Moira
Sure enough Taura is talking to Brix. I heard her saying na makapal ang mukha sa other line. There I knew that he was talking to Brix.
Last year, we went in a vacation. Somewhere North. Then she met Brix. That's completely everything. The other week, after the vacation, I went to their house to return their book about crustaceans. I'm sorry that was weird. So back at the Brix and Taura story again, I went upstairs and heard someone crying. I'm sure it was Taura.
Anyway, I'm not a perfect daughter and I don't like family gatherings so I thought of an escape plan. I grabbed my phone, dialed someone's number. And I honestly felt like I'm a real rebel.
"Uhm, hey. Uh, I got to go. A friend of mine was asking if I can tutor her." I said.
"In the middle of the night?" Mom asked.
"Yeah, what's wrong?" I fired back.
"Nothing, whatever. Go on. Take care, honey." Mom said and I immediately made my way out of the house.
The next thing I knew is I was walking around the road. Playing with my phone. Waiting for someone to bump and gossip with.
"Moira?" Then a voice came from my back.
I turned around and saw Jonas.
"Oh hey! What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" I asked.
"I was just about to ask you. I needed fresh air. My cousins are crazy." He answered.
"Oh, I need to escape from my family. I actually called my friend, she's about to pick me up anytime soon." I said and looked anywhere.
"Oh, Aleiah? She asked me to pick you up." He said.
"Then why did you ask what I'm doing here?" I said.
"So you're lying?" Why is he smiling at me.
"No. I really did escape from my family." I said. "So, you and Aleiah?" I asked.
"Step-siblings." He said and gave me a shrug. "Let's go. She's waiting for you."
We walked to their house. Okay, we had a little chit chat with our life. It really feels weird when I'm with him. Well, yeah, he used to be my bestfriend. But it really feels different now.
"Stiff?" He asked.
"What?" I asked.
"Are you okay? I feel the distance." He said.
"I'm sorry. I just don't feel..." I said. But he cuts me off, "Oh. I get it. Awkward, huh? Kodaline, i'm still your bestfriend. Well, Aleiah is but I was first."
"Just my best friend, okay?" I said.
"Oh, yeah." He said and gave me a half smile and placed his hand on his neck. What's up with guys scratching their necks?
He opened the door for me and I went inside. This place is my second home. A girl in black dress was standing in front of the staircase. She looks like she's in her mid-30s. She's smiling. She took a step closer and hugged me.
"Moira." Oh my God, who are you?
"Uhm, hello po." I said.
"I'm Jonas' mother, Herschel." Oh, his biological mother. I was used of seeing Jonas with his father, Joe. He was 5 when his parents got annulled.
"Oh, hi. Sorry, haven't heard of you." I said. She smiled.
"Oh, it's okay. I know a lot about you." She smiled and gave me another hug. "You really are kind and beautiful." She whispered. I thank her for saying things I never heard from my own parents.
"Moi!" Aleiah shouted from my back.
"Heyyy." I said. She gave me her box of board games.
"What is this for?" I asked.
"Akala ko you want to play those games with me." She said. She's 2 years younger than me and Jonas.
"Oh, I will. But this wasn't the game I was expecting." I laughed.
"Count me in." Jonas happily said.
"Just like the good old days." Aleiah said.
Back then when we were 10 and Ale was 8. Jonas had this little crush on Ale. But Ale was not into him AT ALL. His feelings for Ale, then, disappeared after couple of months. Then this marriage thing happened.
"So, how's Taura?" Jonas asked. "Oh, bakit gulat na gulat ka?" Follow-up question.
"Hindi ko lang ine-expect na magtatanong ka tungkol sa kanya." I said.
"Come on. She's still my best friend's cousin." He nudged his elbow on my arm.
"Just tell me if you want to hook her up." I said and rolled my eyes.
"You don't have to be jealous." He joked. I looked at Aleiah who's reading her History Book.
"I'm not." I said. Of course I'm not. He's just my best friend and she's my cousin, what should I be jealous about? Yes, Taura likes Jonas but I don't think he's interested with her.
"Good. Because I'm taking her on a date." He said.
"What date? Seryoso ka ba diyan?" Ale asked, ready to throw the book on Jonas' head.
"Yep." He said. Oh.
"When?" I asked.
"Tomorrow." He said with a smile. Whatever, I don't care.
"Whatever. It's your life, not mine." I said and sat next to Ale.
"You might want to come." He said and sat next to me.
"No. I have plans for tomorrow. I won't waste my time on a dinner date with you and with my cousin." I said.
"You don't want a dinner date with me?" He asked.
"No. With my cousin." I said.
"Then come with me." He said.
"Why? It was your plan to go on a date with her." I said.
"Nothing. Please." He said. "Please."
Please.
