Cascading Waters

Chapter V

The whole night, I wasn't able to sleep well. Every time I close my eyes, I'm reminded of what happened and how awkward it all was.

Napansin ko rin kung paano nag react si Axel, his glances towards my lips and how he shut his eyes, made me less sleepy.

I've never had my first kiss and that was the closest I've been to a guy's face. Of course, my reaction was normal kaya hinayaan ko nalang. I endured the night perfectly and fell asleep after a few hours of trying, probably at three am.

"Wave!" isang napalakas na katok ang gumising sa akin. I groaned at sumimangot sa ingay ni Lexa.

"Wave? Gising kana?" tanong ng makulit na si Lexa tsaka kumatok ulit. Kahit inaantok pa ay bumangon ako at nakapikit na binuksan ang pinto.

Dali-daling pumasok si Lexa sa kwarto ko at dumiretso sa cabinet ko. Hinayaan ko lang siya at humiga ulit sa higaan ko. Kumakanta siya habang namimili sa mga damit ko.

"Come on, sleepy head! Get dressed! We're going shopping!" excited na tili nito sabay tapon sa mukha ko ang mga napiling damit.

"Ha? For what? I'm so sleepy, Lexa" bangon ko, nakapikit parin.

"Tita didn't tell you? It's our company's anniversary so of course we have to look good so stop sleeping and get up, sa sasakyan ka na magpahinga." utos nito na kalaunan ay sinunod ko na.

I took a bath, uninterested with whatever. I was moving really slow dahil sa antok and only changed fast after Lexa started shouting out my name like she'd kick me out of the house if I didn't finish in five minutes.

I hurriedly came down after changing and Lexa dragged me out of the house. I thought we were going to Lexa's car but I realized we weren't when she opened the back seat door of Axel's car and gestured me to get inside. She sat in the front seat and closed the door.

I immediately climbed up the back seat at nahagip ko agad ang tingin ni Axel sa rearview mirror. He looked away but I noticed his dark eye circles and it made me think about last night.

Did he not sleep well too?

"Okay, so kuya will drive us to the mall and we have to be back home by two pm kasi we'll have to prepare. Pinasama na ni mama si kuya sa atin because I tend to forget the time when I shop" ngisi ni Lexa sabay lingon sa kuya na mukhang pagod rin.

Pareho kaming hindi nagsalita so Lexa just started swiping through her phone. Nagkatinginan kami ni Axel but he looked away again and started driving.

I took out my phone and earphones at pumili ng playlist. I napped the whole drive kasi antok talaga ako and tonight will surely be exhausting too. It's still eight in the morning so it's really gonna be a long day.

A few minutes after and we were already at the mall. The place wasn't grand like the normal city malls but it wasn't bad either. At the first hour, Axel just tailed us habang hinihila ako ni Lexa sa kung saan. We would exchange glances but then look away again.

We've tried on a few dresses but I didn't like it. Lexa is always complimenting me but I still didn't like the dresses, parang kulang. Axel would only stare and look away again every time I glance at him. Baka hindi niya rin gusto.

"Kuya, why don't you shop for your own? Hindi maka pili si Wave, baka dahil nahihiya sayo." ani Lexa nang napansin na humihindi ako right after looking at Axel's reaction.

"Alright, sorry." sabi ni Axel, halatang apektado sa sinabi ng kapatid at tinalikuran kami.

"Lexa, hindi mo na dapat sinabi 'yon. Okay lang naman sa akin, it's just that I didn't like the previous dresses." sermon ko kay Lexa. Tinawanan lang ako nito at binigyan nalang ako ng ibang pair.