Chapter 8:

"Congratulations, HoroHoro!"

"Yeah, congrats."

"We knew you could do it."

Horohoro was now back in school, after three days of absence for the national skateboarding finals. He was wearing his shiny, new, gold medal around his neck.

"Thanks. It was a piece of cake. Right, Pirika?"

No reply…

"Pirika?"

He looked to see Pirika not beside him anymore. She was with…Ren?

"Ren?"

What was going on here?

"Big brother!" she cried as he approached them, "There's something I forgot to tell you last night."

He glanced at Ren suspiciously. He didn't like the way Ren was leaning, so very close to her. "What?"

"Umm…Ren and I landed the part. We're playing the leads for the play."

"Congratulations! I'm happy for you. I knew you could do it."

Pirika smiled. "Really?"

"Yes…but I have ground rules for Mr. Tao here."

Ren raised one eyebrow. "Really? What are they?"

"There are only four actually…Rule #1: Don't hold her hands."

"Huh? You mean like this?" he said, while entwining his hands with Pirika's

Pirika blushed, light pink. Horohoro frowned.

"Rule #2: Have her home before 4:30."

"Uhh…honey, we can't rehearse now because it's…I don't know…4:45."

"5:30 then…"

"Rehearsals finish at 7:00"

"Fine! Then 7:00."

"Rule #3: Don't call her with endearments like 'Honey'. She has a name, you know."

''Sweetheart, heard that?"

Pirika blushed into a darker color. Horohoro was seeing red.

"Rule #4: Don't touch her in any improper way or I'll definitely kill you."

"Improper way? You mean like this?" he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

Pirika blushed into an even darker color. Horohoro fought to keep his self-control.

"Rule #5: If you kiss her even for the play, I'll not only kill you I'll pull her out of the play!"

"Big brother, you said only four!"

"Kiss her? Like this?" he said, kissing Pirika on the cheek.

Pirika was now as red as a lobster. Her big brother was now ready to pounce.

"Horohoro, before you attack, I think your sister has something to tell you first."

KKKRRRIIINNNGGG!

"Uh, oh…this is my free period. If you need me, honey, I'll be in the training room." He said before leaving a peck on her cheek. "I'll see you at rehearsals…"

Horohoro was about to snap, when Pirika grabbed his arm and motioned him to face her.

"Big brother! There's something you should know…"

"Pirika, I've got no time for this! I'm going to clobber that guy. Who does he think he…"

"We're going steady!"

"…is! I ought to…WHAT?"

"We're going steady…" she repeated.

"You…and Ren? Has the world gone mad the past three days? What happened while I was gone?"

"Honestly, big brother…I don't know the answer to that question too…"

"All this happened while I was gone? I must have missed one heck of a party…"

"I'm sorry big brother…"

"Huh? For going steady? It's okay. I saw this coming. I just didn't think it would be with one of my best-friends and least of all, Ren Tao. When did this happen?"

''Well, we went out to watch a movie two days ago and…''

"(Groan) You went out to watch a movie without my approval?"

''It was just an old Lee Pailong movie. I didn't see any harm in it. I've already seen the real Lee Pailong. I was curious of what he was like in the movies. I must say, they are not very different."

''(Groan) I don't even want to know what happened next."

"Umm…okay," she said, blushing. She never stopped blushing. Her face may as well turn permanently red. Every time she thought of Ren, she couldn't help it. She couldn't tell her brother that they kissed on a first date and the second…

''What play are you guys doing anyway?"

"The Taming of the shrew…''

Horohoro smiled.

"What's so funny?" his sister demanded.

''Nothing, you'll make a great shrew," he said then kissing her forehead. "I'll see you at home later…"

"Big brother! What did you mean by that?"

But he was already off. He needed to speak to a certain dark haired shaman about keeping his hands off his sister.