House of Cards

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting warm hues over Amor's home. The white-painted exterior glowed in the fading light, and the neatly arranged potted plants along the entrance gave the place a cozy charm. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the kind that made even first-timers feel like family.

Amor burst through the door, practically dragging Matthew and his mother behind her. "We're here!" she announced histrionically, her voice ringing through the house like a nuclear bomb.

In the living room, Dawn, Amor's mother, looked up from her seat, her eyes widening. She practically flew across the room to greet them. "Helen!" she cried, her voice trembling with excitement and emotion.

Helen barely had time to brace herself before her sister enveloped her in a tight yearning hug. "You're finally here," Dawn said, stepping back to hold Helen at arm's length, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, the kind of joy that only family reunions could bring.

Helen chuckled, patting her sister on the back. "It feels good to be home."

"And it's good to have you home," Dawn added, looking over her sister's shoulder to see Matthew awkwardly standing beside her daughter.

"Come, come! Sit!" She added, gesturing for Helen and Matthew to take a seat on the ornate sofa, her hands fluttering in excitement. Then she looked at her husband, who had just stepped into the room. "Nando, the bags..."

Amor's father, Fernando, appeared from the hallway, his broad frame making him look imposing at first glance, but his warm smile softened that impression, giving him the presence of someone who could easily command attention without raising his voice. "Welcome back," he said, stepping forward to take the luggage near the doorway. His eyes flicked toward Matthew, who still stood awkwardly beside the door, feeling out of place. "You must be the famous Matthew. Come on in, make yourself comfortable."

"Famous?" Matthew muttered, more to himself than anyone else, his tone mixed with quiet dread, as if he already knew who was responsible.

"Of course," Fernando replied with a grin, leaning a little toward Matthew as if to make him feel less like an outsider. "Amor hasn't stopped talking about you since she found out you were coming."

Matthew sighed, throwing a look at Amor, who just grinned unapologetically.

Meanwhile, Felix ambled to the kitchen. Where Amore told him to unpack the gifts they'd bought from the market—it was a darling set of shirts and summer trunks Amor had thought were perfect for her cousin.

He carefully laid them out on the table. His mind was tired from the events of the day, and for a moment, he simply forgot about everything else around him, focusing solely on the small, personal task at hand.

The colors of the shirts seemed to blur into the background as his hands moved automatically to prepare them in gift bags.

After Fernando finished placing their relatives' belingings in their rooms, he made his way to the kitchen, eager to busy himself with the finishing touches on a tray of palabok—He was always proud of his dishes. After all, he was the one responsible for their family's meals, that was because his wife never bothered to learn how to.

He hummed a soft tune as he entered, glancing at Felix, he smiled as if he had seen one of his insufferable, but endearing old friends.

"Hey, kid," Fernando greeted warmly, his voice carrying the easy affection of a seasoned uncle, effortlessly making Felix feel like family. "Are they yours? They look nice." He flashed a smile, his eyes twinkling with light humor.

Felix, startled by the sudden attention, looked up and returned the smile, feeling a little self-conscious. "Oh, uh, no. Amor insisted we'd get something for your guests. She said Matthew would love them." He replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Fernando gave him an approving nod as he set a plate of palabok on the counter, his eyes studying the colorful dish as if he were admiring a work of art. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it. It's always the thought that counts, right?"

Felix chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, that's what she's hoping for." He quipped, then added, "What do you think, Tito? She's been all over me asking if he'd like them."

Fernando paused, wiping his hands on a dish towel before offering a reassuring smile, as if to say he understood the pressure his daughter might feel. "From what my wife describes him, I'm looking at a 'maybe he'll like them' thought," he said, his tone light and filled with the gentle humor. He patted Felix on the shoulder before returning to his work.

Moments later, the two worked in comfortable silence, the clinking of utensils and the ambience of the kitchen creating a serene picture of them, until Fernando gave Felix a sidelong glance, a teasing glint in his eye.

"So, what do you think of him?" he asked casually, stirring the pasta with an easy flourish, as though testing Felix's reaction.

Felix stiffened, nearly choking on himself, his mind scrambling for a response. "Excuse me, what?" he stammered, glancing at Fernando, who was clearly enjoying himself.

"You heard me," Fernando replied, gentleness laced in his tone. "He's a good-looking young man, isn't he?"

Felix groaned, turning back to the bag in his hands. "Why does everyone assume I have a crush on every guy I meet?" he muttered, his little fury all but contained.

Fernando chuckled. "Because past events have proven that you always do."

Felix decided to ignore that comment. His eyes rolling, then he scowled. "I. am. not. interested,"

"Besides, I'm on a ban," Felix added, stapling the gift bags with a nostalgic air, looking melancholically off to the side. "You won't see me with anyone for a while, Tito."

"You're still holding on to that guy? of course," Fernando sighed, meaning well, but the sentence came out with a certain bluntness that almost felt like an attack.

"I don't know, Tito," Felix replied, his voice fading with each syllable, his eyes downcast as though the weight of the conversation had caught up to him. "He's not—"

Just then, Amor burst into the kitchen, interrupting the moment with her boundless energy. "Felix! You should DEFINITELY stay the night!" she said, her enthusiasm as relentless as ever, a bright, eager grin lighting up her face. "The three of us can hang out. It'll be a blast! What do you think?"

Felix hesitated, glancing down, uncertainty written all over his features. "I doOoOn't think my dad would let me."

Right—his dad. It almost seemed taboo between them because at the mention of him, it was guaranteed to make his and Amor's smile falter, just for a moment. She crossed her arms, her tone turning sour. "Your dad is such a—ugh, don't even get me started."

He was strict, and not the loveable kind. Felix's father, Vicente, was notorious in the neighborhood for being too harsh on his family, especially to Felix. He had always suspected Felix might not be who he says he is. He paraded him with his drunkard friends, forced him to play basketball, straightening him up, everything—was a nightmare adorned in discipline.

"Amor," Fernando said gently, giving her a look before turning to Felix. His voice soothing, he added, "I'll talk to him. Vicente and I go way back. He'll listen to me."

"ReEaAally?" Amor asked, her voice entwined with doubts, crossing her arms in a defensive stance. "Just because both of you get blacked out drunk everytime doesn't mean he'll listen to you."

Felix shifted uncomfortably, the thought of his father's disapproval pressing heavily on his chest. "I don't want to cause any trouble. It's for the best if I head home."

"Awww, but! but—" Felix raised his palm comedically, wiping his make-believe tears.

"I'm sorry...I...but I must go!" He said, feigning shrieks and moans, his dramatic display making Amor chuckle, and her father smile. Still, Fernando sighed, clearly pained but he understood well. There wasn't really a clear way to read Felix's father so he just packed a container of palabok and handed it to Felix. "Here. Take this with you. At least let me do that."

Felix smiled faintly, feeling the warmth of the gesture despite the awkwardness. "Thanks, Tito Nando."

In the living room, Felix said his goodbyes to Helen and Dawn, bowing slightly in respect, a habit ingrained from years of politeness and of course, discipline. When his gaze flicked to Matthew, he froze. Matthew was already standing, his arms crossed, his expression enigmatic.

"You're already leaving?" asked Helen, rummaging through her bag as though she hadn't expected him to go so soon. "Here, take this,"

It was a chocolate bar, and although it was soft and had probably melted, it still felt nice making him, though he had done nothing special, feel appreciated.

"Thank you, tita." Felix beamed, then Dawn waved goodbye. "Say hi to your mother for me," she called, her voice with sincerity. He nodded in response, but before he could pass through the threshold, Matthew stood to block him.

"I'll walk you home," he said suddenly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Felix blinked, quite startled. He hadn't expected that to happen. "You don't have to—"

"It's fine," Matthew interrupted, already moving towards the door, and afterwards, outside.

Helen and Dawn exchanged surprised glances, as though they'd both sensed something's wrong with him.

"My son's been adjusting lately, maybe he needs some time for air," Helen said softly, clenching Dawn's hand, her words thoughtful as she gave Felix a warm gaze.

She added, almost as an afterthought, "Could you perhaps tell him more about the Barangay? London's where his heart is, I'm certain he'd be able to like it here if he got to know more about the place."

Felix sighed. Normally, he would have politely declined, but with Aunty Dawn watching, he knew she wouldn't accept anything less than a yes.

"Alright tita," he answered making Dawn smile ear to ear. "See I told you, Felix is a good kid, best friends with Amor since elementary! And he has never let her down."

Shaking his head, grinning, Felix headed towards the door.

Meanwhile, behind the kitchen door, Amor looked just about ready to tag along, but Fernando placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Let them go," he said with a knowing smile. "And help me with this."

Grumbling, Amor relented, leaving Felix and Matthew to step out into the cooling evening atmosphere.

Matthew, upon sharing a glance at Amor's innocent grin peeking through the kitchen door's glass, for some reason, it struck him in a way that made her seem more menacing than playful.

Maybe it was the way her eyes twinkled mischievously, or the way she seemed to watch him from behind the glass like a cat eyeing its prey—creepy...

Eitherway, this day has been more perilous than anything he went through. God...it had begun to take its toll on him, and he felt the need for some space, a moment to breathe away from the whirlwind of events.

But he didn't want to appear rude or make it look like he was escaping. Not to his mother and her family at least, so he quickly made up his mind.

Walking with his cousin's friend would do the trick. Soothing his nerves without anyone suspecting anything. After all, Felix didn't seem to mind, except he did mind but he chose to ignore it.

"Let's go," Felix shot, coming from behind. "Just follow me,"

"Alright,"