was about to go to the kitchen to make our breakfast but there was prepared breakfast on the table. I looked around and it was my brother who made it. He greeted me back with his smile. He offered me a seat and I saw Kai rubbing his eyes at a corner. He greeted us too and sat opposite to me. He looked tired and his panda eyes made me conclude that he did not get enough sleep. Did something happen last night?

“What happened to your eyes?” I asked him, putting my fingers under my eyes.

He went to the bathroom and he yelled, “What is this?!” My older brother laughed heavily and I pinched his left ear.

“Aw. Ouch!” He stopped me from pinching his ear and I stomped on his foot. He jumped while holding his foot.

“You!” he exclaimed. “It was a joke,” he said annoyingly. I hissed at him and I started to eat the sandwich filled with creamy cheese and ham. Kai sat opposite to me and he was not touching the food. I think he was thinking that my brother put a poison in it. I got his sandwich and my brother stopped me.

“Why? Is there something you put in this?” I asked fiercely. He looked away at me and I let Kai eat my other sandwich.

“What did you do?” Seravy asked. “I made it for you.” He rolled his eyes at Kai.

“You’re making me feel uncomfortable, brother Seravy,” I said quickly. He should know how I feel. I sighed for disbelief. “You should treat him good.” I hissed.

Kai started to eat my sandwich and my brother looked like a child beside me. I saw Kai smiled secretly and when he looked at me, it disappeared. What was he thinking? May be, he thought that I was fighting my brother for him. My face went red. I took a bit on my sandwich and he slowly wiped the spilled creamy cheese on the right side of my lips.

My brother was surprised at Kai’s reaction and at the same time, he blushed and covered his eyes. Awkward.

What were you doing, Kai? You were making my heart to flutter. Please stop this.

“Why are you two blushing?” Seravy asked us. I was surprised when I realized that Kai’s face was reddened.

My knees began to tremble, my stomach were filled with flying butterflies and my heart was beating wildly. This was really making me uncomfortable so, I quickly finished my breakfast and I went to take a bath.

What was he doing to me? My heart was beating so fast and I could not help myself to calm it. I looked at the mirror and I saw how red my face was. I should not let them see me like this.

I wore my white v – neck shirt and black jogging pants. I saw them tired playing the video game. I crossed my arms while watching them laying on the floor. They looked like brothers. How I missed my older brother to play hide – and – seek. I wish I could go back like kids without thinking about this kind of marriage.

What would be our future? Wait… Our future? Stop thinking about it, Sae! You made an agreement with him. Never let your feelings go deeper.

“What are you thinking?” I heard a voice from a close face to me. My face reddened when I realized that it was Kai. I saw my brother looking badly at us. I was surprised when Kai kissed me on my forehead. “Time to take a bath.” He put his hand on my head and he went away.

I was catching my breath when he walked away. Why was he closed to me just to say and do that? He was acting weird again.

I saw my older brother put his two fingers to his eye level and he pointed it to me. He was watching us. I closed my eyes to make myself calm and not to think of what happened awhile ago.

“What’s your reason to be here?” I asked frankly to my brother. He looked directly to my eyes and I looked back at him.

“I’m here for a week vacation,” he answered smirking.

“No, you should tell me the truth.”

“Well, I heard that you were engaged without letting us know.” He seemed like he was thinking that we planned it.

“You’re wrong. It was arranged by Lolo Emman and his grandfather, Lolo Adolfo,” I said against him.

“But why didn’t you call us?” he asked with disbelief.

“I don’t know. It just happened,” I answered him, bitting my lower lip.

“Sae, is there anything like that at twenty first century? Are you joking?” He laughed a little. I gasped for an air and I crossed my arm.

“Let me tell you that I’m doing it for Lolo Emman because I love him. You don’t understand what I feel,” I answered frankly.

“Why didn’t you refuse? You know, you can run away!” he said angrily.

“I – I just wanted to make Lolo Emman happy before he dies.” I almost cried but I held it back.

“Before he dies? What are you talking about?” he asked with doubt.

“Lolo Emman has a lung cancer,” I answered. He sighed deeply and he looked at me nervously.

“Where is he?”

“At Don Cuego Hospital,” I answered. Kai was standing, looking at us. My older brother rushed to the bathroom and quickly changed his clothes.

“I’ll be back here later,” he said and he went away.

Kai remained silent while he was drying his hair. He stood near beside me and he put his hands on my shoulders. He made me feel secured when he started hugging me from my back. He was making me feel that everything would be okay in the end. I put my hands on his arms and he rested his chin to my left shoulder.

“Wait. I forgot my wallet!” My brother came and Kai removed his arms quickly. My brother looked at us with a questioning look.

“Did you hug her?” he asked curiously. I laughed at him and I gave him his wallet. I pushed him away and he added, “I’m watching you!”

“Why did you let him hug you?” he asked me frankly. My hands were shaky.

“He – he just hugged me,” I answered shyly.

“Don’t let him hug you. He’s still a man. You don’t know if he is taking an advantage of you.” he said with concern. “You should keep yourself a distance from him.”

“But he’s my fiance.”

“Even if he’s your fiance, you should take care of yourself. You don’t even know him for a long time. What if he cheats on you?” he said frankly. I said nothing and he went away.

He was right. I should take care of myself. I was his only sibling. He was thinking for my own good. I really don’t know Kai for a long time. What if he would cheat on me? But, why was I becoming affected? There was nothing between us.

I saw Kai sleeping on the bed. I sat beside him and I caressed his hair. Someday, you would find a better girl for you. I would be happy for you when you already have her.

I baked cookies and a chocolate cake to make my worries away. I should let my feelings fade for him. I know in the end that I would be the loser. He would never love the way I was. I was ugly in his eyes and was not worthy of his love. I did not know if he loves me or hates me.

“Brother!” I called him. He looked sad while he sat on the couch.

“Why did Lolo Emman made a secret from us?” he sadly asked. I looked down and I patted his back. I hugged him and he started to cry. I wanted to cry too but I bit my lower lip to stay calm.

“I don’t know. His only wish is for me, to marry Kai.” I looked at the floor, showing him my sincerity. He kissed my hair and he made me to face him.

“Please, take care of yourself for me, too,” he requested.

“Yes.” I smiled at him. I remembered the cake in the oven and I quickly went to the kitchen. I saw Kai who put it out. He looked at me seriously and he went away.

May be, he heard us for awhile. Did it matter to him? Why would he react like that? I wondered about his reaction. Why did he not let me know?

“What’s the matter?” my older brother asked. I sat beside him and I shook my head.

“Nothing,” I answered with a low tone.

“It’s okay of you will not tell me,” he whispered and smirked.

“Aren’t you happy for me, are you?” I asked smiling.

“May be, yes or may be, no.” He smiled wryly. I clung my arm to his arm and I looked at him with my beautiful eyes.

“Tell me the truth. Don’t you want me to get married?” I asked him with a smile.

“You’re too young for marriage. What do you want me to think? You’ll not enjoy yourself being single and you don’t have any experience having a boyfrie – “ I cut his words with my hand. I saw Kai came to us and he looked away.

“What are you saying?” I forced mymyself to laugh a little. “I had two boyfriends in the past.” I boasted. He removed my hand to his mouth and laughed heavily.

“You have no boyfriend since birth. How could you do that?” He ran behind Kai and hid himself before I tried to hurt him.

I was annoyed at my older brother. I crossed my arms and looked away at them. I felt embarassed as I know that he heard it. He put his arm to Kai’s shoulder and he turned their backs on me. I hissed when they walked away. He was whispering something to Kai and I saw how Kai’s ears became red. I think that my brother was saying something about me.

“Please, don’t believe him!” I shouted.”You, brother Seravy.” I pointed at him and he saw me walking to them. He ran away and I chased him outside the house.