Weather the Storm (LOTUS SERIES 1)

Finale

Never let life teach you the same lesson twice.

"Can you drop by later? Here at my school?" It's Solenn.

"What's the matter? You know I still have a class to attend,"

"Sige na. Please?"

There. The word she always used to get me and do what she wants. She knew how to work me out.

"What time?"

"Yey! You're the best, really. I'll see you at 4, okay? Bye, love you!"

And that's another word she uses to really make me do it. I wonder if she knows I like her more than just a friend? But, no. Impossible.

Dinampot ko ang bag ko at sinabit iyon sa balikat ko.

"Saan ka? Malapit na next period," si Saldy nang makasalubong ko. Mukhang hinatid niya ulit si Wera sa building nito.

"May gagawin lang,"

Magsasalita pa sana siya nang tapikin ko siya sa balikat at nilagpasan na. I drove more than one hour to get to Solenn's school. She asked me to pick up her gift for Brian. I looked stupid, for real.

"Where?" She held her hand out.

I put it in her hand, annoyed. Kailan pa ako naging taga kuha ng regalo para sa boyfriend niya?

"Can you do it yourself next time? Because it's really annoying. Really."

But she was too busy checking the gift for her boyfriend to even bother listening to me. After the thorough checking, she looked at me and smiled and hugged my arms. But I'm still annoyed.

"Tara,"

Hinayaan ko siyang tangayin ako. Sa malayo pa lang kita ko na ang boyfriend niyang makita ko pa lang ang mukha ay naglalabasan na ang question marks sa paligid ko. I really can't with her taste when it comes to boys.

As we grew closer to her boyfriend, I noticed he's talking to a girl. Her back looked familiar.

"Isn't she that MC?" Tanong ko kay Solenn.

She was the girl, the master of ceremony in Solenn's pageant last August here. The one with a voice that sounds so confident it feels comfortable and endearing. I've seen her more than once here. Madalas ko siyang makita na dumadaan sa parking. Patungo sa hospital if I'm not mistaken. Pero may kalayuan ang hospital sa parking, eh. Nilalakad niya lang 'yon?

"What MC?"

"Your pageant. Last August,"

"Uhh..." sambit niya at alam ko agad na hindi niya 'yon maalala. "Saan ba?"

Umiling-iling ako. "Nevermind."

She's Davi. There's nothing special about her. The average type. She has a temper. A biassed temper that looks exclusive for me. She annoys me, but I annoy her more. She's funny. And innocent. And young.

Just nineteen. What the hell. But she's trying to act like an adult. Maybe she thinks it's cool for a teenager to act like one, though she seems natural. But still.

"So, what do you like about Brian?" Tanong ko.

I wanted to vomit. What is it that made them like that sour-faced man?

"Him," sagot niya na gustong-gusto kong tawanan.

When I asked Solenn about what she likes about Brian later, she told me he's handsome. So, I think Davi's answer is wholesome.

"I don't know her personally. Why are you asking?" Si Solenn.

"Just because."

She didn't reply to any of my messages after our last meeting. Noong binalik niya sa akin ang sasakyan ko.