The house was never quiet.Not really.
Even when no one was talking, there was always something the clatter of plates, the hum of the TV, Tita calling someone's name from the kitchen for no reason at all.Tonight? It was louder than usual.
"RUZ! WASH YOUR HANDS!"
"I just came in!"
"THEN WASH THEM FASTER!"
Ruz dropped onto the dining chairanyway.
"I'm clean."
"You're suspicious," Adrian muttered, taking the seat across from her.
"I take that as a compliment."
"You shouldn't."
Tito folded his newspaper slowly, watching them over the edge of his glasses.
"…Why does it feel like something happened today?"
Ruz and Adrian Both froze for half a
second then,
"Nothing," they said at the same time.
Tito narrowed his eyes.
"…That was too synchronized."
Tita walked in, placing a dish on the table.
"See? I told you. Suspicious."
"We're always suspicious," Ruz said casually.
"That's not comforting," Tito replied.
Kuya entered last. Phone in one hand. Expression neutral.Authority in human form. He sat at the head of the table.
Silence followe automatic then,
"Eat."
Plates moved.Food passed around.For a few minutes, Peace.Actual peace.Then Adrian spoke.
"…She shoved someone again."
Ruz looked up slowly.
"…You're dead."
"I'm telling the truth."
"You're telling your last words."
"She shoved someone," Adrian repeated calmly.
Tita gasped.
"Ruz!"
"He flicked my forehead," Ruz defended immediately.
"That's not better!" Tita said.
"It is in my world."
"There is no 'your world'!"
"There is now."
Tito sighed.
"…Who did you shove?"
"Just a guy."
"Name."
"Unnecessary."
Tita pressed her fingers to her forehead.
"I'm getting a headache."
Tito nodded. "Me too."
Kuya? Still calm.Too calm.Which was worse.
"…After dinner," Kuya said, "you're coming with me."
Ruz paused mid-bite.
"…No."
"Yes."
"I refuse."
"You don't have that option."
"I'll create one."
"You won't."
"I might."
"You won't."
"…You're ruining my evening."
"You ruined someone else's."
"He deserved it."
"That's not your decision to make."
"It is when I make it."
Adrian snorted slightly.
"…She's getting worse."
Ruz pointed at him. "You started this."
"I exposed it."
"You betrayed me."
"I improved the situation."
"You made it worse."
"I made it visible."
"You're dead after dinner."
"Try."
Tito stood up slowly.
"…I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of this."
"Smart choice," Adrian said.
"I agree," Ruz added.
Tita followed, shaking her head.
"…Both of you. I don't know where we went wrong."
Ruz smiled faintly.
"You didn't. We're just talented."
"That's not talent."
"It is in my category."
Soon dinner ended.Plates cleared.Noise faded.But not completely.Because now
It was time for something worse.
Author POV:
Kuya's Office.
The door closed behind them. Quiet. Organized.Cold.Unlike the rest of the house.Ruz dropped into the chair without permission.
"…Let's make this quick."
Kuya didn't sit.Not yet.He walked behind the desk.Placed his phone down.
Then,
"Stand up."
She didn't move.
"…No."
"Ruz."
"…Fine."
She stood.Arms crossed.Already annoyed.Adrian leaned against the wall near the door.Silent.Watching.
Kuya finally sat.
"…You think this is funny."
"No."
"You act like it is."
"That's different."
"How?"
"I'm not laughing."
"You're not serious either."
"I am serious."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"No."
"…Okay, a little."
Silence.Then,Kuya exhaled slowly.
"..Do you remember Three months ago?"
Ruz's expression shifted slightly. Adrian didn't move.But his gaze sharpened.
"Yeah," she said. Quiet now.
"Say it."
"…No."
"Say it."
"…We got caught."
"Where?"
"Outside the city."
"Doing what?"
Silence.Kuya's voice dropped slightly.
"Ruz."
"…Racing."
"And?"
"…Fighting."
"And?"
She looked away.
"…With another group."
The room felt heavier. Kuya leaned back slightly.
"…You think I forgot?"
"No."
"You think I don't remember what I saw?"
"No."
"You think I didn't see you both bleeding, still standing, still fighting like it was normal?"
Ruz didn't answer. Adrian spoke quietly.
"…We handled it."
Kuya's eyes snapped to him.
"Handled it?"
A sharp pause.
"Is that what you call handled it?"
His voice didn't rise. But it hit harder.
"Because I remember something else ."
Silence.
"I remember," Kuya continued, "someone picking up a metal rod."
Ruz's jaw tightened.
"I remember him swinging it."
Adrian didn't look away.
"And I remember," Kuya said slowly, "stepping in."
A beat.
"And I remember this"
He lifted his left hand slightly.
Still not fully healed.
".....breaking it."
Silence.Heavy.Unavoidable.
Ruz's voice came out quieter now.
"…You shouldn't have done that."
Kuya's eyes locked onto hers.
"And let it hit him?"
She didn't answer.Adrian looked down briefly.
"…It wasn't your fight."
Kuya laughed softly.
Cold.
"…Everything that involves you two is my fight."
Another pause.
"You think this is a game," he continued.
"It's not.You think you're strong.You're not strong enough to be careless."
Ruz exhaled slowly.
"…We weren't careless."
"You were."
"No."
"Yes."
"We handled it."
Adrian straightened slightly.
"…No one died."
Silence again.Kuya leaned forward.Voice calmer now. But heavier.
"…Do you know why I made you work with me?"
Ruz frowned slightly.
"…Punishment."
"Wrong."
"Then what?"
"Control."
She blinked.
"…What?"
"You don't listen to rules out there."
"So you follow mine in here."
A pause.
"You learn consequences," he added.
"Real ones."
"Not just fights and wins and losses."
Ruz looked at him. Really looked this time.
"…You're still mad at us."
"Yes."
"You're still worried about us."
A smaller pause.
"…Yes."
She leaned back slightly.
"…We're fine."
"No," he said immediately. "You're lucky."
Adrian exhaled quietly.
"…It won't happen again."
Kuya looked at him.Long.Searching.
"…That's what you said last time."
Silence.Ruz broke it.
"…We're not stupid."
Kuya raised an eyebrow.
" You are debatable."
She almost smiled.Almost.
"…We know our limits."
"No," he said. "You test them."
A pause.Then,
"…Sit down," he added.
Ruz dropped back into the chair.
Finally.
"Good," Kuya said, opening a file.
"You're working."
"…Now?"
"Yes."
"I just fought, ate, got emotionally attacked."
"Work."
"…You're heartless."
"I'm responsible."
"That's worse."
Adrian smirked slightly from the wall.
"…You deserve it."
Ruz pointed at him.
"You're next."
"I'm not involved."
"You exist."
"That's not a crime."
"It should be."
Kuya shook his head slightly.
"…Both of you."
But this time there was something softer behind it.Still strict. Still serious. But family and for now that was enough.