[ONGOING] NOT JUST PENELOPE

48: Not Okay

ZACH

After lunch, Penelope and I went to water some plants an visit the flower garden. 

It was a really hot afternoon and I was already expecting Penelope to complain about it, but how she is acting today is a complete opposite of what I expected from her.

My expectation was that she'll be following me around complaining about the work I'm giving her. It turns out now, I'm the one following her around because there are lots of things that she wants to do!

She even volunteered to feed the animals and asked me to teach her how to get the cow's milk. 

I can really say Penelope is enjoying all of this.

Also, after lunch, we continued our fast talk while working. I think that was really effective because today, I learned a lot of new things about her.

She hates the color green and loves the color pink and yellow. Phineas and Ferb is her favorite cartoon show and till now she watches it. 

She has never eaten a donut before because she hates the smell of it. 

Weird, I know. 

Also, Penelope is scared of snakes. She said that she can't even stand seeing pictures of snakes in her books or in the net. 

Who would have thought that this girl would be scared of something? 

Maybe, I was wrong about her. 

Maybe, I just really need some time to know her like what Mang Thomas told me during lunch.

"Zach, you have a lot of explaining to do." Manong Thomas whispered to me.

I knew he would say that. "

What you told me about her is a complete opposite of what I am seeing right now." he added.

It was really my idea to bring Penelope here and asked him if he could let us work on his farm because I want to give Penelope a peek about what is it like to work hard for something instead of spending money all the time.

"I'm also surprised, Mang Thomas. I didn't know she'll actually like it here." I whispered back.

"Zach, just give it some time." He tapped me on my shoulders and smiled. "Don't worry too much. You'll get there."

Get where?

"Zach! You're spacing out again!" Penelope called and I came back to my senses. 

We're currently in the lake because Penelope insisted that she wants to me the sunset before we go home.

"What were you thinking?" she asked.

"Nothing, really."

"How about we talk about other things?"

"Things like what?"

"Hmm." She thought for a while. "What's with you and Zia, anyway?"

I looked over her. Her eyes fixed on the waters. 

"What about us?"

"You two seem close."

"Actually, we just met a few times." I sighed.

"But you like her?"

I frowned. What's with all these questions?

"I may have a little crush." I admitted.

"Oh."

I can't lie to her anyway. Even if I deny it, she'll probably just keep insisting.

"Why don't you ask her out?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. She's way out of my league."

She rolled her eyes. "You are so dramatic."

I can't help but laugh at her reaction. I can't believe we're having a serious conversation. Why can't we always talk like this? This would make things easier for both of us.

"Whatever. Now, that we're talking about this. How about you and your boyfriend?"

"Jared and Me?" she shrugged. "We're doing fine."

She doesn't sound fine to me. 

"I think he's a douchebag."

Then she immediately turned to face me, hands on her waist. "Excuse me? What did you just say?"

"I said what I said. Didn't you say earlier that you only want honest answers?"

I thought she was going to say more, but she just turned back to the waters and sighed. "In his defense, he's an athlete and he's always busy with trainings. It's not like his world revolves around me, you know?"

Then I remembered the scene on the rooftop where I caught two couples arguing. The voice of the man was so familiar and even though I only met Penelope's boyfriend once when we ate lunch together, I cannot deny the resemblance of their voices.

"How long have you been dating him?" I can't help but ask.

"Almost two years?" She glanced at my direction, "Why do you ask?"

"Has he always been faithful to you?"

She frowned. "Your questions are getting weirder."

"I'm just curious." I defended myself. "See, I'm not sure if I am in the position to say this but since we're talking about honesty here.."

I stopped talking.

Should I tell her?

But what if I only summon her brat self?

"Come on, Zach. Tell me." She insisted.

I should probably just tell her. 

I need to get this off my shoulder.

Also, she deserves to know, right?

"Okay, so I hangout in the rooftop a lot. That's like my safe place in the campus and one time I met this two-"

"Zach, get to the point." She's getting impatient now and I'm starting to regret telling her this.

"I think your boyfriend is seeing someone else, but I'm not sure though. I didn't really see their faces because I had to hide from the guard. It's just that the man's voice was very similar to your boyfriend's. I could be wrong." I explained.

"What were they talking about?"

"Well, I'm so bad at remembering things in detail but I remembered that guy was talking about marriage for business? Again, I could be wrong."

I looked over Penelope. Her eyes are fixed in the horizon, face filtered with the last orange rays of the sun. Her face did not show any emotions at all.

"Are you okay?" I asked. "I'm sorry. I just thought you needed to know. Then again, I'm not sure so don't think about it too much."

Suddenly, her lips now bear the semblance of a sad smile, like she had already known this or have thought about this, but chose to ignore it anyway.

"I'm okay." She turned to me and smiled. "Thanks for telling me."

She just fixed her eyes on the sunset again like I never said anything.

Now, this is odd.

Should she be mad at me right now? 

I mean, she has all the reasons to slap me today, but she didn't.

She may not be able to express it through words, but her eyes say it all.

Penelope is not okay.