CHAPTER 2

• "This is my son, Christian, your cousin!" My uncle introduced him during dinner.
• My cousin... I should remember that!
• But these feelings of mine aren't what I should be feeling considering the fact that he's my cousin.
• Am not typically shy, but I couldn't even meet his gaze when he spoke to me.
• "Nice to meet you and I hope you brought a lot of things from the village for us, especially fruits?"
• "I did, but I don't remember putting yours because I didn't know Uncle had a son, one older than me!" I said with an eye roll.
• My uncle and Aunt laughed, they took it as a joke, but I think I'm being serious, if not that I came visiting, I wouldn't know my cousins. A gorgeous young man and a cute little girl for that matter.
• "Then, you should go back to the village and bring it with you now that you know!" He teased me.
• "You know what? I will give you transport fare, go bring it yourself" I laughed.
• I glanced at his face for the first time since we met again at the dinning, his eyes were intimidating and I had to look down at my food again.
• "Okay ma'am, you win!" He said, throwing his hands up. Everyone bursted into laughter.
• "You can't even argue, I thought you would do more than give up!" I mocked him.
• "Would you rather I argue like a market woman? I don't do that, real men don't say too many words" he said smiling.
• "Mmm, noted!" I exclaimed.
• "But brother, I am a woman as well and I don't talk too much" Nancy came in.
• "You are not a woman yet, ma'am!" Chris killed his sister's joy, everyone bursted into laughter at her reaction.
• She threw her spoon at him angry that he isn't a supportive brother and reported him to their parents, I couldn't stop laughing.
• "Who said you aren't a woman, baby? You're more than a woman" her mother supported her.
• My Uncle could only laugh, he added simply; "Women and men in the house, let's observe some table manners"
• We finished the rest of our food in silence. When everyone was done eating, they all left while Aunt and I cleared the table.
• "Can I help with anything?"
• I didn't look around but I knew it's Christian that came back, so funny my heart leaped into a joyful hop at the sound of his voice.
• "We are good, son," Aunt replied.
• He didn't go, he came to stand beside me and his eyes were on me even though he was talking with his mother.
• When Aunt finished what she was doing, she left the kitchen. I forgot how to breathe, does he notice what his closeness is doing to me? Does he feel the same? Is he suffering me with his nearness?
• "Should I help you with the plates?" He requested.
• "I will take care of it, it's nothing" I said but he's already rinsing one of the plates, I didn't stop him.
• I can't breathe while he's near, but am excited he was there with me. It's a crazy feeling.
• "Tell me about the village" he raised a topic.
• He's a good conversation starter, I don't need to be told, but I know that's not exactly what he wants us to talk about.
• "Why haven't you visited the village all these while?" I changed the topic.
• "You make a habit of answering questions with another question, I asked you to tell me about the village first, remember?" He retorted, chuckling.
• "I guess you aren't ready to get the full gist about the village, if you are, answer my question" I returned.
• "Okay, I don't know why, but my father doesn't want me to and I can't disobey his orders," he replied.
• "Why would he do that?" I asked curiously.
• "Did I not tell you that I don't know? And I can't question him, whatever his reasons are, he knows better" he said with a shrug.
• I cleaned my hands on a towel after washing the last plate, I started setting the ones he had rinsed.
• "So unfortunate" I murmured to myself.
• "Excuse me?" He looked at me. Damnit! He's so close that the air from his nostrils was grazing my left cheek.
• I just want to go on tiptoe, wrap my arms around him and give him a deep kiss.
• "I wasn't talking to you, anyway, about the village, there's nothing special about it" I told him as I took the last plate, he was cleaning his hands.
• "Special or not, I want to hear it" he said and went to sit down on the kitchen stool.
• "If you desire so much to get village gists, you shouldn't have been so engrossed in your City life that you forgot your ancestral home!" I kicked his guts with my words.
• "Fine! I don't want to hear it anymore" he walked away, I ran after him.
• "Hey, don't take it too seriously, I was only joking!" I caught him at the base of the stairs.
• He's a fast walker, his strongly built long legs aren't for fancy. I held onto his arm so he wouldn't go away.
• "I see, I'm not angry, I just lost interest in your gist!" He said, I thought he wanted to shove my hands away and go off but he didn't.
• "I... I will tell you..."
• "I don't want to hear it anymore" he cut me off, but he still stood there and looked at my face like he can't just go.
• "Okay, then" I moved away from him and turned to leave.
• His laughter stopped me in my tracks and I turned to mope at him.
• "Surprised?" He snorted, still laughing loudly.
• "Shocked, I... I didn't expect that" I stuttered.
• "Don't worry, I am not angry and I don't think I will ever be with you. Even if you don't want to tell me about it, I have something to show you in my room, let's go!" He didn't wait for a reply, he grabbed my hand and we ran all the way to his room.
• "Sit down on the bed, let me see..." He squatted beside his CD player, to select a song I assumed.