Forbidden Relationship (Forbidden Series #3) (Completed)

Chapter 17

Ate Grapes is right-I'm the only one who truly knows myself, both inside and out. Only I can determine whether I've matured.

Still, I recognize that I haven't fully grown yet. There are many more stages of growth I need to go through, and I should focus on myself to reach full maturity.

Because of Ate Grapes' words, I was able to drift off to sleep peacefully, free from the weight of Mommy's harsh words or Daddy's look of disappointment.

They don't know the challenges I face while studying-and that's okay. Hindi lahat ng bagay na pinagdadaanan ko, dapat alam nila. I had to teach myself how to stand on my own.

The next day, I woke up and began organizing the things I needed for our three-day camp. We'll be grouped with students from other sections, but Sir Zade will be supervising us. I'm grateful that he'll be there. His presence gives me the assurance that I won't face any bullying on the bus.

Habang naglalagay ako ng gamit sa aking maleta ay may kumatok sa aking pinto. Dahan-dahan iyong bumukas at nakita ko si Aling Nita. Ngumiti siya sa akin saglit. Tinuro niya ang medyo maga kong mga mata.

"Good morning, iha. May mga tao sa baba. Kaibigan mo raw silang lahat," sinabi niya.

Kumunot ang aking noo dahil wala naman akong inaasahang bisita ngayon. Wala ring nasabi sa akin si Sovie.

"Sino-sino raw po sila?" tanong ko.

"'Yung Sovie raw, nakalimutan ko 'yung pangalan nung limang lalaki," sagot niya. "Mabuti pa, babain mo na sila habang naghahanda ako ng almusal ninyo."

Tumango ako kay Aling Nita bago ko tinapos ang aking ginagawa.

I didn't bother changing my clothes, despite looking like a panda in my black and white sleeping dress. I stepped out of my room and spotted Sovie and the five boys standing in the living room.

Their conversation about my house came to an abrupt stop the moment they saw me descending the stairs. Sovie, Daniel, Juniel, and Janser greeted me with warm smiles, while the two older men remained expressionless.

"Upo kayo," sinabi ko sa kanila nang makalapit. Sakto namang lumabas mula sa kusina si Aling Nita na may dalang juice at sandwich. "Ang aga niyo naman ata. Wala naman tayong usapan, ah."

"Ayaw na kasi namin sa bahay nina Sovie," sinabi ni Daniel.

"Edi 'wag. Ayaw din ng bahay namin sa 'yo," pambabara ni Sovie.

"So, ano ngang ginagawa niyo-bakit ba ayaw niyong umupo? Ako ang nahihirapan sa inyo kakatayo e," sinabi ko.

Dahan-dahan silang naupo sa malinis na couch. "Nakakahiya, baka madumihan namin. Mukha pa namang mamahalin," sinabi ni Janser.

I chuckled briefly. "It's just a face," I joked.

I smiled, hoping to help them feel more at ease as they settled in. The five were already seated, but Yhael remained standing off to the side. I wasn't sure how to approach him. Maybe he simply wasn't paying attention to me.

I picked up my cellphone from the Japanese table between the couches and noticed Yhael glancing in my direction. Too nervous to speak to him directly, I decided to message him instead.

Upo ka.

We heard the ringing of Yhael's messenger. "Ano 'yan, Yhael? Akala ko ba naka-mute lahat ng mga babae mo?" nang-aasar na tanong ni Janser.

Daniel intended to add more, but seeing Yhael's serious expression, he refrained from saying anything.

Yhael glanced at his cellphone screen briefly before addressing his friends. "Kahapon pa ako hindi maka-seen at makapag-reply sa pm. Gano'n din ba sa inyo?" seryoso nitong tanong.