Lighten the Darkest Past (Ongoing)

Kabanata 26: YeshDrif Unplanned Engagement

Our second semester ends and our grades are all stable. Me and Ayesha are both on the President's list. Nakatambay na lang kami ngayon sa condo ko. I'm now cooking pasta because our cravings are attacking us. Gusto kasi namin ng baked spaghetti. Ayesha is just playing a mobile legend with Drifie, I think?!

Sumisigaw sigaw pa ito. Nilagay ko na sa oven ang spaghetti with a lot of cheese. Lumapit ako kay Ayesha na napapamura pa sa paglalaro.

"Tangang, Drifie! Tulongan mo ko!" sigaw niya. "Mamamatay ako dito, Babe! Help!"

Binatukan ko si Ayesha at nagdabog naman siya. "Ano ba? Kung hindi lang ako gutom at naalala ko pa naman na Ikaw ang nagluto ng baked spagh. Bakit kaya hindi ka tinuturuan ni Malik maglaro?"

I rolled my eyes. Bakit naman kasi niya ako tuturuan? It's not my thing. I'm not a gamer that's why I couldn't afford to play someone's feelings.

Lumapit si Ayesha sa akin at inilapit niya ang kanyang pisngi sa'kin. "What if she's playing with someone?" she chuckled.

I rolled my eyes again. "Paki ko? Edi doon na lang siya sa player that someone can play his feelings 'cause me? I'm the greenest woman ever. I'm not a player that's why I couldn't afford to play with his feelings," I replied.

Tumawa nang napakalakas si Ayesha sa sagot ko habang may tinuturo sa likod ko. Napatingin na rin ako and I saw Malik's smiles.

Napabalik ang mga mata ko kay Ayesha at kunwaring nag-martsa patungong oven. Good thing, the oven stopped because the baked spag is already cooked. Inilabas ko ito sa oven and I prepared it in the dining table. Tinulungan na rin ako ni Ayesha sa paghahanda.

Nagulat ako sa pagkurot ni Ayesha sa tagiliran ko. "Ikaw naman kasi, nilalabas mo bigla ang pagiging madaldal mo. Chill lang tayo, nonchalant muna," sabi nito.

Pinuntahan ko na harapan ng sofa si Malik para ayain kumain. Pagkalapit ko ay hinila niya agad ang kamay ko at natumba naman ako sa dibdib niya. Pinalo ko ang braso niya kasi baka makita kami ni Ayesha.

"Ano ba, Malik? Kumain na nga lang tayo," I said.

He laughed. "For real? You're the greenest woman in the world?"

I rolled my eyes. Tatayo na sana ako pero mas hinigpitan niya ang yakap. I'm also conscious with my smell kasi ako pa ang nagluto.

"Makikita tayo ni Ayesha," bulong ko.

Imbis na pakawalan niya ako ay mas hinigpitan pa nito ang yakap at parang hindi na ako nakakahinga. He kissed my forehead. Wala rin akong hijab ngayon kasi I thought, wala naman lalaki na darating pero okay lang naman siguro, kasal naman din kami.

"I only played once and that's your brother's request. I'm not a good player that's why we're both the same. I couldn't afford to play with your feelings," he said.

Nanatili kaming gano'n at hindi rin kami tinawag ni Ayesha siguro kasi baka nahihiya by what she sees right now.

Tumunog ang cellphone ko at tsaka niya ako pinakawalan. My father is calling that's why I answered it immediately.

"Assalamualaikum, Bai!" he greeted.

I smiled. Somehow, I miss him.

"Wa Allaykum Salam, Abie!" I greeted back.

I heard his sigh. "Can you please bring your brothers here. I invited Drifie's future mahram," he said.

I closed my eyes. They really don't want Ayesha for my brother huh?!

"For dinner?" I asked.

"Yes, for dinner! Ingat kanu bu!" he responded.

I sighed. "Sige po, shukran!"