Philia

Chapter 22 - MIDNIGHT THOUGHTS

Natasha's POV
11 na ako nakauwi samin. Well it's all worth it at all.

"It's late." Nakita ko si daddy na nakadikwatro sa sala. Pinadala ko na sa driver at sa yaya ko 'yung mga gamit ko.

"Masaya naman magsayang ng oras diyan?" He is drinking some coffee.

"I won dad," walang gana kong sabi. Kahit anong ekspresyon ko pa sabihin iyon ay wala silang pake.

"I'm tired. I will just go to bed." I walk my way towards my bedroom.

No matter how many crowns I won and brought it here, no one will congratulate me except for my siblings. Bago ako tuluyang matulog ay agad kong inalala 'yung bulungang naganap kanina sa back stage.

•Flashback•
(In the backstage)
May dalawang candidate na natalo. They don't mind it at all. Suddenly, they talked to each other.

"I'm I right? I just saw the youngest De Guzman," nagfafangirling na pahayag ng isang candidate.

"Oo nga, diba yung tatay niya ang nag finance dito at kuya niya ang may-ari nitong project na 'to." Sabi ng isang candidate.

"I heard that she talked to one of the judges."

"Talaga? Sana matigil niya ang kadayaan ni Ishie Belrose." Suddenly Ishie passed by them.

"Did I heard something?" Tanong niya.

"Mas maganda kung wala pero kung meron, wala kaming pake." Sabi ng isang candidate. I like her attitude. Pwede siyang sumali sa grupo namin.

"Creeper De Guzman is here?" Bewildered she asked. I looked at her.

"Don't call her by her second name you will not like what she can do to you if you repeat that again." I said.

"Creeper, Creeper, Creeper... she's not even here. Kaya wala siyang magagawa sa 'kin. And who are you to say that to me?" She came closer to me. She raised a brow and I do the same thing.

"Natasha Yvone Clutz, Eprumtt's bestfriend. She is here because of me," Hindi ako nagpatalo at nakapamewang ko ding sinabi iyon sa kanya. She wrinkled her forehead. Umalis nalang ako dahil wala namang kwenta ang paguusap namin. Is that right? Kinausap ni Eprumtt ang isa sa mga judge? It can be for two reasons. For me or for Astral. Si Travis kasi ang boyfriend ni Ishie. Nakita ko kanina sa dressing Room niya.

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Hope's POV
Dinala ako ni Red sa isang peryahan. Seryoso? Kahit anong rides, clown or exorcist pa ang ipakita sa 'kin ng lalaking 'to, hindi matatanggal sa isip ko ang pagkamatay ng lolo ko, ang lalakeng pumanaw bago ang aking kaarawan. Worst, 18th birthday ko pa.

"Aren't you happy?" Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko and seriously he looked at me. I remained in my emotionless expression. I shook my head. As I said, for now no one can ease my sadness.

"You have to try, don't underestimate the small picture, it can become extravagant when you try it." I can say that he is sincere with his words. He has a girlfriend right? Baka kung anong isipin ng girlfriend niya. I disjunct my hands from holding into him. He looked at me seriously.

"Bakit? Tinutulungan lang kita. Hindi ako sanay na naiyak ka." Sabi niya.

"May girfriend ka diba? Ano nalang ang sasabihin niya?" I asked him with my worried look.

"Advantage of a playboy," then he winked.

"I will never like you!" I raised my voice at agad na tinulak siya.

"Wala rin akong gusto sa'yo kaya halika na, wag ka nang maarte," he held my hands and pulled me towards the entrance. Nanood kami sa isang magic show. Madaming mga pinakitang tricks doon pero hindi ako naaamaze. Napatingin sa 'kin si Red nang matapos ang magic show. Agad niya akong hinila palabas.

"I told you, sa sobrang lungkot ko walang makakaalis non ngayon." I crossed my arms.

"Mag basketball nalang tayo," Pagyayaya niya. He pulled me again towards the basketball part this time. He put tokens on it and then he lend me a ball.

"Laban tayo?" Tanong niya nang nakangiti.

"As if namang matatalo kita," kinuha ko ang bola at agad na shinoot iyon.

"Diba sinabi ko sayong don't undersitimate-" tinuloy ko nalang ang pagshoot at hindi ko na pinakinggan ang mga sinasabi niya. Nag shoot nadin siya ng bola. I can't believe that I beat him even if I only scored 1 point higher that him. It makes me happy seeing our scores 81/80. Me having the score of 81. I smiled at him.

"Talo kita!" Pagmamalaki ko.

"Sige pagbibigyan kita ngayon," he then smiled.

"Yan, mas maganda kung naka smile ka. Lagi mo 'yang ilagay sa mukha mo ha? I find you cute with it." Tumalikod siya at pumunta sa mga stall na puputukin mo 'yung balloon. Playboy's and their romantic statement. Cheesy you may say but I truly appreciate that. Ngayon alam ko na ang feeling ng mabiktima ng isang playboy. Pumunta ako sa kanya at tinulungan siyang putukin ang ibang mga balloons. Madami akong na missed pero madami naman ding naputok si Red. Parang bastos yun ah! Anyway, nanalo kami ng curly tops. 'Yung chocolate.

"Ano ba naman 'yan, Nag expect ako ng katulad ng mga napapanood ko 'yung makukuha natin. I was expecting for a teady bear!" I pouted. Kumuha nalang ako ng isang curly tops at agad na kinain iyon.

"We are not in those romantic movies. 'Yung mga movies na ganon nga eh sila yung nagkakatuluyan," he put his gaze on me pero panandalian lang iyon dahil agad naman din siyang nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Well! Hindi tayo magkakatuluyan kaya siguro hindi tayo nakakuha ng teddy bear!" Hindi ako tumitingin sa kanya.

"That's right!" He exclaimed.

"Mag o-one na. Gusto mo na bang umuwi?" Agad naging seryoso ang boses niya. I bowed my head.

"I wish everything will go back in it's normal place when I go home." I said in a serious but sad voice.

"Nothing will change when you go home but nothing will also change if you keep on crying," I looked at him. Malayo ang tingin niya ngayon.

"Crying is good for the soul,"

"But excessive crying is not good anymore, pwedeng umiyak ka pero wag ka namang umiyak ng umiyak na parang katapusan na ng mundo. You should at least try to be back to your old self again." He looked at me. His words really comforts me. He is really one of a kind! I didn't expect that a playboy like him is good at comforting.

"Tsaka ka nalang umiyak ng madami pag magugunaw na ang mundo." Sabi pa niya. I sighed. A heavy one.

"Thank you, Red." I smiled at him. The smile that I gave him is all true. Hindi iyon plastik, talagang nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya.

"Dapat lang! Aray-" hinampas ko siya.

"Yan nakabalik ka na sa dati, nananakit ka na." Sabi niya at agad hinawakan ang balikat na nahampas ko.

"Hindi ko inakalang magiging kaibigan kita." He smiled.

"Hindi tayo magkaibigan noh!" Nang sabihin ko 'yun ay bigla nalang niya akong iniwan.

"Hoy!! Joke lang naman. Oo na kaibigan na kita, Pula." He looked back as I shouted it.

"Tara na!" He smiled.

Being a friend of a playboy is good. Alam ko na ang feeling ni Cath pero hindi ko naman sinasabi na gusto ko si Red. Kaibigan nga lang diba?