(District Series Two) The Deceiver [COMPLETED - NOT EDITED YET]

[21]

CHUZELLE

It was not just a surprise when the two did that to me. It was more than I expected and more than surprise. I did not expect for them to do such thing as that. Hindi ko aakalain na may tinatago pala silang balak sa akin. They made my heart jump earlier. Parang hindi ako makagalaw nang gawin nila iyon.

It feels like they've casted a spell on me and did not let me move. It was such a first timer feeling, not what I expected to have at that time. Akala ko nga noon, lalabas lang kami at aalis sa lugar na iyon. But I was wrong. The two did that and I was really surprised at the making.

"Hey. You're quiet." It was Darc who went near me. To my surprise, I wasn't irritated when he called me. Noon pa lang, kahit hey lang ang itawag niya sa akin, hindi ako mapakali dahil nagagalit at naiirita kaagad ako sa pagmumukha niya. It feels like I can't stand him as he is.

Pero ngayon, mukhang maaliwalas ang araw ko sa di maipaliwanag na dahilan. But, do I really not know? Why do I feel like I calmed when the two did that earlier. It feels like I've been into clouds.

"What's gotten into you?" I did not roll my eyes but it was enough for him to see a little bit of it. Nagsisimula na pala akong mairita. Was that just a little bit of taste? "You're different than the usual Chuzelle I know. I mean, I know as a thief. You never even shouted at me and you seem calm and very innocent." Hindi ko alam kung babangasan ko na ba talaga itong lalaking ito o hahayaan ko lang siya. He's getting into my nerves, he's fucking testing it.

"Mind your own business, shall we?" Sagot ko sa tanong niya. But really, I don't want to hear anything from him, now that he started to irritate me. "You've been very close to Alesia lately. Palagi ko kayong nakikita magkasama at magkausap and also, I did not expect for this to happen. Akala ko hindi niyo talaga magugustuhan ang isa't isa. I mean, just look back on how she treated you, Daech told me. He told me that Alesia did not like any single idea of you being here, at all. Wala siyang gusto kaya naman, nagulat ako kanina nang umuwi kayo, she's starting to cling on your arms." I tsked at how long he just mumbled.

Clinging? You could say that.

"She is a softie." Halos mailuwa ko ang sarili kung sikmura sa aking sinabi. Since when did I even learn on saying those things? Softie? I feel like I just said a forbidden word. But then, I waited for him to answer me. I want to hear it. "It looks like you're starting to treasure friendship, Chuzelle." The moment he said those. My smile disappeared, my eyes became cold and the feeling of being into the clouds faded. I was staring straight at the table in front of us and it dawned on me.

Am I really starting to treasure friendship? Is that what really is happening? Ganoon ba talaga ang nangyayari ngayon sa akin? Did they caught me off guard from the very beginning?

"You are, right?" I couldn't answer so I did not answer it. I looked away and tried to shoo the thought away but since then, it couldn't even get out of my mind. I kept thinking about it.

"Forget it, Darc." Tanging ani ko sa kaniya dahil sa di maipaliwanag na dahilan. I just told him to buzz off and go back to where he was before he went near me.

I stayed at the spot as I stare at everyone who's busy at what they're doing. Ang iba ay naglalakad, ang iba naman ay hindi mapakali at marami din ang nag uusap usap. When Alesia told me that Anrey called us. The moment we step our foot inside, Anrey asked us on how's it going outside. Sinabi lang namin na wala naman gaanong nangyari kahit patuloy pa din ang pagkitil ng mga buhay sa labas.

Anrey was worried but he kept a firm face. Sinabi niya sa amin na kapag humupa na ang pangyayaring ito, doon na muna namin gagawin ang pinapamisyon niya sa amin. He told us not to just get out like the normal us back then. Dahil malaki ang posibilidad na baka atakihin lang kami bigla sa labas.