Taming The Beautiful One (TTBO #1)

Chapter 18

I dedicate this chapter to a reader who commented on Chapter 17. I see you and appreciate your support! :*

BELLA

"Bella, we meant to tell you that..."

I turned my gaze to Kiara, waiting for her to continue. Mayroon pa ba akong hindi alam? May tinatago rin ba sila sa akin?

Pero ang hipokrito ko naman kung magagalit ako. Pati kasi ako noon, hindi ko rin sinabi sa kanila ang totoo. Maybe they were thinking before that I was making a fool out of them and if I'll be upset over the idea that they might be doing the same, pwede nilang gamitin sa akin ang 'hypocrite card'.

I also don't want to jump into conclusions too quickly. I can vividly remember Damian and I's confrontation scene before at napagtanto ko na it's one of the reasons why things are getting too complicated. Nag o-overthink ako. 

"Ano, Kia?" I asked, hoping she would say something because it looks like she's hesitating.

Napatingin siya kay Steph at Naomi bago bumuntong-hininga. She was about to say something pero naunahan siya ni Naomi.

"She's the one who approached us before and told us about your secret. Sabi pa niya, worried lang daw siya at baka pati raw kami ay mabiktima,"

"M-mabiktima? What does she mean by that?" tanong ni Elionir. All their eyes are now fixed on me. Kinilabutan ako sa mga tingin nila but the disappointment and the feeling of betrayal are overpowering me.

"I heard Frans was bullied before. She also hinted that to me nang makwento niya na she had a traumatic high school life. She was called the 'odd one out' because she's always around Bella and Havinn,"

Nabaling ang tingin ng lahat kay Sebastian.

"Havinn?" kunot-noong tanong ni Naomi na naging dahilan ng pagkagulat nina Steph at Kiara.

"Hindi mo kilala si Havinn? The one who made the Dashwood Brothers crazy!" Steph shrieked.

"Crazy in love!" Kiara added at muli silang napatili sa kilig.

Meanwhile, the rest of us exchanged awkward glances. Nang mapansin nilang dalawa, napatikom agad ang bibig nila.

Napatingin kami ulit kay Sebastian just to imply na we wanted to hear more. Naputol kasi ang kwento niya nang magtanong si Naomi.

"She must be blaming Bella for what happened to her before, and deducing from her statement a while ago, she must have felt like a loser around Bella," Sebastian added.

"Alam mo ba ang lahat ng 'to, Bella?" tanong ni Steph. Umiling lang ako at napaupo nang maramdaman ang panginginig ng tuhod ko.

Anong klaseng kaibigan ako? Hindi ko man lang nalaman na binu-bully pala si Frans noon?

It all makes sense now. Kaya pala noon she was always bringing an extra shirt, she doesn't like to go to the canteen during lunch break and sometimes she declines our invitation.

I couldn't blame her for not telling it to me. She must have felt uncomfortable and I bet she doesn't want to open it up to us.

Kung nag effort lang siguro ako.

"Are you okay?" Kiara asked when she noticed that I'm spacing out already.

"I—excuse me,"

Mabilis kong kinuha ang bag ko at patakbong umalis. Narinig ko pa nga ang sigaw nina Kiara at Steph pero hindi ko na ito pinansin. Mabuti nga at hindi sumunod sila Sebastian.

I can't... deal with this anymore.

"Sir, I'm not feeling well. Pwede bang mauna na akong umuwi?" I heard a girl asked.