The Zodiac Sister - Gemini (The Pretty Genius)

Chapter-3

Gemini’s POV

Kinaumagahan, nagising ako sa banayad na sinag ng araw na dumadampi sa aking mukha. Dama ko ang katahimikan ng aming mansion — ang halimuyak ng sariwang hangin mula sa bahagyang bukas ng bintana, at ang mahinang awit ng mga ibon sa labas.

Ngayong araw ay pupunta kami sa ospital upang madalaw at makumusta ang lagay ni Daddy, at sa wakas, makapiling ko na rin ang aking Mommy Amele. It’s been three months since the last time I saw them in the U.S. Naging busy kasi si Daddy, at ako naman ay madalas ding bumiyahe sa Europe para sa iba kong business.

Napangiti ako habang nakatitig sa kisame, may kakaibang init na dumadaloy sa aking dibdib. Naalala ko ang pangyayari kagabi — ang pagdating ko sa mansion, ang mga bagong mukha na ngayon ko lang nakita, at ang mainit na pagtangap nila sa akin.

Kahit hindi ko masyadong kilala ang mga anak ng aking mga ninong, ramdam ko ang kanilang paggalang at pagiging totoo. Ang bawat ngiti, bawat pag-aalaga, ay nagdadala ng init sa pakiradam sa aking dibdib.

As Gemini descended the grand staircase, her heart pounded — not in fear, but in quiet anticipation. The soft murmur of laughter and gentle chatter from the dining room reached her ears, blending with the faint aroma of brewed coffee and buttered toast.

When she finally reached the bottom, she was greeted by eyes full of concern, warmth, and love.

“Good morning, Ate! How was your sleep?” tanong ni Capri, na may ngiti sa labi.

“Fine… and soothing,” sagot ni Gemini, mahinahon ang boses.

“Come, let’s have breakfast so we can go to the hospital,” yaya ni Aqua, sabay tapik sa braso ko.

The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, painting the dining room in a soft golden hue. The long table was elegantly set — plates of fresh fruits, warm pastries, and steaming cups of coffee and milk.

Gemini took her seat, glancing softly at her siblings. Her gaze, however, lingered on the chair across from her — where Cassian sat, calm and composed.

Nagtataka ako bakit ang aga ata niya dito sa aming Mansion. Biglang nagsalita si Aries, parang nababasa niya ang iniisip ko toward Cassian.

“He’s sleeping here, Ate. Tito Gino said he’ll be staying for a while, para may kasama tayo habang wala si Daddy.”

Napaisip si Gemini, tahimik na nakatingin kay Cassian. Wala ba siyang ibang ginagawa? Ngunit sa kabila ng bahagyang pag-aalinlangan, may kakaibang init na sumagi sa puso niya. Siguro… okay lang. Mas mabuti nga siguro na nandito siya.

As she adjusted to the rhythm of the morning, she felt a strange blend of tension and comfort — a soft reminder that even in silence, she wasn’t entirely alone.

Actually, hindi pa talaga ako nakaka-adjust sa oras. Supposedly, it’s nighttime now in the U.S., kaya medyo inaantok pa ako. Jetlag still lingers like a quiet fog in my body — pulling me halfway between two worlds, two time zones, two lives.

She smiled faintly, rubbing her temple as she reached for her cup of coffee. My body’s here in the Philippines, but my mind… it’s still somewhere across the ocean.

For a moment, she let herself breathe, feeling the warmth of the morning sunlight on her skin — a small, gentle reminder that even if her body was tired, her heart was finally home.

Habang patuloy siya sa pagkain, ilang beses niyang nahuli si Cassian na nakatingin sa kanya. Nakaupo ito sa tapat niya, tahimik habang umiinom ng kape. Paminsan-minsan, nagtatagpo ang aming mga mata. Topos agad naman akung yuyuko at titingin sa aking plato, nakakaramdam ako ng kakaibang init sa aking katawan pag nakikita ko siyang tumitig sa deriksyon ko.

Napansin ito ni Capri at mapangasar na ngumiti sa akin.

“Ate, you’re so quiet today. Is someone making you nervous?”

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasagutin ‘yan, sa isip isip ko. Sanay siyang magbasa ng emosyon ng ibang tao — pero pagdating kay Cassian, tila ibang ibang klaseng tao ito sa akin. Tahimik kasi siya, at sa bawat sandaling magkalapit sila, may kakaibang kabog sa kanyang dibdib. Parang matagal ko na siyang kilala… kaya hindi sinagot si Capri.

Tumawa si Aqua at banayad na nagsalita, “Huwag kang mag-alala, Ate. He’s just here to help… and maybe, to keep you company.”

Tumingin siya sandali kay Cassian bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin, sabay ngiti na parang nang-aasar.

Cassian finally spoke, his voice calm yet grounding.

“I hope I’m not intruding,” sabi niya, bago muling tumingin sa kanyang kape.

“Hindi naman,” sagot ni Gemini, mas mahina ang tinig kaysa sa inaasahan niya.

Pero okay lang ba talaga sa akin na andito si Cassian? bulong niya sa sarili, habang patuloy na nararamdaman ang banayad na tensyon sa pagitan nila.

The breakfast continued with gentle laughter and light conversation among her siblings, the golden sunlight dancing across the table. Yet beneath the cheerful atmosphere, an unspoken current flowed — a quiet curiosity, a fragile connection forming between two guarded hearts.

After breakfast, Gemini stood and cleared her plate while her siblings continued chatting. Her eyes, however, kept drifting toward Cassian, who remained silent but somehow carried a warmth that softened the air around him. Every time their eyes met, it was fleeting yet magnetic — like two worlds brushing against each other, unsure but drawn.

Nagulat pa ako nang biglang magsalita si Capri.

“Handa ka na ba, Ate?” tanong niya, sabay kindat habang pinagmamasdan ang bawat galaw ni Gemini.

Tumango siya, tapos tumayo na at sabay silang lumabas ng dining room.

Habang tinatahak namin ang mahabang hallway, bawat hakbang ko ay may kasamang kaba at pananabik — pakiramdam ko may masamang mangyayari ngayong araw… o baka naman paranoid lang ako.

Pagdating namin sa driveway, handa na ang kanilang convoy ng sasakyan patungong ospital. Mahigpit ang seguridad dahil hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nahuhuli ang taong responsable sa nangyari ssa aking ama.

Habang sa umuusad na ang sasakyan, katahimikan ang bumalot sa loob. Tanging ugong lang ng makina at ang banayad na ihip ng hangin mula sa bahagyang nakabukas na bintana ang maririnig. Naramdaman ko ang bigat ng katahimikan, kaya binasag ko ito at nagsimulang magsalita.

“By the way, Capri,” sabi ko habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana, “can you call Maxwell?”

Agad na sumagot si Capri, “Okay, Ate. Ah, siya nga pala — nakausap ko na siya. Sabi niya, siya na raw ang bahalang mag-asikaso sa lahat ng tauhan mo.”

Tumango si Gemini at muling ibinalik ang tingin sa labas.

Maxwell… mabuti na lang nandiyan siya. At least, I don’t have to worry about every little detail.

Biglang sumingit si Aqua, may bahid ng kuryosidad sa kanyang boses.

“Ate, how many bodyguards do you even have?”

Napakunot ang noo ko, sabay tawa. “Why?”

“Kasi sabi ni Kuya Maxwell,” patuloy ni Aqua, “some of your men are staying in the other mansion.”

Huminga nang malalim si Gemini bago sumagot.

“Actually, I have twenty men, pero sampu lang ang dinala ko. Hindi pa kasama ang secretary at assistant ko — pati na rin ang personal chef at limang helpers ko.”

“Wait…What?” si Aries naman ang nagtanong mula sa harapan, bahagyang napapailing.

“Why did you bring them all with you?”

“Because I’m planning to stay here for a while,” diretsong sagot ni Gemini, may bahagyang ngiti sa labi.

I remember asking Dad to build the Zodiac Tower… back then, it was just an idea — a place where I could plant my roots here in the Philippines. My headquarters of ZSS. My cyber office. A piece of me, away from the U.S.

Actually, we already have a TESRA showroom in Makati, and the TESRA office is also located there. But once the Zodiac Tower officially opens, I’ll be transferring the TESRA office there — my empire in the Philippines is about to begin.

The conversation slowly faded, leaving a thoughtful stillness inside the SUV. Gemini leaned back against the leather seat, her gaze wandering through the glass window as the city slowly unfolded — Manila’s pulse in motion: vendors arranging their stalls, children in uniforms rushing to school, cars weaving through the early traffic.

Beside her, Cassian sat quietly — his presence steady, grounding, yet enigmatic.

Minsan, tinitingnan ko ang repleksyon nito niya salamin — the sharp lines of his jaw, the calm focus in his eyes, and the quiet strength in his aura.

Bakit ko ba siya tinitingnan? tanong ko sa aking sarili, bahagya akung napailing. Maybe because something about him feels... too familiar.



She turned her gaze back to the window, trying to shake off the thought — but the faint reflection of Cassian beside her lingered like a shadow she couldn’t quite ignore.