This story isn't probably even worth your time (haha) but thank you for being here and indulging me anyway. I have missed you all. You are appreciated ♡
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THIRTY-FIVE
I had to fight the urge to throw myself into Key's arms kasi sa kasalukuya'y gustong gusto ko rin talaga siyang kutusan. Why did he look so... normal? Like his disappearance didn't just cause a mini chaos back home? Like nothing was wrong here? Pinagmamasdan niya ako, and the way his eyes danced elicited a glare from me.
"You know each other?" grumbled Chuck. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa'ming dalawa ni Key. "Man, why do I always finish last when I'm not even a nice guy."
I just stood in place, unsure how to react to that, while Key scoffed. Si Hiro na kahawak-kamay pa rin ni Chuck ang sumagot sa kanya, "Of course they do, she's the girlfriend!"
"Oh?" Chuck gave me a once-over without even bothering to be subtle about it, akala mo'y ngayon lang niya ako talagang nakita. Pagkatapos ay unti-unting nagbagong-anyo ang simangot niya at nakangisi na ang mga labi niya ngayon. "Oh."
Napataas ako ng kilay. Bakit pagtungtong ko sa bahay na 'to'y para yata akong napadpad sa kung saang alternate universe at wala ako ngayong maintindihan sa paligid ko.
Key didn't comment on the exchange between the two other boys. Inilipat ko ang atensyon ko kay Hiro na abala na sa pag-nguya sa lollipop niya at napapapikit pa siya habang ninanamnam ito. I returned my gaze to Chuck, who was now looking smug and pleased with himself. Since this seemed to be his normal expression dahil unang kita ko pa lang sa kanya'y ganito na ang pagmumukha niya, it didn't clarify anything at all. Parang lalo pa nga yata akong naguluhan.
Muli kong hinarapan si Key. I crossed my arms, finally allowing myself to voice out the question that had been threatening to escape my mouth the second I found him here. I tried to mask my emotions when I spoke, but my feelings were so overwhelming at the moment that something seeped out. Something that left a bitter taste on my tongue. Something like betrayal.
"Bakit bigla ka na lang umalis?"
He blinked, and is if caught off guard, his eyes slowly flitted about the room before finally staring at me. "Prez, anong –"
"Hey, my Tagalog is awful," pa-daing na singit ni Chuck. "Sumali niyo naman ako ni Hiro sa conversation, guys."
Hiro looked up at the guy next to him, tsking. Nilunok muna niya ang candy sa bibig niya bago siya nagsalita. "Leave them alone."
Dahan-dahang tumayo si Keith Kato mula sa kinauupuan niya saka niya ako sinimulang lapitan. I had half a mind to take a step back before he could reach me but he grabbed me by the wrist before I could act on my thoughts. I stiffened.
"I swear no one in this family is on my side," pahayag ni Chuck, na pastime yata ang magreklamo.
...wait. Family?
I got so distracted trying to puzzle out how they're all related in this house, hindi ko tuloy agad na nagawang tanggalin ang hawak ni Key sa'kin at 'di ko na namalayan na naglalakad na pala kami't at hila-hila na niya ako. We stopped in front of Hiro and Keith Kato lowered himself into a crouch to pinch the kid's cheek. I tried pulling away from his touch, but he tightened his fingers around me. His grip wasn't forceful enough to hurt; mukhang sinigurado niyang tama lang ito para hindi ako makawala.
"Thanks, buddy," sabi ni Key sa bata.
Hiro beamed, all teeth. "I get to have your share of desserts tonight at dinner, if you're so grateful."
