Beneath Your Smile (The Old And The New Series #1)

Kabanata 23

Kabanata 23

I was pulled by Tobias out of Demetrio's room. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sinabi ni Demetrio dahil bigla na lamang itong nagpakita habang gulat akong nakipagtitigan kay Demi. He hasn't had any idea dahil biglaan ang mga kilos nito. Nagmamadali ito sa pag-drive pauwi ng sasakyan. Toden and Chary were both silent at the back of the car, and I also stayed quiet in the passenger seat too.

Ni hindi ko man lang natanong si Demetrio sa sinabi nito. If he really said it. If he meant it. I was preoccupied the whole ride home.

Naagaw lang ang buong atensyon ko dahil marahas na niliko ni Toby ang sasakyan papasok sa bahay. I gripped onto my seatbelt when he was positioning the car in its place in the garage. Lumingon ako sa dalawang kapatid na nasa likod.

"What happened?" I mouthed.

"Bella," was Chary's reply.

Napakurap-kurap ako. They didn't settle their problem? Akala ko... akala ko tapos na ang problema ng dalawa sa party pa lamang ni Lucia. They're best friends! They don't prolong their fights! I've encountered their fights in the past and never in those fights longed to this.

Toby was the one who pithily opened the door of the car and went out. Wala itong naging salita sa amin. Agresibo at galit itong pumasok sa bahay.

"What happened?" I asked my two brothers who didn't show any sign of getting out of the car.

Toden shrugged his shoulders. "Ate Bella called to... build their friendship again." He was looking at Tobias entering our house.

"Ayaw ni Tob. He doesn't want to be friends with Ate Bella. He was vigorous when he said that he wants to cut their connections," pagpapatuloy ni Chary.

"The actual fuck? Did they break their friendship? Ano ba ang naging dahilan?" hindi makapaniwala na ani ko.

"You didn't know?" sabat ni Toden.

My eyes calmed. I shook my head. "I haven't had any clue! Akala ko no'ng nakita ko sila sa party ni Lucia na... it was a petty fight! The two can't be separated. We all knew that!"

Zachary sighed loudly. He massaged his forehead and the bridge of his nose. Sumandal din ito sa backrest ng upuan. "This might be serious for the two. Let's just... don't push them for now..."

"We also don't know the real reason why but let's hope Tobias will open up to us soon," huling sinabi ni Toden at lumabas na ito sa sasakyan. Sinundan siya ni Chary at ako ang naiwan sa loob, mag-isa.

And we did let the two have their own space and time. I was deeply absorbed in thinking of what happened with Toby and Ate Bella that I didn't ask Demetrio about what he had said to me way back in his room.

We're still close, super close to each other though.

"Maglalaro ka ng football sa Intramurals?" Demetrio asked when we're in the room. Nakatabi na naman kasi ako sa kanya. Nakaugalian ko na nga na tumabi sa kanya at nasasanay na ang katabi niya na sa upuan ko umuupo.

I smirked. "How'd you know that?" Napakurap-kurap pa ako nang bigla itong umiwas ng tingin sa akin. Nahihiya naman kasi kitang-kita ko ang pagpula ng tenga niya. My smirk turned into laughter. "Are you stalking me, Demi?" I mocked. Kita kong mas lalong namula ang tenga niya. Kaya hindi na ako tumawa ulit dahil baka hindi na talaga ito magsasalita at tuluyan na kainin ng hiya.

"Uh..." I sucked my lips in to suppress my tease at him. Dahan-dahan itong humarap sa akin. "I'm not stalking you, okay? Ano lang... Uh..." I don't want to believe that he's not stalking me. I would like it if he ever does it. Nakakakilig lang.