Paper Crown

Chapter 23:

"People are trapped in history and history is trapped in them.. "
-James Baldwin

Chapter 23:

=Avery=

Nakasimangot ako habang nagdadabog na naglalakad paalis sa kasiyahan sa gitna ng plaza na yun. I can feel and hear the two girls following me from behind. They were even asking each other in loud voices!

"What happened?"

"I don't know!"

"Where are we even going?"

Pumasok ako sa kalapit na beverage house na may sign na isang baso na puno ng kulay dark orange na liquid. Beer?

I was stopped on my tracks when someone held me from my arm.

"Why are we here? Avery snap out of it! Bakit ka pupunta dito! Malapit na ang curfew!"  pakiramdam ko ay mas lalong dumoble ang galit na nararamdaman ko kanina ngayon. That freakin prince!

I was dancing happily to the tune being played when I saw a very familiar person talking to a girl.

My brows furrowed in confusion.

"Alaric?" I continue to look at them until the girl Alaric is talking hugged him. I stood frozen on my track. What the hell is the meaning of this? Last night, he was just kissing my hand while looking directly at my eyes. Was that it? Assuming lang ba talaga ako? Akala ko may nararamdaman siya pero iba pala yung gusto niya? Why would he even go to my hospital room kung may iba naman pala siyang gusto? He went there accidentally! That's bullshit!

What's even worse is Alaric carresing the girl's hair! He even pulled her gently then kiss her in the forehead. In the forehead! Suddenly, his image of a prince charming started to crack until it exploded into tiny little pieces. Damn you!

My fists clench in so much anger that I actually find it hard to breathe. Parang pinipiga ang puso ko at namamasa ang mga mata ko. But I couldn't let this feelings prevail, can I? After all, it was me who assumed that everything is going on smoothly between the two of us! But can you even blame me? Hindi naman ako mag-a-assume kung wala siyang pinakitang motibo! How about last night? He even kissed my hand!

"Tsk. Pumasok na nga lang tayo." Alexandra said and surprisingly walang reklamong sumunod si Charlotte kay Alexandra saka ako pumasok sa loob. It looks so classy habang may instrumental mellow music playing on the background. The place was divided by sofas and tables while beautiful waitresses are serving the customers.

Mukhang nakakahiya naman magpakalasing dito.

"Dito talaga? Mukhang sosyalin." umupo kami sa pinakasulok na table habang umorder naman si Alexandra ng tatlong baso ng beer. Nakalagay siya sa kahoy na baso habang bumubula pa ang ibabaw nito. It was so cold that I actually like it against my skin. Holding it for seconds until I decided to drink it down in one gulp.

Hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sakin si Charlotte habang pabalik-balik ang tingin sa akin at sa hawak kong baso.

"So tell us what the problem is, Avery." umorder pa ako ulit ng isa pang baso bago ako sumagot kay Alexandra.

"Nope. Let the alcohol talk, Alexandra." uminom lang ako ng kalahati sa bago kong order na beer saka ito pabagsak na nilapag sa lamesa. "Saan ba galing tong beer? Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may beer pa lang tinitinda dito."