The Tables Have Turned

Chapter 21: Butterflies

"No, we are not playing hide and seek in the dark." Kiyan said.

So it turns out, Kiyan was actually babysitting Christie and while he's at it they got to a little bit of an argument.

And here I am, watching as this two throw and catch words or should I say signs. And I'm quite amusing myself.

'Ow come on K, we're not gonna break anything. I promise I'll be careful' Christie signed.

He glance at me "What's your say about this?"

Minsan nakakalimutan ko ang side niya na tinatawag niya akong coach o hindi kaya'y yung tono na nirerespeto niya ako kapag ganito siya. In this case para siyang FC na hindi FC kasi friends naman kami. If that explains everything or even made sense.

I look at him and to Christie, who is giving me her puppy face. I smiled and bend to be her height. "Christie... Kiyan's right.". Her face dropped and pouted more.

Ang dami nang bata na gumawa sa'kin nito that unfortunately for them I got immune to it and know exactly how to deal with it.

"But that doesn't mean we can't play the game." I suggest.

She raised her head a bit to see my face.'I want it dark. Its more thrilling."

"But there are consequences. We might break something or get trip. Its not safe especially at night."

"But isn't night safe?"

I was taken off guard. That's my... Majority of the people in the world thinks its safer at day time so I thought I'm the only one who loves night or even darkness. So you can't actually blame me for being shook by this kid sudden confession. And bata pa siya mostly sa edad niya ayaw ng dilim.

"Who told you that?" ang unang lumabas sa bibig ko.

She crossed her arms at this at tumingin kay Kiyan accusingly. She point at him like saying the guy who doesn't want me to play at when he thinks is safe, told me.

I looked at Kiyan skeptically. What's up with you? I never found or met anyone who has this many traits or likes the same as mine. Well its not like I've never thought of anyone in the world who doesn't have a lot in common with me, its just... Especially when the things that are in common is something that wasn't me or was something that was never acknowledge before something in particular happened.

Which is the death of my papa.

Loving the darkness of night because it reminds me when he envelopes me with his warmth, the way it shows the stars as much as they were shown in his eyes.

Hating the attention because the only attention I want was his. Hating it because during his funeral, they gave me so much than I beg for, I even doubt they even came here for papa. I hate it because when they gave it to me all they say was 'Sorry'. I don't want anyone saying that to me or to my family. I want them to tell me stories of how amazing papa was, they're life journey, they're adventures but no, they made it much harder for me to be strong, to keep my cool for mama and Shizuku. I want everyone to remember the happy times, not the sad ones. I want to see that they cherished everything they spent together with him. Show me that they didn't forget him even if he's gone. I don't want them to feel sorry about his death, because if they do really know papa, they know he would not like the way they show up sad and apologizing at his funeral. He's free, they should have seen how much he suffer, how much he hides those pain he felt, for our sake. He smiles everytime. The sparks in his eyes never left even in his state. Tubes everywhere, tanks, machines doing annoying noises, the syringes, the medicines. I hate it. I hate the smell of the hospital it reminds me of him being ill and keeping his real feelings inside and keeping a smile on, even if it hurts. It made me remember how I hate to smile at that time.

"Eliah?" Kiyan's voice rang in my ear

His breath is so warm and so is his touch.

I met his dark brown eyes. Worried. I'm kind of lost in his gaze. If I stay under his stares then I doubt I'd be able to stand up. My eyes wondered his. The more we stare the more our distance became non-existent. His eyes keep on looking down at my lips.

Am I about to kiss a guy? For real!

Until we heard a thud. Our head both snapped to the noise remembering we had Christie with us.

Christie is looking at us wide eyed and smiling sheepishly from interrupting me and Kiyan's stares.

Was she thinking of giving us privacy and trying to sneek out of the living room?

Of course she would do that! You display somewhat like PDA in front of a six year old kid. What's wrong with you Eliah!?

"Uh.." Kiyan broke the silence looking for something to say.

"Like I said we can still play the game." sabi ko in my normal voice and poker face.

Like nothing happens.

Christie is weighing her answer. While she is, I felt Kiyan's eyes on me. Then her eyes suddenly lit up."Can we invite Liam over?"

I shrug. "I can't see why not?"

I restrain myself from looking at Kiyan but that would be so immature and besides, it didn't meant anything we were just lost in the moment and my head was floating, so there's really no need to avoid him.

It was nothing for the both of us.

But what was that on my stomach when we were 'eye exploring' each other?

Was it butterflies like what most books tell...

Nah probably just my tummy calling for foods...

That make sense..