Skies Kissing the Waves

Chapter 4

Chapter 4
Daylight

"'Ayan na naman ang mga mayayabang!" Tinakpan ko na naman ang bibig ni Nory.

Stress na stress talaga si Nory kay Toff at Precious kahit wala namang ginagawa ang dalawa sa kaniya.

Nang dahil siguro sa ginawa nila Toff at Precious sa'kin. They both played me. Kaya galit na galit 'tong bestfriend ko.

"Si Precious na nga lang daw magiging representative ng block natin, ayaw naman ni Skye."

"Sige na kasi, Skye! Pumayag ka na!" Pilit parin ni Nory. Niyuyugyog niya ako. "Mas maganda ka kay Precious! Ang isang 'yon? Parang-"

"Huwag ka nang mag-humiliate ng others para ma-compliment ako." Putol ko. "Saka naka-move on na ako."

I was flipping through my phone, pretending to be engrossed in something when I heard a familiar laugh.

My heart skipped a beat. I slowly looked up, and there he was—Toff, standing across in that sliding door with a girl beside him, her hand casually resting on his arm. Ang lakas ng dating, parang model. Pinagpalit niya ako sa babaeng hindi ko dapat ika-worry.

I could feel the weight in my chest, but I swallowed it down.

“Skye?”

His voice cut through. He was walking toward me, Precious following close behind. Nagkatinginan kami ng saglit—long enough to feel the sting. Then I smiled, the kind of smile you practice in front of a mirror.

“Toff,” Si Nory ang sumalubong sa kaniya, letting my voice stay steady. Napairap ako. "Bakit kayo nandito, huh?”

“Yeah! This is… uh, si Precious gusto niya maging representative,” he said, gesturing to the girl beside him. She smiled, pretty in that effortless way, and I returned the gesture, though I felt like I was on autopilot.

“sure you can. Go ahead,” I said, tilting my head slightly. “Wow, Toff, you’re lucky. She’s gorgeous.”

Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Noreen.

Precious blushed, pero si Toff looked awkward, as if he was waiting for something—some reaction. I didn’t give it to him. Instead, I leaned back in my chair and glanced at my phone, acting nonchalant.

"What are you up to, Skye?" Toff asked. Na parang wala lang ginawa sa akin!

"Seeing someone already." Sagot ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya.

“Oh! By the way, sorry—kailangan ko lang i-check if my date’s here na,” I said, making a show of looking around. “He’s a little late. Alam mo naman, boys.”

Toff blinked. “Date?”

“Yeah,” I said, tucking my hair behind my ear. “We’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks now. Super nice guy.” I smiled again, the kind of smile that dared him to question me.

Bahala na. Si Rhad lang ang iniisip ko!

May iba sa mga mata niya, pero nahuli ko—yung bahagyang gulat, maybe parang hindi makapaniwala. Bago pa siya makapagsalita, nag-vibrate ang phone ko, kaya agad ko itong kinuha, kunwari excited na ako sa tawag na 'yon.

“Ah, he’s here na pala,” I said, standing up and grabbing my bag. “It was great seeing you, Toff. You two look good together.”

I gave them a little wave before turning on my heel, my heart pounding. Walking away felt like the hardest thing I’d done in a long time, but I kept my steps light, chin up. Huwag kang lilingon, Skye.