six; forget

Natalie had to open her eyes when she heard her stomach grumbling. She yawned and stretched her body the same moment she turned her gaze to the clock on the bedside table. It was already six o' clock in the evening. Sighing, she got up from her bed and headed to the door. The house was quiet except for the noises she heard coming from the kitchen. She guessed Jessica was there, preparing something for dinner.

 

"Jessica?" She called out as she slowly headed to the kitchen.

 

"Yes, Nat? I'm here in the kitchen." She replied. She found her sister, right in time she was putting the food she had cooked on the table. "C'mon, let's eat."

 

A slow smile crept from the corner of her lips as she sat on the kitchen chair. When she noticed Jessica was just standing there, she gave her sister a frown. "How about you?"

 

Jessica smiled happily. "Oh, Chad and I are going on a date tonight. I'm so sorry you'll just gonna eat by yourself." She pouted.

 

"Oh.." She said softly. "It's okay." She said without looking at her.

 

"Meanwhile, I'll just go upstairs to have a shower. I'll just leave you here for awhile, 'kay?"

 

She nodded at her. But even before her sister could disappear in her eyes, she called her back. "Jess? I-I'm sorry." Her voice shook a little. Jessica frowned as she took a few steps back at her. "I'm so sorry..."

 

"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked anxiously.

 

She shook her head, as well as her tears that were threatening to show up. "I'm just sorry."

 

"I know there's something wrong, c'mon tell me."

 

She breathed in harshly. "I'm just.." She paused. "I'm just sorry for being a burden to you.."

 

Jessica laughed, not a mocking laugh though. "You're not a burden to me, Nat. What are you saying? And besides, I'm older than you so I should take care of you."

 

She scoffed. "You're not that older than me, just one year older."

 

Jessica laughed again in amusement. "Still I am older. So please stop thinking about unnecessary things, 'kay? You're just making yourself stress out."

 

"I swear I'll find job so I could help you."

 

"Don't think about that until you're not limping anymore." She smirked at her. "Anyway, I'll just go upstairs—" The front door bell rang that cut her off. "I think that's Chad." Jessica squealed as she ran to the door.

 

"Chad..." She mumbled incoherently as her heart flopped up. She was having goosebumps knowing that Chad's coming. Without touching her food, she stood up and tried to increase her pace up to her room. She doesn't want to see Chad nor she doesn't want to be seen by him. Just as when she was already at the foot of the stairs, Jessica had already led her boyfriend in the living room.

 

"Nat, would you mind talking to Chad first while I'm having a five-minute shower, please?" She said as she flung herself upstairs. "Thank you, Nat!" Jessica exclaimed happily even though she didn't say yes. What choice does she have anyway? She sighed quietly as she moved to the couch where Chad was standing, her eyes on the floor. She crossed her fingers behind her back and hoped that Chad would not talk to her. Silence ate them both alive.

 

Moments later, Chad cleared his throat. "Hey.." He said but she remained quiet. "So you're still not gonna talk to me." He said knowingly.

 

"You want me to say hi to you, Chad?" She said sarcastically, looking at him furiously. "It seems like you're not guilty at all." She greeted her teeth. She wouldn't be shocked if her teeth would crack soon.

 

Chad's eyes went into slits. "You want an honest answer? Well yes, I'm not guilty. I don't have guilt feelings within me coz you know why? I never regret what happened to us."

 

She fired him a glaring look. "For heaven's sake Chad, my sister is your girlfriend!" She hissed. "How can you do that to her?!"

 

"Wrong phrase, honey." He taunted. "How can we do that to her." He emphasized the word 'we'. His words hit her and cut her heart deep. She shouldn't put the blame on him because honestly speaking, she was at fault too. Her body was willing to his lovemaking. In fact, she responded to him wantonly.

 

She felt a lump in her throat that was so difficult too gulp. She moved her eyes away before he could see her tears, trying to sniff back the tears but just couldn't.

 

"Hey..." Chad whispered, his voice soothed her unruly heart. "I'm sorry. Please don't cry, Nat."

 

Voice trembling, she tried to keep it firm. "Let's just forget what happened that night Chad, please. Let's stop mentioning it. Let's forget everything..."

 

He reached for her and pulled her for a hug. She was about to push him away but he didn't let her. "Okay. Let's forget about it. I'm willing to forget it, Nat..." He said as he looked at her eyes. He noticed her eyelashes were wet and he had this urge to kiss them dry but stopped himself. He doesn't want to cause any further damage to his already-wreck relationship with her.

 

"Y..You'll promise, you won't mention it ever again?"

 

"I swear." He spoke heartedly. "Just please, let's be friends again."

 

"Whew!" It was Jessica's voice from the stairs. "At last, I'm done. Sorry for keeping you waiting, Chad." She said as she approached, her heels gave off a tick sound against the floor.

 

"Okay." She said softly to him before her sister could reached them both.

 

"Let's go now, Chad." Jessica butt in, totally oblivious of what's happening around. "Hey Nat, I'll be home at around eleven. You don't have to wait for me, 'kay? You can sleep early. Bye!"

 

"B-Bye. Bye Chad." she stammered.

 

Chad looked at her, and she swear she saw happiness in his eyes. "Bye, Nat. Don't leave the door open, 'kay?"

 

"O-Okay.. Take care." She said as she waved goodbye until Chad's car was nowhere to be seen. I guess I have to move on. I swear, that night would be the last I'll betray my sister. I'll make sure it'll never happen again.