Tall, Dark and Dead (Rewritten)

Run, Baby, Run

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

N a t a l i a

"What?" Alek laughed nervously. I've never seen her like this before. "No," Shaking her head, she says. Her knees kind of went weak or did she just trip over the dry twig, and Sabrina caught her? "I think you got it all mixed up, uh, what's your name?"

"River."

"Ah, yes, River." Kunot ang noo ni Sabrina ng tignan niya ako at si Calista. What do you want me to say, Bree? Nang mawalan siya ng pasensya kay Leona na siyang patuloy na tumatawa ng may halong kaba at takot, binuhat niya ito atsaka ibinalibag sa lupa. "Bree, what the fuck? This is a nice shirt, girl. What's wrong with you?"

"You're acting a little stupid, cariño."

"Excuse me?"

"Perdóneme, ¿Podemos hablar?"

"No, Cali, I don't wanna talk to you."

"Ladies, ladies," Teddy chimes in, breaking the tension. "Leona, come get your girl." When Teddy started counting, River laughed. "Okay, let's just pick the odd man out. I'll handle this. Bree, come here."

"Teddy, fuck you!"

"Bree, not now. We're busy."

Pinapagpag ni Alek ang kanyang damit. Nabutasan nga kaya ito sumimangot. No, I have to ignore that cuteness right now. Hope the butterflies in my stomach would stop fluttering and all. "Say what you need to say, Bree. No funny stuff." She and that professor's tone is not helping. Need to brush that off as well.

"Umayos ka, Leona, or I'll strap you to a chair and smother you with my bra." Tumikhim kami pareho ni Cali kung kaya naman may sikuang ganap sa aking likuran. "Sorry, girls. Pun intended."

"Magtabi-tabi po ka naman, Sabrina," Sabi ni Calista. Naghihintay ang dati kong propesor ng argyumento galing kay Leona ngunit walang dumating. Ang galing, nagseselosan kaming apat. "Mahiya ka naman kay Natalia."

"Kay Natalia o sa'yo?" Sinundot na naman ako sa tagiliran ni Harper kung kaya ako nagulat. "Pasensya na, señorita," Bree says, and dropped a curtsy after that. Batid namin ang inis ng dalawa sa isa't isa. "Leona, get your shit together. Listen to the kid and stop being a baby."

"Don't talk to her like that, Sabrina."

"Calista, you know what? I've had enough-"

"Bree, don't." Teddy helped Alek stand up. Pinagpag muna ulit nito ang kanyang suot bago tumingin sa aming dalawa ni Calista. "Aayos na." It must be weird. I mean, we're both here. Existing. Together. Alive. It's like a reunion gone bad. Kasama pa si Sabrina Latorre. "No need to be hostile," She adds, trying so hard not to look at us. Fine, Alek, I'll look away. Hirap na hirap ka na, eh.

"This is the part where you shut your mouth, Leona."

"You know, I haven't really forgiven you totally the last time you decided to hide something from me. This makes me think, you know something, don't you?" She asked one of her friends, wiping Sabrina's hand from her body as she looks at the both of us once more. "The car ride," Pumalatak si Alek sabay tawa. "Of course, you did. You're the one who took this River girl."

"Yes, and this River girl will tell you what really happened to all of you." No need for introductions. I believe she already knows who we are because of Bree. "My name is River. I am a twin. Lake is my brother. We are descendants of Anselmo and Azul. And yes, we always come in pairs. And our names are a total cliché."

"Where is your brother, then?"

"Probably trying to figure out where I am 'cause your friends kidnapped me and I didn't have the time to leave a note."