Secret Garden ❘ d.k.

Chapter 19

I feel like I'm just dragging my body out of the house. I don't want to leave my room. I want to stay in and sleep my sadness away but I can't, and I shouldn't, because I am Shiekaina Marie Wang. The "perfect" daughter, "perfect" student, "perfect" girl who shouldn't be feeling this way.

I wonder what my parents would say once they see me like this.

"Hey, cousin." Hissed a snake from across the porch.

"Hi." Matamlay kong sagot. She already won. What else does she want from me now? Did she come here to rub the truth the in my face?

"You're going to your school looking like that? Wow, what a mess." Oh right. She came here to insult me. Si Audrey nga pala siya.

Napatingin nalang ako sa paparating na motor. Mabuti nalang.

He pulled up just a few feet away from me. "I have to go. Bye." Paalam ko kay Audrey. I just don't have the energy to fight with her and honestly, it's getting really tiring na rin.

"Oh. Bye." Mukhang nagulat rin siya. Ever since she came back, all I did was fight her fire with fire. But I just don't have it in me anymore.

Sumakay ako sa motor ni Zeke bago abutin yung helmet niya na iniaabot niya sa akin. "Truce?" Unang tanong niya mula sa intercom. Nagtataka rin siguro sa naabutan niyang eksena.

"Just tired." I told him. "Hmm." He didn't say anything after that. Pinatakbo niya lang yung motor niya which I really am thankful for. I just... I want to take a little break from everything.

Nagising nalang ako sa isang tapik. Nakatulog pala ako sa likuran ni Zeke sa buong byahe papuntang school. "Good morning, princess." Hindi ko alam kung may pang iinis sa tono niya pero hinayaan ko nalang ito.

Bumaba ako ng motor niya at hinubad yung helmet niya. "Thank you." Pabulong na sabi ko. Parang wala akong lakas maski sa pagsasalita.

Tumalikod na ako at papalakad na sana nang tawagin niya ako. "Wait up."

Tumigil naman ako at hinintay siya. Nang makalapit siya ay lalakad na sana ulit ako kaya lang pinigilan niya ako at hinawakan sa braso. "Wait! Connor's still not here." Connor...

Nilingon ko siya. "Do you really have to walk into the school building together?"

Kumunot yung noo niya. "No but... I thought you –"

"Una na ako." Paalam ko. Mukhang hindi niya naman alam yung gagawin kaya hinayaan niya nalang ako. Akala ko hihintayin niya pa yung mga kaibigan niya pero sumunod rin siya sa akin.

"This is weird." Rinig kong bulong niya sa sarili.

"What is?"

"Nag away ba kayo ni Connor? May problema kayo?" Diretsong tanong niya. Siguro nagtataka rin siya kung bakit ayoko munang makita si Connor.

I looked away. "No. Kuya and I... are good. Wala namang issue. Wag ka nga!" I faked a laugh.

I heard him heave a deep sigh. "Kuya, huh? Ganun kalala? Tsk." I can almost feel his stare at my back and I don't know if he's mocking me right now but I don't really care anymore. Bahala na siya kung ano isipin niya.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad, in fact, binilisan ko pa. But the man with long legs easily caught up to me. Pakbet naman.

Muli ay hinila niya ulit yung braso ko pero ngayon mas mahigpit ang kapit niya dito. With one swift move, he managed to pull me by his side and wrap his arm around my waist.

I blushed. Hindi ako kinikilig, as if. My face turned crimson red because of the man in front of us. I really wish biglang may mag appear na black hole at lamunin ako nito, mawala lang dito.