decoding the boys ✔️

57 | anytime

Kuya Jacob eventually moved out after a week of cold treatment. It happened so sudden ni hindi man lang ako nakapag-react nang umalis siya sa bahay dala ang gamit niya.

He wasn't talking to me. Not even with Kuya Andrei. Sa tuwing nilalapitan ko siya'y lagi siyang nag-wa-walk out. Gabi na nga din ito kung umuwi. All for the sake of avoiding me.

Ang pinagtataka ko pa, there was a nasty bruise on his face on the day he left. Wala naman 'yon before. Napaaway ba ulit siya?

I only understood what happened when I accidentally saw Angelo at Fullybooked, Taguig.

Mag-isa akong nagpunta doon para magmuni-muni. I needed some me time kaya nagpaalam lang ako kay Kuya Andrei na lalabas ako. Kailangan kong i-sort out ang isip ko. Pakiramdam ko kasi'y pinanghihinaan na ako ng loob. Racel was there to help me every step of the way but it wasn't easy. Sa tuwing malamig ang pakikitungo sa 'kin ng boys ay lalo akong nalulungkot.

Gone were the days that we were so happy. Nagbago ang lahat. Natahimik ang Facebook group namin. Maging ang group chat. Wala na ang mga random messages para makapangulit lang. Even yung mga gimmicks at hang-outs.

In short, our entire bond shattered. All because of my lie.

Sabi nga ni Anjo, ang OA daw nila. Pero naiintindihan ko rin naman. They weren't angry at the relationship so much as they were at the whole lying thing. 'Yon naman talaga ang puno't dulo non. I directly went against their words.

Habang umiikot-ikot ako sa Fullybooked, I received a text message. The notification said Angelo Castillo. I'd changed his name earlier just in case makita ito ni Racel. I didn't want him to think something was going on between me and the kumag.

Angelo Castillo:

Is it me or are u this gorg girl walking right in front of me, Jamie V?

Kumunot ang noo ko at nilinga ang mga mata ko. Sure enough, there he was at the cafe, sitting with an older blonde woman who seemed to be his mother.

Angelo called my name out, waving a hand. Lumingon sa 'kin ang mommy niya.

Bigla akong nahiya. Damn. His mother was a real headturner.

I walked toward him, smiling. "Hello po," bati ko si Mommy niya.

Angelo wore a grin. "Mom, this is Jamie V. She's Andrei's sister."

His mother's eyes twinkled and I noticed sa kanya pala namana ni Angelo ang mga mata niya. They were grey as well, only mas lighter yung kanya.

"Oh, hello. Fancy meeting you here," sabi niya in a heavy British accent. "What are you doing here? Are you alone?"

I nodded my head. "Just taking a stroll around and trying to see if there's a good book to be had."

"A reader. Like your brother. That's great, love," she said.

Angelo chuckled. "Told you. She's a looker, e?"

"Oh, shut it." Mrs. Castillo turned back to me. "Have you eaten yet? Geon and I are about to have lunch. Join us. I insist."

"Sure po," I only said, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Cool. Then I guess I'll be your chaperone tonight, ladies," Angelo said, laughing, as he got up to his feet.

"Now don't be daft in front of the lady," his mother teased.

It fascinated me to know na sa Mommy niya pala nagmana ng ugali 'tong si Angelo. They were both fun and easy to be with, which made the lunch so much fun. Awkward at first, but when I warmed up, I found myself enjoying their company.