Chapter 2

"Tangina, sino ka ba?!" Singhal ni Mason kay Basti dahil hindi nito siya binibitawan.

Ngumisi si Sebastian sa kanya, "Eh ikaw, sino ka ba?"

Tumawa ng bahagya si Mason at taas noong humarap kay Sebastian, "Future ni Chelsy, palag?"

Sa sinabi ni Mason ay agad sinuntok ni Sebastian ito. Hindi naman nag patalo si Mason at susuntukin na sana nito si Sebastian, pero agad itong nakailag sa kanya.

"Fuck it! Tumigil nga kayo!"

The both of them looked at me, and they both stopped fighting. Huminga ako ng malalim at tinignan ko silang dalawa.

"Thank you," I said before turning my back against them.

"Chelsy!" 

Agad akong hinawakan ni Sebastian sa braso, so I looked at him, "What do you want?"

He pursed his lips before scratching his nape, "I'm sorry, sa nangyari."

I nodded my head and I was about to turn my back when Mason hel my shoulders. Irita ko siyang tiningan.

"Ano na naman ba?!"

"Look, I'm sorry," nakayuko niyang sabi and I just turn my back against him.

"What the hell happened?" Agad na tanong ni Carla pagkalapit ko sa kanila ni Gertrude.

I shook my head in annoyance, "I don't know, lets just go."

And that's what we did. Nag hiwa hiwalay lang kaming tatlo because we don't have the same schedule. Irita pa rin ako buong araw, hanggang sa mag uwian. Nasira umaga ko eh, what do you expect? Be happy? Enjoy the rest of the day? Pretend like nothing happened? Bitch, no.

"Hija, what happened here? It's all over the social media," my step-mother said while we're eating dinner.

Umiling ako at pinagpatuloy nalang ang pagkain ko. I felt my sister is looking at me, kaya tiningan ko siya and she immediatley looked away.

"Lyric, stop eating and tell us what happened," ma autoridad na sabi ni dad kaya nabitawan ko ang kutsara tinidor ko.

I looked at them, "What? That's just simple away ng mga lalaki," sagot ko at ambang kakain ulit nang mag salita si dad.

"Manang, gets her plate," utos ni dad at agad na sumunod si manang. I looked at my dad in annoyance, "What the hell is your problem?"

"Tone down your voice, young lady. We're in front of the table," mahinahon na sabi sa akin ni tita.

I shook my head, "I don't get it."

"We're not yet done talking, so you don't have the right to eat," sabi ni dad habang diretso ang tingin niya sa akin.

I wiped my lips with my table napkin, before standing up, "You know what, excuse me. Pati pagkain pinagkait niyo sa akin," with that ay umalis ako ng dining area.

Nag mamadali akong umakyat sa kwarto ko, and I immediately looked the door. Naupo ako sa kama ko, at hinilamos ang palad sa mukha ko. Kumukulo pa nga ang tiyan ko, because I didn't eat to much.

I stood up to get my wallet, phone and keys, before going to my terrace. Kinuha ko yung rope sa gilid at binagsak iyon sa baba. Bumaba ako ng tahimik gamit iyon. Good thing i'm wearing my black hoodie, kaya nag camouflage ako sa dilim.

I was about to open our front gate, when our guard saw me.

"Mam, bawal po kayo lumabas," sabi niya sa akin.

"Kuya, sa kanto lang po ako. May bibilhin na gamit. Please don't tell this to anyone, dadagdagan ko nalang sweldo mo," sabi ko sa kanya, but he shook his head.

"Mam, yari ako kay sir nito eh," nakangiwi niyang sabi.

"I'll be back before midnight," paninigurado ko and he nodded his head.

"Mam, basta wala akong kinalaman dito, ayokong mawalan ng trabaho," manong guard said and I just nodded my head.

"Sagot kita kuya, salamat po!" With that ay tumakbo na ako palabas.

Good thing the convenient store is somewhere near, kaya natakbo ko lang iyon. I went inside and got some, donut, chips, chocolate and water. Habang nag babayad ako sa counter, I saw familiar figure who's standing near the door.

Fuck Sebastian, baka mag sumbong iyon!

When I already got my plastic bag, agad akong nag lakad patungo sa pinto. Nakayuko ako at nakalugay ang buhok. I even wore the hood of my hoodie para matakpan ang mukha ko, but I failed.

"Why are you here alone? Tumakas ka na naman?"

I gulped before looking at him, "Huh? Tumakas? Of course not!" I denied.

Umiling siya at nilapitan ako. He's wearing his white fitted shirt, kaya kita ang biceps niya and how tone his chest is. Naka black shorts siya, as his bottom.

"I need to go," I was about to turn my back, when he held my arms.

"Samahan mo ako," he pleaded kaya napatiningin ako sa kanya.

Nag salubong ang kilay ko sa kanya, "Tumakas ka rin noh."

He gave me an amused smile, "Rin? So sinabi mo rin na tumakas ka lang," he teased and my blood immediately boiled because of that.

"Alam mo, sasamahan na sana kita, but I changed my mind," I said and walked away, but he held my wrist.

"Tara na," and hinatak na niya ako after that.

Supposedly dapat uuwi na ako eh, pero dahil nag pasama itong gagong ito, ano pa bang magagawa ko. We're here seating down at the bench near the convenient store. Mabuti nalang at may poste dito, kaya hindi madilim.

"So bakit ka tumakas?" Sebastian asked while he's opening the caned beer he bought.

I sighed before opening my plastic bag, para makuha yung donut, "I feel suffocated when I'm in the house."

He looked at me, "Suffocated? Kailangan mo ng oxygen?"

I looked at him and slapped his arm, "Silly! Hindi literal kasi."

"Family problem?" There, he's serious now.

I didn't answer him and I just ate my donut, "Basta, ayoko sa bahay. Period," I said and looked at him, "Eh ikaw ba?"

He dranked all of his beer before smashing it with his hand. Kitang kita ko ang mga ugat sa kamay niya.

"Feel ko lang. Nakakabagot sa bahay eh," he answered before looking at me.

Nag usap pa kami ng mga ilang minuto, hanggang sa mag aya na akong umuwi dahil baka mahuli ako. He volunteered to accompany me, dahil madilim na daw at baka may mangyaring masama sa akin.

"Ideal guy?" He asked while we're walking.

"Hmm," I hummed and looked up, "I want someone who will serenade me, who will court me even though there's a little chance of possibility. Who will give me hand written letter, or poems, who will-----"

"Teka teka, in short yung lalaking nabubuhay sa panahon ng Kastila?" He cut me off.

"Mhm, you can say that. I prefer old styles of pursing someone eh," I answered and look at him, "Ikaw ba? Anong tipo mo?'

He chuckled, "Simple lang, yung may pangarap at responsable. Hindi naman ako bumabase sa itsura."

Namamangha ko siyang tininingan, "Ganyan kayong boys eh. You will alwasy say, hindi ako bumabase sa itsura, pero in the end, looks will always win. Why? Para may mapaigmalaki sa mga kaibigan niyo? Para hindi kayo mahiya to show affection when you're in public?"

He looked at me in disbelief, "Ganon ba tingin mo sa akin?"

I shrugged, "Hindi ko maiiwasan na hindi ko isipin na hindi ka katulad nila."

"Sorry to burst your bubble, pero huwag mong lahatin. May mga lalaking hindi bumabase sa itsura, katulad nalang ako," he said and I just nodded my head.

"Kayo rin naman mga babae, halos lahat sa inyo bumabase sa itsura. Pag gwapo, halos santuhin ninyo. Kulang na nga lang, ihain niyo katawan niyo sa kanila. Pero pag panget, kung itaboy niyo parang taong grasa," he said at napatigil ako sa pag lalakad.

He looked at me and raised an eye brow, "See? You got my point right?"

"Teka nga, ang seryoso ng usap eh," sabi ko at agad siyang natawa.

"Sinimulan mo eh," turo niya sa akin and I immediately tapped his finger.

"Bawal manduro, maputol iyan sige ka."

When we already reached the gate of my house, umalis na si Basti. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang gate, at hinanp ang guard.

"Kuya, midnight snack niyo po, salamat," nakangiti kong sabi kay kuya nang makita ko siya.

"Sige mam, tulog na po sila sir. Makakapasok ka po sa front door," sabi niya at nginitian ko siya.

I opened our front door gently, making sure that I will not make any noise. Nang masigurado kong walang tao sa first floor, I tip-toed and went upstairs. Pagkapasok ko ng kwarto ko ay agad kong sinara ang pinto at binagsak ang platsic bag na hawak ko sa kama.

I went inside the bathroom para makapag shower. After that, I wore my red dolphin shorts partnered with my white spaghetti strap. Sinuot ko rin ang my NASA hoodie since it's cold here in my room.

Tomorrow is Saturday, so walang klase kaya I stayed up all night watching Netflix. Natulog lang ako nang makita kong pataas na ang araw.

Naalimpungatan ako dahil tumutunog ang phone ko. Naiirita ko iyon kinuha sa gilid ng unan ko para matignan kung bakit tumutunog iyon.

Jogging, 6am

Tangina naman oh, nakaidlip palang ako. I lazily went up at pumasok sa banyo. I wore my Adidas black leggings and black sports bra. Tinali ko rin ang buhok ko into a high ponytail. Sinuot ko yung wrist watch ko at yung handheld running case ko.I tied my Nike Jordan shoes, bago bumaba para makauha ng tubig.

"You're going to jog?" My sister said when she saw me.

Pinasadahan ko ang sarili ko mula ulo hanggang paa, "Hindi ba obvious? Gusto mo pakaratula ako ng, mag jojogging po ako, you want?" Sarkatisko kong sagot.

She rolled her eyes, "Bitch."

"Thank you," nakangisi ko pang sabi para mas maasar siya.

Nilagyan ko ng tubig ang tumbler ko, bago ako lumabas. I did some jumping jacks before running around the village. I'm wearing my airpods habang nag jojogging ako para mas relax.

Gusto kitang isayaw ng mabagal

Gusto kitang isayaw ng mabagal

Hawak kamay, pikit-mata

Sumasabay sa musika

Gusto kitang isayaw nang mabagal.

Nakangiti ako habang nag jojogging dahil sa favorite song ko ang tumutugtog. Nabalik lang ako sa realidad ng may kumuha ng isang pair ko ng airpods. Handa na akong tadyakan ko sino iyon, pero napatigil agad ako when I saw him.

"Kuye Derron!"

He chukled before messing my hair a bit. I stopped jogging so I can talk to my cousin.

"How are you, kuya?" I asked.

"Wow, you're already calling me kuya, I'm so proud of you," he teased kaya agd ko siyang sinapak sa braso niya.

"I heard you're with ate Yasin, tama ba?" Tanong ko and he just nod his head.

Nanlaki ang mata ko at napatakip ako sa bibig, "What happened to ate Kee An? I thought you will wait for her?"

He just shrugged before putting his hands on his pocket, "I got tired."

Hindi na ako nag salita pa. For me, I like ate Kee An for my cousin, compared to ate Yasin. I can smeel somthing.......malansa kay ate Yasin eh, noon palang. But, who am I to judge? I'm not a judge.

"How are you?" He asked.

We're now here seating on a bench. Umiinom ako sa tubler ko, habang yung pinsan ko ay nakasandal sa bench. Hi hands are on his nape.

"I'm good. You?" I asked and looked at him.

"Fine," he answered and looked at me, "I heard you studied in New Zealand."

Tumango ako, "Doon ako nag senior high."

He didn't speak but he just looked at me, from head to toe, "You changed a lot. Last time I saw you, you're very innocent. Puberty hits you hard, aye?"

Tumawa ako ng bahagya, "Yup, I guess."

"So, you're staying here also?" I asked, changing our topic.

He shook his head, "Nangangapit village lang ako."

Sa sinabi niya ay natawa ako ulit, maski siya ay tumawa rin sa sinabi niya. Hindi nag tagal ay namaalam na si Derron sa akin, dahil kikitain pa raw niya si ate Yasin after this. Ako naman, I decided to went home so I could sleep.

"There she is."

Napatinigin agad ako kay ate nang tinuro niya ako kanila dad. Dad walked twards me, his hands are on his chest.

"Where have you been?" He asked.

I looked at myself, "Jogging?"

He didn't say anything but he just walked away. Ako naman ay umakyat na sa kwarto ko para makaligo. After taking a shower, I wore my UST shirt and a white dolphin shorts. I was about to go to sleep when I heard some noises. 

Binuksan ko yung pinto at pinakinggan ang tunong.

"Get your sister," utos ni dad kay ate.

Lumabas na ako sa kwarto ko at bumaba para salubungin kapatid ko. Her eyebrows went up as soon as she saw me.

"She's here!" Ate said.

Pumasok ako ng dining area and I was surprised when I saw two guys, and a lady seating on the chair.

"Lyric, have a seat," dad said at minuwetsra ang kamay niya sa upuan at agad akong sumunod.

"So. Mr. Chua, where were we?" Dad asked.

Chua? Fuck!

"As I was saying, my son wants to marry your daughter," the man said and glanced at me.

I looked at Mason who is now smirking at me. Putangina, fuck it!

"That would be great. Makinano, and Chua group of companies will be as one," dad said and looked at me, "And I will not take no as an answere, my dear."