Tris Dexter

Chapter 22: Blame him

Daniella Ann's POV

Nagising ako ng mamalayan na nakatigil ang kotse. Huh? Bakit wala ako makita??! Nakadilat naman ako!! Whaattt??? Bulag na ba ako???

Bumukas ang pinto ng kotse at may naramdaman akong kamay sa braso ko.

"Wahh! Kung may balak kang masama, wag mo na ituloy please!!" Sabi ko na nagmamakaawa. May tumawa.

"Asa naman! At ikaw na ata ang pumalit sakin bilang drama queen!" Tumawa siya. Arghh!! Kainis ka!!

"Hindi kita mapapalitan no! Nga pala, nasan tayo?! Tsaka pwede ba tanggalin mo na tong blindfold ko!" Hinila ako ni Mae palabas ng kotse. She guided me along the stairs. Nasan ba ako??

Tinanggal niya ang blindfold ko. Nang makamulat ako at maka-adjust, wala akong nakitang tao.

"Mae!!!!" Sigaw ko. Walang nasagot. Oh no! Eto nanaman! Pero this is better kasi may ilaw. Naglakad ako ng may naapakan ako. Tiningnan ko iyon. Maliit na box. Kinuha ko ang maliit na box at binuksan ito.

Go straight then turn right. Someone's waiting for you...

Paano ko naman malalaman kung anong right? Bahala na! Sinunod ko naman yung directions. May nakita akong lalakeng nakatalikod. Hmmm... Sino kaya to? Humarap siya. Iimagine niyo na lang na napaharap siya ng slow motion. Siya?!! Kasali din siya dito??! O siya ba may pakana nito?!

"Happy Birthday Daniella!" Sabi niya ng nakasmile. I forced a smile. It's..It's just uncomfortable.

"T-thanks Drake." Pinilit kong tumingin sakanya. Okay Daniella breathe. Move on. Past na si Drake at birthday mo ngayon! Be friends with him naman. I sighed deeply. Then faced him and put on a genuine smile.

He handed me a pink rose. Tinanggap ko naman iyon and smiled. May inabot ulit siyang regalo sakin. Woah! Two gifts?? Wait, nasan nga pala yung mga hawak ko kanina? He spoke, which is the cause to interrupt my thoughts.

"Happy Birthday again! Yung regalo sakin galing, pero hindi yung rose." Eh kanino galing tong rose?? Nakita kong may papel na nakakabit sa tangkay ng rose. Binasa ko iyon.

I supposed you've met him. Open the door behind him, someone's waiting for you. Don't worry, it's a girl. (I know what you're thinking ;D )

Aish! Umalis si Drake sa harap ng pintuan at pumunta sa gilid. Binuksan niya iyon then gestured me to go inside. I went in and saw a girl. Nakatalikod siya. Seems that she didn't notice me kaya nagsalita ako.

"Uhmm..hello?" She quickly turned to me, startled. Oh no! Why is she here? Humarap sakin ang demonya sa harap ko. She pointed the chair, a sign for me to take a seat. Umupo ako and stared at her.

"Okay, so I know that I've done a lot of mean things...oh wait. I'm gonna start it first with a greeting. Happy Birthday!" She smiled. A real smile, not a forced one. Woah!! Parang bumabalik na siya sa dating anghel na Gabriella.

"I'm really sorry for the act that I pulled when we were 15. I was really angry that time because I've never experienced a break-up before. It hurts so much....." She smiled bitterly. I know Gabriella, I know.

"The truth is, I've moved on. Pero one day, nag-away kami ni mommy. Dahil sa galit niya, kinumpara niya ako sayo. It's been straight 4 days na ganun siya. Di ko maiwasang mainggit Daniella. Sa tuwing nakikita kita, naalala ko si mama. Ang ayoko sa lahat ay ang ipinagkukumpara ako sa ibang tao. Hindi ako sila at hindi sila ako. Pero once na ginawa nila yon, it's been stucked in my mind: my flaws. I tried to hide my weak self behind my 'strong mask'." She's jealous of me all along? I stood and hugged her.