C. 2.3

His mind is now confused while riding the bus. Will he accept or not? He asked himself as he stared out the window. It would make her mother happy but it would put her life in danger.

"Ma?" calling him entering the door of the house. He went straight to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. When he put the glass in the sink, he was bitten by the cockroach that fell in front of him. That was followed by the loud laughter of his most annoying brother.

"Kuya!"

Laughing, he approached her and picked up the plastic cockroach toy. "Is it okay? I just saw it on the sidewalk across from the school. One peso," he said with a smile.

"What are you brother? Child ?!" It doesn’t really complete its day without him being annoyed.

It approached him until he leaned against the sink and locked him in its arms. "Don't come too close!" he sighed as he flashed it. He was about to push the brother but he stiffened to his feet when he brought his face close to his. He could feel its warm breath caressing his cheek.

"No mama, don't call me brother. I'm not your real brother," he whispered and teased.

"Stop that!" he disobeyed but it just mocked him.

"I won't let you go until you call me by my name. I don't like the older brother, I'm not your brother," he barked and then slightly moved his head away to look at him from head to toe with a strange look and sparkle. in the eye. "You're wearing nice, aren't you? It's your thing. You look sexy. Where are you from?"

It was as if his chest was pounding at what it was doing. Why is it like this? Why is he always teasing her? "Forgive me," he said powerlessly. "Maybe Mom will see us!"

It narrowed the distance between their bodies even more and then put its mouth on his ear. "Call me by my name first. Will you be tender?" All the hairs on his body stood up to what it did.

He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. He can't do it. He needs to stop this! He cried out in his mind. When he mustered up enough courage, he pushed it with all his might. "That's right Patrick! Not that funny!"

C. 3.1 "THE GOOD DAUGHTER"

"I'm sorry ..." Lesley was stunned by Patrick's repeated apology. After what it had done to him before, he no longer paid attention to it. Thank goodness their mother didn’t see them. He almost kissed her.

It’s always been like this. He was about to think that she liked him. But they can't go down that path. They are siblings. Although they were not blood relatives, he was adopted by his mother, who also raised him. He is her brother whether he likes it or not.

Everywhere he went it was tailed and purely apologetic. Even in his room it followed him. He hadn't let go and pushed her to her bed as well. He's the type who won't stop until he gets what he wants.

"Are you crazy already? Get out of here!" he shouted. He sat on his bed and looked at it badly. "Touch me please! I want to rest! I'm tired!"

Its snout dropped and it looked pityingly at him. "I'm sorry and fast."

"I'm sorry about that ?! You do this to me almost every day!" annoyed he said then he slapped its shoulder. "Get down on my bed! Mom will come later to see you here! She'll say again I'm flirting with her son!"

Instead of getting down on his bed, the madman grinned which made him even more annoyed. "Edi I'll say I'm the one flirting with you," he said, making his blood boil.

A series of blows from his hand hit his shoulder and arm. He also pushed it but it did not budge. "Baba! Get out! Get out of my bed!" he shouted but it was stubborn.

"Aray! Hey, it hurts, that's enough!" His hands caressed her every stroke until it touched her arm. "You're too violent. That's enough," she calmly promised as she held out her hands.

He forcefully withdraws his hands. "I won't stop until you leave! And then let me go Patrick!" He thought it wouldn't release him from the tightness of its grip but it smiled and released his hands.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked rudely.

It just keeps on grinning. He even read his lower lip with his tongue while his eyes stared at his face with strange twinkles. "You called me Patrick. Of course I shivered," he said rudely. "Another one? Add a little tenderness."

His lips parted and he shook his head in disbelief. "Please, stop! My brother!"

"Incapable."

"Patrick!"

"Or is it? You don't think of me as your brother? You just call me Patrick now. I feel like we're getting closer."

She covered her mouth. She called him Patrick again. Surely it would have made him more courageous to make a fool of him. "W-how come not, you're too pushy. Oh, what? Are you happy I called you by your name? Can you leave now?" he said calmly while trying to hide his embarrassment. "And don't be too happy because that doesn't mean anything!" he chased after her and then he folded his arms and stared at it.

In another direction he was looking. She was disgusted by its grin. He didn't want to see her face. She should make the word Patrick one of her taboos. For he could no longer say. The madman was very happy again. He doesn't know but it's a big thing here that he calls it by its name.

He felt his bed sink as his brother sat down again so he looked at it. "Say umal—" He held his breath as they faced him as their faces were too close to each other. She can smell his minty breath. "What if I don't want to leave?" he whispered.

Oh my God! The kulit really! I give up. Using his palms, he covered its face and gently pushed it away then he took a deep breath.

"Stop it, Kuya. Let's go! I want to rest so please just tease me. I just came back from a very stressful application for MNA so please, please, give me a rest." He no longer had the strength to argue. He is really tired. Physically, mentally and emotionally.

He slowly removed his hand from her face and then sighed. "Yes, I'm leaving. After all, you've called me Patrick a few times. I hope next time baby," he winked at her and then stood up on his bed. He just whispered the last thing he said. This is something called a baby. Big baby. Mama's boy kasi.

"But your blows are severe. The weight of your hand!" he moaned as he rubbed the arm and shoulder that had hit him earlier.

"It's your fault!" he would answer. "Because I'm with your family, you're doing this to me."

She was surprised by what he said and stunned. Gradually, her smile faded. "Why do you look like that? What I said is true."

Her lips parted and she blinked at him. He shook his head slowly. "Les, you know you don't—" She was shocked when they heard the living room door open. They looked at the bedroom door at the same time.

"Pat! Is Lesley home yet?" said Amanda just coming home. They heard a few steps of it from the living room to the kitchen. "Pat ?!"

He could not explain the fear that suddenly enveloped him. Her heart raced like a horse on tracks. She remembered the intense gulping she had given when she saw Patrick kiss her on the cheek then. She can never forget how she hit her.

He glared at Patrick. Stunned he stood up and held it tightly in his arm. "Mom called you! Get out! You'll still be here!"

He was about to drag it out of the room when it stopped him. "What ?! Mama is in the kitchen, Kuya! Let's go!" he insisted. When he looked at it, he saw the sadness in its eyes as it stared into his face.

"Why do you think like that?" anito. If before his grin was pure, now, his forehead is very wrinkled.

"H-ha ?!".

"Why do you think I'm doing this to you because I think of you as someone else?"

He closed his eyes tightly. This is not the time to talk about this. "Let's talk later, please? Come out first!" he pleaded but there was no change in the expression on his face and he was unshakable in his stance.

"I don't want to. Take back what you said first!" where it is. But why? That was exactly the reason for its alaska to him. Just like what her mother said to her years ago, she is not a family. She is not one of them. She is just a pathetic kid who was left behind by her parents who promised to come back for her, but did not. Yes, nobody wants her.

He was violently blown away by the wind and placed his hands on his brother's shoulders and then stared at him. "Okay, go ahead. I'm taking back everything I said and I'm not mad at you anymore. Just come out. Please?" he pleads. He knew it wouldn't go away as long as it didn't force him. So he just said what he wanted to hear.

Its face cleared. "Promise? Is that true? From the heart?"

"Yeah! All right, mom, call you!"

She held her breath when he suddenly hugged her tightly. He could no longer respond in shock at what it had done. "Don't think like that. Okay? You're making me sad. I just want to pay attention to you so I'm doing that," he said softly while he was still in her arms.

He thought his hands would push it but his bones seemed to soften. Instead of howling, the first thing that came to her mind was how light it felt. Nobody in her entire life has hugged her this tight. She never thought it would feel this good. He wanted to get out of her arms but his softening body would not follow.

C. 3.2

After all the stress earlier in her applying for a job at MNA, it looks like she really needs it. She needs someone to hug her like this. It's true that your articles he read on the internet. There are many benefits to hugging. One of them is that it lowers stress. Besides, She feels so down. So this hug, she needs this.

He could no longer restrain himself. He closed his eyes and felt her wide chest. Later, he hugged her as well. Hopefully it doesn’t give it malice. She really just need a hug right now.

"Patrick ?! Lesley ?!"

Patrick and I were so shocked that they let go of each other because of the rumors of Amanda's voice in her room. She was so carried away by Patrick's hug that she forgot that her stepmother was already here. It was as if his chest would explode with extreme nervousness. With a mocking look on her face, she knew what she was thinking.

It quickly stepped closer to him to slap him. He closed his eyes tightly to wait for his palm on his cheek but a few seconds ago there was still no pain touching his face.

She slowly opened her eyes and she saw Patrick holding her mom's arm. "Release me Patrick! Don't defend this woman!" Amanda shouted angrily.

"You're wrong! We're not doing anything wrong!" Patrick's defense of him.

"What's wrong ?! I see you're hiding!"

"Your OA, Ma! Just hug her! She's sad so I hugged her. She was stressed in her interview earlier." Patrick gently took both of Amanda's hands and caught her eyes. "I hugged her. Okay? Calm down. You're fine, you might have a heart attack. How am I? No one will take care of me anymore? Pity your youngest," he said tenderly.

And the magic happens. He saw the gradual calming of Amanda's face. His eyes were not as fierce as when he had seen them hugging before. He didn't know how Patrick was doing but it seemed like he had the power to make their mother obey.

No matter what it says it listens to, no matter what it asks for it gives and no matter what its sin is, it will forgive him. She envies him. Amanda loves him so much. Her baby boy.

"Is what you're saying true?" Amanda asked Patrick. It's calmer.

"Yes, so don't have high blood there. We're not doing anything wrong. You know me, I don't want to see the women in my life sad," Patrick said kindly and then let go of the hand he wanted to slap. to him earlier.

Amanda sighed before she thought again. There was still a bit of anger in its eyes. "Are you sad and stressed? Why? You weren't hired ?!"

He could not answer immediately. He is hesitant about MNA. She wanted to tell her mother how scared she was of working at that hospital but she knew it didn’t care how she felt. What matters is that it benefits him.

He doesn't want to accept the job at MNA but if it shortens the distance between the two of them and his mother, he will gladly embrace it. Even his life is at stake. That’s how he wants to prove himself here. That she is a good daughter. That she deserves her affection. You’re like its love for Patrick.

"Or can't you answer ?! You weren't accepted ?! After everything I told you, you still failed the interview ?!"

He shook his head quickly. "I've been accepted. I'm supposed to start tomorrow night."

"That's how it is, why are you sulking? I guess you just want to hug my son here!"

"H-no!" he quickly refused. "I-I was just a little stressed before. It was very difficult during the interview. It's because of their high standards. I almost couldn't get in," he excused himself and then looked down.

"That's right!" Patrick shouted happily at the same time with him. "This brother of mine is great! Hug me again!" he said and hugged him tightly again. Para-way really! Their mother just raised an eyebrow at them but she did not disobey them.

He forced a smile. "S-thank you brother," he replied then he let go of his hug but left one arm in his arms.

"Stop that. Help me with my purchases. And you Lesley, tell me what happened," he said then walked out of the room.

He immediately removed Patrick's arm that was still wrapped around him and then his eyes widened to look at his face. "We're almost there! You're pure bullshit!" giggled but he said in a whisper.

It just mocked him. "Why me? Who wants to prolong the hug?"

He kept his mouth shut. She is guilty. Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment. It raised an eyebrow at him when he could not answer. Its smile widened even more. Smile wins.

He wanted to tweak himself. Why did he let that happen? What was she thinking ?! She shyly averted her gaze from its foolish stare and then quickly stepped out of the room.

"Guilty?" he said but he ignored it. It immediately followed behind him while grinning and whistling until they reached the kitchen but he did not say a word. She didn't even bother to look back at him. He is like air to her now. She must have thought he liked their hug earlier. Its head may grow bigger. Well, maybe she enjoyed it too, but just a little.

"I'm going to eat. You cook the dish," said their mother. "Yes," Patrick replied at the same time, glancing at him steadily. She just ignored him.

While they were in the kitchen, he also narrated what happened to MNA earlier except for other meticulous details. Mrs. warned him. Where no one should know what they talked about and about the hospital's special patients. It is also stated in the contract it gave him earlier. All her family know is that she is a janitress. Nothing more, nothing less.

What happened earlier replayed in her mind. The bloody red door and the boy behind it. Now that he was really back in that scary place, fear filled his mind again. Hopefully, everything will be fine and he can handle the job there. And hopefully, what Mrs. said will not come true. Dapit. She does not want to die young.