A Close Second

Fifty Third

Hello! 

First of all, thank you for the greetings for my last birthday! I'm grateful that even if there hasn't been a lot of unexpected things that are happening, I still have you guys!

Here's a long chapter for you! 

--

Isang palo ang nakuha ni Greg sa akin nang makita ko siya.

"ARAY HA!" He exclaims, rubbing his arm which I slapped. "Hello din sayo Madam. Anong ginawa ko sayo?"

Thea chuckles, kissing Greg's cheek and then walking past us papunta sa likod ng sasakyan with her books. I glared at Greg while he takes my books from me. He gestures para mauna akong maglakad, probably to make sure I don't kick him too.

Si Greg ang sumundo samin ngayon instead of Keith since he's out for an annual physical check-up (or at least yun ang naintindihan ko sa sinabi niya because I was still groggy this morning habang nagmamadali siya papuntang BGC, where his doctors were).

Kung tutuusin nga pwede na siyang pumuntang school, pero nalate na rin siya ng pasok, sasagarin nalang din daw niya.

We only had one class right now since we had midterms this whole week. We're now going back to the Estudillos for lunch.

Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pintuan ng passenger seat, but my glare at him still stayed.

Thea chuckles. "Ano bang ginawa mo Kuya?" tanong nito. "Parang galit na galit naman si Ate Beatrice sayo?"

Tinignan ako ni Greg as he climbs the passenger seat before reaching to put my seatbelt on. I glared at him bago inagaw ito sa kanya, putting it on myself and crossing my arms across my chest.

"Hindi ko nga alam e." He sighs, putting his own seatbelt before starting the car. "Ano bang kasalanan ko, Madam?"
"Oh, you really don't know?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

He frowns, looking at me for a bit before he continues to drive.

"Well, well. King Greggory is now subdued." Thea says, putting her headphones in before saying. "Good luck, King."

Thea and Aya had been teasing Greg as King Greg when they learned that Greg was crowned Prom king during our Junior Prom. Greg hated the title before since Nico and Jacob clowned him with a golden plastic crown and a fur cape for a week and addressing him as Your Majesty.

It seemed fitting that their girlfriends now took on him too.

"What did I do, Madam?" tanong nito ulit sa akin after a while. "Wala naman akong maalalang ginawa ko sayo. Wait, si Nico ang nakasunog The Maze Runner mong libro! Ako lang ang nagsabing palitan!"
"WHAT?!"

The boys had been reading more these days dahil naimpluwensyahan naming mga babae and most of the time sa akin at kay Thea sila nakakakuha ng mga babasahin. I was wondering what happened to the bookmark that I had clipped on page 131 of my copy of The Maze Runner.

Now I didn't have to wonder.

"Oh, that wasn't it was it?" Tanong niya, shrugging.
"How did you guys even set it on fi—you know what, never mind!"

I rolled my eyes, figuring walang mangyayari kung doon ko siya papagalitan. At least they had the mind to replace the book.

Boys and their antics, really.

"So anong kasalanan ko nga?" He frowns. "Wala na akong ibang maalala."
"Nag away daw kayo ni Keith Andrew noong Sunday! Anong sinabi mo sa boyfriend ko ha? Pinikon mo siguro!"

Napaisip siya sandal before it dawns on him, his expression turning dark.

"Anong nangyari?" He asks.
"You must've gotten on his nerves. Bakit baa ng hilig niyong mag asaran?!" Pinalo ko ulit siya.
"ARAY! Nagdadrive ako!" Reklamo niya.