Gleaming Part

....02

Chapter 2

Nagulat ako nang may kumuha ng isang slice sa cheese quesadilla ko. I pouted.

"That's mine eh." Alam nila ayoko sa lahat na kumukuha sila ng pagkain na walang paalam.

"Sorry, Couz." He kissed my forehead and stood up to order another one. I smiled. Hindi ko alam bakit nila tinotolerate iyong pagkachildish ko pero I'm thankful. I always wonder what if hindi ko sila nakilala, would I remain sticking by Thomas' side? Would I remain going to the library during free times? I don't know.

Nagulat ako nang may nag pahid ng tissue sa noo ko, "I just need to wipe off something." He said almost a whisper.

Kumunot ang noo ko at napatingin sa mga kaibigan, "Did I have something in my forehead ba?"

Sabay naman silang napailing at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Pero etong si Cameron nakangisi sa'kin.

I arched my eyebrow, as a sign of "what?". He snickered and mouthed "Selos". Napairap ako nang di oras kaya siya tumawa ng malakas. I sighed and looked at the person seating beside me.

His hair has a clean cut with a brown color, he has good thick eyebrows making him look serious, his piercing eyes that makes it hard to look at for a long time, his pointed nose that shows how he's half European, and his lips, it's soft and pinkish. He has every feature that makes girl weak. He's 6'2, a swimmer, and cold. This is what girls like huh?

"You will not eat?" Nagising kaagad ako sa mga iniisip nang magsalita si Eugene.

"I-I will eat." Mabilis kong kinuha ang burrito at hinati iyon sa dalawa. I started eating when my cheese quesadilla came that made me more happy.

"Thank you, Thomas!" Ngumiti naman siya sa'kin at kumain na.

"Mang Thomas, bakit siya merong ganiyan? Bakit kami wala?" Reklamo ni Greg. We all laughed because he called him 'Mang Thomas' again.

I saw how my cousin's face turned red, he doesn't like to be called Mang Thomas. Hindi raw siya sauce.

"Alam mo nakakainis ka, Greg." Binatukan ni Thomas si Greg na ikinatawa pa lalo namin. This friend group is something I will cherish forever, I can't let go of them. I won't let go of them.

"Ay, alam niyo ba!" Napatingin kami lahat kay Cameron na nakangisi.

He looked at Ashely and laughed, "Binigyan siya ng crush niya ng chocolate. Tapos tinanong siya kung pwede ba raw siya iaya next time for a date. Natawa ako sa sagot ni Ashley, alam niyo kung bakit?" He held his stomach and laughed hard that made us laugh a little.

"Sabi ni Ashley, 'Ah, ano. Di balance.' Eh sumasagot kami sa accounting nun. Tapos sabi niya sa crush niya, "Hindi balance?" Natatawang sabi ni Cameron na ikinatawa rin namin.

Sinabunutan kaagad ni Ashley si Cameron pero patuloy pa rin ito tumatawa. Napailing na lang ako at nag patuloy sa pag kain.

Habang nagkwekwentuhan napatingin ako sa lamesa and I think I forgot to buy something for me.

"Milkshake?" Bulong ng katabi ko. I smiled and nodded.

He patted my head and stood up to go to the counter. I can't help but to admire him more. Simple efforts like this makes my heart soft. We may not have a label but I care for him, so much. More than a friend could give.

I finished my burrito and cheese quesadilla when my milkshake came.

I was happily sipping on my milkshake when we saw someone coming inside Army Navy. Napatigil kaming magkakaibigan.

There I saw my older brother with my mother. I don't know but something is bothering me, I feel heavy.

Napatingin sila sa'kin at alam kong lalapit sila sa'kin.

"Cadie." My brother greeted and I stood up to hug him.

Mabilis akong humiwalay at bumeso kay mommy. Act, Cadie. Act.

"We'll just have order takeout for meryenda, papabili ka ba ulit?" My mom brushed my hair and I can't help but to be disturbed by it.

"No, mama. I'm okay." I took a step backward.

She looked at me and smiled a little, "Okay." She breathed.

"I love you." I nodded and smiled at the both of them.

Bumalik na ako sa table at hinayaan sila pumunta ng counter.

Nobody dared to talk but Ashley did, "Ang gwapo talaga ni Kuya Kane!"

Natawa na lang ako at sinabunutan siya.

I felt that my brother and mom keeps on glancing in our table. I know they are. I didn't know that I was already clenching my fist when Thomas held it.

"It's okay." I nodded and smiled at him. Thomas is the only person who's close to me that knows what I'm going through at home. I didn't want to tell my friends, I don't want to let them know that I'm like this. I want them to see me as the same and nothing will ever change.

Waiting for my friends to finish feels like hell. I can still see Kuya Kane and Mama glancing at me. I know they're talking about me. Umiling na lang ako para mapagaan ang sarili ko.

You don't have to think about them, Cadie. You don't have to think about your family.

Naramdaman ko na hinawak ni Eugene iyong kamay ko at pinunasan iyon gamit ang wet wipes. "Your hands are oily and dirty." He said and I just let him do what he wants.

Sunod naman ay binigyan niya ako ng tissues to wipe my mouth and gave me my liptint para lagyan ang labi ko.

He pulled out my powder and blush out of my makeup kit and gave it to me. I giggled and got it from him. He waited for me to finish touching up before he put my hair into a messy bun , he pulled a couple of my hair strands and snickered.

"You look like a studyholic." He pinched my nose and I scrunched it that made him laugh. His laugh is something I would like to hear everyday. Lagi kasi siyang nakasimangot. I would sacrifice one year of my life to just hear him laugh everyday.

"You are too adorable. I want to hug you." He stated and tried to pinch both of my cheeks. I pushed his hand away and he laughed louder.

Napatigil kami kasi may tumikhim, "Sana kayong dalawa na lang kumain noh? Nakakalimutan niyo ata na nandito kami?" Natawa ako sa sinabi ni Grace at umayos ng upo.

Umiling na lang ako at binatukan si Eugene kaya ngumiwi siya.

"You're dead to me." He jokingly said that made me smirked.

"Nah, hindi mo kaya." He scoffed and smiled.

"Damn, girl." Tumingin siya sa taas at umiling.