His Sexual Addiction

Chapter 37: Sewn 'Lily'

After savoring the last bite of the delicious meal Kiro had brought, I turned my attention to Mother's well-being. Gently, I gave her her medicine, knowing she needed rest after our lengthy conversation earlier in the day. The weariness in her eyes was evident, and soon enough, her eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted into a peaceful sleep. Dodong excusedhad to step out for a bit, leaving the room in silence. As the door closed, leaving Kiro and me alone in the private room's cozy lounge, a hint of shyness washed over me. I felt the need to explain myself, fearing that I had inconvenienced him by bringing here with me so suddenly. "I'm sorry for bringing you here so suddenly," I murmured, my gaze briefly meeting his before looking down at my hands. His response was warm and understanding, his eyes reflecting a sense of comfort that eased my nervousness. "It's okay, Lyka. I'm free to travel now since the doctor said I'm already cured. Besides, I was worried too," he reassured me, interrupting my apology. After a moment of silence, I mustered the courage to apologize for Dodong's behavior, explaining that he could be a bit ignorant at times. I felt the need to clarify his actions, not wanting any misunderstandings to arise. Kiro's response was gentle and understanding, his laughter filling the room. "That's normal for kids, I guess," he remarked with a warm smile. "Having a sibling can be quite an experience, Lyka." I couldn't help but find him adorable with his chatty nature. I tried to brace myself as his talkative personality could easily overwhelm me. "S-sorry..." I stumbled over my words, feeling the need to apologize once more. "You paid for Mama's hospitalization. It would have been okay if she stayed in the public ward," I said, my voice tinged with guilt. Kiro's response was gentle and reassuring, a small smile playing on his lips. "That's okay, Lyka. I want to help," he said, his voice warm and understanding. "How many times will you apologize?" he teased, playfully pointing out my tendency to say sorry repeatedly. "You don't have to keep saying

sorry; I'm here because I genuinely want to be." "How many times will you interrupt me from saying sorry?" I asked him, feeling a twinge of self- consciousness as I noticed the surprise in his eyes. Oops, did I reveal too much? Maybe I overreacted. But instead of being upset, Kiro burst into laughter. "I just saw your other side, Lyka! HAHA! You're somewhat... cute," he said with a playful grin, and I felt my face flush with embarrassment. I tried to hide my blushing cheeks with my hands, feeling a mix of amusement and bashfulness at his candid remark. "I-I didn't mean to show that side of me," I stammered, trying to regain my composure. Kiro's laughter subsided, and he gave me a reassuring smile. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about," he said kindly. "It's endearing to see your vulnerable side, Lyk. It shows that you're human and that you care deeply about the people you love." His words struck a chord within me, and I couldn't help but appreciate his understanding nature. Kiro had a way of seeing beyond the surface, of appreciating both my strength and moments of vulnerability. "I just don't want to burden anyone with my problems," I admitted, feeling a sense of trust in him to share this thing. "You're not burdening anyone," he reassured me. "We all have our struggles, and it's okay to lean on others for support. I'm here for you, Lyka, whenever you need someone to talk to." "Cute? I heard the word 'cute' from the outside! Who's saying cute to whom? What do you mean cute? That's like Aling Hwebes' description of her pet dog named Buknoy!" Dodong barged into the room, his voice filled with curiosity and mischief. I couldn't help but feel a mix of annoyance and embarrassment at Dodong's interruption. I wanted to scold him for barging in and eavesdropping on our conversation, but I also felt a bit shy by his low- key insulting me by comparing me to a pet dog. I wanna laugh so hard! Before he could say anything else, I took a deep breath and decided to handle the situation calmly. "I don't know what's going on in your brain, Dong," I said, trying to maintain my composure. "Just

clean up the food we ate earlier," I added, giving him a clear task to focus on. Thankfully, Dodong quickly obeyed my command, leaving Kiro and me alone in the room once again. I turned to Kiro, a sheepish smile on my face, trying to brush off the awkward interruption. We spent more time in the private room, and it became a familiar space of comfort for us. Kiro and Dodong had formed an unexpected friendship, often going together to buy food for us. During those moments, Kiro took the opportunity to teach Dodong some simple English vocabulary words, and I would sometimes join them in their language lessons when Mother was asleep. As the day of Mother's discharge approached, I began packing some of her clothes in a small bag. "Get ready, Dodong. We'll go home soon," I said, gently nudging him to be prepared for our departure from the hospital. Kiro had taken care of everything, ensuring that all the necessary paperwork and arrangements were in place. He was currently at the Nurse station, tying up the final loose ends for Mother's discharge. Curiosity got the better of Dodong as he fidgeted with excitement. "Ate Lyka, does Kiro have a girlfriend?" he blurted out, unable to contain his question any longer. A faint blush crept up my cheeks at Dodong's candid inquiry. I hadn't expected him to ask about Kiro's personal life, but I realized that he must have noticed the friendly connection between us and assumed there was more to it. Trying to stifle a chuckle, I replied, "I'm not sure, Dong. Kiro is a private person, and it's not really our business to ask about his personal life." Dodong nodded thoughtfully, seemingly satisfied with my response. "Okay, I was just curious," he said with a mischievous grin. "Shut up, Dodong! Why are you asking about stuff like this? You're still young!" Mother playfully scolded him. I didn't answer because I had no idea about Kiro's personal life. "Oh, but guess what, sis!" Dodong exclaimed with excitement, unable to contain his discovery. "You know someone named Lily? When we were in bro Kiro's car earlier, I accidentally found a handkerchief in the dashboard. It was pink, and the name 'Lily' was sewn on it," he shared, his eyes wide as if recounting a scene straight out of a movie. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name Lily. Memories of Kiro's reaction when Dodong had found the handkerchief flooded my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Who was Lily, and what was her connection to Kiro's past? There seemed to be something significant about her, something he hadn't shared with us yet.

Dodong continued his story, recounting how Kiro seemed upset when he saw him holding the handkerchief. "I got scared! I thought he'd ignore me," he added, his voice tinged with worry. Taking a deep breath, I tried to reassure my younger brother. "It's okay, Dong. Maybe there's a reason why Kiro got upset. We don't know the full story, so let's not jump to conclusions, okay?" I said, trying to ease his concerns. Just as I was about to say more, Kiro appeared, surprising me with his sudden presence. "We can leave now," he said, his tone calm and collected. With Kiro and me supporting Mother on each side, we helped her stand up, her weak legs trembling slightly after her hospital stay. Dodong, ever eager to be helpful, carried our belongings as we made our way towards the parking lot. Once at the car, we settled Mother in the backseat, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible. "Thank you so much, Kiro. You're such a kind young man," Mother expressed her gratitude once more, her eyes filled with genuine appreciation. She had been thanking him repeatedly, and I knew that her heartfelt thanks were a testament to the impact of his kindness on our family during this challenging time. Kiro smiled warmly at her, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of his actions. "It's my pleasure, Mrs. Montefranca. I'm just glad I could be of help," he replied humbly. As we started the journey, I couldn't help but think about how Dad would react when he sees me with a man, coming home like this. In the car, I noticed Dodong's thoughtful expression through the side mirror, and curiosity got the better of me. I turned my gaze to Kiro's car dashboard, where my eyes fell upon a pink handkerchief embroidered with the name 'Lily.' Kiro seemed surprised when he noticed where I was looking, hastily putting the handkerchief in his pocket as if regretting something. My suspicion grew stronger;

the handkerchief must hold meaning for him, possibly related to the mysterious Lily. But who is she? What is the connection between Kiro and this person named Lily? Memories flooded my mind - how Kiro had mistakenly called me Lily when I entered his room, how Joday made the same mistake, and even Lady Linda seemed to remember someone due to my resemblance to Lily. It was all too confusing and overwhelming, giving me a headache. Deciding to avoid overthinking the situation, I looked away from the handkerchief and gazed out of the car window. The passing scenery provided a momentary distraction.