My Ex's Stepbrother

My Ex’s Stepbrother

By: Andie Hizon

Chapter 1

WHEN Eunice arrived at the boarding house where she lived, she immediately threw her bag on the sofa. She was annoyed because she argued with her boss, who seemed to always have menstruation, again.

“O, Eunice, half day today?” Gladys asked her. She was her a border in that house too. She was carrying a cup of coffee and looked like she would hang out in the living room to watch television.

"No, I resigned," she said then hurriedly sat on the sofa next to her bag.

"Resign?" Gladys asked her in shock. "Is that a trend now?"

"Sure," she said then leaned back on the sofa. What she knew was that their new housemate, Arianne, also resigned from her job from a newspaper agency. “Where is Arianne? I thought that one also resigned?”

“She leaves earlier together with her boyfriend’s mother,” Gladys answered then turned on the television. Later they were watching together. "Too handsome, oh!" thrilled Gladys as she looked at the man in a coat and tie. "The new CEO of DYA 8 is handsome!" she added.

“It looks like he is not Filipino. If he hasn’t spoken yet, he can be mistaken for a foreigner,” she commented.

"But admit it, he's really handsome," Gladys said.

"Can I report you to Zeph?" She was referring to Gladys’ boyfriend.

"I just noticed the CEO’s appearance. Zeph is very confident with my love for him,” Gladys said with shining eyes.

"You're corny," she blurted out and then said goodbye. She then went to her bedroom. After getting dressed, she lied down on the bed, thinking about what she was going to do with her life after she resigned from the call center company because of her heartless boss. What will happen to her?

The only thing she was sure of was that she would not go home to Alfonso and live there. Her memories there were sad that even if her foster parents were living there, she cannot go back.

She was lost in her thoughts when her phone rang. Rejoice was the caller, he was her friend in Alfonso. This was her only way to find out what was happening in the province since she left. When she talks to his mom or dad, she made sure that it didn't take long for her sister to have no issues.

"Eunice!" Rejoice screamed immediately before she could even say "hello".

“What is it, Rogelio? Please don’t scream!” she scolded her friend.

“Are you for real? Rogelio is dead. I am Rejoice now,” he said on the other line.

“So, what happened? Why did you call?” she asked.

“You have to come home. Your evil sister is getting married,” he said.

“Why am I going home? Erish would be happier if I was not there on her wedding day. Also, I was not invited,” she said indifferently.

“Why are you not invited? Your mom just asked me to call you because you are always in a hurry when you talk.” She suddenly felt guilty.

“I’ll think about it first, Rejoice.”

“Don’t think about it! Get here because I missed you so much,” he pleaded.

“Oh, my God! You’re a lesbian now,” she jokingly said.

“Are you for real? We’ll wait for you. Pack your things!”

“Why are you in a hurry? I told you, I’ll think about it, right?”

“Just go home! Don’t think. Bye!” Then he disappeared from the other line. It was really hard to talk to Rejoice.

She was even more stressed; she lost her job then she needed to go home to Alfonso? Hey! Will all the bad news that day never end?

Five years ago…

“YOU do not have to explain, Neil. I've seen enough. You know what just hurts? I wasted two years of my life with you. And what's worse, you can just trade me for my sister,” Eunice sobbed to her boyfriend

Just a few hours ago, she caught him kissing her younger sister, Erish. Her sister did not seem to be affected by the knowledge that she had caught them instead she looked very happy.

They do not get along with each other, probably because they were not really blood relatives. She was just adopted and Erish was the real child of their parents. She had just graduated from elementary school when her parents admitted to her the truth. It hurt but she accepted that. She was even grateful that they embraced her and treated her like their real daughter.

When Neil stopped speaking, she left. When she arrived at their house, she went straight to her and her sister’s room. Her sister was already lying on her bed, still smiling at her. She restrained herself from hurting her because she was not like that. As long as she can endure, she will endure. Also, what will their parents say to her? That after taking care of her, she will hurt their real child?

“So, how was your conversation? Did he choose you?” Erish asked. She was not facing her but still she knew she was very happy.

"Are you happy now, Erish?" she still gently asked. She did not face her because she did not want to do anything bad.

"If you tell me you are separated and he chose me, yes, I am happy," her sister answered. She didn’t really care about her feelings.

She could no longer control the anger that was already overflowing in her heart. “What did I do to you to sabotage everything in my life? Why are you so mad at me?” she shouted at her but Erish was not really shaken.

Before Erish could answer, Eunice saw their parents entering their room with Lola Paula, her grandmother, as well. “What are you doing, Eunice? Why are you shouting?” Lola Paula's angry comment on her.

She couldn't answer, she just bowed her head. She knew that Lola Paula would not be on her side no matter what happened because from the beginning she cleared with her about what was her place in her family's life.

“She’s blaming me about her and Neil’s breakup, lola.” There she went her sister again, playing the victim in front of everyone. Erish hugged Lola Paula.

“Why are you blaming my granddaughter?” The old woman turned to Eunice. “Is this how you are going to repay us after we dress and fed you?”

“Mamita, stop it,” said her father.

She lowered her head and walked out from the room. She was tired of her grandma and sister’s reproach. It was as if it was her fault that the door of their house was the one her biological parents chose to leave her.

She went outside the house, in the corner of their large yard where she cried and cried. She will not stay in that house anymore. Only her mama and papa loved her and all the others think she was rubbish.

Later, her mother found her. "Eunice, I'm sorry," she said tearfully as she stroked her hair. “I know you are not the one at fault. You are a very good daughter and you will not be angry for no reason.”

“Ma, I’m leaving this house,” she said while crying.

“What? Why are you leaving, honey?” her mother asked. She was now crying with her.

“So, you don't have to balance anything. I feel sorry for you and dad. Whenever Erish and I have a problem, I know you’re having a hard time because she is your real daughter and I am not. Ma, I’m really sorry but I can no longer live here. I would rather be alone than be with Erish and fight every day. One more thing, I also need to move on. After what Erish and Neil did to me, I also need to build myself up. Ma, I'll go first.”

Her mother did not answer immediately, she knew she was hurting but she was decided to leave. How can she move on if she stays in that place? She hugged her mother. "I'm really sorry, ‘ma."

Present…

“WHAT? You’re coming home to Cavite because your sister and ex-boyfriend will get married?” Anne unbelievably asked Eunice. Anne was a border in that house too, just like Gladys.

“Yes,” Eunice answered.

“Why would you witness the marriage of your unfaithful ex-boyfriend and snake of a sister? Are you out of your mind?” Thet overreacted. She was a border there too and a friend, of course. She was friends with everyone in that boarding house. Well, except for one.

“I’ve moved on, don’t worry about me. It’s been five years already. How can I not move on?” Eunice said.

“Can I come with you, Eunice? I’m bored here in the boarding house,” asked Gladys.

“Zeph won’t allow you,” Eunice insisted.

“Oh, he will. I won’t marry him if he doesn’t allow me,” Gladys boasted.

“It’s up to you. But don’t blame if you get bored there too,” she told her.

“Sure!”

“And because you’re going to Cavite, you need a grand make over so the snakes in that place won’t think that you’re still affected with their venom!” Charmaine, one of the borders there too, exclaimed.

“Trulaloo! Let’s go to the salon, girls. We will make Eunice very beautiful,” said Brianna. She didn’t have a choice but to go with them. They will not stop until she did anyway.

“WHO IS she?” Billy asked his stepbrother, Neil. Two years ago, his widowed mother remarried. He did not stop her. He believed that his mom deserved to be happy. So, when his mother and her first love, Arnulfo Chavez, Neil's father, told him that they want to get married, he let them be. Tito Arnulfo was also a widow anyway so nothing could stop them from falling in love.

Neil has been also good to him. They do not spend much time together but when they do it does not make him feel different. Billy still lived in Manila while they are in Cavite. He was not afraid to leave his mommy there because he was sure that his stepdad and stepbrother will take care of his mother. He just can't stay with them because he has a job in Manila.

He always wanted to have a sibling. And Neil was his answered prayer. He considered him as a real brother. They can even beat the real siblings when they were together. Neil also has an older sister, she was around Billy’s age, but she was in Malaysia because of work.

“She’s Eunice, my first love,” Neil answered. They were sitting on the front porch of their house. He was there because it was only a few weeks and Neil was getting married. He went there to show some support. If he needed to work, he would just go back to Manila. In the meantime, he left the company with his cousin.

“First love?” Billy asked, smiling. “Why do I have this feeling that you’re not over her?” Based on the way Neil looked at the picture, he can see that he still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend.

“We did not even talk properly when she left. I'm stupid, bro. Do not imitate me,” he said, still shaking. He took the picture from him. A simple and happy maiden was there. Her hair was ponytailed and she did not have any lipstick on her face.

“She looked so innocent, bro,” he commented.

“She was only twenty-three in that picture. She is twenty-eight now. I’m not sure what she looks like now. Maybe, still the same,” Neil said.

“You seemed still in love with this girl. Hey, you’re getting married,” he reminded his stepbrother.

“She is Erish’s sister.”

“What?!” Erish was his stepbrother’s girlfriend, the one he will get married to.

“Eunice was my first girlfriend but I hurt her. I remember back then; I just woke up next to Erish. We're both naked. I do not know how we got into such a situation. Until I could not escape. I feel guilty for Erish because I was the first man in her life and I also feel guilty for Eunice because I knew I would hurt her. Until I decided to cut off my relationships with Erish because I could not afford to lose Eunice in my life but she suddenly kissed me and that was the scene Eunice caught up with. Until Eunice suddenly disappeared, I could no longer apologize to her. I'm so stupid, bro,” Neil said while lowering his head.

“That’s crazy, bro! I don’t know who will I give my sympathy. But poor Eunice, it must have been hard for her. She was betrayed by her boyfriend and sister,” he told Neil, shaking his head.

“I told you, I was really stupid,” Neil admitted.

“But you have to let go of the guilt and pain, bro. Like right now, you’re getting married. You have to learn to forgive yourself. You will start a new life with Erish now. I believed you love your fiancée.”

“I learned to love her. After all, she gave me everything. I realized it would be unfair to her if I leave her. So, here we are now, getting married. But you what? It is like there’s still something missing in my life.”

“Maybe because you did not apologize to Eunice yet. Maybe when you talk and he forgives you, you will be happier with Erish,” he said.

“Maybe you’re right, bro. It's just that I don't know where to look for her. I tried asking Erish, but of course I got nothing. She seems to have no news of Eunice. I even tried to ask her friend, Rejoice, but he also did not want to tell me the location of Eunice. I don't want to disturb Eunice anymore. I followed their suggestion not to look for Eunice anymore and let her be but I still feel restless,” was Neil’s problematic answer.

Billy sighed. “You know I’m not an expert to give advice, I haven’t been into a serious relationship. But I think it would be better if you talk to Eunice first, bro. It was really hard to move without closure.”

Neil agreed. “You’re right, bro. I think I should find Eunice. If I need to kneel to Rejoice, I’ll do it so I can find Eunice.”

“I just hope that you’re really over her because if not, that would be a big problem,” Billy said.

Neil stared at him intently but he did not answer. Billy already felt that it would be a problem once he talks to his ex-girlfriend again. "Bro, do not add any problems in your life," he advised him.

Neil nodded again and stared at the woman in the picture. His stepbrother was still in love with that woman. That was what he saw in his actions. There seemed to be no wedding when Eunice and Neil talk again. He was distracted by that thought.