Held Captive (The Youth #4: Pierce Sandoval)

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R Y L E I G H       J I M I N E Z

Napa-Irap ako sa kaingayan ni Ezra habang dumadaldal. She visited me last night and wanted to sleepover. Ezra keeps on acting a teenager even though she's already a married woman. Sumubo na lang ako ng fries at hindi inalintana ang maingay nyang boses.

"Ay, Ryleigh!" Malakas na sigaw nito at pinalo ako sa braso. Inis ko syang tiningnan but she did not mind it.

"May irereto ako sayo! Katrabaho ko yun. Okay naman sya. May itsura naman." Aniya at nginitian ako.

"Bakit mo sakin nirereto?" Takang tanong ko. She looked at me as if I have grown two heads.

"Kasi single ka duh! Alangan naman ireto ko sarili ko eh may asawa na ako?" She sarcastically answered. I threw a pillow at her and it hit her face.

"I told you I'm not up for any relationships or flings or whatever. Aalis din naman ako pagkatapos ng isang buwan." Salita ko at inirapan sya.

"Ang boring mo naman, pokpok! Palibhasa kasi dry season." She murmured but I managed to hear it. Pinakyuhan ko sya at tinarayan lang ako nito.

"Kahit i-meet mo lang once. Tas tingnan mo kung bet mo. Malay mo madiligan ka na ulit diba." Anas pa nito muli. This time, binato ko sakanya ang remote ng TV but Ezra managed to catch it.

"Kailan at saan ba yan?" I surrendered and ask. Knowing Ezra, she'll pester me about this topic until I gave in and agree to her.

"Sa Wednesday, girl! Text ko na lang sa iyo kung saan kayo magkikita." Sagot nito at tumango na lang ako. After that I bothered myself with work once.

There's a party Ezra wanted me to go to later. Sa pagkaka-alam ko ay birthday ni Ismael iyon. Hindi naman ako nakatanggi dahil na-miss kong mag-party. I also feel stress about work and other... personal matters these days, pakiramdam ko kailangan ko mag let loose.

Came the party and Ezra was driving the both of us to the venue. I wore a black mesh top. Medyo see-through ito kaya black brallete underneath. Naka-suot din ako ng high-waisted na denim shorts at gladiator heels.

Madaming tao nang makarating kami sa party. Most of them were familiar faces, ka-batch siguro namin noon. Ang iba na namumukhaan ako ay nginingitian ko na lang. I then saw Ismael surrounded by people. Hinatak ako ni Ezra papunta sa direksyon nito.

"Ismael! Happy birthday, shokoy!" Pagbati ni Ezra. Ismael hugged her and said thank you. I smiled at him when he saw me.

"Long time no see," bungad ko. Niyakap naman ako ni Ismael at binati ko sya, "Happy birthday."

"Thank you, Ry. I heard from Ezra na naka-balik ka na. It's good to see you again. Na-miss ka namin." Aniya at lumingon sa likod nya. "Lalo na yung isa dyan."

I arched my eyebrows out of confusion. Tsaka ko lang napansin sila Ezekiel at Pierce malapit sa pinaroroonan namin. Ang dalawa ay prenteng naka-upo habang nag-uusap pero nang mapansin ako ni Ezekiel ay tumayo ito at binati ako.