Bits of Chemistry | ✓

Kabanata 14

Kabanata 14

"Pink suits you," Euan complimented. He zipped my dress for me. It was a floral pink long dress with short sleeves. Nilagyan n'ya rin ako ng iilang floral hair barettes. He folded some of my hair and used it for clipping.

"Maganda lang talaga ako."

"Maganda ka kasi inayusan kita," he corrected and I couldn't agree more.

Dayanara used to hire make-up artists and designers for me, however when Mareena came, she decided to abandon me because she believes her daughter deserves more praise. Pakialam ko naman? Mareena is effortlessly beautiful though. Partida ay bata pa lamang siya.

Bumuntonghininga ako habang papasok kami ng lobby ng hotel. Sabay kami ni Euan dahil nasa malapit lang naman ang room number n'ya sa room number ko. The host for this event probably rented the whole hotel.

I don't see the point of proving who's prettier, smarter or simply pitting a person against another person.

"How is he doing?" kabado kong tanong.

"Who?"

"Etienne."

"He's fine, I guess? Who knows? But he's probably still healing."

"Naging okay ba siya sa ibang bansa?"

"Etienne did his own healing, you know?" Euan assured me as we entered the massive area for one of the gatherings that I had to attend in order to make an appearance for the Reverios. Inabot n'ya sa akin ang isang sparkling water na galing sa isang waiter na lumapit. I declined.

"He went to therapy?"

"He did, sa States, of course. The trauma was still there for him, Solstice. You'll probably think it's easy to overcome it but even with help, it's definitely hard."

Hindi ako nakasagot doon. He was abused in ways that I couldn't even fathom. And I don't even want to know. The details were kept by his family. Ang tanging alam ko lang ay hindi nila hinayaan na makawala ang tutor. She exploited Etienne for her own pleasure. It was purely disgusting. Idagdag pa na bata pa si Etienne. He couldn't give consent to that and I know Etienne wouldn't even want to partake in it.

No one deserves that.

I feel fucking awful.

"You were with him?" I asked, slowly getting drained out.

"Of course," Euan boasted. He fixed his hair by tilting his head, showing me that even the wind can attest to how soft his hair can be.

"Kaya pala pumangit ang ugali."

Euan's eyes turned into slits and he snorted. "Girl, kasalanan mo 'yan. Mabait naman sa amin si Etienne. Pangit talaga ugali n'ya sa mga pangit."

"Excuse me?" nag-taas ako ng kilay sa kan'ya. I showed my newly manicured nails like how a predator shows its claws.

"Bakit ka natamaan?" He smirked.

I rolled my eyes.

Ang maldita talaga nito. Pero kahit gano'n, he's the only Soteiro that I could speak with. Well, for now. CL is busy since he's graduating; alam ko rin dahil kahit noon pa man ay mahilig na siya sumali sa mga extracurricular activities. Malamang ay pudpod siya ngayon.

And maybe, deep inside his heart, he hates me too.

Kumirot ang puso ko nang mapagtantuan ko 'yon. I remember that it was the first time I saw CL glared at someone. Sa araw na 'yon lang siya nagalit. Paano pa kaya sa akin na nagawang talikuran si Etienne ng panahon na 'yon?