Sinclair Secrets

Chapter 10: Bringing up the past

The days passed and I tried to forget about it.

We went on as we always had, together. But more often than not I would notice Vaughn spacing out. The gang had noticed too. We had talked about it, but we couldn't come up with a valid reason why. We even tried to get it out from Mensie, seems as though she's not even aware of it. They had wanted to open it up with Vaughn but I stopped them. I wouldn't want Vaughn to distance himself from us even more.

Friday came and the gang had a brilliant idea. Once more, I walked with Vaughn to the SCO to leave his stuff.

"Hey, the gang's going out tomorrow. Sama ka?" I said as cheerful as I can be.

He did not answer.

I kept going on. "Steven found this new floating restaurant cruising around a mangrove forest in the south. Said they serve delicious seafoods there. And we'd be inviting Zed to come along too. It'd be fun!"

He suddenly stopped walking. "I'm not coming," he said quiet firmly.

She blinked at the unexpected response. "What? Why not?" I hesitated, my cheerfulness fading.

He continued walking.

"Why not, Vaughn?" I quietly asked again.

Hindi pa rin siya sumagot. We got inside their office.

"What is it that you don't like so much about Zed, anyway?" I blurted out. He's pissing me off already.

"What?" he snapped, facing me.

I stared at him hard. "Why are you so cold to him?"

He stared back, a warning in his eyes but I wouldn't waver. I wanted to know. "Kala mo ba hindi namin napapansin? You wouldn't join us whenever he's there. You've been completely rude to him ever since. Why?"

He turned around and started sorting his things. "It's not my obligation to make him feel welcomed," he said bleakly.

"He's a good person, Vaughn." I said, trying to be patient again.

"I'm not questioning his morals."

"Then why??"

He sighed in resignation. "I have my reasons, Ellah. There are just situations I don't wanna put myself into. I know you wouldn't understand at this moment-"

"Then make me understand," I said cutting him short.

He slung back his bag unto his shoulders again and faced me. "Please Ellah, pwede bang 'wag na natin pag-usapan 'to?"

I faked out a laugh. "We haven't even talked much since the school started." 

Months ago.

"Ellah... "

I put my hands up in surrender. "Fine... fine... I should understand, right?" I turned my back and started walking towards the door. "C'mon, let's just go home."

"Ano ba talagang nangyayari kay Vaughn? Di naman siya dating ganito ah!" Patty said as the boys set out to get some food."Iniiwanan niya tayo sa ere."

I shifted in my seat. Tumuloy nga kami dun sa sinabing restaurant ni Steven kahit wala si Vaughn, we all need some air. Iisang sasakyan lang ang gamit namin, yung white van nila Hozzai. And Zed is with us. Medyo malayu-layo 'tong pinuntahan namin. It was a 1 hour ride from town pero sulit naman. Maganda yung lugar. Sa nadaanan naming overlooking view kanina, ang kapal kapal ng mangroves and there were small naked islets too.

"Hindi ko din alam. He's acting really strange lately and he wouldn't say anything about it. He said intindihin muna siya." I said looking at the sea.

Tumahimik siya sandali. "Do you really think it's about Zed joining us?" she asked.