Flickered By Innocence (Crossing The Line Series 4) ✅

F.B.I-16

"Happy birthday, Zein. You're already fifteen, but you still look like a baby." Asar sa 'kin ni Tita Cecil.

"I agree with you, Tita! Actually, all of the students on our campus adore Zein's cuteness." Krisha added while putting some dishes on Gellian's plate.

I bit the inside of my cheeks. "Hindi naman po masyado, Ate Krisha."

Krisha stopped what she was doing and rolled her eyes secretly, but I still noticed it. "Zein, a-anong sabi mo? Tinawag mo ba akong Ate Krisha?"

Ngumiti ako nang pilit. "Opo, ate Krisha. Mukha ka po kasing matanda–"

Mom covered my mouth and awkwardly smiled with Gellian's parents. "Pasensya na. Baby pa kasi itong anak ko kaya niya siguro nasabi 'yon."

 

"Anak, Gellian, and..." Dad questionably stares at Krisha. "What's your name again?"

"Krisha po," she answered, bowing her head.

Mom tapped my shoulder to get my attention. "Baby, balik ka na sa table niyo nila Kyle. May pag-uusapan pa kami nila Tita Cecil mo. Isama mo na rin sila Gellian at Krisha," She softly uttered it in my ear.

Tumayo naman ako kaagad at niyaya sina Ate Krisha na sumama. Ang malakas na tawanan nila Levi ang una kong narinig nung makabalik ako sa table nila. Hindi rin nagpahuli si Manang Fe at Mang Noel na masayang pinakita ang mga baby pictures ko.

"Sino naman po itong espasol na katabi ni Zein?" Aaron pointed at Gellian beside me in the picture.

"That's your rival with your crush," Kyle whispered in the air.

I sat beside the seat of Aaron, pouting my lips. "Nanny Fe, please don't show them my embarrassing pictures," I shyly pleaded.

Sinara naman ni Nanny Fe ang photobook at ngumiti sa 'kin. "Anak, masaya lang ako na... malaki ka na. Wala man kaming anak ni Noel, nandyan ka naman para iparamdam sa 'kin ang pagiging ina."

Tumayo ako at binigyan siya nang mahigpit na yakap. Gumaya naman sila Kyle, Levi at Ezra kaya napatingin sa amin ang ilang bisita. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi umiyak dahil sina Manang Fe at Mang Noel ang nandyan para sa akin kapag wala sila Mommy at Daddy. Sila ang aking pangalawang magulang.

I shrugged when Aaron wiped my lips with his thumb while I was eating.  "Ang kalat mo namang kumain, tsk."

I rolled my eyes and wiped his lips as well. "You too, Aaron. Please be gentle when eating since you're wearing white. It will be hard to wash the stain." I mumbled, tapping his white tuxedo.

"Gellian, are you okay? The cake has already crumbled." Rinig kong ani ni Krisha.

Matalim ang tingin ni Gellian kay Aaron nung sumulyap ako sa kanya. Nagkalat ang chocolate cake sa lamesa na galing sa kanyang plato. Umiwas naman siya ng tingin nung makita ako.

Is he mad again? Why? Don't tell me... he likes Aaron now? But he already had Krisha. Arghhh! Gellian's making my brain delirious.

"Kay Kyle... mocha. Kay Ezra, chocolate, kay Levi hmmm... vanilla, strawberry naman for me and Aaron," I murmured as I put various flavors of cupcakes on my plate.