hello, everyone! thank you for waiting. it has been almost three months since the last update, and i am so sorry it took me this long. due to some personal reasons i cannot disclose, i was not able to write continuously. but now, i promise i’ll focus my attention on this story.
merry christmas & happy new year, my loves!
enjoy this chapter! <3
🦋🦋🦋
GABRIELLE
THERE WAS no way I could find a way to get money to buy me some costumes to wear for the Halloween party. Since I didn't have the luxury to buy myself a costume, I would go ahead and curse the person who invented the Halloween party.
The wind was cold and crisp as it rippled through my skin. The sun was now covered with thick banks of clouds— thick ash-gray that permeated through the sky, casting a pale silver light over the surroundings. It wasn't raining; it was just cloudy today.
I just wished the goddess of rain would grace Vigan on Saturday, which would result in the cancellation of that Halloween Party.
"Hi, Gabby," someone greeted behind my back, pagtingin ko ro'n ay nakita ko si Kaye na naglalakad, nakangiti at parang nahihiya.
"Hi, Kaye," I smiled, looking at the books she was holding.
"Hmm, may gusto ka bang sabihin?" Tanong ko.
I almost wanted to smack myself for sounding rude. It wasn't supposed to sound that way. I wasn't good at conversing with other people, and the need to repel all of the people trying to claw their way up the walls around me was ingrained in my head and made me a little defensive at the slightest sign of friendliness.
She shook her head, "Wala naman. I . . . I just want to be friends with you,"
Doon ko lang narealize na isa rin pala si Kaye sa mga walang masyadong kaibigan sa classroom namin. Although she was from a well-known family, I seldom saw her interact with other people. She was either being caught up in her bubbles or she was so busy with school activities. Well, she was one of the Student Council officials.
"Is . . . Is it okay?" She asked, her cheeks were blushing.
Ano ang sasabihin ko? Paano ko tatanggihan? This was the first time I was being asked to be their friend. Sa tuwing lumalapit sila at gumagawa ng paraan para makausap or malapitan ako, agad akong iiwas. It was a defense mechanism that was ingrained in every pulsing vein in my body.
I wasn't sure what I'd answer to Kaye. Some people wanted to be friends with you because of the things you were doing in front of them, in front of other people, an acceptable act for society. Some friendships were built through a weak societal structure that in a slight crack of darkness, would crumble like a sand castle. People tended to run at the sight of unfamiliarity, at the sight of foreign concepts— any sign of malice that was being frowned upon by society.
It was rare to find real friendship, and I was afraid that if she found out the crack of darkness in my skull, she'd run for the hills.
"I really want to be friends with you, Gabby. You might find me so annoying now, but I really want to be your friend,"
"Uhh . . ." I really did not know what to say.
She smiled— something like an imaginary bulb flashed on top of her head, "Alam ko na. I heard that you requested the student council president to veto the decision to require all the students to attend the Halloween Party," she moved closer and winked, "Let's go shopping! Ako na bahala sa susuotin mo!"
I cleared my throat, "Uh, I think that's not a good idea, Kaye. That's not how friendship works, and I don't want other people to think that I am taking advantage of you,"
