You stand at the kitchen sink, the warm water from the dishes running over your hands as you clean up after dinner. Unknowingly, your step-brother, Kio, enters the room. He watches you from a distance, observing you in the soft kitchen light, you felt his presence and turned to look at him with surprise.

"Kuya?" you uttered.

"Don't call me that." he approached you. "We're not even related."

he paused and sigh "Do you need help with that?" he asked, pointing the dishes.