Two Ghosts (Summer Series #2)

Kabanata XXXIX

Devin's POV:

Her eyebrows were knitted, focused on the coffee she was sipping as she dips the bread on her drink.

"Shaya." I cleared my throat before speaking. Tinapunan lang niya ako ng tingin at muling bumalik sa ginagawa.

"Bakit ka nandito?" I quickly think of an excuse. Sure, she would tell me to go home if I tell her that I am here because of her.

"The summer's still not over." And I was right, I caught her attention. Her eyes were now full of curiosity.

"Tapos?" suplada niyang tanong. I almost chuckled at her rudeness.

"We still have time to do some of your challenges." Her brow raised, she placed her bread on the plate as she looked at me.

"You promised." I said to her, even clearly in my memory, she didn't. She pursed her lips as the crease on her forehead shown.

"Did I?" Nanunuri ang kaniyang tingin, I kept a straight face and gave her a nod. An effortless move for an actor, huh.

"Anong gusto mong gawin?" she asked. Lihim akong napangiti.

"Can we go fishing in the afternoon?" Bahagya siyang napaisip bago sumagot sa akin.

"How about mango picking?" tanong ko pa ulit. I was expecting that she was about to say something since her mouth slightly parted, but she just looked at me...for seconds.

"Sige, maliligo lang ako." I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from smiling. I nodded as she stood up from her chair and went inside.

Agad akong pumasok ng van at kinuha ang mga bulaklak na hinanda ko para sa kaniya. There were two kinds of flower, pansy and lavender. I know her favorite color was silver but then again, I always smell lavender whenever she's near. I concluded, that was her perfume or maybe... that's the fabric conditioner they're using?

"Kuya Ernesto, ayos lang ba talaga to?" Kuya Ernesto gave me an approved sign with the use of his thumb.I grinned from ear to ear. I practiced my lines in front of a cement wall.

"Shaya, I know that you're still mad at me but please accept these flowers---"

"Huy!" I was startled when someone called. It was Reschian....again. Mabilis kong naitago ang bulaklak sa may likod ko, pero halata pa ring may dala ako, dahil sa laki nito.

"Bakit mo kinakausap puno ha? At anong Shaya sinasabi mo diyan? Mukha bang pader kapatid ko? Alam kong medyo walang dibdib ang kapatid ko, pero nakakainsulto ha!"

"No, it's not what you think...I...I...."

"I?I? Ano Ai Ai Delas Alas?" Agad akong natawa sa sinabi niya. Pero binawi ko agad iyon at sinabi kung ano ang pakay.

"I was practicing some lines."

"Ng? Ano pinapraktis mo? Pelikula mo ba? Eh bakit kapangalan naman ng kapatid ko. Tsk, makausap nga kung sinong direktor ng --"

"No!" I said, out loud. His eyes were already furrowed when I took a deep breath.

"I mean....no. May ibibigay ako kay Shaya, that's why I'm practicing." He gave me a 'WTF' look as he massaged the bridge of his nose.

"May ibibigay ka? Lang? Tapos nagpapractice ka ng sasabihin mo?" he asked. I slowly nodded as a response. Umiling iling siya at nilapitan ako.

"Huwag mo sabihing ngayon ka lang nakapagbigay ng ganiyan at parang wala kang kaalam alam kung paano?" I sighed heavily as I nodded.

"I courted someone two years ago, but this was not the kind of courtship I grew up with."

"Typical foreynjers. Tsk tsk tsk." tugon niya. I scratched the back of my head.