Introduction

“Are you really not coming with us?” I was sitting in front of my dresser, doing my brows when my mom entered my room and asked me that.

“Nope” I simply answered, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

My mom rolled her eyes “Your dad would probably get sad and disappointed with your answer”

I let out a short laugh because what she said.

“Mom, I already told dad about this and he said it's fine”

She looks irritated as she sat down next to me “I can’t handle all your brothers by myself! You should come with us”

“I knew it! You wanted me to come because you want me to be the one who’ll get stressed out” I told her while chuckling.

It’s pretty obvious that she wanted me to come with them because she needs someone to look after my younger brothers on the way to the airport because today is my dad’s flight.

“Joel is coming with you” I added and then I started brushing my hair.

My mom let out a deep sigh. She stole the brush and she stood up to go behind me so she can do it instead. “You know your brother, he’s not really reliable. When he started playing mobile games, he is into his own world” I smiled as she speaks out.

I have four younger brothers. Joel is the child after me and I’m three years older than him. Well, he’s not really trustworthy and dependable so most of the time my mom only rely on me. Aside from Joel, I have brothers who are triplets. They are really young, only seven years old. The triplets are really naughty like there are times that I just wanted to put some leash on them.

I love them still though. They just stress me out most of the time.

“Mom, we have car. You can just tie them up to their baby seat so you can freely move around” I laughed imagining that.

My mom hit me with the brush because of irritation “I will be driving them home. I’m worried that they might ask for something and I can’t give it because I’m driving”

I pouted my lips “You know I really can’t come. Tomorrow is the battle of the bands and today is our last rehearsal. Louie will get mad at me if I skipped it”

My father is an engineer abroad and obviously today is his flight. I can’t come even if I wanted to because I am a guitarist and a back-up vocal in the band that will represent our course tomorrow. Our leader, Louie, who’s also our drummer might throw his drumsticks at me if I was absent on our last rehearsal.

My mom just stayed silent knowing that there’s nothing I can really do, she just started braiding my hair. Although I really wanted to come with them, my rehearsal is really important.

When she’s done, she helped me picking out my outfit. And while I am on the middle of tying my shoelaces the triplets barged into my room.

“Mom! Jules, pinched me here” I smiled at how Jared cutely pouted and pointed his arms while complaining to my mom.

Oh! How much I wanted to pinch those chubby cheeks!

Jules frowned and pouted “No! It’s you who started it”

“Mom, let me explain what happened here” James went to my mom and he started his cute little explanation about the pinching fight between Jared and Jules. His cute gestures brought a smile to my lips.

My mom look stressed even before they leave the house. She looks at me, asking for help. I just smiled teasingly at her and I continued doing my shoelaces.

“You brats! Complain to your sister, I’m going to check on your father” she quickly went out of the room.

What the hell? Did she just pass me the responsibility?

Good thing my brothers forgot about it. They just got over their little fight and happily jump up and down on my bed.

They look like three bouncing balls. They are so chubby. And cute, of course.

“Ate Rylie, I have a joke” I rolled my eyes while checking my outfit in front of the mirror when Jules told me that.

“I like jokes!” James and Jared exclaimed in chorus.

“What is it?” I asked and sat on the bed as they continued jumping.

“What do you call a wolf that knows everything?” Jules excitedly asked.

I raised my brows “What?”

“A werewolf” they happily answered me in unison. They all know this joke?

I made a face of disgust “Is that from dad?”

They nodded. “That’s why it’s corny” I said and stood up.

I saw them stopped bouncing all at once and glared at me “You’re no fun. Ugly!” Jared shouted and they threw some pillows at me. It hit directly in my face.

I just did my make-up. These irritating minions!

Before I even shouted or fought back, they quickly ran outside. I chased them but they are fast. I just rolled my eyes and went back into my room.

Minutes passed and it’s time to leave. We are now in front of the SUV, my dad is busy putting his luggage inside. Joel went out with his headphones on. I’m just wondering why my brother is taller than me. I am only 5'3 while he is 5’9. I should be taller than him because I’m older, right?

I rolled my eyes at him when our eyes met. I faced my mom, “Let’s take a picture!”

My mom nodded and called for my dad. “It’s just a waste of time. Let’s just go” Joel complained while his hand is on the pocket of his jeans.

“Then go. I don’t want to take a picture with you either” I told him with my arms crossed.

“Brat!”

“Moron!”

“Short legs!”

I gasped when he said that. He stared down at me with a smug look. I didn’t talk back and just punched him in the arm. I know he will not fight back, he’s still scared of me. Scared that he might hurt me. LOL.

“Stop it, Rylie Jordynn” My mom told me and looked at Loren, the babysitter and our one and only helper “Please, take a picture of us”. The latter nodded and I gave her my phone. My family posed in front of the SUV.

We took few shots and then we get ready to leave. They will drop me off first on the house of Louie where we will practice.

My dad checked if we are all good and then he went to the driver seat. With that, we drove off.

It took half an hour to Louie’s house. When we reached it, I went out of the van, my dad did the same. He gave me a hug and a kiss on my forehead.

I hugged him back, “Take care, dad”

“Yes, Jordynn. I love you, princess”

“I love you too, dad”

He let go of me and smiled sweetly, “We’ll go now”

I nodded and he walked to the driver seat. I waved my hand at them, my mom did the same and they drove off. My dad and I are very close although he’s been leaving since I was 8 years old. He never failed on reminding me that I am her princess and he loves me. It’s sad that he needs to leave but we need it because his salary abroad are way higher than if he worked here in the Philippines.

I took a deep sigh when the SUV is out of my sight. I will definitely miss my dad.

When I went in the studio inside Louie’s house, they are all there, but I am not late. They are just early.

“Why are you late?” I raised my brow on how Mac greeted me.

“I am not late, loser. You guys are just early” I rolled my eyes at him first and smiled afterwards because Mac raised his brow at me too.

“Jo, come here! Let’s set up your guitar” Jacob called me and he helped me tuning my guitar.

All of my bandmates slash friends are guys and I like it that way although there’s a lot of girls getting envious or mad because of their stereotyped idea that girls who hang out with guys are slut or something, not knowing that I am with them, because there’s less drama and more fun.

We are six in the band; Louie is the leader and the drummer. Vince is the main vocal. Jacob is the lead guitarist. I am the back-up vocal and the rhythm guitarist. Paul is the bassist and lastly, Mac is the keyboardist.

We are all busy setting up and tuning our instruments. Jacob helped me to adjust the strap of my guitar. We spend few minutes in that and then Louie told us to start the rehearsal.

After more than an hour of practice, Louie called for a break and that’s good because I’m really hungry and thirsty. I sat on the floor, my guitar is still on me. I turned off the amplifier when Paul sat beside me.

“What do you need, ugly?” I asked and teased him with my eyebrow raised.

“You better look in the mirror to see what ugly looks like” he teased back and I just laughed.

We are all sitting at the floor while waiting for Louie. He will bring food and water. He always do that, but when we are at school, or when we eat out, he never pays. He told us that he will just feed us at their house so we always go here.

“Guys! I have a joke” I glanced at Mac when he said that.

“Keep it to yourself” I laughed at his face when he rolled his eyes on me. “Just kidding”

Jacob looked at Vince at Paul, “Make sure to laugh” he whispered but I think we all heard it.

Mac just rolled his eyes at them but still continued to tell his joke, “What does a house wear?”

There’s a complete silence, the guys are probably thinking about it but I don’t. I was about to ask ‘what’ but Paul spoke.

“A dress”

Mac glared at him but we all laughed. His face just told that Paul got the right answer but I think this reaction is better because the joke wasn’t funny, Mac’s face is. He look defeated and irritated.

When the laughter died down, Jacob looked at me “Can you play a song for us?”

I frowned at him, “Why can’t you play for yourself? You’re a guitarist, right?”

Mac took that opportunity to laugh. And I don’t know what’s funny. But I think, he just wanted to tease Jacob because he laughed at him a while ago. They started to mock each other and the other two, Paul and Vince, joined too.

I let out a deep sigh andshook my head at these immature guys. I turned on my amplifier so I can make a move to stop them from teasing, “What song?” I asked them, boringly.

They stopped and cheered because I agree to play a song for them. Jacob even teased me that I love them so much that I can’t bear to see them fight because of me. And I made a disgusting face. As if they are fighting because of me. They are fighting because of their immaturity.

He pinched my cheeks and I pinched him back. We laughed at each other's faces before letting go.

I gave in and I started playing guitar. They requested the theme song of Sofia the first and Miraculous. What really amazed me is that they memorized the lyrics. I don't know why there's a lot of girls crushing on them when they act like this. Yes, they are all handsome but they are very childish.

We are on the middle of laughing when Louie came in with four boxes of pizza, a bottle of soda and a pitcher of water. My friends complained about how much they are hungry with the sight of food. Louie glared at them and tried to protect it from the attack of these immature guys. I just laughed at them.

I am hungry too so I was about to take off my guitar when Louie called my name.

“Why?” I sweetly asked him to tease and annoy. He made a face of disgust. I laughed once again.

He shook his head at me before pointing at my phone near my bag. “Someone’s calling you. Answer it. And please stop that face”

I didn’t answer and just laughed to annoy him more. I stood up to get my phone and there I saw Loren’s name.

I went out to the balcony to answer it because it’s really loud inside, but the when I'm about to accept it, the call ended. And I saw a lot of missed calls from her.

She called me again so I quickly answered it because I’m curious why she’s calling me a lot.

“Hello?”

Loren didn’t speak but I can hear her soft cries. I frowned because I thought someone hurt her.

“Loren? Are you alright? Did something happened?”

After I asked that, her cries became louder.

“Hello? Loren? You okay?” I am seriously concern now.

“Jo” and she cried again.

I don’t know but my heart started beating fast. The way she called my name scares me.

“Please, can you speak? I don’t know what’s happening. You’re scaring me”

“Jo” she pauses “Your family” then she let out a loud cry.

My body froze. I waited for her words because I need to know what's the problem with my family. I was filled with fear and worry.

“They got into an . . . accident”

I feel like my world stopped. I can feel my body trembling, my knees shaking and both my hands and feet are cold.

“They. . .” I can hear her gulp to stop her cries “They are dead, Jo” and I just fell into my knees. All my strength just left my body because of shock.