Sweeter Than 3.14

Final Chapter

"UMAYOS ka, Alzien. Hindi ka namin pinalaking suwail!"

A hard slap from Dad landed on my face. Napapikit ako nang maramdaman ang init at hapdi niyon sa aking mukha.

"Mom! Dad! That's enough. Tama na po," pigil ni Bella.

"Matuto kang rumespeto, Alzien. Ginagawa lang namin 'to para sa sarili mong kapakanan. We love you, anak. Please, do this for us," Mom sweetly smiled before she and Dad left me with Bella.

Pinunasan ko ang dugong tumutulo sa gilid ng labi.

For my sake? No, it's for their business's sake. None of us wanted to take business. I mean, I could damn handle all of it but I want to take Architecture. And our business is not even related to that. Pero kaya ko.

"Are you okay? Saan ang masakit? God! Your face is swollen!" natatarantang sabi ni Bella.

I lightly slapped her hands away from my face and walked away.

"Hey! Where are you going?! Alzien! Alzien!" she screamed.

I didn't answer.

I came to school with a swollen face and a slight crack on my glasses. My eyesight has no problem. Exposed lang ako sa gadgets at para hindi tuluyang masira ay gumamit ako nito. And that damn old man is mad about it too.

"Alzien, mamaya sa bahay gagawin 'yong project. Ayos lang ba?" Cielo came to me.

I nodded. Cielo tried to touch my face but I immediately backed down.

"Anong nangyari sa 'yo? May pasa ka," she asked.

It's not as if she can help me if I'd tell her though. At sa mga susunod pa na buwan o taon ay baka laging ganito. I can take it. Pero Architecture ang tatapusin ko. Architecture and then business. Damn it.

"Simula noong bumalik ka, halos walang linggo na hindi ka nagkakapasa. Mind telling me what happened?"

I shook my head. I am in no mood to entertain her questions.

"Gano'n? Mamaya ah, sa bahay tayong lahat."

At five PM, we were already at their house. A nice cozy house.

"Huwag tayo masyadong maingay, nandito mga kaklase ni Ate," paalala ni Cielo.

"College students?" Zeki asked.

"Oo. May ginagawa sila. Simulan na natin 'to."

In the middle of making the damn project, Cielo's sister went down with her classmate.

"Ate Rayzeah! Na sa akin 'yong pants mo na hiniram ni Ate Chelsea, nakalimutan ko iuwi sa 'yo," Cielo said.

I lifted up my sight only to see a stunning woman in front of me. Her rosy cheeks went red as Cielo touched her shoulders. Damn it. Ano't may naligaw na diwata rito?

"Ano ka ba, ayos lang. You can keep it if you want. Hindi na kasya 'yon sa 'kin dahil tumangkad ako ng kaunti kaya puwedeng sa 'yo na."

She smiled and my heart melted. Huminga ako ng malalim at sinubukang umiwas ng tingin. Baka mapansin niya ang titig ko. Hindi ko rin natagalan kaya ibinalik ko agad sa kaniya ang aking tingin.

"Talaga? Oh, my God! Thank you, Ate!"

I don't mind if we take forever with this project.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mong bata ka!" Cielo's sister shouted.

"Ate Rayzeah oh!"

"Tumigil ka na nga, Chelsea. Kumuha na tayo ng makakain, naghihintay na sila sa taas," she softly said with a smile.