CHAPTER 2: THE MASKED CARE

(STILL, A PART OF THE FLASHBACK...)

"You knew who...please don't pretend you didn't know." His face is nearing mine. I bit my lower lip as I met his eyes. He's smiling and he looked like an attractive beast ready to devour me any time.

Is it me that he meant all this time?

"I didn't know who you were talking about. Just please, leave my sister. I love her so much that I don't want you to mess with her." He grinned, unmoved by the "threat" I am telling him. Was he even threatened, anyway? He doesn't seem to care about it.

"What if I say, no?" He leaned closer so that I could almost smell the natural scent of his body. His lips looked so tempting that I gulped. He moved his head away from my face and laughed. I felt a sigh of relief. Finally, he was the one who went away, going to a different direction of that office building that we both work on.

"You know who..." His voice still resounded within the hallway and I can still hear her mocking laugh. It's like telling right in front of my face that it is really me. That I should assume to his own benefit. That I should be the one falling on his trap. The trap that I know he already felt I would willingly fall from it.

It's already a predictable bait but I have to gather all my senses together. I should fight this feeling and protect my sister from all costs possible. Even if I will be the one who will be the mediator from between the three of us.

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Garrett's POV

I cringe as I look at Scilla biting his straw, trying to tease me.

"What are you doing?" I frowned. She laughed in an instant.

"Garrett darling, I really want to believe that you're not a real man. Gosh, how can somebody like you not attracted to my beauty?" She said in a funny yet teasing manner.

"Here, take my platter of chicken. You're still hungry, I know." I showed a frown to her. She looked at me and never stopped laughing. She grabbed it and took a monstrous bite, her eyes still not leaving mine. She tried biting and chewing it as if teasing me, too.

"You're not yet eating. What's wrong?" She said as she chewed some more chicConner meat.

"Nothing." I smiled at her clumsiness. There is still gravy on her mouth. She's a messy girl amidst that striking beauty she possesses. I admit, she's really beautiful and she has all the right to boast it. But I don't understand myself why my damned senses are not attracted to her. It's like a big sin to do so because I am more feminine inside, I guess compared to her.

I know I am the kind of man that Scilla would want but I felt sorry for her because I can't offer the same feelings for her. Never in my situation. I am broken inside but I have to hide it from within... nobody knows my real identity. Not even me.

Am I still in the process of understanding or reassessing myself? Am I still in the process of identifying where I truly belong? I can't believe that I am one of those people who is still facing a gender identity crisis up to this time.

She stood, leaving her seat in front of me and hugged me from behind. Her face reached my cheeks and kissed it instantly that I was so shocked.

"S-Scilla? What are you doing? Are you okay?" I tried to get her arms that's wrapping around me but she tightened her grip.

"I hate to think that you're the only one who doesn't find me attractive. Every time I look at you, you're making me feel as if I am the most undesirable female that ever lived." Her tone is down. I can't help but chuckle. Scilla and her bitchy attitude strike again.

She's a weird ass sometimes. We're so close as a friend that she can do all these things to me and surprisingly, my male hormones are not affected. Her kisses can't make my libido rise. I didn't understand it sometimes.

"You're crazy. What do you think you're doing? You're beautiful, okay?" I tried getting her arms off my body and I am getting successful. She smiled as if satisfied by my compliment. I am sincere with that. She stood in front of me and showed her sweetest smile.

"I am happy every time I hear you telling me that." She pouted her lips and I poked her forehead. She laughed a little.

"Silly. I want to believe that you like me, that's why you're doing that." I said, out of nowhere. She put her hands on her chest and her eyes got bigger.

"How did you know?" She covered her face with both her hands. I laughed at her once more. I pulled her close and led her back to where she's sitting a while ago.

"Let's finish our lunch and let's go somewhere. I didn't like isolated places like my home." She smiled and finished eating her chicConner. She's not a complimentary type of a person but the way she eats my buffalo wings recipe made me proud and happy. I can see how delighted she is with what I cooked for her.

"How's my sister?"

"Oh, she's fine. She's happy today I don't know why." Scilla said, finishing the last chicConner wing from the platter that I placed on the dining table.

I know why.

I looked down and it made Scilla wonder why. I can feel her stopped from eating and instead, she's studying my facial reaction closely.

"You ok?" She looked curious as she raised her left eyebrow at the same time. I breathe a deep sigh.

"Nothing. I'm glad to know that. Please look after her while she's near to where you live." She smiled at me, a reassuring one. She's a friend but she's also a dear sister to my younger sister. Celeste, my sister, doesn't like to stay with me because she admitted not being comfortable with living with me in the same roof because I tend to be overprotective to her. That's what a brother does anyway, right?

I know she's head over heels to Nico Santillian as well. She never liked me reminding her over and over again to leave that guy. From a brother's perspective, he's not the right one for my sister because I am always thinking that he is only for me.