SAKI
"No," I said firmly to Kuya Caleb, who looked like he wanted to strangle me for rejecting him.
Hey, I’m sorry, okay?
"And why?" he asked, his face scrunching up in frustration. "My brother helped you finish your studies, woman! You owe him for that!"
Jesus Christ.
I massaged my temples as I glanced at Grie, who had been quietly observing us. For a while now, I’ve been trying to figure out if he’s just pretending to have issues. But no, it’s real. There’s definitely something wrong with him. Kuya Caleb even said he’s been like this for two and a half years.
But why should I care? This is the last day I’ll ever see him. I’ll make sure Kuya Caleb won’t find me again after this. This is all his fault, anyway! I can't even tell if he’s serious or just messing with me!
"Yeah, I know. He helped me graduate…" I nodded while still rubbing my temples. It’s exhausting.
"I’ll pay him back for everything he spent on me. Don’t worry, I’ve got the money." I looked at Kuya Caleb again.
"Oh, hell no, woman." He grimaced. "He doesn’t need your money. We have more than enough of that!"
I know, duh.
"Saki, I just want him back! I’m desperate!"
"Then find someone else. Why did you bring me here? There are people way better than me. Don’t tell me you don’t have money to pay them!" I said, clearly annoyed.
"I can’t!" he shouted, looking hopeless. He tugged at his hair in frustration, pacing back and forth in front of me and Grie, who was casually sitting on his bed eating.
See? He doesn’t care about what’s happening around him.
"And why is that, Kuya Caleb?"
"Every doctor who came here ended up getting beat up by him. You know how strong his punches are, right? He used to join frat fights when you were still together."
I gaped at him, suddenly nervous when I noticed Grie’s eyes fixed on me. I’ve seen it before—how brutal Grie could get in a fight. I was a witness to that!
Kuya Caleb turned to me. "You’re the only one who entered this room without getting hit."
Wait, does that mean there’s still a chance I could get hit? But Caleb didn’t even give me a warning before throwing me into Grie’s potato room?!
These Ambersons are unbelievable!
"He even shared some of his food with you. He’s super stingy with potatoes, so I’m amazed he gave you some. Meanwhile, if I ask him for a single fry, he won’t give me any!" Caleb added with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"Now do you see why you’re my last hope?"
Last hope, my foot.
"And what if he suddenly attacks me?" I glared at him. These siblings are all the same—thinking only of their own benefit without caring about how it affects others!
"No, he won’t do that," Caleb said, trying to convince me.
Really? You sure about that?
But on the other hand, I had to admit he was probably right. Grie wouldn’t hurt me.
Three years ago, he broke up with me because, according to him, I looked like a potato.
Now he loves potatoes more than ever. He’s obsessed with them! Remember? I’m a potato in his eyes. He won’t beat me up—he’ll just peel me alive!
"Is ‘potatoes’ really the only word he can say?"
"Actually, no." Caleb glanced at Grie. "He can say other words like ‘bath,’ ‘eat,’ and ‘drink.’ But he says ‘potato’ the most."
"I see…" I nodded thoughtfully, stroking my chin.
"So… will you agree now?" Caleb asked, looking hopeful.
I shrugged. "Nope."
His face crumpled in disappointment again. "Please, Saki… I’ll give you anything in return."
Should I dare him to walk around the streets naked for five days? No food, no water, no shelter? Hah! If I were as devilish as Ate Saica, I’d definitely make him do that!
"No."
"Maybe you haven’t moved on from how handsome my brother is?" he teased, smirking as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
Seriously?!
"Yieeeh… Saki’s still hung up on Kuya!" he grinned mischievously.
I grinned back. "Say whatever you want. My answer is still no."
He slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Fine… I’ll just make a call outside. Stay here for a bit."
He pulled out his phone and left the room. I sighed and reached for my bag when Grie suddenly stood up.
I instinctively stepped back, thinking he might hit me since Caleb wasn’t around anymore. My gosh, this guy is huge. I wouldn’t stand a chance if he tried anything.
He slowly approached me and held out a plastic bag of potato chips, almost as if he were trying to appease me.
I froze, staring at his gentle face. "H-Huh? No, thanks..."
He bit his lower lip, still holding out the bag like he was about to cry if I didn’t take it.
Oh no.
My heart shattered into pieces.
I hesitantly took a few chips, put them in my mouth, and chewed. He smiled a little. Argh! He’s trying to lure me into staying!
No! Absolutely not!
I turned my back on him to calm my racing heart. But soon, I felt him tapping my shoulder, warm breath tickling my ear.
"Potatoes…" His deep voice sent shivers down my spine.
He tapped me again.
"What is it?" I asked, frustrated, turning to face him. He leaned down slightly since he was taller than me.
I massaged my temples again. "Don’t make this hard for me, Grie. I know what you’re doing. I know you too well… you’ve always been good at this kind of thing…"
Well… back then, he was great at convincing people. No matter how much you didn’t want to, you’d always end up agreeing because of how persuasive he was.
I scowled at him. "I can’t stay here. I don’t want to help you get better."
He just kept staring at me with an unreadable expression.
"You know why? Because once you go back to normal, you’ll repeat your old ways. You’ll date around and break hearts all over again. It’s better this way..." My voice trailed off.
Am I being selfish for having such a shallow reason? But he hurt so many girls back in school. He’d make them fall for him, then leave them hanging once they got attached.
I’m not even sure why he courted me or why I said yes. Maybe I was too consumed by the fictional romance stories I read in pocketbooks. I honestly believed he’d change for me. Ha!
Back then, I really loved him. And believe me, it was hard to forget him.
"W-Wait, Grie…" I was startled when he pulled me toward his bed and made me sit down. What now?!
"I’m leaving. I’m just waiting for your brother—HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" I shrieked when he suddenly took off his sweater. I immediately averted my eyes from his well-built body.
Ew! Why am I remembering those times he used to flaunt his body at me?!
I tried to stand, but he grabbed my arm again and pulled out something from his pajama pocket. He handed it to me—a rubber duck toy.
"Uh… What do you want me to do with this?"
Then he suddenly dropped his pajamas—along with his underwear!—grabbed the rubber duck from me, and ran to the bathroom, giggling.
Meanwhile, I stood there, pale and stunned.
Jeez, Saki, what did you get yourself into?!
"I’m really leaving! I can’t take this anymore!" I yelled, grabbing my bag and fumbling in my rush to escape.
But then the bathroom door burst open again, and out came Grie, still overjoyed. He ran toward me and scooped me up in his arms.
"Kuya Caleb!" I screamed. "Kuya Caleb, help me!"
"Kuya Caleb! Kuya Caleb!"
The door finally opened, and Caleb peeked in, his phone still pressed to his ear.
"Are you getting beaten up—ohhh. Wild." He chuckled. "Did you undress him, Saki-babe?"
WHAT?!
"You jerk! Help me!" I shrieked, struggling in Grie’s embrace.
He just laughed and shut the door again.
My eyes widened in disbelief.
Is he really leaving me here?! Just like that?!
"Kuya Caleb! What the heck?!"
I could still hear his laughter from outside. This is insane!
"L-Let me go, Grie!"
But Grie tightened his hold and whispered, "Bath… together…"
Then, with his strength, he carried me into the bathroom.
Before I knew it, I found myself scrubbing his muscular back while he sat in the bathtub, happily playing with bubbles and his rubber duck.
I swear, I’ll report this to my sis!
****