Where The Music Leads Us [ philharmonica series #1 ]

08

Silence echoed inside the car when I got stunned by his words. I wasn't able to look at him straight. It took me a while to finally respond.

"Why are you now telling me this?"

"Weren't you mad because I joked that I didn't like you?" He asked, confused.

"It doesn't matter." Pabulong na sambit ko.

"I wanna make up with you." He said seriously.

Bumuntong-hininga siya at pumikit ng mariin nang hindi ko siya sinagot. Kaya bago pa niya iangat ang tingin niya sa akin, nagsalita na ako.

"I don't like you," I dictated.

I gulped when I almost bit my tongue saying it. 

Nakita ko ang paghinto ng kaniyang paghinga at agad itong tumingin ito sa akin. Naguguluhan ang kaniyang mukha, tila ba'y naghahanap ito ng pag-aalinlangan sa aking mga mata.

Ang tagal ulit naming natahimik sa kotse. Mukhang hindi pa nagsi-sink in sa kaniya ang sinabi ko, dahil nakatingin lang ito sa harapan habang mabagal ang paghinga at garalgal pa ito kung ibuga ng kaniyang labi.

"Leo messaged me, they said to meet them at ice skating." Bulong ko habang inaayos ang sarili.

"Do you mean it?" He stopped me from getting out of his car by grabbing onto my arms.

I faced him with a blank expression. He looked hopeful. Inalis ko ang kamay niya sa palapulsuhan ko at nagkibit-balat.

"I'm not sure of how I feel." I mocked his words.

Agad akong lumabas ng kotse niya at nauna nang pumunta sa kung nasaan ang bandmates namin. Sinadya kong bilisan ang paglakad ko para hindi niya ako maabutan.

"Lavielle!" Tawag sa akin ni Kenzie.

Nakapila na sila sa entrance ng ice skating rink. Lumapit na ako sa kanila at tumabi kila Aria. Binilhan na nila kami ng ticket kaya nama'y papasok na lang kami. Hinihintay pa nilang mag-alas tres ng hapon para makapasok kami.

"Excited na 'ko!" Drake cheered.

"Sus! Baka bobo ka mag-skate mamaya!" Pakikipagtalo ni Kei.

"Siyempre, first time ko 'to!" Sumimangot si Drake.

"Yie, first time..." Ngisi ni Kei.

"Ang bastos ng isip mo, gago!" Drake raised his middle finger to Kei, cursing at him over and over again.

I laughed at how chaotic they are, finally getting excited to skate too. Their loudness is really something that is never annoying in any way. I pulled Leo and Aria with me and ran to the locker area.