Tainted Melodies (Ciudad de Escalante #5)

Phase 26

"Oh my God, strike! Damn it, Dei! Did you see that? Ang galing ko, 'di ba?" masayang sabi ni Ate Solene at tumalon talon pa sa tuwa. She just knocked down all ten pins in her one freaking shot.

"Yeah, but don't exert too much pressure in your arms. Baka mabigla. Try to lessen the force this time," paalala naman ni Kuya Deion at inabot ang bowling ball kay Ate para sa second shot.

Then, he taught my sister again on how to hold the ball properly and just focus on the bowling lane, not on the gutter. Maging sa postura kung paano ihagis ang bola ay ipinaalala muli ni Kuya para maiwasan ang injury kung sakali.

"Your stance should be relaxed, upright, and balanced. Your knees should be bent slightly, as overly stiff joints don't move as easily," Kuya said and touched Ate Solene's knee to bend it a little. Pinosisyon din niyang muli ang paa ni Ate para sa tamang postura kapag titira na.

"Then, keep your head raised and stare ahead towards your target..." He continued, and this time, he had a gentle hold on my sister's chin to make her focus on the pins.

Umismid ako sa nakikitang imahe. Why do they have to be this sweet? And why did I even come with them in the first place? Nasa may Bowlerama kami ngayon, a bowling alley here in Ciudad De Sebastian. Kanina tinuruan na rin ako ni Kuya Deion kung paano maglaro. Nanalo na ako kay Ate sa isang game kaya nagdesisyon akong magpahinga muna.

"Third-wheeling..." I whispered as I typed it on my phone.

Kumuha ako saglit ng larawan nilang dalawa at pinost iyon sa aking Instagram story. Nakakuha agad ako ng reply at reaction sa mga followers ko. But I didn't bother to reply, except for one message I received just now.

"Not anymore?" I mouthed. It was Alexius' reply to my story.

@solairefrgsn

What do you mean?

@jaelalexiusofc

behind you.

Noong una, hindi ko pa lubusang makuha kung ano iyon kaya lumingon nalang ako sa aking likuran. Una kong nakita si Zyris at isang hindi pamilyar na lalaki. Kapapasok lang nila. Hindi si Devan o Xandro. Kapwa parehas silang may suot na itim na sleeveless shirt. Mukhang galing lang sa gym at bagong shower dahil sa medyo basang buhok.

Confusion seeped when the unfamiliar guy smirked at me. Maybe, I had already seen him but knowing myself; I just didn't make an effort to remember when and where.

His mysterious yet alluring features of him astonished me. His soft hair tumbled in such rich summer hues. It was neat, yet it looked like wild waves upon his head. Halos magkasing-kulay sila ng buhok ni Zyris na mala-tsokolate ngunit mas mabigat ang intensidad ng kanya. It was dark chocolate.

There's something unusual in the way he carries himself. As if he was screaming that people should bow to him and girls should worship him! Kung si Alexius sobrang hirap basahin, mas lalo na ang lalaking ito. It seems to me that he'll never be an open book. He'll never give you hints or traces to figure out why he's a mystery.

"Hey..."

Hindi ko namalayan na nakalapit na si Alexius sa aking gawi. Masyado akong napokus sa lalaking bago sa aking paningin. It's not that I'm interested at him or something. He has this power to make people curious about him.

"Uh, hi? What brings you here?" nangangapang tanong ko at tumayo para harapin sila. Hindi naman sa ayaw kong makita si Alexius ngayon, nabanggit niya sa akin last time na medyo busy siya ngayong linggo.

"The shoot was canceled. Luckily, the location was nearby, and I bumped with these two on my way here," aniya.

That explains why he's the only one not wearing a casual outfit. Mukhang galing sa gym ang dalawa at siya ay sa trabaho. I thought the three of them planned to go here.