Giovanni Clark: Gone Crazy (Golden Child Series #1)

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Rumor

Habang nasa byahe papasok sa school, halos maestatwa ako sa unang post na bumungad sa phone pagka-open ko ng account.

Giovanni Clark Smith updated his profile picture.

Napamulagat ako nang makita ang bagong litrato. It was uploaded last night. If I remember correctly, Giovanni has kept his previous profile picture for two years now.

Hindi pinalagpas ng 5.6k na tao ang bigla nitong pagpapalit ng profile. Inulan ito ng sandamakmak na reactions at comments.

It was a selfie that he personally took, and behind him was the magnificent view of the same sea by the amusement park.

His lips were in a faint smile and his hair disheveled as if seizing that windy moment of sunset. On the other hand, his eyes were looking a bit sideways instead of looking straight into the camera. Animo'y may pinagmamasdang iba mula sa screen imbes na suriin ang sariling hitsura.

Kung tulad ako ng ibang tao, na hindi alam ang kwento sa likod ng litratong ito, iisipin kong mag-isa lang siya sa larawan.

But somewhere between his left cheek and shoulder, I caught my tiny silhouette in a distance, admiring the vast seascape while sitting on the concrete behind him. I wouldn't even be visible unless you'd take a closer look.

I concluded that he took this photo while I was having my alone time at the seaside, when he got us food before he announced his arrival.

I couldn't help but free my stubborn little smile. He did this while I wasn't looking, huh? I didn't even notice everything.

Lumipat ang tingin ko sa caption. At kung gulat na ako kanina, mistulang huminto na ang puso ko nang nabasa ang nakasulat do'n.

The things I'd do for you.

That... was familiar!

Dali-dali akong pumunta sa Stories ko. Nang makitang lagpas five hundred na ang views ng post ko kahapon at nahanap ko ang pangalan ni Giovanni sa viewers, muntik ko nang mabitawan ang phone.

What's with those comments and replies?

Kabado kong hinanap ang group chat namin nila Apollo sa gitna ng maraming mensahe. That was when I knew my hunch was right.

I aggressively scrolled through their chats and I finally found Palmer's message. She sent two screenshots to the group chat. Ang Story ko... at ang profile picture ni Gio.

  
Palmer: OMG!! Are these two together rn??

Kenna: For real? I saw her story. Wait. I can't process this. Let me check Gio's profile.

Sechalyn: Gio's new DP is a response to Riz's story. You can't convince me otherwise. Wth?
  

It was obvious from the screenshot of my Story next to Gio's profile photo... that they were both taken from the same place... but from different angles.

I panicked as I neared Mackenzie. Sa group chat ko lang din nalaman na may nag-comment na rin ng screenshot ng Story ko sa picture ni Gio.

Nakatanggap iyon ng maraming reactions at replies. Halos mangalahati ang comment section sa kontrobersiya at teoryang magkasama kami kahapon.

I mean, they're not wrong! Hindi rin naman below the belt ang comments... pero ano 'to?! Bakit nagkaganito?!

Nakayuko akong pumasok ng campus. Medyo maaga pa kaya kaonti pa lang ang mga tao, pero kinabahan ako nang marinig sa hindi kalayuan ang grupong nakasabay ko sa pagpasok ng gate.