L SERIES Side Story #1: Her End Game

Chapter 27: The Choice

Kei.

Rie is silently eating and here I am observing her. I don't know why I am so anxious that she saw us earlier. It was Monica's fault, she suddenly kissed me and I was caught off guard. Natauhan lang ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Venice. Our friends are noisy while she's just silently eating and I'm dying to know what she's thinking.

I'm planning to talk to her but Monica is always beside me. Napatingin ako kay Ate Shina na nakatingin din pala sa akin. She smiled at me and nodded kaya kumunot ang noo ko. How did she know that I need her help?

Nagulat ako nang biglang tumayo si Rie at sinabing tapos na siyang kumain. Natigilan pa kaming lahat pero hindi na niya kami pinansin at naglakad na paalis.

"Oh my gosh! Ate Monica I need your help about something, pwede bang tulungan mo ako?" Napatingin ako kay Venice na talagang nag-puppy eyes pa at nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang ngumiti si Monica at pumayag.

"Keirra are you done eating? I have to talk to you about something." Sabi ni Ate Moon kaya kumunot ang noo ko. Tungkol saan naman kaya ang paguusapan namin at talagang hindi siya makapaghintay na umuwi kami?

"Sure Ate Moon. Tapos na rin naman ako." Sabi ko at tumayo na kaming dalawa. Humalik siya sa noo ni Ate Solar at sinabing babalik siya pagkatapos naming mag-usap.

"Let's go outside." Sabi niya at tumango ako sakanya.

"I don't really know what's happening between you and Aria but Kei, if you really want to know how great is it to be loved by someone then you should make up your mind now." Paninimula ni Ate Moon kaya napatingin ako sakanya at ngumiti naman siya sa akin.

"Go and talk to her. I'll handle this." Sabi niya at marahan pa niya akong tinapik sa balikat kaya ngumiti ako sakanya.

"Thank you." Sabi ko at nagsimula nang tumakbo para hanapin siya.

Napansin ko ang isang bulto ng pamilyar na babae na nakaupo kaya nakahinga ako nang maluwag at lumapit sakanya. Napatingin siya sa akin kaya umupo ako sa tabi niya at kagaya niya ay pinagmasdan ko rin ang maliwanag na mga bituin sa kalangitan.

"Why are you alone here?" Tanong ko sakanya kaya ibinalik niya ang tingin niya sa akin.

"What do you think?" Nakangiting tanong niya at umiling naman ako.

"Will you really marry her?" Mahinang tanong niya kaya ako naman ngayon ang nagbalik ng tingin sakanya.

"It's for our family's sake."

"How about your sake? Do you even love her?" We stared at each other's eyes. I always wonder why Rie's always asking about my sake.

Hindi ako nakasagot kaya napailing siya. She sighed deeply and grab something on the pocket of her hoodie jacket. I flinched when she softly touch my left hand and put a rectangular box on it.

"You're human too Keirra. Piliin mo rin sana kung saan ka sasaya, hindi mo kailangan ng approval sa lahat ng tao kasi nandito kaming nagmamahal sa'yo." Sabi niya at tinanggal ang takip ng box at bumungad sa akin ang isang bracelet.

The bracelet was made of pearls with unique colors. Isinuot niya ang bracelet sa left hand ko at masuyong hinawakan ang pisngi ko kaya napatitig ako sakanya. I can feel something melting my heart. I bit my lower lip because I can already feel my tears.

Tuluyan nang tumulo ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan nang halikan niya ang noo ko. She wiped my tears and I smiled at her. Hindi ko na alam kung anong nararamdaman ko. Naguguluhan na talaga ako at dahil ito kay Aria. She's always on my mind kahit na si Monica ang kasama ko.