Rozzean Cyron Valleje
"You are looking at me like you wanted to punch me."
Because I fckng do.
When I heard what my brother said, I glared at him. It means he noticed what's going on between Tali and me. Nothing escapes his eyes. On the first day at my house, he immediately learned about Tali and me.
"Don't test my patience, Luther."
He shrugged off my comment.
I am in a good mood. I swept my hair upwards and restrained myself from smiling.
What I felt earlier was a sensation that I never thought would happen to me after a month of letting a strange woman into my house.
That strange woman—my maid, who now happens to be my lover. Fck. I fell so deep.
"So, when are you going home, Cyron?"
When we reached the bar, Luther quickly grabbed something to drink. I was just looking at him. He knows where things are in my house. He doesn't come here often; he has only been to my house a few times, but he already knows the ins and outs of the place.
Once he sees something, there's no need to repeat it to him.
He's observant of the surroundings and details. Also, he is smart. Dad liked him so much when we were kids because he's clever and can really capture everyone's attention with how his mind works. Especially in business.
And I think that's one of the reasons why Dad was so fond of Luther even if he's just adopted.
"I just got home, not even a month yet," I replied.
He's now looking at the drinks we'll have.
"Oh? reasons. I know why you don't want to leave your house."
He glanced at me for a moment and smiled. He knows it. I have no intention of hiding it either.
"Mind your own business, Luther. Don't get close to Tali. You're inside my house and I am warning you."
Instead of reacting to what I said, Luther just showed me the vodka.
"Vodka?"
"Up to you."
After choosing our drinks, he sat beside me. He opened the vodka and filled my glass. Until what time will this drinking session last? I wish my baby is still awake when we are done here.
"You're a bit distant, Cyron. You're here beside me, but your mind is on the second floor... in Tali's room," he said and smirked.
I raised my eyebrows and gave him a stern look.
"Don't even say her name, Luther, and stop acting cute. It doesn't suit you."
He smiled and took a sip. I can't tell if he's telling the truth when he said that he was here because he wanted to have a drink with me. It's also challenging to read and know if he's being honest.
"Are you not going to deny what I noticed, Cyron?"
I took a sip as he questioned me. I raised my eyebrows.
"Why would I deny it? I love Tali."
I looked at Luther. He was swirling his glass while studying it.
"Even if she's a maid, Cyron? I saw that she has a great body. Is that the reason--"
"If you want to have a good conversation with me, Luther, then think a thousand times before you say a word about my woman."
I tightened my grip on my glass. When Luther looked at me, he had a smile on his face. He lowered his glass and raised his hands briefly. He tapped my shoulder and then drank his vodka.
"I'm sorry, I was just teasing you. I can see that you are serious about her. This is the first time I've seen you look at a woman like you would take her away at any moment. You were so protective of her earlier that made me think you thought I was going to get her from you," he laughed.
"And besides, Cyron, I know you only leave your house on weekends for work or if you have business partners to meet."
That was right. For people who know me, my time was so precious even on the weekend. My time, even on Saturdays and Sundays, is dedicated only to work, even when I'm at home.
"But when I said that I was in your house, accompanied by your kind maid and sent you a photo of her, you were so fast. In just ten minutes, you were here and glaring at me."
Why wouldn't I look at him with a frown? He touched Tali's head. He touched my woman.
"I don't like you being close to her and touching her, idiot."
He laughed loudly at what I said. I drank vodka, and when it was finished, I poured again into my glass.
"Damn, brother, so you are the in-love Rozzean Cyron? I am liking this."
I looked at him, "Don't do things that will make me mad, Luther. Don't test my patience because you know I have feelings for Tali. Don't try to make me jealous. You might not step foot in my house anymore."
I know what's running through his head. I know him.
"What? I am not doing anything."
The truth is, I don't like the idea that Luther knows about my feelings for Tali. Even though we are brothers and we grew up together, there's still a barrier between us. When I saw how he looked at Tali earlier, I felt annoyed.
While he was looking at Tali earlier, in the gazebo, living room, and in my kitchen, there's something in his eyes that I don't really like.
"I'm just saying, Luther. The way you look at my woman tells me that something's running in your head."
He poured vodka into his glass. He looked at me and brought his glass closer.
"Maybe I was just thinking about Dad, Cyron. Didn't you have a conversation about George Dela Vezca's daughter?"
Instead of bringing my glass closer, I drank its content. The truth is, I just said that I'll meet to end the discussion. I've been talked to by our father several times about marriage matters.
During those times, my attention wasn't really there.
"The days pass quickly, Cyron. It's been a month, and you need to face what you told Dad. You can't avoid it. What will be your reason to him? Also, do you think he will agree with Tali? Your maid?"
I held my glass tightly, poured myself another shot, and drank it again.
When I put down the shot glass, I looked at Luther. I smirked at him.
"Do you also think that I care if Dad will like my woman or not, Luther? If he will approve?" I asked him.
He got my full attention now.
"You, or even Mama? Do you think I'll ask for your opinions about the woman I want to be with for the rest of my life?"
I looked away from Luther for a moment.
"Cyron, he's still your Dad."
"He is, Luther. I still respect him as my father. I respect him as Mr. Valleje. I never forget that, and it will never leave my mind. But can you also think about me? That this is the first time I got interested in a woman?"
Luther let go of the shot glass and faced me. His face was serious, but he sighed a few times.
"I understand you, Cyron. But you know Dad--"
I smiled and shook my head.
"Sorry."
I stood up.
"When did you remember me anyway? All of my decisions don't matter because of what I did. Because of what happened to our family. Because all of you blamed me. Especially Dad."
Luther stood and was about to hold my shoulder, but I took a step back. I saw concern on his face as he looked at me.
"We don't blame you for what happened, and Dad's decisions now have nothing to do with that, Cyron. Can't you see he's trying to make things right with you?"
How can I believe that? It's so difficult.
I will never forget that night.
The hatred in my father's eyes while looking at me.
And when he almost disowned me.
"We are all trying to make things right, Cyron. We don't blame you. Mama even wants you to come back home and live there. Taki misses you so much. He keeps on asking where his Daddy is. Mama is having a hard time explaining to him."
My mind was clouded because of the sadness I was feeling.
I didn't respond. I turned away from Luther and took big steps towards the second floor.
When I was right in front of the door, I knocked. It opened immediately. And when I saw Tali, I hugged her tightly.
"R-Rozzean? Why?"
I didn't speak. I was breathing hard. My embrace became tight. I needed to breathe slowly and calm down.
"Are you okay?"
I felt Tali's hands on my back. She was caressing me, and that's when I found comfort.
"Did something happen? Tell me..."
I buried my face in her neck. Tali's soft voice reassured me that everything is going to be okay because she was here.
"Mama wants you to come back home."
Luther's voice echoed in my head. But I am not going back to the place that made me feel like I don't belong.
"Rozzean..." Tali called my name with worry but I just held on her tightly.
I will not come back because my home is here... in my arms.