Why Does Love Hurt?

Nathan noticed that she was walking alone and hadn't asked for a ride from him yet. He just wonders if she's hiding something from him now. Yesterday, Mariely walked home without him knowing, and when she returned, her clothes were soaking wet from the rain.

He needs to talk to his sister; however, he doesn't want to suspect and restrict her because she has her life just like him.

This is the only time he's ever told her this. He knew they were both busy with work, but his brotherly instincts still prevailed, since Mariely was his only sibling.

"Sis?" Nathan called her, but he just knocked in case Mariely was still getting dressed.

"Yes, brother?" Mariely opened the door for him; Nathan saw that she was already dressed in casual clothes.

"Can I talk to you for a bit?" Nathan asked Mariely.

Nathan saw the surprise on Mariely's face, but she just nodded. "Okay." Mariely agreed.

They went to the living room; that's where they'll talk now. He just wants to talk to her seriously; maybe something is bothering her sister. Mariely is still reviewing for the board exam. Nathan sat there, and his sister followed.

Mariely just quietly sat beside him, waiting to see what they would talk about. Nathan just sighed.

"I've noticed that sometimes, you don't ask for a ride or say where you want to go. Last Sunday you said you visited your student; am I right?" Nathan reminded all of what his sister has been doing lately behind his back.

"Ah, about that, I just really wanted to ask for your forgiveness because, well, my trip was a last-minute decision, so I didn't ask your permission." Mariely tried to explain her side.

"It's okay that you didn't ask permission first, but you should text us to let us know where you are. There are many possibilities that could happen to you that we don't know about if something happens to you." Nathan tried to talk to Mariely as calmly as he could.

He sees her sister nodded and bowed her head. "Sorry, brother, it slipped my mind."

He sighed softly, understanding that his sister is reflecting on her actions and genuinely apologizing to him.

"You know I'm not forbidding you, don't you? Is something bothering you? Lately, I've noticed you've been sighing constantly and seeming to be in deep thought." Nathan reminded Mariely of his previous concern and then asked her another question.

"Is work putting pressure on you? Or the board exam?" He asked questions one after another.

"I— It's not that, brother. I told you about my student, didn't I? I told you then that I was worried the child would lose their scholarship, and they ended up orphaned. She also mentioned that she was absent because of that, so as her adviser, I want to help her." Mariely explained it to him further.

Nathan was the one who sighed this time. He shouldn't comment on things he doesn't understand in a field he doesn't know. But if Nathan felt it was a burden on his sister, he needed to talk to her.

"Did you fix it?" Nathan asked her.

Mariely nodded at him. "She's a working student now, and I'm glad she's happy there." Mariely said it while smiling at Nathan.

"Okay, that's pleasing to hear. I understand that your teaching job requires you to do things for your students, but if it's too much, don't let it affect you too." He gave him some advice here.

Mariely nodded in agreement.

"By the way, is Frank bothering you?" he asked immediately.

Mariely looked at him and frowned. "Brother, why did you ask that?" she asked him back.

"Could it be a yes or no?" He stared at it intently.

"No. Our paths no longer cross." Her sister says it.

"Are you sure? You're not lying, are you?" he asked Mariely, just to be sure.

"Yes, brother." Her reply was short.

XXX

My brother will kill me if I lie. Mariely just said it to herself. 

Nathan just messed up her hair. 

Forgive me, brother. You wouldn't kill me if I lied, would you? She couldn't help but ask herself.

Mariely secretly stared at his brother. It only just sighed. 

I'm really going to avoid that man. But what he's doing isn't harmful, is it? You did get safely home, didn't you, because of him? She couldn't help but ask her mind.

"How was your review, by the way? You've been teaching at the school for a month already." Nathan even said to her.

"Nosebleed, but I can handle it." She proudly said it to her brother and grinned.

"You know, give yourself a break if your brain really doesn't want to work; don't force yourself to study if your brain doesn't want to." Nathan lectures her again.

"What if it really doesn't work? Would it be advisable for me to refrain from studying for the board exam? Can I just chill?" Mariely asked her brother jokingly and suppressed her laughs.

"Oh, you're really joking now for this serious thing?" Nathan messed her hair.

She burst into laughter and hugged her brother. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it."

"If you have any problems, just tell me," Nathan said and looked at her with a serious look.

"I will ask to borrow money from you, brother; I don't have any money right now." She jokingly says it to Nathan.

"Seriously, your salary is quite large; where did you spend it?" Nathan asked again with a frown.

"Just kidding, you really can't take a joke. Is that truly how things are when you're on the verge of getting married?" She enjoys teasing her brother frequently.

"What are you saying? Stop it. You're getting annoying." Nathan even elbowed her.

She just laughed at her brother's reaction. 

The children's exam week is approaching, so she's busy creating test questions right now. Mariely's going to have to work on the table of specifications again now, she just sighed.

Sometimes, her laptop acts up too; it probably sensed her current rush. The amusing part is that the school is responsible for photocopying all the test questions created by the teachers.

Their principal, Becca, called a meeting to discuss upcoming events at the school. Her brother Nathan knew she would be late getting home; besides, it would also take a while to pick her up because Nathan had a meeting with a client at his company.

The meeting is over, and darkness has fallen.

"Mariely, come with me or stay at the condo so your brother can pick you up." Veron is so kind to her. 

"Really?" She asked her in return. 

Veron nodded at her. Mariely was with Veron before, but suddenly Veron was brought into Mariely's house, which surprised her.

"Hey Veron, you said I'd only be staying at the condo today." She added, somewhat surprised.

Veron even laughed at her. Just Mariely's luck, her brother called. 

"Hello, brother, I'm already home. My coworker drove me here." She added on the other line.

"Okay, that's pleasing to hear. Who drove you? Is that a woman? Or is he your suitor?" Nathan asked again on the other line.

Veron heard that and even laughed. Her brow furrowed and her cheeks flushed.

"Brother! It's a woman." She only shakes her head in response to that question.

Mariely even heard Nathan laugh on the other line. "Ah, I see you. Why don't you invite your companion to dinner first?" Nathan suggested it.

They both looked at each other. 

"My brother said you should have dinner here." She clarified the situation to Veron.

Veron only nodded and gave a thumbs-up. They went down, then got in the car. They heard a car horn and were only illuminated by it. 

"I'll open the gate first." She said to Veron.

She just nodded at her. "Also, just park your car." Mariely said to her guest.

"It's fine, Mariely, as it allows me to exit easily," Veron said to her.

She just nodded and respected Veron. "Okay, it's up to you."

Her brother was already parked, and he got out immediately.

"Good evening." Nathan greeted their guest.

"Good evening." Veron said politely. She just raised an eyebrow and smiled at her friend.

"Come inside; my sister rarely has visitors." His brother added.

"Okay, thank you."

Nathan went inside first.

They just followed along.

"Let's go." She invited Veron. She nodded at Veron, and Veron followed her.