Fallen game

Chapter 15: Begin again

"Kia, are you done?"

"A minute!" sigaw ko habang inaayos ang damit na suot. I slept so late last night that I almost forgot that we will be fetching Ate in the airport today! Napasarap ang tulog ko!

After I wore my sneakers, I immediately run downstairs. I just wore an oversized shirt, maong shorts and white sneakers.

"Where's Caya?" I asked

"She couldn't come with us." he answered. "By the way, your parcel arrived," aniya saka itinuro ang center table. Nang lingunin ko ito, alam ko na kaagad kung ano ang laman ng box.

I grinned.

"Yes!!" I exclaimed. Mabilis ko itong nilapitan saka inangat. Finally! Almost a month ko nang hinihintay 'to e. It's a customized bag from Chanel. Dapat ay last week pa 'to pero na-delay lang. 

Maybe...or most of the people knows how much I love collecting bags. My mom and my aunts used to give me bags during special occasions back when we were young, even until now, so maybe that's how my obsession in   collecting bags started. 

"You can open that after we fetch Xianna."

I nodded as a response. Tutal ay hindi ko maa-appreciate ang pag-open lalo na at nagmamadali kami ngayon. I can do that later, then! Nang makita kong kinuha na ni Storm ang susi  coffee table ay ibinaba ko rin ang hawak na parcel. I just brought my phone with me. I'm confident na kung magyayaya si ate mamaya na kakain ay hindi naman ako gagastos. 

As long as I'm with my cousins, my savings is safe. Or prolly.... not. 

Depende rin kasi sa mood. Sometimes, if ate or Caya is stress, nag-aaya sila magshopping. Of course I couldn't say no. Ayoko gumastos pero deep inside, I also want to shop for my own. Talagang naghahanap lang ako ng sign. 

Dumiretso ako shotgun seat samantala, bumalik sa loob ng bahay si Storm. Nakalimutan niya kasi ang phone niya sa kitchen. Saktong kababalik lang niya nang tumunog ang phone ko. Ate's name was displayed on my phone's screen.

"Hi ate! Are you already here?"

"Yep! Just arrived a minute ago. I'm famished so I'll look for a restaurant then I'll message you again."

"Alright! We're on our way." I informed her when Storm started the engine. "See you later!" I said

"Your seatbelt," Storm reminded me. I just laughed as I fixed it. Ewan ko kay Storm! These days ang seryoso niya! Minsan para pa siyang lutang, para bang ang laki ng problema!

"Are you okay?" tanong ko nang hindi mapigilan ang kuryusidad.

Nilingon niya ako saglit bago ibinalik ang tingin sa daanan. He shook his head. It really feels like something is going on.

"Nothing really big. It's about...Astrid."

When he mentioned her name, I was immediately enlightened. Astrid is his blockmate who eventually became part of their social group. She's really a nice, bubbly and carefree type of person. I already met her numerous times. Palagi kasi silang tambay sa condo ni Storm. Nakakasundo ko siya dahil palaging bara si Storm sa kanya.

"What about her? What happened?"

"She have been avoiding me. I really can't remember everything that happened at the party last Friday and---"

"You think you might have said or done something that made her avoid you?"

He sighed. "Yeah."

"You should talk to her. Maybe you offended her or maybe...you made a move on her!" I exaggerated the last part. Kasi there are instances na pag nalalasing si Storm, sobrang landi niya! Hassle 'yon sa aming part kasi kailangan namin siyang bantayan. But as I said, that rarely happen. Because dude, Storm's a hardcore drinker.