Scarlet Strings of Love

Chapter 33: Ikari

"Anger is just a cowardly extension of sadness. It's a lot easier to get mad at someone than it is to tell them you're hurt"

--- Tom Gates

YSABELLE's POINT OF VIEW

It's been a few weeks since Ellie started attending the same school as me and napansin ko na naging close na siya kina Laurence. She would play jokes with them, tease them, and just have fun with them. Sometimes I feel like a mother seeing her daughter grow up, despite the fact that Ellie is technically older than me because she was the first one who got out.

But something is definitely wrong with Ellie every time we're with Angelo. I tried to open this up to Dad and Mom but they just told me that she might just be adjusting to everything. After all, she's not used to sleeping in a different time zone.

But something still didn't sit right with me.

Last week, she randomly asked me if I want to go to school with her. Gusto ko naman sana sumama sa kanya kaso nakapag-sabi na ako kay Angelo that time na sasabay ako sa kanya. Her expression was... hindi ko ma-describe parang galit siya, pero at the same time she expected it to happen?

I promised her na sasabay ako sa kanya next week, which was this week but I forgot to inform Angelo about it and n'ong Monday pumunta si Angelo sa bahay namin.

"Good morning po," bati niya kina Mum at Dad. Binati niya rin si Kuya Harry tsaka tumingin sa akin.

"Tara na?" he asked. Nanlaki ang mata ko nung narealize ko na hindi ko siya nainform na sabay kami ni Ellie ngayong week.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Napalingon ako kay Ellie at pababa siya ng hagdanan dala-dala ang mga gamit niya.

"Um, here to fetch Ysa?" Angelo asked. I saw Ellie frowning and she turned to me.

"Didn't Belle tell you that we'd be going to uni together this week?" she asked. Angelo frowned as well.

"No, wala siyang sinabi sa akin."

"Belle," Ellie called. Oh shit, she's annoyed. She sighed and shook her head but she still had a serious expression.

"Belle and I agreed to go to uni together this week," she said. "Now run along or you'll be late for class."

"Can you drive? Do you have a license?" tanong ni Angelo.

"Why do you have so many questions?" Ellie took a card from her wallet and almost shoved it in Angelo's face.

"Here's my license, Sir," she said with an annoyed tone.

"Okay, I get it now. Sorry, I was just worried—"

"Oh you don't have to worry about me. I will never do something that will hurt anyone," sabi ni Ellie. "Now if you'll excuse us, we need to go to school because my class is starting in a few minutes."

We bid goodbye to our parents and Ellie dragged me all the way to the garage. She slammed the door when she got in and I got in nervously.

"Tell your boyfriend to never doubt me again," she said and huffed.

"Sorry, Ellie. I forgot to inform him," I said.

"I understand, Belle. Really, I do. I just didn't like the way he asked me if I had a license," Ellie mumbled something but she was starting the car and the engine covered up her voice so I didn't hear what she said.

Ellie was gripping the steering wheels with so much force that her knuckles turned white the entire ride. When we got to school, she parallel parked perfectly and it left me speechless. It took her one try to get between the two cars. I looked at her and saw her smiling proudly. Dahil hindi ko alam sasabihin ko ay pumalakpak na lang ako.