Chapter 4

Aunt Lila's kind voice awakened me up one afternoon, saying, "Anna, honey? We're going to eat, come down." After locking myself in my room, I fell asleep. What time is it, exactly? I believe I slept for quite some time. Later on, I'm going to have a hard time sleeping.

Auntie knocked on my door again, asking, "Anna, are you awake?"

"Yes, Aunt Lila, I'll be right behind you," I said, slightly raising my voice so Auntie could hear me. Since then, it's been an unspoken rule that we always eat breakfast and dinner together. I go home at lunchtime on occasion so that I can eat with Aunt Lila and Uncle. Auntie pays me a visit at the university every now and then and gives me a prepared meal.

Lyka was included in the meal she provided, so when Aunt Lila came to visit the college, Lyka was overjoyed.

This family has always treated me well. They didn't think I was any different. They looked out for me and accompanied me when I was anxious. They assist me in overcoming the agonizing anguish that threatens to consume me.

It took me a long time to get over my parents' deaths. I finally opened up to them after years of silence. I was depressed for a long time.

Every dawn used to irritate me because it meant another day without my folks.

Everything around me looked to be devoid of color and life. I felt like a dead body with a dead soul. Uncle and Aunt Lila, on the other hand, did not disappoint me. They relentlessly accompany me to my psychiatrist till I am completely depressed-free. They returned my life to me. I was on the verge of losing everything, but they helped me get back on track.

My older brother was completely unaware of my struggle with depression. He was already in college and living in his condo at the time.

I could now enjoy all that was going on around me. I learned to appreciate the past while living in the present. All thanks to this family, my family, I can grin and laugh again.

I smiled as I walked into the kitchen. I caught up with Uncle Sandro, who was reading the newspaper at the head of the table.

"Good evening, Uncle," I said, kissing him on the cheek. "Where is Aunt Lila?" I inquired as he smiled.

Uncle Sandro finally put down the newspaper he was reading and focused on me. Uncle grinned back at me and said, "Your Aunt Lila is in the kitchen cooking our dinner, and she has been cooking for quite some time." "You know your Auntie, extremely dedicated to being hands on here at home," he remarked, shaking his head and looking in the direction of the kitchen, and I agreed.

"I advised her not to get too fatigued, and the other maids are there to cook everything," Uncle explained, adding that he seemed to have a problem with Auntie's obstinacy.

"Mrs. Leya will chastise her. Auntie almost wants to do all the cleaning. Maya is afraid you'll dismiss her because they don't do anything anymore," I joked with Uncle.

"Auntie has been doing almost all of the housework," I said, and Uncle laughed.

Mrs. Leya has been the Villareals' maid for a long time. She was my nanny when I first moved into this house. Mrs. Leya's niece is Maya. She's only been here for two years, but I can imagine her putting in long hours, much like her Aunt.

"Tell your Auntie, Anna. Maybe if you reprimand her enough, she'll listen to you," Uncle Sadro remarked, frustrated since he can't stop Auntie.

"When I advise her to stop exhausting herself at home by doing chores, she just glares at me; you know how I fold when your Auntie gets upset with me; we're both terrified of her," Uncle remarked, shaking his head. What he said made me giggle.

We were terrified of Auntie, he was correct. We believe that a happy wife leads to a happy life.

When Auntie is in a good mood, the atmosphere at home is light. When Aunt Lila is in a good mood, we are always full of her delicious foods, but when she is not in a good mood, we are frightened to talk. Even swallowing appears to be difficult.

"I doubt it, Uncle. Auntie is obstinate," I said quietly. We smack our hands together as he laughs out loud. Auntie arched an eyebrow, "Looks like you two are having a good time there, ah. Why don't you help us?"

We had no idea she'd walked into the dining room. She also went straight back to the kitchen, possibly to resume cooking.

Uncle and I followed her into the kitchen together. I'm hugging Uncle, and his hand is on my shoulder. "You're doomed, Uncle. Auntie looks enraged at you, and she rolled her eyes at you earlier. Alas, that conflict will recur later." I frighten Uncle.

I threatened Uncle, "You will surely sleep in the guest room later."

He turned to me, pale, and asked, "Do you think so?" Uncle Sandro appeared to be terrified of Auntie's displeasure with him.

If he had been laughing recently, his expression had changed to one of seriousness. "What did you do, Uncle?" I inquired, "or perhaps you didn't do anything that made Auntie furious."

"I don't know. I worked hard all day. I couldn't think of anything I did that would have upset your Aunt," he added, his cheeks red with frustration. Uncle is in a bad way.

Who'd have guessed that the great Sandro Villareal, the callous businessman who is usually serious and frigid like his son at his company, would behave in this manner in front of his family? All he is afraid of is his wife being enraged. He appeared to be a lost child who had no idea why Aunt Lila rolled her eyes at him.

In the kitchen, we noticed Aunt Lila preparing something. It smells fantastic! I'm already hungry from the smell. I couldn't stop myself from smelling what she was preparing.

"Wow, Auntie," I exclaim, "is that caldereta?" One of my favorite dishes is caldereta. Despite the fact that I have no idea what the difference between menudo and caldereta is.

While tasting what she was making, she said, "Yup! It's about to be cooked. Let your Uncle fix the dining table." She nodded, as if the caldereta concoction had already satisfied her appetite.

"Wait, has Alessandre already come down?" she inquired. "Is my older brother still here?" I inquired. "Isn't he going home to his condo?" It surprised me to learn that he is still here.

When he comes here, he usually doesn"t stay long.

Auntie exclaimed, "No, I forced him to stay at home for two weeks." She tells me, "You'd better wake him up. Maybe he's still sleeping."

She went on to say, "Your Uncle will arrange the table for you."

I was compelled to nod in response to Auntie"s order. My brother's presence makes me feel a little uneasy. I wasn't sure whether to knock or not as I got to the other side of my older brother's room.

I can't deny that I feel uncomfortable whenever he's around. I have the impression that he is watching everything I do. Even when I wasn't doing anything, his brow was furrowed as if he spotted something he didn't like. His stare is icy and menacing, and it makes me tremble.

The difference between our brother and sister relationship and the distance between the sun and the planet earth is simply too great. We haven't even been close in the over eight years that have passed, but he appears to be only a few miles away from me.

As if I have a contagious sickness, he avoids me.

I just let out a gasp. I debated whether or not to knock on my older brother's door for a while before deciding to do so. Brother Alessandre has done nothing wrong to me, so why should I be afraid of him?

I'm guessing he won't devour me alive, will he?

Despite the fact that I recognized the knock, my older brother has yet to respond. Is he sound asleep?

Isn't it better if I just let him sleep? Maybe my brother is exhausted from all of the work he has to do for the company. That's correct.

I was about to pass out, but I figured he needed to eat as well. Auntie even made a large meal for him. Also, if we dine together, we only eat once and can only count on our fingers.

When I tried to turn the lock on his door, I discovered it was open.

I slid the door open softly. The room's dark interior opened up to me, with only two lampshades switched on. Even if the lights are turned off, the beam from the turned on bulbs allows me to see the surroundings.

This is my first visit to my older brother's room.

This is my first time entering my brother's room. His room is quite minimalistic and cozy. It has a cave-like texture and color composition like earthly tonalities, grays, blacks and rich browns. The base of the bed is made by the best Belgian chocolate hue that npurishes stain sheets for glamor and the organic presence of wood and concrete finishing's create a well-balanced ambiance avoiding the room going too dark. His room is one of my favorites. It's not sloppy, which is exactly what I expected from my brother.

My older brother was not in his bed when I arrived, which led me to believe he was not sleeping.

When I heard the rumble of the shower in the bathroom, my query was answered. So it's possible that he didn't reply to my knocks earlier because he was bathing and couldn't hear me. It wasn't long before the restroom was deafeningly quiet.

Perhaps he's finished showering. I smiled as I prepared to greet him.

My older brother emerged from the bathroom with a fresh bath and only a white towel covering his nakedness. The tiny towel was dangling loosely and idly about his waist. What I saw caused my eyes to widen. My eyes nearly jumped out of their sockets, and I hastily turned away. I prayed outside of time, forcing myself to forget what I had seen previously.

My older brother, on the other hand, appeared unconcerned about what had happened.

Annalise, what the hell is going on? Where has your mind gone, and have you seriously considered waiting for your brother to take a shower?

I had no idea he'd come out of the restroom right after he'd finished. I'm not sure if that's the case. I'm not sure!

My entire face reddens, and I can feel the heat radiating down my neck. My brother inquired, "What do you think you're doing here?" I had no idea he was so near to me. Maybe it's because my entire being is still reeling from what I've just witnessed.

His voice is gruff, and his hot, minty breath tickles the back of my neck. When was the last time he was that close behind me?

He towers over me. I know because I'm conscious of the gap in height between us. He stands over six feet tall, although I am only 5"8.

"I'm asking you, Anna," he replied ominously. It's the first time I've heard him refer to me as Anna.' He referred to me as you,' sleepyhead,' idiot,' fool,' and stupid.' The sound of my name flowing into his tongue is quite sext in my ears. Annalise, what the hell are you talking about?

"I, uh, Auntie told me to call you since dinner is ready," I said uncomfortably.

He asked, cynically, "Oh, yeah?"

Is he not convinced? It's not like I was planning to went here, in his room. With a smirk, he asked, "Didn't you planned to went in when I was taking a bath? Are you really so desperate to see me naked?"

"Well, bad news for you, little daughter," he continued, "you may simply dream about it since it will never happen." My other brow twitched in response to what he said. "Excuse me? Don't you think it's a little breezy of you to say that?" my indirect query asks.

"And what did you say? That I wanted to see you naked? Eww, that's just gross. I never think about your body, much less seeing you naked," I said as I turned to face him. It makes no difference to me whether he's only wrapped in a shabby rag. He's saying things that aren't true. Why would I want to be a pervert?

"Oh, really?" he said, clearly annoyed. "Said by the girl who just barged into my room."

"Oh, come on brother, you don't have to make a big deal about it; it's just that your sister was sent to fetch you so we could have dinner, and I inadvertently saw you almost... whatever," I pretended to be nice, as if his bare chest in front of my face doesn't bothered me.

"You are not my sister," he declared emphatically. He muttered it dismissively before turning away from me and heading to his closet to change into some new clothing. Thank you, God.

He said, "Are you going to see me strip, kid?"

I dashed to the door and walked out without warning. Wasn't I able to explain him why I walked into his room? Without a doubt!

When I exited my brother's room, I exhaled a sigh of relief. Anna, that was a courageous act. While I was in his room, I was able to keep my composure and maintain my sanity. As if I were suddenly dizzy, I walked carefully.

I feel as if I've entered the lion's den. It's exhausting and dangerous to one's sanity.

When I go to the dining table, my knees are still shaky. Nanny Leya had placed down some water, which I instantly swallowed.

She stared at me perplexed, possibly taken aback by my actions. I give her an uneasy smile.

"I'm sorry, Nanny Leya," I explained, "but I'm just tired of going up and down the stairs." Nanny regarded me as if I were behaving strangely, which I am perfectly aware of. Who wouldn't want to do that?

"Hey, son," Aunt Lila said cheerfully, "sit down so we can eat." She had a grin on her face from ear to ear. I pretended I wasn't bothered by his presence.

Auntie exclaimed, "It's been a long time since we've been complete!" "You know what, son," Aunt Lila suggested, "you could pay us a visit more regularly, or even better, just come back here to the house." She's attempting to track him down, but I doubt she'll succeed.

I don't think he'll ever give in, given how many times Aunt Lila has requested him to stay with us again and he's still at his bachelor's pad.

Brother Alessandre simply said, "Mom, I'm busy with my work." With that kind of response, did he really believe we'd understand him remaining away from us? Are you swamped with work? At the very least, he can think of a more logical justification than being busy at work. What a pathetic excuse.

"Uncle Sandro is also busy, but he still came home to us," I couldn't help but remark. Why can't he just come back and live with us? He's acting irrationally in this situation. Aunt Lila sulked, "See? Even Anna considers you unreasonable."

"You've got the guts now, kid," he says, glaring at me. I took a step back and diverted my gaze.

"Just let me be, mum," Brother Alessandre said, pausing to glance at me. I gave him a frown. What's more, what else? Isn't there something they're trying to tell me? When I heard Uncle's loud sigh, I lost sight of my older brother. What's going on?

"Let's leave him alone, hon," Uncle Sandro adds thoughtfully. I looked back at the three of them, perplexed. I'm not sure what they're talking about.

Auntie surrenders, "OK, sorry son." "In the meantime, let's enjoy our supper; I've prepared a lot of food because it's a special day, and the pact is once again complete," Aunt Lila exclaimed. She was even clapping her hands. I grinned. Even though my brother isn't a big talker, the dinner ended up being boisterous and full of laughs.

I arrived early the next day. I just bid goodbye to Auntie and said that I needed to finish my schoolwork and go to the library.

She gave me permission. She simply handed me my breakfast.

Today I awoke really early. The reality is that I don't have much to do at school; I really don't want to run into my brother. I know it'll be hard for me to avoid him, as in we won't meet because he'll be here for two weeks as well, but I'll do my best.

Because of what happened last night, I'm still embarrassed of myself. He was quite terrifying to me.

I was waiting for my automobile at the village's entrance. Nanny Leya and our sole driver went to the market early, so I'll be commuting today.

The Villareals can drive, so we don't really need a driver. Uncle just took your driver for me, as well as someone to take nanny Leya shopping. I've never dreamed of driving since the catastrophe that struck my family and claimed the lives of both of my parents.

Why did it take so long for my car to arrive? Is'nt it possible that that went astray? Double-check that the address I entered is correct. Perhaps I typed in the wrong address. I've been waiting for a long time but have yet to receive anything.

On his way to work, Uncle might perhaps see me here.

A familiar voice says, "Hey, moron. Hop in." When I turn around, I see my older brother in his black Aston Martin Victor.

He was dressed casually in a white tee and sunglasses, yet he looked stunning. I can't help but be impressed by him. His broad jaw, which looks much more appealing when clenched, and his increasing stubbles, which make him appear even sexier. He had ocean-strong blue eyes that swam with a warm sun-lit current. Those blue eyes fixed me in all the finest ways, with slate outer rings and teal all the way to the black.

His brown hair and fair skin, combined with his Roman nose, make him absolutely stunning. Not to mention his body, which is to die for. He doesn't appear to notice, yet ladies of all ages are staring at him.

He jolted me out of my daydream by asking, "Do you want me to carry you in the car?"