She's My Sleeping Pill

Unexpectedly, Kath stood up in anger and yelled at her brother. "So, what? What if he's not rich? He's kind, caring and a gentleman. He cares for his family. He's smart and not arrogant. Unlike all of you; you only think about making money. You don't spend time with your family. You're being judgmental and mean. Your wealth makes you arrogant and boastful. I hate men like you!"

Kyle pulled his girlfriend who was now crying from her anger. "Don't say that. At the end of the day, they're still your family. Don't yell at them."

"But they're so hateful." Kath sobbed in his arms, ignoring her family's stares at her.

"They're just thinking what's best for you." Kyle tried to pacify her and calmed her. He didn't want her to fall out with her family because of him. "I totally understand their concern because I also have a sister. So, don't get mad at them."

"But your brother-in-law wasn't mean like them and you weren't mean to him either." Kath murmured in the midst of wiping her tears. When she looked at her brothers, she snorted at them.

Few seconds later, her family erupted into a series of laughter. The youngest brother, Kerwin, laughed so hard he was clutching his stomach. He wanted to say a piece or two in order to join in on the fun that the whole family was planning but with their sister's outburst, they couldn't continue their prank anymore.

"Uhh…what's happening? Why are you guys laughing?" Kath asked them and Kyle was a little confused as well.

"Were you just making fun of me?" he asked them with no judgement or any negative thoughts.

"Rather than saying that way, it's more like we're testing you." Kerwin replied. "We just didn't expect that our stupid sister will make a sudden outburst here. It ruined the fun."

"Fun? You call it fun?! Well, sorry because I'm not having fun at all." Kath exclaimed angrily. "I'm seriously introducing you my boyfriend here and you're just making fun out of this."

Kyle rubbed her back to calm her down. "Stop yelling. Your throat will go dry and you will have a hoarse voice tomorrow if you keep doing that."

Kath calmed down but she was still looking sharply at her brothers. "Bullies." She whispered with obvious displeasure on her face.

"Alright, stop bullying him." Kath's father, Jude, told his sons to stop. "He's not even reacting against what you said but your sister hates us instead. Stop making things difficult for him."

Kai and Kevin who berated Kyle earlier put their hands up, a signal of surrender.

"We worked so hard for you little girl but you actually hate us? My heart is bleeding and it's in pain." Kevin commented, clutching his chest as if he was really in pain.

"I don't need us to be rich. I don't need a lot of money. All I want is time. You guys are so busy that I can only meet you a few times in a month. I even forgot that I have brothers."

"Seriously?!" Kerwin asked in surprise. "Did you really forget us?"

Kyle nodded his head to answer that question in behalf of his girlfriend. "I was actually shocked to find that she's got three brothers because I thought she's an only child. She never talked about you and when I asked her, she really forgot about her brothers. She only thought of her parents."

"You've got to be kidding me." Kevin retorted. "You can forget your things but you can't forget about us."

"How would I remember having three brothers when I don't even see you. When I get back from school, you're still working. When I go to school, you're either sleeping or working. I don't even spend a meal with you."

Her brothers felt a little sad about this. The three brothers were born very closely with one-year gap from each other. However, Kath was born seven years after Kerwin, making them love their one and only sister so much; and spoiling her to the ends of the earth. The three of them worked so hard because they wanted her to live in a castle with no worries at all. They never thought that as the time pass by, they were drifting away from her, to the point that she'd hate them.

"Mom, can you bring Kathleen inside her room? We need to talk with her boyfriend alone." Kai asked his mother. Kathleen wanted to resist but her mother assured her that nothing will happen. "Just go on, we won't bully your boyfriend."

"You better keep your promise." Kath told him and went upstairs with her mother.

The living room turned silent for a little while when it was just the five men left. Kyle took a deep breath and relaxed himself in front of them.

"Please take care of our little princess." Jude told him. "She's the only girl in the family and we treasure her so much."

"She's really stupid sometimes but she's the most honest person I have ever known. As long as you ask her, she will answer you honestly." Kai added.

"Kath is childish sometimes, I hope you can tolerate that. And sometimes, she would throw a tantrum." Kevin also stated.

Kerwin wanted to add something but he frowned.  "Hey, aren't you describing her base on her characteristic when she was little?"

"Oh." His two brothers reacted at the same time. "We missed so much of her growing up moments." Kai replied. "Anyway, we don't dislike you. In fact, we know about you already before she told us about you being her boyfriend. We didn't expect that she'll have the courage to confess."

"Wait!" Kerwin stopped them and looked towards Kyle. "Who confessed first between you two?" his eyes were twinkling for gossip. Even if it's his sister's relationship, he won't let go of her.

Kyle narrated what happened on Christmas day and how he chased after her to give his confession. Kath's family was listening seriously except for Kerwin who would react from time to time.