This is War (War Series #3)

Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

Dance

Magkakasama na sa guest room sina Adonijah, Jadon, Asiel, at Hiel samantalang nasa kuwarto ko si Ida Mishal at natutulog. I suddenly woke up earlier and I couldn't sleep again. Instead, I went to the nursery room to check on Hanniel. 

Mayro'n kaming baby monitor para sa kaniya but ever since Hanniel was born, he never really gave us a hard time. He seldom cries and he's easy to take care of. Para bang ayaw niyang pahirapan ang mga taong nag-aalaga sa kaniya. 

Minsan, naiisip ko na baka alam niyang nahihirapan ako kaya hindi niya na rin ako pinahihirapan. I know that it's impossible because he's a baby. How can he know anything?

Yet I love him for that. 

Pinagmasdan ko si Hanniel sa crib niya, mahimbing pa ring natutulog. Slowly, I tried to take and carry him. He stirs a little, but when his head finally finds rest on my chest, he continues to sleep. Napangiti ako at dahan-dahang pumunta sa couch. 

Niyakap ko siya at pumikit. The room sounds quiet and I can't help but reminisce about the past.

I have many ideals, especially with love.

I always had high standards with men. Lalo na dahil may apat na lalaki akong kaibigan at may maayos namang pamilyang lagi akong pinapaalalahanan kung ano ang mga dapat at hindi ko dapat na gawin.

My friends, although are assholes sometimes, are such a great catch. I know because I experience how well they treat girls first hand.

Jadon, although is cocky most of the time, has respect for everybody. Kahit na mukha siyang nagmamalaki at mayabang para sa ibang tao, he still has a genuine side to him.

Asiel, although he looks wreckless and rude, knows how to keep his hands to himself and not bother other people. He also cares for his friends so much–kahit na hindi kaagad 'yon nahahalata. Parati kasing patago ang mga ginagawa niya para sa mga kaibigan niya.

Hiel is like my shoulder-to-cry-on. He's like a brother. He doesn't speak too much but when he does, he never fails to affirm me. He's a great listener too.

Adonijah, although he's goofy and he loves to always have fun, he's the most caring among my friends. He's willing to lay all his cards for the people he loves.

Kaya alam ko kung ano ang gusto ko sa isang lalaki. Alam ko kung ano ang mga dapat kong hanapin at kung ano ang mga dapat na iwasan.

That's why, in senior high school, kahit na panay ang pagpaparinig ko, hindi ako basta-bastang nagkakaro'n ng boyfriend.

"Crush mo 'yon no'ng nakaraan, 'di ba?" tanong sa 'kin ng grade eleven din tulad kong si Adonijah, ngumingiwi.

Soot niya ang uniform namin sa St. Agatha University tulad ko. Nasa parking area kami ng school at hinihintay si Asiel dahil siya ang kasama naming pupunta sa Acerra College of Aeronautics. 

Kitang-kita ko ang pearl necklace na soot ni Adonijah sa leeg at hindi ko alam kung puwede bang magsuot ng gano'n sa St. Agatha University. Mukhang lagi namang nagsosoot ng gano'n si Adonijah kaya baka magaling lang talaga siyang magtago.

"Ngayong nanliligaw, ayaw mo na?" Adonijah asks me and I brush my hair back with my right hand.

"Bakit? Do you even like him for me?" I ask him, pinanlalakihan siya ng mga mata.

Dumating na si Asiel, kuryosong nakatingin sa 'min dahil sa naabutan niyang usapan. Pinatunog niya ang kotseng kanina pa namin tinatambayan ni Adonijah sa paghihintay sa iba pa naming mga kaibigan. It's Asiel's car. Bigay ng parents niya sa kaniya nang tumuntong siya ng senior high school.