His Aphrodite

[Chapter 31: Into the Woods]

*Zackyro's Point of View

Ilang beses na akong napailing habang pilit kong inaalis sa isip ko yung mga pinagsasabi nila Axe kanina sa resto bar. Halos mukha na din akong bagong gising dahil sa ilang beses ko na ring ginugulo ang buhok ko.

I took a glimpse of my watch. 6:30 PM.

It's really too early, but I couldn't just sit there hearing them make fun of me. I am supposed to have a private refreshment. It's barely obvious that I can't have that if I'm with them.

Walang pasintabi na umupo agad ako sa malaking bato na nakita ko malapit sa resto bar namin nang makarating na ako. The resto bar is almost just beside the bay, that's why it's getting more attention, despite they know that the Caldwells own it.

Pumikit naman ako at bahagyang nilanghap yung hangin. The sound of the waves immediately roamed through my ears that made everything so relaxing around me.

Nang bigla akong makaramdam ng ilang presensya na lumapit sa akin, na naging dahilan para mapamulat ulit ako.

"Zace."I turn to looked back and saw all of them. I mean, literally all of them. Tumayo agad ako at taas-kilay silang tinignan nang harapin ko sila.

"Auntie wants to see us."

Bumaling agad ang atensyon ko sa kanan nang biglang marinig ko 'yon mula kay Axe na nakatingin sa phone niya, habang hawak-hawak niya 'to. I unconsciously diverted my attention towards Treck, upon realizing what he just said.

"Even you?"

"She asked me to."Kibit-balikat niya bilang sagot. Kunot-noo naman akong napatingin sa kanila pagkatapos kong marinig lahat 'yon.

There's nothing wrong, actually. It's just that, it is actually the first time she ever called us altogether after what happened back at Vi's party. Dahil halos hindi na namin siya nahagilap pagkatapos nung gabing 'yon.

Hindi naman na namin nagawang tawagan siya dahil masyado kaming naabala sa nangyari. As far as I can remember, all she did was to left us-one of the reason why we're also looking out for Axe.

Umiling ako ng bahagya, bago tumingin ulit sa kanila.

"Let's go."Tanging nasabi ko nalang at iginaya na sila sa kotse ni Axe.

* * *

Papikit-pikit akong nakatingin sa labas habang patuloy kaming bumibiyahe papunta sa university. Yes, university. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari pero 'yon ang pagkakasabi ni Tita Avani sa message niya kay Axe nung tinanong namin siya.

She said from the message that she wants to see us exactly there. Nang matandaan ko 'yon ay napatingin ako sa orasan ko at nakitang 7:18 na ng gabi.

"Woods?"

Naagaw naman ang atensyon ko nang marinig naming magsalita si Rye. I gradually gaze back towards outside upon hearing what he said, and when I did what I did, I found myself looking at Axe.

"Axe."I immediately called him out. Nang magtama naman ang mga mata namin ay hindi niya napigilan na magkibit-balikat agad bago kunin ang phone niya mula sa bulsa niya.

"Blame the direction that Auntie sent me."He responded, as he said that and made us all faced his phone.

"Let's just hurry."Singit naman ni Hue sa usapan. Napapikit nalang ako at sabay na sumandal sa bintana.