In these crowded hallways, I feel like I am on my own-- lonely and in solitary. This school has only been a building for me to learn things about the world; It has never been like Facebook where I meet faceless people and feel the need to befriend them. Here, I have made a few, but are they true? I doubt. They belong to the kind that is only there when they need me for something.

    My true friends are larger than life, gods and goddesses-- Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite, Cupid. My days revolve around Greek mythology and every time I read their stories, it is as if the characters come alive. These stories of fantasy become my life, the real place where I can truly breathe. I walk around the corners of this school. My skirt that reaches just under my knee, sways with every step I take.

    I cross the swollen sea of students and some, who have nothing to do in the world, bump me like I am a rag doll getting tossed around. I have memorized this feeling a long time ago, this is nothing new to me. I am totally aware that I have crossed that thin line between the respected and the bullied. Basically, I am never skinny nor fat, beautiful nor ugly, nerd nor genius-- I just have that gut feeling that no one likes me for being average. My wandering feet stop me in front of one of the lockers painted yellow. I put in the combination to unlock it and it easily clicks open. My locker, basically, is filled with stuffs that most people will not bargain for: unrealistic thick books, unfashionable accessories and weird little statues from the thrift shop down the road.

    I extend my right arm and fish out a book about mythology, then load it in my plaid backpack. Before closing the locker door, I take a glance on a black and white mini poster of Westlife, hanging on the door, and a smile is easily plastered as a song of them plays in my head. This declares me as the only girl who is not a fan of One Direction or 5 Seconds Of Summer, and their poppy and youthful anthems.

    I push the locker door to meet its frame and surprisingly, something by the corner of my eye catches my attention. "Aah!!" I moderately shout as I see Justin, the most naughty guy in the whole school, evilly grinning at me. "What are you doing there?" I ask, as if I don't know the tricks up his sleeve, as he presses his back on the neighboring lockers.

    "Nothing." He answers thriftily, I am not convinced.

    My eyes roll in annoyance. I plan to walk away to escape the troubles he might bring, but he pulls me in with an arm, enough to make me lose my balance. My bottom hits the floor and I feel the urge to lie down straight.

    My expression shifts to somewhat pissed, "What's the big idea, Justin?" I ask as I look up at his face with a nasty smile painted on it.

    "Don't go yet, I have a gift for you." He announces before dropping a deep green, real toad on my face; it splatters on my face like paint and I feel its warmth and beating heart as it twitches on my nose line.

    People drop what they are doing, I hear laughter as I once again look like a fool in their eyes. Girls, boys, seniors, juniors, and even my Biology teacher. Everyone, who is everyone, enjoys laughing at me. I am a mime even if I am not trying to be one.

    I try to move my hands and grab the toad, but I am too stunned to even budge, I am frozen. Fear and humiliation are never a good combination-- well, to me.

    Their insulting laughter are all that is echoing inside my ear lobes, pounding them hard like they are snare drums.

My head turns and slowly, my vision blurs until I see nothing but pitch-black.

---

    I feel motion, like I am getting carried to somewhere, and that's enough to wake me up from my short rest.

    I forcedly open my eyes and it takes some seconds before they adjust and clear up-- that is when I witness the setting sun and it is grandeur and majestic like always. Golden strings of light, scattering like branches, beam throughout the stratosphere, making every angle a picture perfect.

    "You're awake already?" A deep voice from the front asks me.

    I realize, then, by his perfume that resembles freshly peeled tangerines and his nearly shaved head, I already know who he is.

    I felt that ultimate feeling that he will show up at school, and it wasn't wasted. He is my superhero; He will always save me from everything, to say the least, even back when we were just little kids; He is a friend, playmate, savior-- and even more, he is Emerson ... my older brother.

    "Oh yes, I am also fine now. Let me down, Emerson." I kindly order and he gladly obeys.

    As my feet touch the ground, I fix my checkered skirt that is upturned by the gravity. Then, I clear my face from loose strands of my honey blond hair that once is covering it. "What happened earlier?" Emerson curiously asks as I continue fixing myself.

    My head shakes, "It was just another chapter of my life. Nothing special. Don't pay too much attention to that."

    He smiles and I don't know the reason.

    "But I can't, Erin. You know I have always been there for you, and always will. Don't worry, I won't let that happen again, I am here to protect you. What kind of a brother will I become if I just let you get hurt?" He answers the reason and that erases my doubt, not just for today, but for a longer period.

    "I know," I answer back with a big smile, "You are the best brother there ever was!!" I happily skip on his spot, wrap my arms around him and bury my head on his chest. His heartbeat plays in my right ear like a soothing melody.

    I glance as he shows me again that beautiful smile for some seconds before diverting his attention to the vast vicinity we are overlooking.

    "Now, I know why you like it here." His comment, "It is beyond wonderful. The reflecting lake on the distance and the trees and how they sparkle ... wow!" He is completely awestruck.

    I look again on the horizon and I can't disagree on everything Emerson said. The rich yellow sun rays illuminate every single tree we can put our eyes on, making them look golden like fireflies in the black canvas of the night.

    This moment lets me forget what had happened today, what I felt and what I had been through. I wish moments like this can be frozen and I can relive it every time I want to feel happy. Emerson has that sane effect on me, his presence always makes me feel that I am safe and sound.

    He puts his right arm around me and embraces me back. Together, we watch as the sun hides below the horizon -- this, by far, is the best feeling ever.

    Most siblings will fight over toys, attention, and rewards, but we never do that. Emerson lifts me up whenever he is flying and he makes sure that I stay up on cloud nine even if it means he has to fall on the cold ground.

    Soon, the night steals hours from the day and darkness creeps in. I want to stay longer and see stars appearing one by one, but dizziness is a killjoy as it starts to kick in.

    "Emerson ... can we please go home now?" I ask as I wobble a bit. He grips on me tight so I will not fall. "Is there something wrong, Erin?" He asks.

    My head feels heavy that I need to support it with my hand, "I-I am feeling dizzy..." I state, my voice feels weak.

    Emerson is quick. Without a word, he jumps in front of me and, then, let me fall on his back gracefully. He secures that I will not slip as he carries me on his back once again. I wrap my arms at the bottom of his neck.

    We walk past pine trees and desolated paths, vacating the cliff and its view. Moonlight and shadows guide Emerson's feet as we search for our way out.

    I cling more on his back and hang my chin on his right shoulder blade. Soft winds blow through my eyes and melatonin starts to take effect.

    "You can sleep if you want to, I'll just wake you up when we arrive home." He suggests after noticing my drowsy gestures.

    Emerson keeps on walking, trying to bear my weight.

    My eyes hide themselves from the world and my lips curve a smile he will not see.

---

    The car does a full stop.

    My eyes open as the headlights go off.

    I am occupying the shotgun seat of Emerson's blue car, Subaru to be exact. A seatbelt keeps me in place.

    Emerson's silhouette appears as he makes his way to open my door. His smile greets me as the door unlocks.

    "How's my dear sister? Do you feel okay now?' He asks, unbuckling the seatbelt and freeing me from its bound.

    I reach for my backpack on the car's floor then stand up. Emerson insists on helping and it is much appreciated, especially now that I am still feeling weak. Knees like gelatin, arms like soft satin.

    "Seems like mom and dad have not arrived yet." Brother prompts as he takes a quick glance on our house. I copy him and see that the lights are still all out. If it isn't for the lamp posts, our house will be lost in the deep shadows.

    Emerson accompanies and escorts me to the house as I feel fragile. He locks the car's doors as we leave and into the house we go.

    Floor-to-ceiling windows surround the main door side by side, this gives everyone a glimpse of the receiving area. The interior is dark like the night, lights creeping in through the windows serve as the only way to get the foyer brightened.

    "Can you stand on your own?" Emerson inquires, he is the most concerned people I have ever met.

    I look at him and the shadowing on his face is perfect for his eyes to stand out, to draw in any unprepared person who will look at his pair of eyes-- and I am an unwilling victim. "Ye-e-es..." I stutter as I force out an answer and try to distract myself from his eyes of hazelnut that sparkle like the stars.

    I stand in the corner and faces the floor to escape his eyes. I wait patiently as he grabs the key inside the pocket of the varsity jacket he is donning.

    I hear the door clicks open and Emerson utters an invitation, "Let's go in now. I bet you're hungry." He lends his left hand and I use it to support my weight and walk normally.

    We go straight to my room on the far left of the second floor. My room is the same as what I left earlier. A single bed with two soft uncovered pillows resting, a hot dog-shaped pillow on the side, and a white floral bed sheet beneath them. There also stands a bookshelf that I call a mini library, on the corner housing all my books about mythology and novels penned by John Green and Paulo Coelho. My room isn't that girly and pink all over nor boyish and cluttered ... it is just average, like me.

    Emerson sits me up at the corner of my bed and I remain there. Without even a hush, he leaves the room and then I hear footsteps descending the wooden, uncarpeted stairs.

    I just sit here, motionless, blankly staring at the books that can't fit on the bookshelf no more -- so they lie inanimately on the floor.

    I almost don't notice the swinging of the door and how Emerson walks in. He arrives with a bowl of soup, two loaves of bread, and an apple cider all situated over a tray. To top it all is his wide smile that allowed his pearly whites to be exposed more.

    "Brought your favorites." He announces, "Cream of corn soup, some wheat bread and an apple cider." He adds, specifying all the things I thought he is carrying.

    He places them on my side table and occupies the neighboring space beside me. After making himself comfortable, he grabs the table and gently brings it closer to us. Its legs rub against the carpeted floor, making friction and a rubbing sound. I remain in silence, no words escape my mouth.

    Emerson then reaches for a spoonful of soup and it carefully makes its way to my mouth. It tastes delicious, like every other recipe my brother have prepared for me over the past years.

    I watch as he gets himself busy on feeding me. His mouth opens and closes, he is talking, but I cannot hear a sound. All I know is that it is moving.

    He faces me again and I don't know why, but my lips find his.

    The spoon plummets from Emerson's hands and to the floor, soiling its monochrome colo, tingling a high-pitched chime. I feel the warmth and lusciousness of his lips as it makes contact with mine; It feels like seventh heaven ... it feels so ... right.

    Then his arms come unconscious and push me off, sending me away from him. "What the fuck!?" He screams, wiping every trace of my lip-glossed lips from his. His face paints anger, confusion and disbelief, and that makes me terrified.

    "I-I am so sorry, Emerson. I was just carried away, don't take it seriously, please." I bluff, I lie.

    His eyebrows meet, furious. How can his own sister kiss him passionately? I bet his  brain's asking.

    He dusts off his shirt from stains of the soup before declaring, "I'll be in my room." Like the way he entered, Emerson leaves unnoticed. A slamming door, too, comes unexpected.

    I am left alone as I cry myself to sleep.

    Confused and broken.

---

    The next morning is a Saturday. Birds chirp lowly and I never consider that as an omen of some sort.

    I toss away the comforter hugging me and get up from my bed. My fingers run through my hair, fixing all knots and twists that my slumber made. Afterwards, I vacate my room untouched, unused.

    As my door swings open, Emerson's door synchronizes with it. There, he goes out in his white shirt of TMNT tightly hugging his figure paired with a grey pajama. His face looks solemn ... until it sees mine.

    "Can I talk to you?" He states, full of authority and credibility in his voice. I suck in some air before giving the affirmation nod. The next morning is a Saturday. Birds chirp lowly and I never consider that as an omen of some sort.

    I find myself in his room, sitting nervously on its middle. On the right of a study desk cluttered with stuffs used for architecture; on the left of his mahogany closet that keeps all his remarkable outfits; in front of a king-sized bed covered in navy blue bed sheets and matching pillowcases for the pillows; and behind an Emerson, looking like an interrogator right now. "Why do you have to do that?" He asks sheepishly.

    "Do what?"

    "K-k..Kiss me..." He struggles.

    I thought it was a dream, but it is the reality. That explains why my lips still have the   taste only his allow. I look down and ignore his question ... or just refuse to answer it.

    "You ... you ... gave me a reason to believe..."He prompts.

    My head goes up and looks at him dumbfounded. "Believe in what, Emerson?"

    "That ... we could happen." He announces and finally, he faces me. I glimpse at his physique again, one of the reasons I remember of why I risked that kiss. But what's more awakening is his answer ... what does he mean by that?

    "What do you mean?" I ask my mental question.

    He takes a pause and just stare at me.

    I do the very same.

    He inhales and utters, "We have grown really close, Erin. Sometimes I feel like this connection is more than just being siblings..." He takes another pause and I still cannot see to where he is going, "I forced myself to stand to where my place is ... I built walls to veil this stupid thing I am feeling. But one natural skill our hearts have is the ability to reject orders of who we want to love. We cannot dictate our heart of whom to love ,and that kiss last night made my walls tumble. That kiss, it made everything clear. I am in love with you, Erin." That is the longest speech I have ever heard of Emerson.

    But what he said ... that strikes me and I can't react nor move. I just watch as he saunters my way. Closer and closer, inch by inch. Our eyes meet and our lips follow.

    It is passionate, torrid, and rough ... it is illegal.

---

    I wake up naked, stripped-- a sheet covers all of my femininity. I dejectedly look out the window displaying the setting sun on the horizon.

    Everything is paced, it all happened too fast.

    Emerson's arm then hangs over me and his naked chest touches my back as he locks me in for an embrace.

    "Emerson..."

    "Erin?" He calls out.

    "What is wrong with us?" I ponder.

    He budges a bit and his embrace tightens, "Nothing. There's nothing wrong with us. This feels right, isn't it?"

    "What if mom and dad finds out about this?" I add another question.

    "Hey, Don't forget. I am also your older brother." He proudly states with a big grin that is hard to miss.

    I turn around and face him, still clutching on the sheets. "And that's why I am scared." My voice sounds fragile, hinting sadness.

    His expression changes, he looks taken aback.

    "In our eyes, this is love; but in theirs, this is a sin, a crime." I say as tears start to escape my eyes.

    Emerson's thumb wipes my tears off my cheeks, like what he usually does. "But you are not alone. They can't judge us." He comments, trying his very best to make me feel alright. "They can, Emerson ... they can. As long as they have something to talk about, people will talk. And, soon, we will be a topic of their never-ending chain of gossips. I don't think I can handle that." I break into pieces, but Emerson keeps me intact. He hugs and comforts me by running his hand on my back, piecing me back together again.

    "I am here, Erin. I won't leave. And, no other pretty face except yours is worthy of my love." He cups my face between his hands and guide it to directly look to his, "I love you with all that I have ,and I will fight for this like how I always fight for you." He states then finishes it with a kiss on my forehead.

    That sends shock through my whole body and, surprisingly, it calms me down. I look at Emerson's gorgeous face looking at me ... making me feel that I am in safe place again.

    I bury my face again on his chest and that same heartbeat beats again.

    Our bodies link with each other as the nighttime creeps in again.

---

    Days and nights pass, and we are unchanged. My love for Emerson grows as his grows with mine. I spend most of the nights sleeping enveloped between Emerson's biceps and sneakily hiding from our parents' watchful eyes, but staying under their noses.

    I have never felt happiness like this before. This erases every single hardship I have been through throughout my existence. Emerson is not only my brother now, he is my lover and my partner in conquering the judgmental world of dirty lies.

    "Are you still scared, Erin." He asks me with his eyes piercing through me.

    I've never been confident in asking a question before that, but I straightforwardly answer, "Not anymore, Emerson. Love is not for the cowards."

    He nods with a sweet smile every girl wants to see, "Love is a free fall and we decide how to land." He declares and then kiss me in the forehead. "I love you, Erin." He adds.

    I run my hand on his cheeks and answer him back, "I love you too, Emerson."

I turn myself so he can hug my tighter as we prepare ourselves for the 'good night'.

    The moonlight shines over us like it is our spotlight.

    "Good night." He states.

    "Good night." I recoil.

    Suddenly, there is a call outside, a familiar sound, "Emerson?" and nothing prepared us from that quick swing of the door. It reveals my mother, shocked by the sight of her children tangled to one another-- naked.

    She quickly retreats and all I hear is footsteps, descending footsteps in rush.

    We are in trouble just like what we predicted.

    Emerson gets dressed and I soon follow.

---

    "What are you doing!? What is going on, Emerson!? What the fuck was that!?" Father shouts in the living room, "I didn't bring you up to ... to do that!" He struggles. It is evident that he doesn't even want to say the rights words.

    Emerson sits in front of both our mom and dad, keeping his head down all the time, while I hide behind the walls listening attentively to their conversations. He keeps his promise, he will protect me. He accepts all the bullets that I shouldn't be dodging too.

    "Love is love, father!! Tell me, when was the wrong time to love!? Tell me!!" That is the last thing I heard before I run out of the house. The door slams and it echoes.

    Emerson hurriedly runs after me.

    "Get in the car, Erin!! Now!!!" He orders, his eyes sparkles again, but this time with tears. I swiftly board the car and put my seatbelt on. He does the very same. Emerson's foot presses down the engine and we are ready to go.

    "Come back here, Emerso--" Dad shouts but the windows rolling up cuts him off.

---

    We drive and drive on that midnight. This one-horse town looks dead and weary, but we keep on going places.

    Emerson's tear ducts are still wet, overflowing. "If this world can't accept us for who we are and how we love each other, then we'll make our own world." He firmly utters before making a right turn to some place I know.

    The car stops, but we remain aboard.

    "We'll make our own world, where society does not dictate of what is wrong nor what is right. I love you, Erin. And, no one can ever stop that. Brothers, sisters, lovers-- they are just labels. Labels they gave us, but behind them, we are just humans-- capable of loving one another more than expected." He slams his hand on the steering wheel letting out a loud beep on this quiet place.

    My hand crawls and soon, the spaces between his fingers are filled with mine. "You don't know how happy I am with you, Emerson. I never wanted anything more than this ... I am happy I take the risk." A tear plummets from my eyes. It is not a tear of sadness nor joy; rather, it is a tear of ecstasy.

    He looks at me knowingly, and I nod.

    "And before you forget, I love you, Emerson. You are the only one in this world that made me feel how to be loved. And, I thank you for that..."

    "I love you too, Erin."

    And as Emerson drives off that cliff, we seal in for our last kiss.

    "So, this is goodb--" He cuts me off.

"No, 'til we meet again."