#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 05

"Ang init! Hindi ba kayo naiinitan, ha? Feeling ko naluluto na ako. Overcooked na ako!"

Mula kanina ay nagrereklamo na si Epione dahil daw sobrang init. She's right about that, I can feel my skin burning because of the heat from the sun. Naglalakad kasi kami palabas ng school dahil nag-aya silang bumili ng ice cream.

"Bakit kasi walang nagdala ng payong sa inyo?" Ariell asked, she's holding a book to cover her face. "Sayang skincare!"

"Hinila niyo lang kaya kami palabas." Lizzie answered with her soft voice. 

"Ang lakas ng loob niyo mag-aya kahit mainit tapos wala pala kayong dalang payong." sabi naman ni Salem.

"Si Ariell at Kiel kasi bigla na lang nag-aaya. Mga atat sa ice cream, amp," Epione answered.

"Gaga, ikaw nag-aya!" Ariell fired back.

"Shut up! We're here." I said, making them shut their mouth.

Ariell acted like zipping her mouth before giving Epione a look. They exchanged look and nodded at each other that made us confuse. My eyes met Epione's, she gave me a playful smile. She's planning something, I can feel it.

"Ang mahuli, manlilibre!" parang batang sabi ni Epione matapos ang maikling katahimikan.

"Para naman kayong mga bata." Jeshua said that everyone ignored.

Kaagad na nagmamadaling sumunod si Ariell sa pinsan at kasunod naman niya ay si Kiel. Hanggang sa dalawa na lang kami ni Jeshua na naiwan kaya naman nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. I gave her a meaningful smile while she was shaking her head.

"Kha, don't tell me..." I smiled even more and shrugged before running inside.

Tinignan namin siya na naglalakad palapit sa amin bago kami nagtawanan. Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin siya sa amin isa-isa. Ariell and Kiel are already picking a flavor at kaagad namang gumaya si Epione nang makita niya 'yon.

"I can't believe you, guys." Jeshua said while paying for the ice cream.

"Thank you, Jesh. Mahal ka namin!" sagot lang ni Epione sa kanya bago kami sunod-sunod na lumabas sa store.

Natahimik kami habang naglalakad pabalik sa school. Maybe because we are all eating an ice cream. Food is the only way to shut them up, it always works. I looked at Jeshua when she clung onto me, she just raised her brow.

"Anong next subject natin?" Ariell suddenly asked.

"Physical Education." Lizzie answered.

"Uy, nice! Walang discussion." masayang sabi naman ni Epione at nakipag-apir pa sa pinsan.

"Hindi mo sure." natatawang sabi ni Kiel.