"S-Sister."
"W-Why did you fall for someone you weren't supposed to?" I brushed my hair back.
I'm tired… but this is my break. It hurts.
"I—Sa—"
I started hitting him when he tried to reach out to me again. I poured out all the pain I'd been holding inside, crying. I never expected this to happen to me. All Marvin did was say sorry over and over while I kept hitting him until I was too exhausted, and all I could do was cry in pain.
"I-I love you… but why is this what I got in return?" It hurts so much, Marvin.
"I-I'm sorry…"
What good is "sorry" when the pain is this deep? I just cried and cried, not knowing where to go. I left his condo sobbing nonstop.
I don't know what time I got home. My eyes were burning and swollen last night, and they still are this morning. When I got home, Mama was surprised and happy to see me. I should've felt the same if only I hadn't been betrayed by the man I loved. My head hurt because we celebrated last night—my family was happy that I was back. Out of everyone, I think I was the only one who got totally drunk.
"Sister, h-here's some coffee," my youngest sibling said.
"Mother, don't we have any Milo?" I asked Mother, but she didn't respond.
I rolled my eyes when Shaira bowed her head, embarrassed that I was asking for Milo instead of the coffee she offered. Was she really that nervous that she forgot I don't drink coffee?
As she should be… because everything that happened is still fresh in my mind.
"Sister, here," Steven said. "I made this for you. It's not hot—half warm and half cold." He's our fourth sibling.
"Sister, here's some medicine. I know you've got a hangover and your head hurts. Take it after you eat breakfast. Mother, Father, I'm heading out," Samuel said. He's the third.
My second sibling, Shaun, wasn't there because he left early. I even heard him say goodbye to Father this morning.
"Brother, you're not waiting for us?" Steven asked. "Let's go together."
"I'll be late. You're all too slow. I've got football practice."
My brother Samuel loves sports. As far as I know, he juggles football and his studies. He even joined football to help lessen his college tuition fees.
"I've got practice too, Brother."
"Me too, Brother."
My eyebrow shot up when I heard Shaira's voice. She was acting like nothing happened?
"I-I have dance practice too," she added quietly.
"You're a dancerist now?" I asked sarcastically.
"Oh, that's right, dear," Father chimed in. "I forgot to mention—she joined the cheerleading team at her school."
"Really? A dancerist in cheerleading or…" I trailed off, watching my sister avert her gaze.
"Or what, Sister?" Steven asked.
I smirked, staring harder at Shaira. I couldn't believe my own sister could do that to me. She's so young, and she already did something like that? Does Father even know she's messing around with someone?
Did we lack something in raising her? We gave them everything, didn't we? Even though life's hard, we worked to give them everything they needed, and this is how she repays us?
"Shaira, are you still studying properly or not?" I asked, and I saw her turn pale—which made me smirk more.
Mother and Father also looked at her, clearly unsure of what was going on. She looked anxious, like she didn't know what to say.
"Y-Yes, Sister. O-Of course, I'm studying hard," she replied with a forced smile.
"Oh, really? That's why… you seduced my ex?"
I felt strangely satisfied seeing her turn pale. That meant Father and Mother had no idea what she'd been up to. They didn't know their precious youngest daughter wasn't so innocent anymore.
I saw her swallow hard several times. She looked nervous—as she should be. Because if I couldn't hurt her physically, at least I could get some revenge by doing this.
My boyfriend? And she stole him? And Marvin is 11 years older than her.
He was supposed to be the one I'd introduce to the family—but that's never happening now. Marvin and I broke up last night, and I didn't let him explain, even if he tried. What else did he have to say anyway?
Nothing. Because after what I saw last night, there was nothing left to explain. That was it. That was the end of our relationship. That's where it ended.
I'm not going to beg for him to come back. Why would I? He chose to cheat and hurt me—so I have the right to choose whether or not I'll get even.
Almost 11 years together? And he threw it all away for that? All 11 years, invalidated just because of sex?
"Sister," my sister said, shaking her head, as if pleading—but I just rolled my eyes at her.
Her begging means nothing to me. Nothing could match the anger I feel toward her and Marvin. Do you know that kind of pain where you just want to hurt someone to ease the hurt inside, but you can't because you're not used to hurting people?
I wanted to confront her, but I couldn't.
I was deep in thought in my room when my phone suddenly rang, snapping me out of it.
Marvin calling…
I smiled bitterly. After all he did, now he wants to call? I didn't answer. I didn't plan to talk to him ever again. When I didn't pick up, my phone rang again.
I let it ring. Over and over. I wasn't going to answer—not even if he died. I closed my eyes as the memory of what happened between him and my sister flashed in my mind again.
Never in my life did I think my own sister could do that to me. Or that Marvin could.
From: Marvin
Sav, please? Answer my call.
To: Marvin
We have nothing left to talk about.
From: Marvin
I'm sorry...
If I punched him, would that take away the pain? No, right? Because even after the punch, there'd be bruises—and just like those, my heart will take time to heal.
To: Marvin
Sorry is not enough and you know that.
From: Marvin
I wanna talk to you, please.
What could he possibly want to say? Or does he just want closure? Closure because he's already moved on? While I haven't. Because while I was loving him… he was loving someone else.
He didn't even have the decency to end our relationship face-to-face. I would've preferred that over what I saw.
From: Marvin
I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to fall for your sister, and I didn't know Shaira was your sister. I love her so much. I hope you understand. I really didn't mean for it to happen.