At Her 18th | ✓

Sixteenth🌹

"This is why I didn't want you to go out yesterday!" My mother exclaimed.

"Relax, mom. It's still 11 pa naman." I tried to calm her down. She shouldn't be so stressed.

Late na kasi kami nagising ni Arch kaya late rin ako naka-uwi sa bahay. Hindi namin namalayan na nakatulog na pala kami sa sofa dun sa unit niya. Hindi naman ako nangalay dahil maayos ang puwesto ko sa tabi ni Arch habang naka-unan sa braso niya, and honestly, I'm more worried about him kasi baka siya 'yung hindi nakatulog ng maayos dahil sa akin.

"Next time I will let Abigail drag you back here even if you're asleep." Dugtong pa niya.

Abigail saved my ass again last night. Mom called her to tell me that I should go home because she thought that I was with her. Mabilis rin naman nagpalusot si Abby at sinabing natutulog na ako and even sent a picture of me on her bed sleeping! I don't know when she took that photo but it was a freaking life saver!

Mom believed that I was asleep kaya hindi ko nasagot 'yung tawag and agreed to let me stay the night over at her place, but little did she know, I was at her brother's.

Nagising ako sa tawag ni Abby kanina, sinisigawan ako kung nasaan daw ako kasi pinapauwi na ako ni mommy. She was even hysterical because I didn't tell her that I was going out and that I needed her to cover up for me.

"Magkaka-anxiety na talaga ako nito! Ikaw talagang babae ka!" She exclaimed while we were on a call as Arch was driving me to our subdivision, "Wala naman akong problema na mag-cover up para sa'yo, Isla Nicole, pero sabihan mo naman ako nang hindi ako makunan ng kaluluwa kapag tatawag si tita Bella!"

"I'm sorry." I didn't mean for her to worry, and I already feel guilty as is, making her lie to my mom all the time, "I didn't expect to stay there overnight."

"Kinukuwestiyon ko tuloy ang mga naging desisyon ko para sa'yo." Narinig ko ang marahas niyang pagbuntong-hininga sa kabilang linya kaya napatawa ako ng mahina.

"Regret it now?" I asked with a smile even though she couldn't see me.

"I'm getting there." Pareho kaming napatawa dalawa sa kaniyang sinabi.

"Why were you even getting cozy?" She then asked, "Akala ko ba fubu-fubu lang? Fubu nga pero ayaw mo namang magpagalaw." Napa-iling nalang ako sa kaniya.

I heard her gasp, "Don't tell me you're catching feelings for one of my brother's friends?" I could almost see her wide eyes on the other end of the call.

"Nothing happened, Abby. We were just sleeping." And of course I do not have feelings for any of Archibald's friends. I've been spending my days with Arch, how can I develop feeling for them?

"Sus. Sleep daw." She scofffed, "Sleep na merong action."

"Abby!"

"Oo na, oo na. Wala nang nangyari." She conceded, "San ka ba nang masundo kita?"

"No need, I'm on my way home." I answered which made her gasp.

"Luh, marunong kang mag-commute?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya.

"I do not live under a rock, Abby." And besides, I'm not commuting.

"Mag-iingat ka, Isla! Tawagan mo ako kapag naka-uwi ka na, ha!" Bilin niya.

"Yes, babe. Love you."

"Love you too." As soon as my call with Abby ended, kay Arch naman na cellphone ang nag-ring at napag-alaman naming dalawa na si Abby 'yon.

So for the entire ride home, Arch and I didn't get to talk because Abby was in a call with him even after I got dropped off five block away form our house.