The phone vibrated against the dining table for the third time.
I glanced at the screen.
Kuya Angelo.
The knot in my stomach tightened.
Without a word, I pushed my chair back and picked up my phone.
Sakura looked up immediately.
“Jay?” “I’ll take this outside.” Marcus frowned.
“Ate?” “I’ll be back.” Kate pointed her fork at me with a pout.
“Don’t disappear!” A small smile found its way onto my lips.
“I won’t.” I stepped onto the balcony and quietly slid the glass door shut behind me.
The cheerful voices from inside faded into muffled laughter, leaving me alone with the afternoon breeze.
I answered the call.
“…Kuya.” “Jay.” His voice was calm.
Too calm.
It always was.
For a few moments, neither of us spoke.
Then he sighed.
“I’ve been thinking about Marcus and Kate.” Of course you have.
“So have I.” “I mean it, Jay.” “I know.” Another pause.
“I want you to listen to me without getting angry.” I let out a dry chuckle.
“That’s a little hard when I already know what you’re about to say.” “I’m serious.” “So am I.” His voice softened.
“You’ve done more for those kids than anyone ever expected.” I frowned.
“…What?” “You’ve protected them.” “You’ve raised them.” “You’ve given them a home.” “I’ll always be grateful for that.” I leaned against the balcony railing, staring out at the front garden.
“…But?” “But you don’t have to carry everything by yourself anymore.” I shut my eyes.
There it was.
“Jay…
let me help.” I let out a slow breath.
“You can visit them.” “I don’t mean visits.” “I know.” “I want them to live with me.” The words hit me like a punch to the chest.
My fingers tightened around my phone.
“…No.” “Jay—” “No.” “Please just listen.” “I am listening.” “They’re my brother and sister too.” “So?” “So I want to be there for them.” “Now?” The single word slipped out before I could stop it.
“…What?” “You want to be there for them now?” My voice was still calm.
Too calm.
“Where were you before?” Silence.
I laughed quietly, shaking my head.
“Where were you when Kate refused to sleep unless someone held her hand?” No answer.
“Where were you when Marcus stopped acting like a kid because he thought he had to protect everyone?” Still nothing.
“I was there.” Every word became heavier.
“I saw Kate wake up crying in the middle of the night.” “I saw Marcus pretend he wasn’t scared just so she wouldn’t cry even more.” “I watched both of them slowly learn how to smile again.” My vision blurred.
“I was there for every nightmare.” “For every panic attack.” “For every tear.” My voice cracked despite trying to keep it steady.
“And now…” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“…now that they’re finally happy…” “…you want me to give them to you?” “I’m not taking them away from you.” “It feels exactly like you are.” His sigh echoed through the speaker.
“Jay, you’re still young.” “So?” “You deserve to live your own life.” I laughed.
A broken, tired laugh.
“My life stopped being mine a long time ago.” “You still deserve one.” “I already have one.” I looked through the glass doors.
Kate was giggling while trying to feed Sakura a spoonful of rice.
Marcus was laughing so hard he almost dropped his drink.
A smile unknowingly appeared on my face. Get faster updates on g.com.
“…They’re my life.” “They’re the reason I wake up every morning.” “They’re the reason I keep going.” “If I lose them…” I paused, lowering my head.
“…I don’t know who I’d be anymore.” The line was silent.
When Angelo finally spoke, his voice was almost pleading.
“I just don’t want you carrying this burden forever.” A tear rolled down my cheek.
I wiped it away with the back of my hand.
“…They’re not a burden.” My voice was barely a whisper.
“They’re my family.” “They’re my home.” Another tear escaped despite my efforts to stop it.
“I promised them…” I closed my eyes tightly.
“…that no one would ever separate us again.” Silence filled the call.
Then— The balcony door slid open.
“Ate?” Kate’s tiny voice.
My heart skipped.
Without hesitation, I quickly wiped the tears from my face and took a deep breath before turning around.
I forced the brightest smile I could manage.
“What is it, shrimp?” Kate tilted her head.
“Were you crying?” I chuckled softly and rubbed one of my eyes.
“Just got dust in it.” She stared at me for another second before smiling.
“Sakura said lunch is getting cold.” I reached down and gently ruffled her hair.
“Then we’d better not keep her waiting.” Kate grinned and slipped her tiny hand into mine.
“Come on, Ate!” “…Yeah.” I gave her hand a gentle squeeze before following her inside, quietly ending the call without another word.
The rest of lunch passed more quietly than usual.
Marcus and Kate filled the silence with their usual bickering, arguing over who got the bigger slice of cake while Sakura rolled her eyes and the maids tried not to laugh.
I forced myself to smile.
I even joined in a few conversations.
But my mind never left the balcony.
It never left Angelo’s words.
By the time evening settled over the mansion, the house had grown peaceful.
Kate had fallen asleep halfway through a movie, curled up on the couch with her favorite stuffed rabbit tucked beneath her chin.
Marcus carried her upstairs with a dramatic sigh.
“She’s getting heavier.” “That’s because you keep feeding her snacks,” I replied.
“I do not.” “You literally gave her three chocolate bars yesterday.” “…That was two.” I smirked.
“I rest my case.” Marcus huffed before disappearing upstairs.
A few minutes later, he came back down, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Kate’s asleep.” “You should get some rest too.” He nodded.
“Good night, Ate.” “Good night.” Marcus hesitated for a moment before walking over and giving me a quick hug.
“…Love you.” Before I could respond, he awkwardly let go and hurried upstairs, clearly embarrassed by his own actions.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
“Love you too, idiot.” “I heard that!” he shouted from upstairs.
“Good.” His bedroom door closed with a soft click.
Silence settled over the mansion.
The maids had already finished cleaning the dining room and quietly excused themselves for the night.
Only the warm glow of the living room lights remained.
I stood by the large window, absentmindedly staring into the darkness outside.
“You’ve been standing there for almost fifteen minutes.” Sakura’s voice broke the silence.
She walked over with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, handing one to me before sitting on the sofa.
I accepted it without a word.
“You’ve barely said anything since that phone call.” I remained quiet.
Sakura smiled faintly. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“You know…
I’ve known you long enough to tell when you’re pretending.” I let out a slow breath.
“…Am I that obvious?” “To everyone?” She shook her head.
“No.” “To me?” She smiled.
“Always.” I stared into the mug, watching the marshmallows slowly melt.
“He called because of Marcus and Kate.” “I figured.” “He wants me to let them go.” Sakura didn’t interrupt.
“He thinks he’s helping.” I laughed bitterly.
“Maybe he believes he is.” “But?” “But helping isn’t taking away the only family they’ve got left.” The words came out quieter than I expected.
“I don’t think I could survive that, Sakura.” She looked at me for a long moment before speaking.
“You know…” “You’ve never called them your responsibility.” I frowned.
“What?” “You always call them your family.” “…Because they are.” “No.” She smiled softly.
“I mean…
that’s the first thing that comes to your mind.” “Not responsibility.” “Not obligation.” “Family.” My grip around the mug tightened.
“I never asked for this.” “I know.” “I was just a kid.” “I know.” “I was scared too.” “I know.” Every answer she gave was gentle.
Patient.
Never once trying to argue with me.
“I don’t know if I’m enough.” The confession escaped before I could stop it.
It was so quiet…
I almost wished she hadn’t heard it.
“What if one day Marcus starts hating me?” “What if Kate grows up wishing she’d lived somewhere else?” “What if I’m doing everything wrong?” Sakura stood up.
Without saying a word, she walked over and gently rested a hand on my shoulder.
“They won’t.” “You don’t know that.” “I do.” “How?” She smiled.
“Because I’ve watched those two look at you.” I slowly lifted my head.
“They don’t look at you because you’re rich.” “They don’t look at you because you bought them a beautiful home.” “They don’t even look at you because you’re their older sister.” She squeezed my shoulder gently.
“They look at you because, to them…” “…you’re home.” I felt my eyes sting again.
“I’ve never seen Marcus trust anyone the way he trusts you.” “I’ve never seen Kate smile the way she smiles whenever you walk through that front door.” Sakura laughed softly.
“Do you know what Kate told me this morning?” I shook my head.
“She said…” Sakura smiled.
“As long as Ate is here…
nothing bad can happen.” The room fell silent.
A lump formed in my throat.
I looked away, blinking rapidly.
“…She’s wrong.” “No.” Sakura’s voice was firm.
“She’s just a little girl.” “To her…” “You really are her safe place.” A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.
This time…
I didn’t wipe it away.
Sakura simply stood beside me, quietly keeping me company.
She knew I didn’t need advice.
I didn’t need comforting words.
I just needed someone…
…who would stay.
– – – Words: 1611 you might wonder!
Why I am writing long chapters!
Well my exam will start next week.
I have 2 incomplete project.
Idk how small my chapter might get next week.
So I am making up for it now besties.