Chapter 5 A.G

River was now sitting silently in the passenger seat of his brother's car. Troy was the one who was driving.

"What are you busy with now?" Troy asked him as he was driving next to him. They are now heading to their parent's house.

"Nothing... just hanging out with my friends," River answered. "By the way, Dad told me you are going to Europe this weekend."

"Yeah. For some business matter."

River nodded. "So, we both have a business to attend to."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm also leaving Manila this weekend. I am going to Coron to attend Fiona and Carlos's wedding," River informed. He doesn't remember if he mentioned that to his brother or his Mom and Dad.

"That's nice. Enjoy your trip."

"You too." River laughed softly because he obviously noticed Troy was not interested in what he was saying. Well, his brother's life is dull, and he has no more comments about that. "By the way, I haven't told you this yet, but I was at Sevi's bar 2 weeks ago..." River excitedly brings some news to Troy.

He knows that when it comes to other people's lives, Troy doesn't care or have much interest, but when it comes to his, River knows that he will indeed listen.

And he was happy to tell him about the girl he wanted to see.

"And?" Troy asked while still looking directly at the road.

"And I saw a girl dancing, and I think... she's sober. I find her really hot, and she is the only girl who caught my attention among the crowd...."

River couldn't finish what he was going to say next because he heard the soft laugh his brother had made. That's why he glanced at him and then quickly pushed him in the arm softly. "What the fuck are you laughing at?!" he asked, a little irritable, but he couldn't help but laugh softly as well.

Did he think I was joking with what I said? What the hell! Do I look like I'm kidding here?

"That's fucking so cheesy, bro," Troy said.

"I know! But what I said is true. It sounds corny, but I really felt that. That's so odd, right."

Troy only answered him with a nod but still smirked.

Haist! I don't fucking know why I'm still telling him about this when he doesn't know anything about it.

Because first of all, he doesn't have a girlfriend. I don't even know if he has a girlfriend because the more open I am with him, the more secretive he is about his personal life. I know it's unfair, but we're not the same. I prefer to tell him the important things that happen in my life because he is my brother. Even if it is said that he is only my half-brother, it doesn't matter to me at all. I'm so open, not only to him but also to Mom and Dad.

Mom, not my biological mother, but Troy's birth mother, and I are even closer even though she is just my stepmom. In contrast, Troy and my Dad are even closer than me. It could be because Mom and I have both attitudes; happy-go-lucky and like to chill around. We don't take life too seriously. While Dad and Troy are both business-minded, that's where they get along. And that's why I can say that our family is almost perfect.

"So, is she your girlfriend now?" Troy asked.

River can help but sigh a little and lean his back to sit. Haist! I'm tired and feel like I'm a loser.

"No. I never got a chance to know her," he admits, which saddens him. "I wish I could have gotten her name, right? But no, she just disappeared from my sight." Until now, River still can't forget about the girl he saw at Vallor Club.

"Ohh shit! That sucks." Troy sounds like he is just making fun of River, but he will take that as his sympathy.

He got so used to that teasing since his two friends, Ashton and Sevi, always made fun of him by saying that the girl he saw was just in his imagination, but he still didn't give a fuck.

I know what I saw.

And that girl is real; no matter what happens, I will see her someday. Not now, but very soon. And when that happens, I won't let her go, not again. I will claim her heart!

The Santillan family chatted happily in front of their dining table. Their dinner set up is quite formal even though they are not celebrating any occasion. A wine glass was poured with expensive wine, and the steak was their main course that night.

"It's good you didn't forget our dinner today, River." Their mother smiled at River, which made the young man smile. River was about to speak to answer, but his brother, Troy, interrupted him.

"Oh, Mom, you have no idea," Troy said jokingly. River quickly kicked his brother's foot under the table secretly. Troy grimaced a little at him but ignored him and then faced their mother.

"Of course, Mom, why would I forget this? I'm the one who insisted on this." River smiled proudly.

Troy just shook his head while smirking because he knew the truth.

"That's good to hear." Their mother claimed. "And I'm still mad at the both of you. Why did you leave the house at the same time and start to get independent? I don't have any babies here anymore to play with." The old woman spoke a bit dramatically. River laughed because of that, while Troy shook his head and smiled too.

Even though River and Troy are now of legal age, their mother still treats them like kids.

Troy is very grateful to River because if his mother had not remarried River's father, he would probably be the only one who got that treatment from his mother.

"Hon, River, and Troy now both have their own lives. And I told you, didn't I, let's just make another baby." Their father said and held his wife's hand resting on the table.

The two young men laughed because of that.

Agnes quickly released her husband's hand from hers.

"Oh, please. You are just good at your words but not in action, Herman. You must forget, you're the one who always sleeps first with the two of us." Their dinner ended up being more fun because of their parent's sweetness.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You know that sometimes I'm just tired at work."

"Sometimes? Are you sure about that?" Their parents bickered, but River and Troy knew how much they loved each other.

After a few minutes, they were waiting for the dessert to be served. While waiting, River opened up about his trip to Coron Palawan this weekend; he has yet to tell his parents.

"Carlos and Fiona are getting married; they invited me to go to Coron Palawan since they were having a beach wedding. It seems like I'm the only one who can go, so I have to go," River spoke politely.

"Aww. That's sad," Agnes spokes; there was sadness in the old woman's tone. "Your brother is also leaving for his business trip to Europe. You're the one I expect to be with me while he's gone." Because as mentioned, Agnes is closer to River than her real son. But she loves them equally.

River smiled, and even Troy smiled too.

"Hon, our children are old. So we can no longer count on them to join us. Let's make another baby." The old man made another suggestion, so they laughed again.

In the middle of their happy conversation, Troy's phone on the table suddenly rang, causing them to stop and stare at the young man.

"Who's that Troy?" His father asked, but he couldn't pay attention because his eyes were fixed on his phone screen when he saw the name on the called ID.

"Is there something wrong?" River asked, too, since he noticed that Troy seemed bothered.

"Oh. Nothing. I'll answer this call first. Excuse me." He stood up and left immediately.

River couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his brother's phone screen when he stood up. He saw the name of the caller ID where the only thing written was 'AS.'

"I think it was only his secretary," he told his parents when Troy left. Fortunately, their dessert arrived on time, so they focused on that.