Stuck In Between (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanila ang totoo. All of them are too blinded and distracted by Khea kaya hindi ko sigurado kung maniniwala ba sila...however, I know Emy does. Maybe she can help me?

"Zinnia!" tumingin ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses at nakita si Rico roon. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang maalala na tinakbuhan ko sila kahapon at hindi ko sinagot ang tanong niya! Tumalikod ako at agad na naglakad palayo pero naabutan niya ako!

He made me face him, labis labis ang kaba ko. I know that I want them to know that I am the wicth but I don't want them mad!

"Why are you running?" His brows were furrowed. He looked behind him and let go of me before waving to someone. Dahil doon ay sumilip din ako at nanlaki ang mata ko sa nakita.

Si Erica!

"That's my grandma." Pakilala ni Rico nang makita na nakatingin din ako doon. He signed Erica to come near us at dahil nakatalikod si Rico sa akin ay sinenysan ko rin si Erica na huwag. However, she just smirked and walked towards us!

"This is my grandmom, Ma, this is Zinnia." Pakilala sa amin ni Rico sa isa't isa.

Ngayon ko lang na-realize na ang awkward pala na tawagin siya sa pangalan lang dahil halos kasingtanda na niya si lola!

"Uh, ahm—"

"Calling me Erica is fine." Tawa niya at may pagpaspas pa ng kamay sa ere, parang sinasabi nga na ayos lang.

"I-I think it's better to call you with honorifics. You may...look young but...you're old?" ngumibit si Erica sa sinabi ko kaya napangiwi rin ako.

"Maybe, Ate Erica?" nagkibit balikat ako. She nodded at me and smiled. Napatingin naman kami kay Rico na mukhang gulong gulo sa amin.

"Do you guys..perhaps, know each other?" tanong niya. Napatawa na lang kami ni Erica.

"Nah, we just met." Erica said and winked at me. I scowled but smiled after. I'm glad she isn't as sad as she was yesterday.

"Do you want me to help you?" I heard her voice in my head.

Napaisip naman ako sa sinabi niya. I need all the help I can have but I don't think I should. I shook my head and smiled at her.

I want to be the one to tell them the truth.

***

Emy and I made our way to the cafeteria. Alam niyang kailangan kong sabihin ang tungkol sa pagsisinungaling ni Khea, hindi ko pa man nasasabi sa kaniya kung ano si Khea ay alam na agad niya. She told me she had read her mind and how she can smell the thirst for blood on her.

Tumanggi rin ako sa alok niyang tulong because as I said, I want to be the one to tell them, kung may pagkakataon and she agreed. Hindi ko pa nga lang alam kung paano lalo na dahil hanggang ngayon ay matatalim pa rin ang titig nila sa akin na biglang magliliwanag kapag nandiyan na si Khea. I don't know how they still can't detect how much a faker she is, lalo na nila Red at Rico.

I sighed when I saw him again with her. Ang malala pa ay nakasunod din sa kanila si Rico. I saw Ems rolled her eyes and played with her spaghetti. She sighed after a while.

I bit my lip and looked at their direction only to see them laughing about something I don't know. Khea was beside Red while Rico was across them. Ano kayang nakakatawa?

Napairap ako pero hindi pa rin naaalis ang tingin sa kanila nang biglang magtama ang tingin namin ni Red, his lips still showed a little smile that later fade away. He stared directly at me kahit na kinakausap pa rin siya ni Khea. She later noticed that he wasn't listening to him so she also looked at me. Nakakunot ang noo.