After breakfast, some of my cousins just slept. Kabilang na dun sila kuya Meican, Ariel, Neon and Ahria. Ate Serafine had plans today. Gusto niyang magshopping dahil ‘di raw siya nakakalabas palagi sa London noon.
Mexene and Zelene just go out earlier, may kikitain daw si Zelene sa bayan.
"Do you have dress for the party, Natasha?" si ate Serafine.
"Yea, I have," sagot ko.
"Do you want to come with me somewhere? Nakakabagot dito sa bahay."
"I'd love to come, ate. Libre mo?" I giggled.
"Of course." she smiled.
Ate Serafine look young than her age. She's 23 now but looks like 18 years old. She got the most attractive smile among us. Noong high school nga siya ay madami siyang manliligaw.
It's 9:00 on the morning when we finally arrived out of our subdivission. They were so busy outside. Pati ang mga nagtratrabaho sa plantasiyon nila lolo ay tumutulong sa pag-oorganisa ng gaganaping pagdiriwang mamayang gabi.
I even saw mom, arranging flowers on the vases.
Dahil may bibisitahin pa daw si ate na botique ay pinauna niya na ako sa pamamasyal. Sabi niya ay maghintayan nalang daw kami sa restaurant.
I went on the bookstore to hunt for the "Caster Chronicles" book. Ilang ulit ko na kasing pinag-isipang bumili ng ganun pero di ko maituloy-tuloy.
I went inside the store and walk upon the shelf. Naghanap ako sa foreign novels area and I saw it up there. Too high for my reach.
I look for a ladder or chair. Dun ako tutungtong kung sakali ngunit wala akong makita. I tried to jump to get it ngunit naalibadbaran lamang ako sa huni ng aking sandals na bumabagsak sa floor at gumagawa ng malalakas na tunog.
"So, that was your favorite books, until now?" I was startled because of the voice I heard. I halt moving…
Naramdaman ko siyang lumapit sa aking likuran. When our bodies touch, I feel like I am suffocated. I feel him tiptoed to reach the books from above. He's tall. Taller than what I expecting.
Tiningala ko siya. He look so familiar. And yea, I know him.
When he finally got it, he made a space for us. I turn around to see him and his genuine smile filled my sight.
"How are you, Natasha? I bet you're here for the party." he said.
"Aziel…" I murmured, my mouth was half open.
Mas naging mature na siya ngayon at hindi na gaya nang dati. He look handsome on his black sweater and white pants. What the heck, he is! Really, is he the Aziel Castahnier that I've rejected years ago? Look what at him now! Exclusively hot!
"Are you surprise? Ba’t parang nagulat ka?" He smirked.
"N-No. Ofcourse not! Ikaw pala yan, wala lang ako sa sarili kanina kase hindi kita namukhaan HAHA." I compelled to laugh. This is so embarassing.
"Mas gwapo na ba ako?" he smugly asked.
"Medyo." I answered.
Mayabang parin siya hanggang ngayon. I remember how I rejected him, way back 2015. When we're still grade-12. Ayoko sa kaniya noon pero ipinagpatuloy niya pa rin ang panliligaw. He's brave to face what rejection is.
"Are you invited for tonight?" I asked.
"Yes, I am." he smiled again.
"That's good. See you there." I curved my lips for a grin and take the book on his hand, not petulant but just kind of it.
Manghang-mangha parin ako sa hitsura niya ngayon. Dala ko ang imahe niya sa utak ko hanggang sa makapasok ako sa restaurant kung saan ko hihintayin ang pinsan ko. I only ordered an apple juice, since mamaya pa naman ako kakain pag andiyan na ang hinihintay ko. I just open the sealed book 1 of my books and read it.
Sa kalagitnaan ng pagbabasa ay napatingin ako sa pintuan. I saw how Zahir open the door for Zindriach. Nang makapasok sila ay kitang kita ko naman ang pagbukas uli ng pinto.
Zadkiel Magnus Mathadeus, opened the door for Zelene. Nakaawang ang bibig kong nanood sa pagngiti ni Zelene sa kaniya habang pumapasok ng glassdoor.
Zelene held her hair and put it on her right shoulder. Her glamour stunned of what she did. Nang dumapo ang mga mata niya sa akin ay agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin at nagbasa ng libro.
I don't have to ask anymore about that ‘maybe’, that she's talking about lately. It's not that maybe anymore. It's all real and truth. They were on. Sila na. They are in relationship! But how? Long distance?
Of course yes! Maraming ways para mag-communicate, Natasha! They can talk everyday even they're far from each other. And that Zad just trying to flirt on you, that's why he's keep on saying that words you've heard from him to spin your mind.
May nalalan pa siyang ‘You've got the most powerful flavor that can drive my senses insane’. May nalalaman pa siyang ‘flavor’ kuno.
Sarap niya sipain!
"Guys! Over here. Andito si Natasha." The atmosphere spin so awkward as Zelene walks towards my direction.
Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay pinanood ko kung papaano dumausdos ang kamay ni Zad sa bewang ng aking pinsan.
I sighed heavily and turn my gaze away. No one knows, what I hate the most is to see someone flirting infront of me.
"Where's ate Max?" tanong ko sa aking pinsan kahit hindi siya nililingon.
"Naiwan siya kay ate Serafine. Akala ko nga kasama mo si ate e. Sabi nila ay sila muna ang magkasama and nagkataon na nagkita tayo here, mas mabuti na tayo nalang ang magkasama." she answered and sit infront of me. Sa tabi niya ay si Zad na ngayon ay taas kilay na nakatingin sa akin.
When I look on the next table, I saw how Zin smiled on Zahir. I know about their issue and I admire how vicarious Zin is. She still manage to act fine after all she have done. She really manage to ease the pain for someone and been quiet selfless after all.
"I want rosted beef." Nahimasmasan ako ng marinig kong magsalita si Zad.
"What's yours?" tanong ni Zelene sa akin.
"A lasagnia please…" I answered.
"Lasagnia na rin akin. Okey ba?" she smiled. Tumango na lamang ako ng nakangiti.
Zelene is kinda sweet. She'll gonna push you to be nice at her but if she notice that you didn't, she'll definitely treat you like how you treated her. Siguro ay sa ibang tao lamang iyon. Sa aming mga pinsan niya ay hindi naman . I remember how they got fight on school before, way back high school. Si Maxene ang palagi niyang kasama sa gulo.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa dalawa. Zad is looking at me, trying to study what was going on in face expression na kanina pa nakabusangot. Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay na siyang ikinangisi niya.
I shook my head while ginning and lowered my gaze to look at my book. I'm acting like a nerd here. Such an extra, third wheel. Gusto ko sanang umalis pero parang nakakabastos sa kanila. Well, sila naman itong nakakabastos sa akin.
"So how's the Mathadeus? Balita ko, Natasha, nasangkot daw kayo sa gulo." Zalene suddenly begin a topic.
Napalunok ako't tumingin sa kaniya.
"Well, they triggered me to do such a warfreak act. That Yvyn, she tried to kill me." I said.
"Yvyn, yung friend ni Zad?" kunot noo niyang tanong.
I want to laugh for a moment. Kaibigan o kalandian? I look at Zad. Hindi siya natinag sa tanong. The smug looks bacame visible on his aura.
"Is it your friend, Zad?" I ask.
"Yea. She is," he confidently said.
What the F! Kung ilaglag kaya kita!
"Hmm, I see. So ba’t ka niya inaway? Anong pinag-awayan niyo." Zelene asked again and sip on his cola.
I was nervous inside. What should I answer? ‘I kiss Zad and she got jelous?’
The heck! I don’t wanna be a relationship wrecker. Ba’t ko naman iyon isasagot? She’s the girlfriend, ang kapal naman nang mukha kong ibunyag iyon.
"We got a little argue and my friends, Zamara and Zara joined and….. and nauwi sa away," I simply answered.
Tumaas ang kilay niya sa akin, "You got a warfreak friends, cousin. Look at Zin! I got a nice friend. She’s not like that, a childish."
I close my eyes to calm myself. Nawawalan nanaman ang preno ng bibig niya. Anong pakealam niya kung sila ang kaibigan ko? Shit!
Control your temper Natasha, control…
"My friends aren’t like that. They’re triggered too! They are not that freak and childish you're talking about!" I exclaimed in a calm intonation.
Zelene just smirked at me. Nang tingnan ko si Zad ay nakaawang ang bibig nito at nakatingin sa akin. Zahir and Zin was staring at me too.
I feel like I was in the middle of Ignominy again. Because of it, I began to motion myself and walk away.
"Excuse me. Sa comfort room lang ako." I said and walk towards the Girl’s comfortroom direction.
Padabog kong binuksan ang pintuan ng cr at agad din iyon sinara. Good thing, walang ibang tao sa C.R ngayon. I move towards the sink and open the faucet. Agad akong yumuko para mag hilamos at mag-hugas ng kamay.
I feel the drops of water dripping on my turtleneck maroon sweater. I don’t care about it!
I only watch how I gasp on the mirror. Para akong pinagkaitan ng hangin. I hate how I act nice infront of her, my cousin Zelene. Kung minsan talaga ay sumusobra siya.
When I open my purse to look for a tissue, I saw Zad standing at the door's edge. Nakasandal ito doon at nakangisi. Nakahulikipkip pa ang mga kamay nito.
I was shock! I suddenly find myself moving backward so I halted it. Ba’t ako umaatras? Bakit nangangatog ang mga binti ko?
"W-Why are you here?" I looked away from him. I was stuttering and I hate it!
"Because I like to," he frugally answered.
"This is girl’s rest room for Pete's sake. Baka may pumasok dito!" Singhal ko.
"Walang makakapasok." He suddenly lock the door.
"H-Hey! What are you trying to do, huh?" I was trembling on the whole time. Ninais kong humakbang muli palikod ngunit ang malamig lang na tiles ang tumama sa aking likuran.
"oops!" I heard him chuckled.
"When they saw us both inside this comfort room, they can think what ever they want," mapanloko ang kaniyang tinig.
Yea, may mali silang maiisip. Why should man and woman staying jn one comfort room kung meron namang panlalaki sa isa kabilang banyo? Are you out of your mind, Magnus.
He began to step forward towards me. Parang mas nanginig sa pagkasindak ang aking katawan. Ano bang binabalak niyang gawin?
"Comfort room is a room for a privacy sometimes, Natasha. And this time, we badly need some privacy…"
"What privacy you’re talking about? Stop your delirium, Magnus. This isn’t funny!" I yelled and motion myself towards the door.
Pero sino ba naman ako? I'm not that strong than he is. Kaya naman napigilan niya ako ng ganun kadali.
He just grab my wrist and pulled me closer to him. I look away to avoid his dark eyes. Nanghihina ako sa mga titig niya.
I sniffing his fragrant scent right now, trying to mesmerize me. I can hear him breathing. While me, just like the first time to be near like this with him, I'm now gasping for air. I can’t calm myself. I can’t…
"Why did you lie? Why you didn't tell her about the kiss?" he preambled.
I agressively look at him. "What do you think? I'll tell her the truth? Huh?" Napapikit na lamang ako sa inis. "To tell you, Mr. Mathadeus, you’re not the only one who can lie to my cousin! I can lie too!"
"What lie are you talking about? Never I had lie to her!" natatawa niyang tanong at bahagya akong pinakawalan.
"Why did you say that you're just friends with Yvyn, while the fact is you two are more than friends?" I gave him a hot seat.
"I tell you, she's just a friend?-"
"A friend? The heck with that friend?! You're acting missirable that night! Parang sobrang takot ka pa nga na mapaghinalaan ka ni Yvyn na nangangabit sakin!"
"Shit with that kabut! Anong kabit?!" He yelled.
"I mean, baka mapaghinalaan kang may ibang babae! I can tell it clearly, you two are more than friends!" Ba't ba kase naisingit yung kabit na salitang yun? Ang bobo mo, Natasha!
"Shit! I won’t let you to kiss me if she’s my girlfriend! Sa tingin mo uunahin pa kitang buhatin palayo sa gulo kung girlfriend ko siya?! If she’s my girlfriend, I won’t let her embarassed infront of them!" singhal niya.
Galit ang kaniyang mukha. I know that. Pumupula na ang tenga niya.
"Don't spin my mind, Magnus! I’m not like my cousin or any other girls, you can spin on. I know if you're saying fact or bluff.-"
"How could you say that?"
"I'm not you’re girlfriend but you help me out of the chaos that night! Mas inuna mo ako kesa kay Yvyn na more than friends. Of course you can flirt with other girls too even they're not your girlfriend!" I exclaimed.
"What's the connect?" He laugh.
I want to go out of here! Masyado akong pinagkakaitan ng oxygen sa lugar na ito. I can’t breathe properly.
"I don't have any mean about that kiss. I only kissed you to save myself from my stalker. And if you think that it has a meaning, sarilihin mo na lang." I expected that as my last words in our duologue.
Akala ko ay matatapos na dun ang usapan ngunit may ibabato pa pala itong tanong.
"Kung walang ibig sabihin ang halik na yun, bakit nagsinungaling ka kay Zel kanina? Bakit hindi mo sinabi ang totoo? Are you afraid?" he grinned mockingly.
"I'm not! I just don’t wanna be a relationship wrecker! I can’t hurt my cousin for that. I have no right to ruin any romantic relationship.-"
"Anong romantic relationship?!" tanong niya.
Nilagpasan ko siya at nagtungo na sa pinto. I smiled bitterly and look at him.
"I know that she’s your girlfriend and as her cousin, please don’t ever lie on her or else…I'll spin your head literally." I smirked and open the door.
I walk away until I finally reached the restaurant door. Uuwi na lang ako.