The Calm in the Chaos (Trazo Real Series #3)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I avoided Rafael the whole summer. It also helped that Rafael and Xythos were doing summer jobs in Trazo Real so they stayed in Manila for quite some time during the summer. He messages me sometimes and asks me how I am. He reminds me to study Filipino so I'd improve my grades this coming school year. Just the usual things he says like before. But of course, I need to respect Maricar.

"Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit threatened siya sa'yo. Wala namang gusto sa'yo si Rafael 'di ba?", Hailey said.

This is the first time that she visited me in our house. Whenever we have groupworks, we'd always finish them in school or sometimes in Hailey's house. Ngayon lang talaga ito nangyari at mukhang alam ko na kung bakit.

She fixed her hair and she's also wearing light makeup. Hmm.

"Wala. Rafael is kind, not only to me, but to everyone. He treats me like I'm part of their family at kahit naman din ang mga pinsan niya ay ganoon ang tungo sa akin. They're all kind to me"

"Oh 'e 'yun naman pala. Bakit kailangan mong umiwas? Clearly, you and Rafael are friends. Special ang friendship niyo dahil siya ang una mong kaibigan sa Pilipinas tapos lalayo ka dahil sa bruha niyang girlfriend?"

"Siguro she feels uncomfortable because I am close to her boyfriend. Naiintindihan ko naman at kahit wala siyang dapat ipagalala sa pagkakaibigan namin ng boyfriend niya, I still need to respect her. Ayos lang naman sa akin"

Hindi. Hindi ayos sa akin. Every time Rafael will check on me, I feel guilty for being cold and unresponsive. Kapag bibisita sila rito, nasa kwarto lang ako o kaya ay tinataon kong wala ako sa bahay kapag pupunta sila kina Kuya Ash at Kuya Bran.

"Grabe. Ilang taon ka na ulit? 14 ka pa lang pero insecure sa'yo ang isang 20-year old na bruhang katulad niya? Hay nako!", she said and sipped on her smoothie.

She glanced at the staircase. I stifled a smile and pretended not to know why she's here. Last time, my cousin was complaining because Hailey's been flooding him with likes on social media. I don't know what's up with Hailey but I think she has a crush on Kuya Ash.

"Ohh and that too. Rafael is turning 21 this December. Imagine the seven-year gap. Impossible 'di ba?"

"Hindi naman imposible 'yon. Sa ngayon syempre bawal pa dahil bata ka pa pero kung nasa tamang edad na... p-pwede naman na", she answered and sipped again on her drink.

"Why? Do you like older boys?"

"Okay lang. I have no age preference"

"Okay", I shrugged. "Wala ang mga pinsan ko rito. Nasa school yata si Kuya Ashton at si Kuya Brandon ay mayroong date"

"School? Sabado ngayon ah?"

"Saturday ang PE niya"

She just nodded and acted like it was nothing. Naku! If she has a crush on my cousin, it's fine with me naman. Basta crush lang dahil hindi naman siya mapapansin ni Kuya Ashton. Babad 'yon sa studies niya kaya walang panahon 'yon for girls. At hindi rin pwede dahil pitong taon din ang gap nila ni Kuya Ashton. That's weird.

"Adi, pupunta raw sina Theo rito sa Sabado. Hindi iinom kapag kasama ka. Karaoke lang. Sama ka sa amin", si Kuya Brandon.

"I don't sing", I said.

"Sumama ka na lang. They miss you, you know?"

"I'm busy, Kuya. May... may group study rin kami"

"Hmm. Okay. Ikaw, Kuya?"

"Pass. Kailangan kong mag-aral pagkagaling kong school"

"Tss. Magpinsan nga kayo"

Wala naman talagang group study. Suggestion lang 'yon noong kapartner ko sa reporting namin sa Filipino pero hindi ako pumayag.