It was still early dawn, but Andi was already awake.
The house was quiet — only the faint click of the kettle and the smell of coffee kept her company in the kitchen.
A folder lay on the table — the one their grandfather had given her just a few days ago. Inside were folded maps, documents, and a few handwritten notes from the former caretaker of the hacienda in San Felipe, Batangas.
Today, she had to go there.
She needed to see what they had inherited — or what she would be watching over for Gesly.
Alonzo arrived before sunrise. He wore a simple white shirt and jeans, but he looked like someone used to work — always ready to help.
"You sure it's okay for me to stay here instead?" He asked, handing her the thermos he'd brought.
Andi smiled. "There's no one I trust more than you, 'Zo."
There was warmth and certainty in her voice — the kind of trust that's hard to replace.
"Watch over Bella, okay? When she wakes up, she might look for me. And Gesly — you know…" She chuckled. "Just tell him to behave."
Alonzo nodded, sitting across from her. "What time are you leaving?"
"After breakfast. I want to get there before noon."
As she packed her things, Andi heard footsteps on the stairs.
Gesly came out — freshly awake but composed, as if sleep never really touched him.
He was in a plain shirt and shorts, yet every movement carried a quiet discipline — a kind of composure that felt deliberate, even on a simple morning.
"Ate," he called softly — polite but cool. "Where are you going?"
Andi and Alonzo exchanged glances before she answered.
"To Batangas. I'm just going to check on the hacienda Lolo's giving you."
Gesly was silent for a moment.
He didn't smile or look surprised — only raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Ah. So it's real," he murmured, eyes flicking to the folder in Andi's hands. "I thought Lolo was just joking."
Andi smiled, patting her brother's shoulder. "Nope. It's real. But while I'm gone, listen to your kuya Alonzo, okay? No trouble. No experiments, no sneaking out, no giving him stress."
Gesly nodded slightly, almost mechanical. "Yes, Ate."
But as he said it, a strange gleam passed through his eyes — a smile that never reached his lips, yet was felt in his gaze. As if he knew something they didn't.
"Promise me, Gesly," Andi added as she picked up her bag. "Don't do anything that'll give Alonzo a headache, okay?"
Silence again.
Then a faint smile. "Okay, Ate. I'll be good."
Simple words — but the tone carried a teasing note… or a warning?
Andi couldn't tell. She didn't press further.
She was used to that kind of tone from him — charming, but unsettling.
"Good boy," Andi said, kissing his forehead.
She caught the scent of soap and mint shampoo. Cool. Clean.
Untainted — but with an odd quietness beneath it.
As Andi closed the gate and got into the car, she caught a glimpse in her rearview mirror — Gesly standing on the terrace.
Still. Expressionless.
Lost in thought.
Alonzo waved, though his eyes stayed fixed on Gesly — as if he had a bad feeling.
When the car disappeared down the street, Gesly finally moved. He went back inside, silent, almost soundless.
He passed Bella's room, pausing to look at her sleeping face — peaceful, unaware.
Then his gaze went down to Alonzo, busy in the kitchen.
"Kuya Alonzo," he called softly.
"Hmm?"
Gesly smiled. "Do you want coffee? I can make it."
His tone was gentle. But beneath it, there was a cold liveliness — the kind you couldn't tell was genuine care or the start of a game he wanted to play while Andi was gone.
---
Andi wasn't home.
And that's when Bella realized how different the house felt when she was surrounded only by boys.
Alonzo was up early, cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Gesly sat on the sofa, phone in hand, earphones on, completely focused on his game.
"Good morning, kuyas" Bella greeted as she came down the stairs.
"Morning, birthday girl," said Alonzo with a grin.
"Kuya, my birthday's over!" Bella laughed.
"Then good morning, post-birthday girl," Alonzo replied, moving eggs to a plate.
Gesly didn't even look up. "Kuya Alonzo, turn off the stove for a bit — I'm at match point," he said seriously.
Bella rolled her eyes. Boys.
During breakfast, the house was full of teasing. Alonzo stayed relaxed; Gesly was fiercely competitive.
"Kuya, why do you sound angry at your opponent this early in the morning?" Bella asked curiously, glancing at Gesly as he scrolled through his phone.
"I'm not angry," Gesly replied without looking up. "It's called strategic focus."
"Strategic focus, my foot," Alonzo cut in, sipping his coffee. "You literally called your opponent a 'useless piece of code.'"
Bella tilted her head. "Hmmm? What does that mean?"
Gesly just smiled — that restrained kind of smile that looked practiced rather than real.
"Well, if you're going to play, play seriously."
The morning drifted into afternoon — the two of them just kept playing.
Mobile games, console games, whatever they could find.
Bella sat at the side, munching on chips, watching them banter.
"Kuya Alonzo! Kuya Gesly!" She whine at one point. "Are you two just going to play? Can I join?"
"What do you want to play?" Asked Alonzo.
"Something not about shooting!"
"Then nothing," Gesly cut in right away. "All non-shooting games are boring."
"Kuya!" Bella pouted.
Alonzo chuckled and grabbed a tablet. "Okay, let's find a cooking game, Bella."
As she and Alonzo played, Gesly glanced at them quietly.
His face showed something odd — not jealousy, not anger. More like curiosity. As if he was trying to figure out what was so "fun" about moments like that.
After dinner, the three of them watched a movie together.
Bella lay on the couch, already half-asleep. Alonzo was busy setting up the projector. And Gesly sat nearby, silent.
"Kuya Gesly," Bella murmured, eyes closed.
"Hm?"
"It's nice having another kuya. But having Ate is still better," she whispered drowsily.
Gesly didn't respond right away. He just looked at her, then turned to the screen.
In the flickering light of the movie, his face showed a strange calm.
Not anger. Not sadness.
Just a question — what is "better," really?
After a few seconds, he answered softly, "There's no such thing as better, Bella. It depends who you're with."
Bella smiled faintly, drifting to sleep again. "Well, if it's you and Kuya Alonzo, that's okay too."
That's when the room fell silent.
Alonzo smiled as he listened to them.
Gesly said nothing, eyes fixed on the two — as if he wanted to understand something, but didn't know how.