Playing with the Dark (COMPLETED)

Chapter 8

"Nagkakamabutihan na sila?!"

I nodded proudly.

Tapos, nakatanggap ako ng napakaraming hampas kay Ashley. Raven looked at me like she was already liking the idea.

"Hay naku, mabuti naman," she sighed then looked at me. "How about you and Raven? Kelan kayo?"

I frowned at Ashley. Ang kulit talaga.

"Niligawan ba talaga kita?" I asked while looking at her na parang diring-diri.

She glared at me. "Don't even get me started with that, Raiko. Ugh, I hate memories."

I actually liked her being like this. Kaso that's already at the past. Siguro, kapag nakikilala mo talaga yung babaeng mas nakalamang sa una, makakalimutan mong gustuhin ulit yung isa.

"And Raven is a very beautiful girl! What's not to like?"

I would actually agree on that. Maganda si Raven. Hindi man ganoon katalino katulad ni Aira, seryoso siya. But I don't really think that we'd be a couple.

And after what happened between me and Aira? Pass muna ako.

"I'm not even that pretty. Compared to you, the Aira lady, and his best friend, Amber? No thanks, pero wala akong laban."

Napailing nalang ako. Humble din ang isang 'to. Hindi naniniwalang maganda siya. She always compares herself with the others kapag sinasabihan siya ng magagandang bagay.

I actually met Raven in my new school. And Ashley? Yes, we became friends again. Nalaman kasi naming we both ship my brother with Amber.

Pero isang araw, binati ako nitong si Raven habang magkasama kami ni Ashley. And she assumed that we could be together!

Then that's how the ship started.

Pero ayoko na muna. Pwede bang pahinga na muna? Nakaka-stress na kasi e.

"Ah ewan ko sa inyo."

Tinawanan siya ni Raven. "How about you? Anong plano mo?"

"Kelan ba kasi kayo naging close?" I groaned.

"We just became friends because you're a mutual," Ashley giggled.

I looked at Raven and she was a bit uneasy. I didn't even know if she considered me as a friend. Raven doesn't have that much, which was a bit confusing on my part. Maybe it was because she doesn't usually make friends and just stay silent.

Raven's phone rang. She looked at us apologetically. We already know that she already need to go home. She's a busy person. She directs a play, plays the violin, sings, and she's also a part of the club with the music thingy. She's too in love with music that she badly needs to practice violin and singing with an instructor. She also lets her members to practice their play in her house.

I nodded at Raven. "Let me give you a ride."

"Okay."

...............................

"I'm sorry if you're being annoyed by Ashley whenever she ships us," I told her while focusing my look at the road.

"It's okay," she quickly but casually replied. "Let me ask you something."

"What is it?"

"You asked Amber to look for your brother so she could save him from the darkness," she started. "I know it isn't literally the darkness. Pero sa tingin mo....hindi mo ba deserve na may magligtas din sayo?"

I smiled. I only get to have deep talks with Amber. She's pretty much good at it, but the thing is, she has no idea when she's talking deeply.

And now, Raven is initiating one.

"Sa tingin ko...." pabitin kong sabi. "....mas ligtas ako sa kadiliman ngayon. I'm comfortable at where I am now."

"I don't really get it," she confusingly replied. But I could feel that she's smiling at me. "But if you're okay with that, then I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," I said with a simple tone. I stopped the car infront of her house. "I don't think we're going to be this close. But just to have a connection, are we friends now?" I asked while looking at her. I offered my hand at her.

She bit her lower lip. It took her a minute to smile and held my hand.

"I don't really make friends anymore since I had a bad history with it but I guess it's okay to make a change again," she gave me that wide smile that I don't often see. "Sure, Raiko. We could be friends."

We shook each other's hands. If I'd rank our connection, I could say that our friendship would most likely be the same as Amber and I's relationship. Pure friendship. That's all.

"See you tomorrow then, Raven."

........................

"Why wouldn't you just settle with her?" Ashley asked.

We're not yet drunk but Raven already is. Poor woman.

"I don't settle with ladies and you know that," I said. "Ni hindi nga ako nagkaroon ng pag-asa sa mga taong totoo kong nagustuhan. Paano pa kaya sa babaeng kaibigan ko lang naman."

"Natanong mo na ba kung kaibigan lang ang tingin niya sayo?"

Natigilan ako. I didn't like the idea of asking her that. Ayoko. Ayokong marinig ang sagot. Either she'd say yes or no, I still don't wanna hear it.

Napatitig tuloy ako sa mukha ni Raven. She doesn't have that chubby cheeks. She's not that fat. Actually, she's sexy. A lot of men likes her but they don't court Raven. Alam kong maraming nagkakagusto sa kaniya kasi maraming tumitingin. I don't really care about those, wala rin namang pakialam si Raven sa mga tumitingin sa kaniya e.

Raven has a nice voice, and that's why her performance stage is always watched by a lot of guys.

Of course, as a friend, I also support her.

"It's getting late. I think I should drop her off to her house now."

Ashley shook her head. "No. She's staying for the night. Nakapagpaalam na siya."

"Oh. So, uwi na ko?"

She looked at Raven, who's lying on their sofa. "Wait. Bring her to the guest room first. It'd be hard for me to do so," she pleadingly looked at me.

I tsk-ed first then looked at Raven too. "Fine."

Binuhat ko si Raven. I already know where their guest room is so ako lang ang nagdala. Ashley is fixing everything on the kitchen.

I put her down to the bed. "Good night, Raven."

I was shocked that she smiled, her eyes were still closed. "Good night, Paulo," she dreamily said as if she was daydreaming.

That made me grit my teeth. "Who the f*ck is Paulo?" malutong kong mura.