Soft Innocence (Shattered Pieces Series #3)

Chapter 3

Night

"Babu, night out later. Sama ka sa amin," masiglang saad ni Wyla matapos ang aming klase nung Friday.

"Pass, Wyla. May gagawin pa ako," pagtanggi ko rito.

Isang beses palang akong nakakapunta roon at hindi ko pa maalala ang mga nangyari. Kinakabahan ako na baka pag nagpunta ako ulit doon ay may gawin akong kautuan.

I cannot really remember what happened. Hindi ko rin magawang tanungin si Ethan dahil nahihiya ako. I think it is better to just forget about it. Hindi ko nalang pipilitin alalahanin. What if may nagawa nga akong hindi naman dapat nung gabi na iyon? It is better if I am not aware. I don't want to die from the embarrassment.

I felt my phone vibrate so I picked it up to check who was texting me. Turns out that it was him so I read it carefully; words by words.

Zolen:

We'll go clubbing later, beb. A friend from Silverian invited me. Funny that I hope to see you there.

I miss you na :(

I giggled at his cute sad emoticon.

Hindi naman kami madalas magka-usap sa text but he always leaves a greeting every morning and night to wish me a good day and a sweet dreams. Minsan ay hindi ko nababasa dahil hindi talaga ako yung tipo ng tao na palaging nakacheck sa message box.

Raiah:

What do you mean? Haha.

Hindi ko man din aminin ay alam ko sa sarili ko na gusto ko na ulit makasama si Zolen. I just like the vibe when he is around. He is somehow making me feel happy with his presence.

Ewan ko ba kung ano ang nangyari sa akin, ilang beses lang naman kami nagkasama pero hindi ko maitatanggi ang pagkagusto ko sa kaniya.

He was my crush before, I admit.

Noon pa man ay madalas ko na itong makita lalo na sa mga party and he caught my attention but it was lowkey, ni hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan niya noon.

It was possible to have a crush on someone even if you don't know his name. A pure infatuation can grow into something deeper, I know, but I doubt that it will be going to happen to me.

It's just that... I want him to be more close to me; a friend.

"Babu, why'd you call?" sagot ni Wyla sa call ko. We were on facetime and I can clearly see how she slowly put something on her eyes.

"I just wanna ask kung saan yung party na pupuntahan..." mabagal kong saad, sinisigurado na hindi siya magtataka.

"High Up."

"Sasama ako," mabilis kong saad. Tumayo ako sa aking kama.

Napatigil siya sa kaniyang ginagawa at awang ang labi na tumingin sa akin.

"Rai. Tell me that I am dreaming," hindi makapaniwala nitong saad. Pinakatitigan niya ako. Dahan dahan lang akong umiling.

"I'll go there sa bahay niyo, Wyla. Help me choose what to wear, please?"

"Alright, alright. I'll ask Ethan to pick you up."

"No, there's no need na. I'll ask our driver nalang."

Matapos kong magpaalam kay dad ay nagdiretso na ako kila Wyla. May dala dala na rin akong damit dahil doon nalang din ako uuwi mamaya.

"Ethan, you're here na agad?" gulat kong tanong nang makita si Ethan na pababa sa grand staircase nila Wyla habang ako naman ay papa-akyat palang.