Changed

Thirty-seven

Here's photo of Sage.

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It's been long since I last updated Changed. It's been a crazy week for me. Happy reading!

-Lira Sparks xx

Amilyte's POV

"Para kang manang. Magpalit ka!" Gi commanded. Gusto niyang mag-swimming pero gusto niya kasama ako. Ang arte lang.

"What's wrong with these? Pwede ba kung ayaw mong ganito yung suot, wag mo na kong aayain sa susunod." Inirapan ko siya. Siya na nga yung sasamahan, ayaw pa niya.

"At least naman kasi wear something decent for swimming! Not those baggy shirt!"

"What's the noise?" It was Sage. Hindi ko napansin na nasa couch siya at natutulog. He has a room heaven's sake. Unluckily, nasa iisang villa kami.

"Nothing. Close your eyes and dream of crap," I said brusquely.

"Ah! I know why you're scared to present that shoulder of yours."

"I wanna use a fucking tape on your big mouth," I hissed at her. Ugh. Could she shut up at least? Damn it.

"I can blabber all I want, Amilyte. You can't stop me. I can tell them your story; however, it wasn't mine to tell. So I'll shut up and I'll leave important clues. Maybe Sage can answer them."

"What?"

"You're nosy, Sage." Lumabas na ko ng villa and dive deep. Wala na ding masyadong tao ngayon. Maybe they went home.

"Hey, can't you tell him?" Umahon ako sa pool and sat on the step where Gi was. She offered me a booze which I declined.

"The scar on your back near your shoulder signifies your fucking heroism. You should let them know."

"But I don't want them to know. I'm not a crazy ass hero in Marvel, Gia," I told her sarcastically.

"You're a dragon. You cleared the fire."

I chuckled at her and went to sit at the hammock. I closed my eyes for the briefest seconds and before I knew it, birds were singing, my eyes were drifting, I was falling asleep.

Tria's POV

Hindi ko ma-imagine na magagawa ng grupo nila Sage yun. Open naman sakin na bully si Sage. Kinekwento niya sakin yung mga pinaggagawa nila pero hindi ito. Hindi nila sinabi na muntik ng may magpakamatay dahil sa pangi-insulto nila. Ang masama pa nun, si Elsa ang biktima nila.

"Pinagpasa-pasahan ka nila?" Tanong ni Jacky.

"Kasi nung una yung Alder yung gusto ko. Syempre sa high school madaming mga flings. Hindi mo naman maikakaila na gwapo yung grupo nila. Mayayayaman pa. Sikat na sikat sila kahit saan magpunta. Bigla nalang akong tinuro nung Line kasi classmate ko siya sa ibang subject, simula nun palagi nila akong niloloko. Tinatapunan ng kung ano ano. Pero si Amilyte? Hindi niya ko kilala. Ang hirap pa sa grupo na yan, may sarili silang mundo. Hindi nila tinatandaan yung mga mukha ng mga pinaglalaruan nila sa sobrang dami." Habang nagkwewkwento siya, naiiyak si Elsa. Siguro nga kawawa yung mga nangyari sa kanya.

"Ui! Wag ka umiyak!" Saway ni Jacky sa kanya. Hinawakan ko yung braso niya.

"Pwede naman nating wag ng pagusapan yun."

"Iba nalang i-kwento mo. Naging si Sage ba at Amilyte?"

"Sa tingin ko oo. Mahirap sabihin kasi magulo nga yung grupo nila. Hindi mo alam kung friendly kiss ba o may ibang meaning pero alam naman si Bekah at Richard, sila. Pero may nakakita na kiniss ni Sage si Ami malapit sa lips. Tapos ayun. Gulo na lahat. May naging sobrang laking issue kasi nun bago kami gumaraduate."

"Bakit hindi pa tapos si Amilyte? Sila Sage graduate na pero siya hindi pa?" Tanong ko.

"Yun nga kasi. Bigla nalang nagkagulo nun sa school. Sabi nasusunog daw yung tambayan nila Amilyte. Ang balita pa si Amilyte ang sumunog. Wala naman na kasi ibang kaibigan sila kaya puro kami hula hula lang."

"Eh! Hindi mo din pala alam kung naging sila ba o hindi!" Reklamo ni Jacky pero tumawa lang kami ni Elsa. Medyo naiilang ako sa ginagawa namin. Ayokong may mahalungkat kami na hindi naman pwedeng malaman.

"Madaming suitors si Amilyte simula pa nun. Paasa naman yun e. Pero alam ko na-fall si Sage sa kanya. Sa araw araw ba naman nilang pagsasama."

"So in short masama si Amilyte?"

"Hindi naman sobrang sama. Pero mag-ingat ka, Tria. Baka makuha niya si Sage sayo."

Tumawa siya na parang witch lang. Nginitian ko lang siya. Hindi naman ito yung gusto kong malaman pero may isa akong napagtanto. Kung nahulog man sila sa isa't isa at may pagtingin sila hanggang ngayon, may posibilidad bang iwanan ako ni Sage para kay Amilyte?

Amilyte's POV

Tamad na tamad na ko. Kasama ko si Sage na himala dahil ang tahimik. Naggising ako kanina lunch na. Gusto ko ng umuwi. Nakahiga ako sa sofa habang tinitingnan yung kamay ko.

"What about the scar?" I stopped moving. Binaba ko agad yung kamay ko at bumangon.

"Don't believe, Gi."

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Because I told you not to," I snapped.

"Why are you mad?"

"I'm not mad, Sage," I said in a low voice.

"Yeah. Hindi ka galit," he said sarcastically.

"Can you just drop it?" Tumayo na ko ng tuluyan pero bago ko pa magawa yun, he said something that would surely hunt me in my sleep.

"Amilyte, I loved you. You know that. And damn you laughed when I confessed. You made a fool out of me. And now, guess what? You're freaking doing it again."

My heart skipped a freaking beat. Gusto kong umiyak, tumawa, magwala. Fuck it.

"What the fuck are you talking about, Sage?" I exhaled sharply. Standing on the front door was Bekah. She happened to hear Sage's damned words.

"You heard me. I like her." Damn it, Sage. Why are doing this again? I felt my freaking cheeks heating up.

"Fuck your pea brain!" I heard Bekah shouted. The door banged and we were alone again. I faced Sage nonchalantly even though my insides were full of those familiar butterflies.

"You're a good player, Sage, but I learned how to be better. You're a big bluff."

"I am not a liar but I'm not telling the truth either," he said as I met his penetrating stare that almost melt my knees. "You just tasted your own medicine. Now we're fair. You don't want to tell me about your scar, then I won't tell my feelings for you. But remember I loved you. You're messing with my head, Lyte. I hope I messed yours too."

I didn't realize I was gaping at him-not until he closed the distance between us and breathed me in. I closed my eyes for a brief moment. He was too close. Too close that I couldn't think well. He was the forbidden fruit and I'm no less than Eve. I couldn't move. I was imprisoned.

His voice was so low and husky, whispering in my ear while his cheek was pressed on mine. "I know something about the day-the day you set the fire. March 22, Amilyte."