TWO
"SO THIS is the reason why you were in a hurry. You're meeting the love of your life." Bigla na lang sumulpot si Venna mula sa kung saan. Takang-taka pa si Kale kung saan nanggaling ang peste ng buhay niya.
"What are you doing here!?" Kale asked, surprised and irritated. For the nth time today, hindi na naman maipinta ang mukha niya na ikinasasaya naman ni Venna.
"Kale, who's she?"
"Uhh–"
"I'm Kale's best friend, Raven Thanara Morrigan. Just call me Venna." Venna offered her hand, smiling, to the curly, dirty-blonde-haired girl. "You're Andreanna right?"
"Andreanna Lilith... Zyanya." The girl introduced herself. "You can call me Andrea. How did you know me?"
"Well, my friend over here is so head over heels on you." Inakbayan ni Venna ang katabing lalaki. Mas maliit siya rito kaya medyo napayuko ito. "He always mentions you to me, saying how beautiful and kind you are," she chuckled.
"I never mention her name to you," Kale irritatedly whispered to Venna.
Napataas ang mga kilay ni Andrea dahil sa narinig. "You don't mention me to your friend?" she asked. Based on her tone, she was a little bit hurt.
"She's not my–"
"He does!" Venna exclaimed. "He's just shy about it." She awkwardly laughed, waving her hand in a dismissive way.
"Would you stop cutting me off?" Kale glared at Venna and harshly shoved her hands off his shoulder. Maglalakad na sana siya palapit kay Andrea nang pigilan siya ni Venna sa dibdib saka siya tinulak para ito ang makalapit kay Andrea.
"You're really so pretty. Do you have a brother, by chance?" Venna suddenly asked, her eyes locked onto Andrea's.
"Yes, he's five years older than me. He's also studying here." Andrea pointed at the school behind her, smiling. "You're also pretty."
"Yes, I know," Venna said dismissively while nodding, making Kale scoff. "A guy version of your face would be very handsome. I think I want to meet him," sabi niya habang ang kamay ay nasa baba na parang nag-iisip.
"I'm sorry but we're not really close, so... I can't help." Andrea chuckled. "It feels like I am not even allowed to say his name."
"You're not close? Why?" Venna asked with eyebrows furrowed.
"Stop asking her," Kale interjected, still wearing that unpleasant expression, then turned to Andrea. "Stop answering her, she can't be trusted."
"Hey that's mean!" Venna slapped Kale's arm, earning a dramatic groan from the man.
"She looks friendly and harmless Kale, how can you say that to your friend?" Andrea chuckled.
Tumalim naman ang tingin ni Kale kay Venna dahil sa sinabi ni Andrea pero nakangiti lang ng mayabang si Venna kaya siya mas nairita.
"So, how are you not close with your brother?" Venna moved to Andrea's side, opposite to Kale.
"Well, our personalities are the very opposite of each other's. He doesn't like socializing and he's cold towards me. Maybe he hates me?" Andrea's expression grew sadder.
"Hey, don't say that. Just like you said, your personalities contrast. Maybe you just don't vibe with each other," Kale said to comfort Andrea.
"Yeah, he's right. You are his sister, he will never hate you," Venna said smiling, making Andrea's expression brighten again.
