Under the Shades of Sky

Chapter 23

"Something to explain?" Kuya Callum strictly said.

"You really have something to explain." sabi pa ni Kuya Castiel.

"K-kuya..." I didn't know why I stuttered.

"Castiel, Callum, malaki na si Deia. Hayaan nyo na." mahinhing saad ni Tita Alvina at tinapik ang balikat ko para pagaanin ang loob ko.

"Oo nga Kuya! Masyado kayong protective eh. Baka mamaya tumanda kaming dalaga nyan. Tsk, tsk, tsk." Sabi ni Alexa sabay kagat sa rebisco biscuit at umiling-iling. Ibinaba niya ang biscuit sa upuan at nagpaliwanag kina Kuya Callum.

Nakita kong kukuhanin sana ni Kuya Arlo ang biscuit na nakatabi kay Alexa para asarin ito pero nakita ni Tito Marcus.

"Arlo, tigil-tigilan mo si Alexa." sabi ni Tito dahilan para masamang tignan ni Alexa si Kuya Arlo.

Inirapan lang si Kuya ni Alexa at bumalik pagpapaliwanag.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Ysabelle. She just smiled at me. Si Alexa ay patuloy na nakatayo habang nagpapaliwanag kung bakit dapat payagan na manligaw si Nate sa akin. I chuckled in my mind, since grade 8 she always shipped us up. She has tons and tons of reasons why they should welcome Nate in our family. Everyone, aside from Kuya Castiel and Kuya Callum, was chuckling at her reasons. Ysabelle and I were watching her the whole time.

I looked at Ysabelle and she gave me a smile. It was like cloud covered heaven. Behind her serene face, were her eyes that held too many nimbus clouds and thunderstorms. It held too many unspoken thoughts and unexpressed emotions.

"Are you okay?" I looked at her worriedly.

She slowly nodded. "O-of course." she even laughed a little bit.

Mabilis kumalat ang gabi, kami ulit ni Ysabelle ang bantay. Mama and Daddy talked to me earlier about Nathan. Pumayag naman sila, to be honest, they trust him. Wag lang daw akong sasaktan. Pati sina Tita at Tito ay pumayag na din dahil wala naman na daw silang magagawa kung pinayagan ko na ang lalaki. The only people who still didn't give their opinion are Kuya Callum and Kuya Castiel. Alexa keeps telling reasons to them why they should welcome Nate in our family.

"She really supports Nathan, Deia..." mahinang sabi ni Ysabelle.

"She would be very disappointed if Nathan hurt you." pagpapatuloy nya pa.

"You think so?" tanong ko at hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Alexandra.

"Yeah. Knowing Alexandra, she was protective from her loved ones. Kung hindi niya gusto, sasabihin agad nya. Pero kung gusto nya, she would do everything." sagot ni Ysabelle.

I smiled. I'm not sure about Nate being my boyfriend. My mind was still split into two things. I'm afraid that he will change once we get into a relationship. But at the same time, I like him and I want to be with him until my last breath. It was like a sky split into my two favorite shades, Kieran the dark sky who has destructive thunder and Serenity who has bright sunshine. I like them both but they show different vibes, one radiates warmth and joy and the other one gives a calming yet mysterious appeal.

"Are you afraid?" Ysabelle asked me.

"Yeah? Maybe?... I don't know." hindi siguradong saad ko.

She held my hand. "It's okay to be afraid, Deia. I know you love him too, just give him a little time to court you ... Wag kang gumaya sa akin, I'm too coward to confess." she smiled at me.

"I'm happy for both of you, Deia. Kapag inaaway ka magsabi ka lang sakin. Ilalayo kita sa lalaking yon." she jokingly said but i know she's saying a truth.