DANIEL

"You know what, Daniel? I really love you for my sister, Kath. I feel like you love her very much. I'm sorry if I didn't stop them earlier," Raffy said softly.

I put down the things I held and approached him, "That's okay. I'm used to it."

He looked at me and his eyes were obviously sad, "Daniel? Do you really mean what my siblings want? Are you going to break up with her?"

I sighed and shook my head and even I didn't know what to do but it was for everyone, right? For there will be no more difficulties for those who do not like us.

Rafael reaches for my hand and I take it and hold it, "I hope you two won't separate. I've never seen Kath happy before, though she had a boyfriend. Now, I see she loves you very much. Also, I would like you to be my brother-in-law, as well I know you're not like everyone else. You won't hurt your sister."

I smiled and messed up his hair, "Come on, let's finish this, and maybe your sister will catch up with us."

"Wait," Rafael stood up and ran upstairs.

CAMILLE

"We did it!"

"We won the game!"

"They're going to break up, too!"

"Daniel is so weak!"

We were jumping when the door suddenly opened and Rafael came in, "Oh, Raffy Tulfo, why are you here, huh? You don't belong here. You left the group, remember?" Sandra's steady questioning of him.

"Don't you have any plans to help Daniel with the cleaning? Can you at least help him? After all, you won, remember?"

I sighed and stood up, "Fine! Come on and let's help them clean," we all got up and went out of the room to help them clean the whole house.

KATH

"Be careful on your way home, Kath. It's dangerous on the road and it's still dark," Jessiah reminded me so I just smiled.

"Okay! Bye!"

When I got home, I thought about it. What could have happened to them now? Are they okay while I'm gone?

I also stopped ringing the doorbell because I wanted to peek what are they doing. After all, I have a spare key to the front door.

"Why is it so dark here?" I asked myself but I also frowned. The light is off, Kath. Probably that night was so dark! 

I looked for the switch and turned on the light. Turning around I was surprised to see them all in the living room and sleeping on the same sofa. Rafael was slightly on Daniel's lap and the others were just on Daniel's side and made a pillow of the arm.

I slowly picked up my phone and got a quick photo of them because they look so cute. I was about to approach when I suddenly stumbled so they all woke up.

"Ouch! What the heck is this?"

"Kath?" Daniel asked as he picked up Raffy who was still yawning. He helped me to my feet, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I replied and I couldn't help but be happy because I see now, "Are you guys okay now?" I asked them because it seems like it really happened.

"Yes, we're okay," Daniel replied, "Have you eaten yet?"

I nodded and smiled, "Yeah. We're done. What are you guys doing while I'm gone?"

"Nothing much. They were just playing and we were just watching TV until we didn't realize we were asleep."

I nodded and turned to my siblings who were still sitting on the sofa and I could clearly see that they were drowsy, "Oh, go to your rooms," I ordered and they all obeyed and entered each other. 

I turned to Daniel, "What about you? Are you all right?"

He smiled, "I'm fine. It's late and I'm going home, maybe they've already looked for me."

"All right. Be careful, okay? I love you so much, babe! Thank you."

I saw that he was a little surprised but he also smiled and kissed me on the forehead, "I love you, too. Always remember that," that's what he said and he also left to go home to them.

I just thought, maybe everything is already settled. He is the man for me.

If anything happens, I will never let him go again.

x x x x x x

One week had passed since Daniel took care of my siblings and I noticed something strange. I don’t know if I was just being paranoid or did something happened which I don't know? Ever since Daniel was alone with my siblings, his treatment of me seems to have changed.

He was no longer energetic and he seemed to have grown cold to me as well. Could it be that he was angry or upset because we were so busy with that project? But, it doesn't makes any sense. I thought it was okay with him and he understands it, but did I do anything wrong that pissed him off?

Today is Friday so I'm willing to spend my time for him because I'm free today because Jessiah and I have finished the project we were asked to do.

I held Daniel's hand as we walked towards the locker room, "Hey babe, tomorrow is Saturday."

"Why? What's with tomorrow?" he asked without any emotion but I ignored it.

"Did you forget? We're done with the project, right? So, I'm free and I will spend my time with you," I said, while smiling. I just keep on ignoring his cold stares and expression. He is not the typical Daniel Elizalde I used to know, "So, where are we tomorrow? I just want to be with you the whole day."

He just looked at me and shrugged. I nodded and wondered why he is acting so strange lately. I don't remember anything I did to make him angry or upset because even though we were working on a project. I also went to his house since he hasn't visit our house since the night he was left with my siblings.

Could it be that something happened I didn’t know about?

He sighed, "I'm very busy tomorrow. I'm going to visit my Grandmother who is sick and she wants to see me tomorrow, so Dad and I talked about going to visit her," he said.

"Oh, how about in the afternoon? I told you that I'm completely free. I have no obligation with my siblings because mom is taking her day off."

"It's also not possible, because we'll be at her place the whole day so just find someone else to be with or it's better to bond with your siblings. After all, they're all free."

I smiled and nodded, but the truth is I'm sad. It's so sad because of what he's up to. He doesn't treat me too coldly now in case I feel like he's avoiding me. He avoids socializing or being with me.

I just didn't mind it and thought that maybe he is just tired. I'm sure he will just really busy tomorrow. Well, there are still other days that I can spend time with him, soon.

"Well, if that's the case, please tell your Grandmother to get well soon," I said and forced a smile.

"Okay, sure," that's all he said and left right away. As in, he just leave? His actions this week are surprising. He didn't even say I love you to me or even say goodbye.

I couldn't control myself anymore and I noticed that my tears were dripping but I wiped them off away. I never should think about this! Daniel loves me, period. No other!

DANIEL

Dad and I parked our car as soon as we arrived at my grandmother's house, "Hi, Uncle Roman!" I greeted my uncle and dad followed behind me.

"Hey! Here's my favorite nephew!" my uncle hugged us both, "Oh, Daniel, your Grandmother is inside and she is waiting for you. Come inside," he said so I went to the door where my Grandmother was.

I peeked inside and saw that she was busy sewing a broken bed sheet. I knocked and she looked up, "Hello, Grandma! I miss you!" I greeted Lola warmly and at the same time waved, giving respect.

"Aww. May God have mercy on you, grandson. I miss you too! Come, sit here next to me," she pointed to the only chair next to her so I followed and sat down, "How are you, my grandson?"

"I'm fine. Dad and I are just busy on the basketball team. How about you, Grandma? How are you?"

"I'm fine, Daniel. I'm pretty strong too," she said. Actually, my Grandma isn't really sick but I just did that to avoid Kath. Her siblings and I had already talked, but I didn't know if I was going to do the right thing. What if Rafael is right? That I shouldn't surrender my love for her?

"That's good that you're fine and well. Here, we have some fruit for you," I said and handed him a bag of apples. I don't know but I remember Jeremy here again when I was peeling, where I could almost shave my hair.

"You know what, Daniel? I noticed I look even more energetic than you. I'm not saying you're sick but I know you have a problem. What's that, grandson?" I was shocked by Grandma's question. Am I that obvious for him to even notice? But never mind, I just smiled hard.

"I-I don't have a problem, Grandma. I'm just tired."

"Don't lie to me. You're just like your father when he has a problem. Alas, I guess it's about love, am I right?"

"Grandma! No, it's not that. I really don't have a problem. I'm fine"

"Talk to the turtle, maybe they'll believe you." 

"I'm telling the truth, grandma. You still don't want to believe me."

"You're probably wondering how I guessed, aren't you? Of course, you're a grandson so I know you have a problem. That's really the problem with your generation. You tend to hide your true feelings so you're hurt because you're hiding it. So you have a parent and a mentor to reprimand you and in case help you do the right thing in your life. "

I just gasped because I knew I really had nothing to lose from my Grandmother. My Grandma is smart and not taken lightly! "Actually, I already have a girlfriend. Do you know that she's super beautiful?"

"Oh? Really? Maybe you're just kidding me," she joked so for evidence I took my phone and showed her Kath's photo and me. She then nodded, "This woman is really beautiful and still looks kind. But, why are you having problems with your love life?"

"It's like that, you're right, she's kind and very smart but she's just different from my future siblings-in-law. That's the only problem, Grandma -- her siblings. They really don't want their sister to have a boyfriend, or to other guys so they're torturing me. Now, I'm confused about whether I'm going to continue or I'm going to give up because it's already painful. Physically and emotionally. I don't know what to do."

"You know what, Daniel? At least, I only see you once and it hurts but I see you're gradually maturing. You also think that you already have a girlfriend, I thought you were gay for Pete's sake," I laughed at what she said, "Now, I will ask you about your plans for that situation?"

"I also thought that I would just make a way for us to separate. I don't want to be the one to give up on her. I want her to leave our relationship voluntarily because I don't want to do it to her. It also hurts me. I do and I just don't want to be like her other suitors who left her because of her brat sibling, as she called them."

"And then?"

"That's all. I just want her to remember me as The Daniel Elizalde, who never broke her heart. The Daniel Elizalde, who didn't give up on her easily. Lastly, as the Daniel Elizalde, who genuinely loved her for who she is."