Walk Through Fire

First walk

Moving on

"Leave him, let him go. Don't be the crazy ex-girlfriend or the shoulder to cry on. You're more than just an ego boost, a story he can tell someone he wants to impress. Just walk away with your head held high and don't give him another second of your time. I know you love him so much that every step is killing you. But this is the moment you'll look back on as the day you put yourself first. Go and make something beautiful of your life and I promise you, one day you'll forget he was ever there."
- Long Leav

3? 4 years? Matagal tagal na rin magmula ng makita ko ang quote na ito na nakasabit sa harap ng pinto ng bahay. It was printed and framed I don't know who hanged it on our front door but all I know is it gave me courage and strength to move on.

"Have you packed up all your things Ices?" I looked back at the man smiling from ear to ear looking at me.

"Yes of course Jack let me just close this so we can go" sabi ko sabay sarado ng maleta ko

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, Long straight brownish hair, pinkish lips, rosie cheeks, Brows on fleek, white crochet top and ripped maong shorts with white chuck taylors. 4 years is enough to move-on and forget to have a new life. I made my way out of our house, I'm gonna miss France that's for sure.

"WELCOOOOME HOME ICES AND JACKSOOOOON!!!!!! Omygosh! I missed you both!!!" Tili ni Eunice sabay yakap saming dalawa.

"C'mon Eunice, give them a break yayakap din kami" pag suway ni yohbel sa kapatid.

"Si kuya talaga ang kj!" Jackson on the other hand ruffled her hair and she groaned napa iling nalang ako, bata pa talaga siya mag-isip.

Nag fist bump naman si Jackson at Yohbel and I hugged him too. Nagulat naman ako ng may biglang humila sakin.

"Kayo ni Jack ang traydor niyo sakin, iniwan niyo talaga ako tsk" then I realized who it was pinalo ko yung balikat niya.

"Gray! Ang seloso mo talaga!" Napatawa naman ng mahina si Jack.

"Parang hindi naman tayo ipinanganak na sabay na tatlo, ano ba yang drama mo Grayson Rebellious?!" Sabi ni Jack sabay tapik sa balikat ng kambal.

"Gagu minsan lang nga kong magdrama eh!" Sagot naman ni Gray.

"Nailagay ko na lahat sa likod ng van, tara?" Biglang sumulpot na parang kabute si Vincent, I side hugged him and he did it too.

"Tara na I'm starving af!" Sabi ko sabay lakat papunta sa black starex ni grandma.

Malayo pa masyado ang mansion ni grandma at busy naman yung kambal ko kaka-wrestling sa likuran.

"Bakit kayo lang? Asan yung iba?" Tanong ko kay Vincent na nag dadrive ako kasi ang naka-upo sa front seat.

"Ayun yung kambal nowhere to be found. At as usual Sina Xandrus, Axis, Dane, Zen saka Alex nag babasketball kalaban ang mga Zamora" sagot ni Vincent. Napaitlag naman ako ng konti ng marining ko ang family name niya. "Pero si Winter ayun nakabantay kay Jael"

My phone vibrated.

"Hello?"

["Hi partner so I assume nasa Pinas ka na?"]

"Yes. Actually we're on our way home. What made you call?"

["I was rummaging my files and I realized that I can't find what I'm looking for"]

"Huh? Why? What was it?"

He chuckled ["The question must be 'who was it'?"]

"Air, it isn't funny!"

["I missed you already, you being bossy and roaming around here at my office, fixing my things and scolding me for being irresponsible and dirty. But don't worry I will go home soon"]

I rolled my eyes "Whatever Aries Iverson. Take care and drink your meds okay? Napapsukan nanaman kasi ng hangin yang utak mo"

["I will. Bye. I love you"] and I cut the line.

"Kayo na ba?" Vincent asked.

"Hindi"

"OMG?!! So 4 years ka na niyang nililigawan?!!!!" Hystirical ni Eunice.

I just shrugged. Totoo niyan eh bestfriend lang talaga kami pero heto pinush nila kami magmula noon kaya nahulog ako sa kanya pero ayoko pang magkarelasyon. And up till now, hinhintay niya parin ako.

"Nasaan yung ibang elders?" Iniba ko ang topic. Elders ang tawag namin sa mga nakakatanda naming mga pinsan.

"Busy lahat sa trabaho, si Winter pina vacant yung buong month para sa birthday ni grandma at siyempre makasama kayo" sagot naman ni Yohbel galing sa likuran.

"Eh ikaw bakit ka andito?" Taong ko sabay tingin sa rearview mirror. "Nawalan ka ng trabaho no?"

"Uhh, no" Inilagay niya naman ang dalawang kamay sa kanyang batok sabay sabing "kayang-kaya na iyon ng aking co'architect Ices"

"WTF?! Anong co-architect?!!! Kuya kung nandito lang si ate Nicole sigurado ako lumipad na ang kaldero sa pagmumukha mo" Eunice said.

Humagalpak naman sa tawa si Gray.

"Who is Nicole?" Tanong ko.

"OMG kung alam mo lang Ices! She is the very first girl who dumped kuya Yohbel!!! And she dumped kuya for who knows how many times already!! Si kuya kasi masyadong mapilit!! Saka OMGGGGG!! I remembered nung---"

"shut up Eunice!" Suway ni Yohbel sa kapatid, and Eunice crossed her arms and pouted. So I looked back and shot a glare on Yohbel napaiwas naman siya ng tingin.

"What happened Euni?"

She smiled "First year college second semester ng lumipat si Ate Nicole sa Western University, na love at first sight si kuya sa kanya. Araw-araw niya itong nililigiwan at araw araw din siyang binabasted" napatawa naman si Vin, Gray at Jack sa kanya and that earned them a deadly glare from him.

"And there was this event at school Intrams, and then kuya Yohbel was one of the band members, hinaranahan niya si Ate Nicole sa harap ng maraming tao at sa mga galing ibang University He even kneeled upstage just for ate Nicole's confirmation. Yun na yung time na nagsimula siyang manligaw 'officially'" sabi ni Eunice qouting and infasizing the word OFFICIALLY. "BUT! Up till now hindi pa rin siya sinsagot so basically 3 years ng nanliligaw si kuya sa kanya."

"I want to meet her" Yohbel groaned "Kuya, bring her to grandma's birthday" sabi ko.

"Uhh no" tamad niyang sagot.

"Okay madali naman akong kausap. Choose, Ikaw ang mag iinvite sa kanya or do you want me to personally give to her the invitation and----"

"fine! Fine! Sht. Dont I have a say on this?!" Pikon niyang sagot.

"Uhhh- no" sagot naman ni Vin at humagalpak nanaman kami kakatawa na mas nakapagpa busangot sa kanya.