You're Blooming the Wrong Way

Chapter Fifteen

Time heals.

Ilang beses ko na bang narinig ang linyang iyan? Na kahit gaano pa man kalalim ang mga sugat na nakuha mo, maghihilom din ang mga ito sa paglipas ng panahon? It should also work on me, then. No need to rush myself to mend. Hana Shiota permanently wounded my pride as a woman, but I'll get over it. Surely.

"I don't have the gall to face my former classmates." I grunted in frustration. "For sure, I'll be the talk of the town. I still can't believe that I'm repeating this year. Even though I studied so hard for the exams, I still failed." dismayado kong sabi at napailing ako.

Summer has finally come to an end. The rest of my vacation was quiet, but it was disrupted by the news that I failed to pass the exams. At dahil bumagsak ako, kailangan kong umulit ngayong taon. I'm the only one who flunked in our class and all of my classmates are advancing to the next year. I'm so ashamed.

Lars, who was in the middle of slicing apples, glanced over my direction. "Why are you getting conscious now? You've been a renowned delinquent since God-knows-when. Alam naman ng mga tao na wala ka talagang utak. It's not a surprise that you flunked, Lucy." He stated as a matter of fact. Naiyukom ko ang aking mga kamao. This is the first time he attacked me like this.

"Kailangan mo ba talagang ipamukha sa akin?" iritable kong tanong sa aking kapatid. "Watch your mouth, brother."

"What? I merely spoke of the truth." He replied, faking innocence. Hindi ko na siya maintindihan. "Nasaktan ka kasi totoo."

"Napansin ko lang, Lars." I eyed him scornfully. "Parang naging masama yata ang ugali mo? You seem like an entirely different person. Are you trying to pick a fight?" I said through gritted teeth.

Instead of backing down, he mocked me with a smile. "Iyon ba ang dating sayo? Consider it as a declaration of war, then. After all, I'm still pissed by your slyness, my dear sister." sambit niya.

This is too much. He's not my brother. There's no way he is.

"Seryoso ka ba?" My jaw dropped in disbelief. "You're acting like a child, Lars. If this is about Hana, drop it already. Isaksak mo sa baga mo iyang kaibigan mo." I sneered at him. Napailing naman siya.

Magsasalita pa sana siya ngunit pareho kaming napahinto noong may kumatok sa pinto at bumukas ito. Mas lalong kumulo ang dugo ko noong sumilip si Hana sa pintuan. He was also in his uniform. Looks like he decided to drop by before going to school.

"Excuse me for intruding." He politely remarked.

"Come in, Hana! I was just in the middle of advising Lucy. Nahihiya siyang pumasok dahil napag-iwanan na siya ng mga kaklase niya." My jaw clenched when my twin brother's demeanor suddenly changed. Dumating lang si Hana, bigla siyang bumait.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Hana. Both of us were flustered. Mukhang pareho kaming naiilang na makita ang isa't isa.

He forced a smile. "Long time no see, Lucy."

I simply nodded. I didn't know how to interact with him. I haven't seen Hana during the rest of my summer break. Lubos akong nag-ingat sa pagbabantay kay Lars at sinigurado ko talagang hindi magkukurus ang landas naming dalawa. This is so awkward.

"I'll be heading out, then." paalam ko sa kanila. I was planning to leave peacefully, but Lars just had to push me on my limit.

"This is so tragic. Wala ka paring kaibigan hanggang ngayon, Lucy?" He said, obviously taunting me. "Do you want to borrow Hana?"

Inis ko siyang nilingon. Napakurap naman siya.

"Stop it, Lars. Daig mo pa ang babae." I clicked my tongue. I'm so pissed, but I won't lose my cool over something so childish. "Are you thinking with your dick? You're better than this, so use your brain." Mukhang nainis naman siya sa sinabi ko. "If you think this kind of scheme is enough to drive me mad, try harder. You're too immature. Kulang ka sa aruga." iritable kong sabi sa kanya.