Let's Fake this for Real

Chapter 16

When Leigh was younger she got upset easily. Tulad nong hindi siya nakasali sa school play. She broke her arm when she fell from a guava tree. She cried but felt better when her mom made hot chocolate. Pero hindi na matandaan ni Leigh kung kailan ang huling beses na ginawan siya ng hot chocolate ng mama niya. It was from so many years ago.

And right now at 2:30 in the morning, she badly needed the hot chocolate. She had already stopped crying but she could no fall asleep. She keep thinking about everything that had happened for the last 24 hours.

While disoriented, Eva placed a steaming mug of hot chocolate on her mini table beside her cozy chaise lounge where she's nested. Leigh's heart melted. She looked up and Eva gave her a small comforting smile.

"...I miss this," Leigh pointed out. With both hands she lifted the mug and took a careful sip. The rich liquid soothe her nerves.

"Ako rin. You're just eleven nung huli kitang pinagtimpla ng hot chocolate."

"Wow ang tagal na pala... But the drink still do wonders."

Umupo si Eva sa kama ni Leigh, kontento sa narinig. Leigh hugged her knees to her chest and rested her cheek over it.

"Tumawag si Phil kanina. Tinatanong kung nakauwi ka ba nang maayos, he sounded worried." Kwento ni Eva. "And maybe you've heard about... Alice cancelling her own wedding."

Isa rin yan sa ikinabahala ni Leigh ang malamang hindi na itutuloy ni Alice ang kasal niya. Wala siyang ideya kung bakit. Itinawag ni Nicole sa kanya ang balita.

"I don't know what's happening between you and Phil hija. I hope it's not serious. Kung may tampuhan man kayo sana matapos na. Phil has a lot on his plate right now." She squeezed Leigh's hand.

Gustong sabihin ni Leigh ang lahat. Kung ano talaga ang namamagitan sa kanila ni Phil. Ayaw niyang magsinungaling pa sa  mama niya. Pero natatakot siya. At this moment she's afraid of the disappointment her mother would feel afterwards. Dati okay lang sa kanya na madisappoint ang mama niya. Pero iba na ngayon. So she asked  forgiveness for the things she had done in the past and for the things she still cannot say in the present.

"I'm sorry mama... for everything. For being ungrateful, troublesome, stubborn. I don't know but I found myself annoying you every chance I could get."

Her mom hugged her. Soon. She would tell her mom everything.

The next morning, the breakfast table was gloomy. Eva was silent and Samuel was eating fast as if wanting to get away soon.

"Leigh dear you call Phil okay? Ask him if you can help." Sabi ni Eva. "Until now hindi pa nila ma-contact si Alice."

Leigh nodded her head but she herself didn't even know how to approach Phil now. Pero may idea siya kung paano makatulong kay Phil ngayon.

The whole day was tiring and she just wanted to grab a very strong coffee to wake her up. She was not a coffee-type-of-person but she badly needed it after what happened earlier. A dose of coffee and Nicole will help her calm down or so she thought.

Napansin niya na dumating na ang kaibigan sa labas. Naintriga pa siya dahil nandon din si Jared. Saglit na nag-usap ang dalawa bago pumasok si Nicole sa loob ng coffee shop.

Tinaasan niya ng kilay si Nicole dahil mukhang cease fire sila ng boss nitong ubod daw ng sungit.

Umupo ito at umirap dahil napansin nito ang kakaibang tingin niya. "Oh please don't get wild thoughts. Hinatid ako ng impakto. Akala niya makikipagdate ako. Eh paano naman ako magkaka-love life kung napaka-slave driver niya!"