Crowned Princess (Kingdom University, #3)

Chapter 36

"So, nasaan ang pasalubong namin?" bungad ni Jess noong dumating si Steff.

"Grabe, Jess, kakapasok ko lang sa bahay nina Alice," she retorted.

"Fine," sagot ni Jess at tumahimik siya for a few seconds. Pag-upong-pag-upo naman ni Steff ay inulit niya ang tanong niya. "So, nasaan na ang pasalubong namin."

"She's hopeless," Yna commented.

Dahil galing sa Canada ang family ni Steff ay inuwian niya kami ng maple syrup, mugs, snow globe at kung anu-ano pang souvenirs.

"You should have brought a casket for Alice's heart," Yna joked. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin.

"Ha. Ha. Funny."

"Thanks. At least my sense of humor has improved."

Nagtawanan naman sina Yna at Jess habang napailing na lang si Steff. Alam kasi nila ang nangyari bago mag-Christmas at nagtawagan din kami noong New Year. Nag-breakdown ako no'n sa kanila kaya galit nag alit sila kay Kevin ngayon.

We talked about our respective vacations and somehow, it distracted me from thinking about Kevin. Medyo okay na rin ako ngayon dahil sa pagle-lecture sa akin ng tatlong 'to before pero these past few days, ibang-iba talaga ang mood ko.

After that night, hindi ko na siya ulit nakita. Wala rin siyang kahit anong message. Walang kahit anong paramdam. Bigla na lang siyang nawala.

Looking back, all people involved had their own share of fault. Dad invited Kevin's mom because he thought they were already okay. Kevin's emotions were all over the place that night and he snapped at Dad for what happened to his mother. And I made it worse by shouting at him.

Nakalabas si Mom ng ospital after three days habang si Tita Kristina ay na-discharge lang noong Christmas. Fortunately, she only got a broken rib and a dozen of cuts from the shattered windshield of the car. Nagkausap na rin si Dad at ang family ngayon ni Tita Kristina. Balak ko nga rin sanang dalawin siya sa bahay nila pero hindi ko magawa dahil naaalala ko si Kevin.

"Hello, Earth to Alice? Earth to Alice?"

Nawala naman ako sa train of thought ko dahil sa pagbangga sa akin ni Yna. 'Di ko napansin na kanina pa pala sila may sinasabi sa akin.

"Naku, ikaw ha, sinasabi namin sa'yo, masyado kang lenient pagdating kay Kevin," Steff complained. "For once, isipin mo naman ang sarili mo."

"Agreed," dagdag ni Yna.

"Kahit pinsan 'yon ni Pat, lagot pa rin sa akin 'yon. Malapit na niya sana kaming ma-convince ng sincerity niya."

'Di na ako nakasagot. May point din naman sila pero iniisip ko, kung ako ang nasa gano'ng kalagayan, I think gano'n din ang gagawin ko, lalo na at buhay ng Mom ko ang nakataya. One more thing, even if he continued to cut off his connection to his Mom, it was obvious that he still cares about her. He still years for her. Learning that his Mom was in the Emergency Room must have been a shock to him, especially since they didn't part well.

"Oo na, oo na. I know," I retorted after those ruthless remarks.

Alam ko rin namang worried sila sa akin. Ang hirap nga lang i-weigh ng ganitong situation dahil kahit anong piliin o gawin ko, may masasaktan at masasaktan pa rin—ako.

Nag-stay sila ng ilang oras at ilang beses din akong na-hot seat. Palibhasa, ayos ang love life ng mga 'to kaya ako ang napagdidiskitahan. Well, ako at si Yna, actually. However, masyadong masikreto ang isang 'to kaya kaunti lang ang nakukuha naming information.

After that ay umuwi na rin sila at naiwan na naman akong mag-isa. Mom and Dad wouldn't be home this night because of their business trip. Tumambay na lang muna ako sa veranda ng kwarto ko para magmuni-muni.