Wretched Choices

Chapter 25

#WretchedChoicesWP

Chapter 25
Walk Away

"I will wait no matter how long..."

Archer's voice kept on haunting me. It was echoing over and over again inside my head which made it hard for me to fall asleep last night. I barely had any sleep so, even though I don't like coffee that much, I drank a cup to keep me awake today.

I was about to try and shrug the disturbing thoughts away, but whenever I planned to do so, flashbacks of images of him standing in front of me in the middle of the rain kept on appearing before me. With still a slight bitter feeling when I was reminded on how I failed myself before, I smiled. However, it wasn't a smile out of joy.

I knew I was at fault. My mind's determination to avenge myself wasn't enough to control the hidden desires of my heart. Mas nanaig ito noong araw na 'yon. Ayoko mang aminin pero natatakot ako na maging ganoon ulit ngayon.

When I said that I didn't want to be involved with him again, I meant it. It was the only way I could think of in order to continue moving forward.

"Keia, were you even listening to what I was saying earlier?"

Sa pagkalampag ni Sharry sa aming lamesang kinakainan ng lunch ay napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya. She looked slightly offended because I wasn't giving her any attention.

"You are idling the whole time!" she ranted.

I sheepishly smiled at her. "Sorry..." and apologized. "May iniisip lang ako."

Her eyes narrowed, looking curious. "What are you thinking?"

For a moment, I was ready to tell her everything about what happened yesterday, but I stopped when I remembered that she was one of the catalysts why I changed my mind before. Sharry would always speak sense to me, and I was always good at ignoring her words, but when it comes to Archer, it would bear into my mind.

So, instead of frowning, I smiled. "It's nothing... May nangyari lang kanina sa klase."

Mabuti na lang at mabilis akong nakaisip ng aking palusot. May maiku-kuwento ako sa kanya kahit na hindi naman 'yon ang totoong dahilan ng paglipad ng aking isipan.

Mas lalo lamang siyang naging kuryoso. "Ano nga iyon?"

"The individual scores for the reporting last week was announced earlier."

"The reporting which you were partnered with the bitch?" Sharry didn't bother filtering her words.

While my anger for Hope subsided after I had a conversation with her, Sharry just couldn't let go of her hatred. I was sure that if ever she'd cross paths with Hope, she would give her a piece of her mind.

"Well, yes..." I trailed.

"Tapos?" Hinding-hindi na siya makapaghintay. "Daig mo pa ang mga teleserye sa pagiging bitin ng mga sinasabi mo ah. Direstahin mo na kasi."

"I got the highest score..." I said, and she sighed before sitting up straight. "But it didn't feel like winning."

She playfully acted like her jaw dropped. "Oh my God, angel Keia! Are you really back for good?"

Bahagya akong natawa sa kanyang itsura, pero agad ding sumeryoso. "Kung nakita mo siguro ang reaksyon ni Hope kanina, pakiramdam ko ay maaawa ka kahit papaano. She worked and studied hard all her life. It was a big slap to her that I beat her. Pakiramdam ko ay dadalhin niya ang pagkatalong 'yon nang matagal. That's how much I hurted her pride as someone who's running for Latin honors."

Hindi nawala ang kunot sa noo ni Sharry habang nakikinig sa akin.

"Kung nakita ko siguro ang reaksyon ni Hope, tatawa ako at magdidiwang dahil dapat lang sa kanya 'yon," walang-awang sabi ni Sharry. "Did you have an amnesia, Keia? Nakalimutan mo na ba ang mga sinabi niya tungkol sa'yo? She underestimated you so much and spread lies about you. I just want to remind you that."