Tainted Melodies (Ciudad de Escalante #5)

Phase 06

"Jael? Solaire? What are you two doing here?"

Carly's curious question made me moved away from Alexius. Nanatili siyang nakaupo sa hood ng kanyang kotse at nakatingin sa akin. Hindi man lang siya nag-abalang bumaling kay Carly. Palipat-lipat naman ang tingin ng aking kaibigan sa aming dalawa. Napalunok ako nang makita na parang may iniisip siyang kakaiba.

"We're just... talking," I casually replied and glanced at Alexius, who was still staring at me.

I bit my lowerlip and I was going to walked near Carly to ask why she's outside when Alexius hold my wrist to stop me from doing any move. Natigilan ako sa paghinga sa ginawa niyang paghawak sa pulsuhan ko.

"We haven't yet started talking —" he said and tilted his head to Carly's direction, "You can talk to her later. She's having a business with me. I don't want any interruption..." he continued.

I gasped. Why does he have to say that? Tumaas ang kilay ng kaibigan ko sa kanyang sinabi at nagpakawala ng halakhak na parang nakumpirma ang kung anong naiisip na kakaiba! He and his mouth! Damn him.

"Solaire needs to go home already..." ani ni Carly at nakita ko naman sina Marahuyo, Sydney at Aubrielle na papalabas at naglalakad na sa aming direksyon. It's also getting late. Magre-review pa ako bago matulog dahil may test na naman kami bukas.

"Sa susunod nalang tayo mag-usap. Kailangan na naming umuwi," saad ko tinanggal ang kanyang pagkakahawak sa aking pulsuhan.

Hahakbang na sana ako para makalapit na sa mga kaibigan nang mabilis na tumayo si Alexius at naglakad sa aking harapan. I halted from making a step.

"When is that? You don't have a gig here tomorrow," he asked and lowered down his head a little to leveled my face.

I paused. That's true. We don't have a gig here because it's Friday, and Marahuyo will only do a solo performance to earn more for her living. Sa tuwing Tuesday lang at Thursday ang schedule namin dito bilang banda.

"Solaire!" Sydney called from afar. Nakasakay na sa sasakyan ang iba at kinakawayan na ako para sabihin na pumasok na para makauwi.

I looked at Alexius and sighed.

"Basta kapag nagkita nalang tayo ulit," hindi ko siguradong sabi.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," sambit niya kaya napasinghap ako. What?

He smiled.

"Expect me waiting near your school. The same place," dugtong niya na nakapagpatuyo ng aking lalamunan.

Will he see me tomorrow?

"Jael! Next time nalang iyan! Uuwi na kami!" naiinip na sigaw ni Aubrey.

Alexius only hissed from the scream he heard from my friend. Nang mahanap ko na ang aking boses na tila nawala saglit, nagpaalam na ako sa kanya na aalis na.

"I'll get going," bulong ko.

He nodded slightly while putting both of his hands inside his pocket. Umatras din siya pagilid na parang binibigyan niya ako ng daan. I gave him a last glanced before I walked past him.

"What did you two talk about, Air?" Pambungad na tanong ni Sydney nang makaupo na ako kasama nila sa loob ng sasakyan. Aubrey is in the driver's seat and Marahuyo is in the shotgun. Kaming tatlo na natitira ay nasa likuran.

"Jael said that they haven't talk yet so what did he do to you?" matigas na tanong ni Carly kaya pinilig ko ang aking ulo nang mahimigan na parang may nais siyang ipahiwatig doon.