Fit the Puzzle (Azcona Cousins #3)

13

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Chapter 13

I was up all night but haven't had time to review my notes for the second day of the exam. Brent Iverson piled me up with so many questions yesterday, he kept on asking me even though we were inside his car and he was driving.

He learned from Kuya Alex that I didn't eat a single piece of the bento cake he made for me.

Alam kong sumama ang loob niya sa akin dahil nahuli ko na naman siyang umirap at noong lumabas ako ng sasakyan niya ay sinungitan lang ako.

I feel groggy while shading the answer sheet. Hiwalay kasi ang papel ng test paper at answer sheet. We are obligated to put our signature at the bottom part of the answer sheet. Isang paraan 'yon para i-acknowledge ng mga teachers na tinapos namin ang pagsusulit. Mind you, we should also include the time we took the exam.

Ugh.

Naduduling na ako sa binabasa ko at sa mga numerong sinasagutan ko.

I blew a colossal sigh as I got out of the room. Ang mga kaibigan ko ulit ang sumundo sa akin para sabay-sabay kaming bumaba ng building at naghiwalay din kami nang mamataan kong naghihintay na sa akin si Adriel.

Piolo playfully nudged me. "Hindi talaga ako nagkamali na ipakilala si Adriel sa'yo, Croozian. Aspiring CPA-lawyer lang naman ang potential boyfriend mo," pang-aasar niya.

I am not in the mood to ride all of his jokes and teasing. All I am thinking of is Brent Iverson displaying a visage full of resentment on the bunny that Adriel gave to me.

"Ikaw ba, Piolo? Gusto mo ba ng isang future industrial engineer?" as far as I can remember, Francesca wants to pursue engineering. Nilakasan ko talaga ang boses ko para marinig ng kambal ang sinasabi ko.

They were three meters away from us. Mahilig kasing bumuntot si Piolo kaya heto ang nangyari.

Pinandilatan niya ako ng mga mata. I raised my brow at him. He eventually retreated but still threw me a warning look.

I just smiled at him and turned to see Adriel. Sinuklian niya agad ang ngiti ko ay kumaway pa.

"Hi," he said, fixing the strap of his fanny pack bag. "Gusto kong mag-calamares at chicken skin, pwede ba?"

Tumango ako at hinatak na siya sa nagtitinda sa kabilang kalye. My spirit was lifted up as he asked for those particular street foods. Akala ko kasi ay fishball o kwek-kwek ang gusto niya, umay na 'ko ro'n.

"Magkano, neng?"

"50 pesos pong calamares," tugon ko.

The squids were already floating on the pool of oil.

Pinagbabawalan akong kumain ng ganito pero 'di ko naman kasama si Mama para suwayin ako.

"Ubos na agad ang libre sa calamares? Paano na 'yung chicken skin?" biro ni Adriel.

"Libre ko pa rin, kalma ka lang," ngisi ko.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at binigyan siya ng cup at stick. I intentionally pushed some students who were blocking our way. I just pretended that I was too busy to even look at them.

Ginawa ko 'yon kasi dadayain ko ang bilang ng piraso ng calamares na kukuhain ko. Adriel smacked my wrist lightly. He jerked his brow and whispered, "Hoy, marami na ang laman ng cup mo."

I placed my index finger on the middle part of my lips.

"Adriel, technique 'to. Gawin mo rin," kinindatan ko siya at inuudyukang kumuha nang marami katulad ko. "Bilis! Habang 'di pa siya tumitingin sa puwesto natin."