Eternal Tune (Haunted Series 1)

Chapter 13: Fireflies

I bit my lip and looked at her worriedly, "I think I like him."

Nagulat ako nang tumawa siya ng napakalakas kaya napatingin ako sa paligid, natatakot na may makarinig sa'min. "Alam naming lahat na may gusto kayo sa isa't-isa. Ikaw lang ang hindi nakaka alam."

"What? No, we don't." Tanggi ko agad. Okay, yes, I might like Gabriel, but he doesn't feel the same way! Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay, alam na alam kung anong nilalaman ng utak ko. I bristled. He doesn't... right? "He doesn't like me. That's impossible. What should I do?"

Hana stared at me in awe. "The Jamie Faith Del Valle losing confidence? Ang cute mo, Pres."

I had crushes before, but... "This is the first time I've seriously liked someone. I don't know how to handle my feelings the right way." I glared at her. Do I confess? Do I forget about this? How can I face him after knowing that fact? Can I even look him in the eye? I'm seriously panicking right now.

"Stop overthinking, Jamie." She let out a small chuckle, "Savor the moment."

I let out a huge breath. Savor the moment? How do I do that? "Please don't tell anyone." I pleaded with my eyes.

"I promise." She smiles.

Rotcehlei suddenly sat with us on the bench, her brows arched. They were currently playing volleyball on the sand, and a member of the dance team substituted her position, "Anong nangyari dito sa inyo?"

Ngumisi si Hana, "Magkakaroon ka na ng Tatay Rotcehlei!" I gaped at her.

"Omygod kayo na ni Gabriel?!" Tumili naman ang isang 'to. Napahampas ako ng noo.

Dahil sa lakas ng boses nilang dalawa, mas lalong napatingin ang lahat ng taong malapit.

Lord, ipakain mo na ako sa lupa. "Hana!—And no Rotchi, Gabe and I are not together." I scolded her.

Tumawa siya, "What? She's not just 'anyone', she's your baby." Napairap nalang ako, there'll be a time that I get back at her.

I went out of our cabin. Halos wala nang tao sa labas dahil nagbabaraha silang lahat sa loob, but Gabriel is nowhere to be found. Naalala ko ang babae kanina, did they meet?

Napatingin ako sa malayong building na may party lights, loud music, and probably booze. Hmm, maybe he's partying. Some of our members went there kaya baka magkasama sila doon.

Napanguso ako at bumalik sa loob para kumuha ng cardigan. It was cold as I walked around the shore, malayo sa cabins at sa building. I smiled, seeing the flickering lights of the little fireflies. Ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakita ng firefly, I was probably a kid when I last saw one.

Ang sarap mabuhay sa ganitong mundo. So peaceful. So calm.

Pagbalik ko sa cabin, I was taken aback nang makita ko si Gabriel sa harapan ng hagdanan holding a large picnic basket, "Princess! I was looking around for you."

Napatigil ako at nagtatakang tingnan ang basket niyang dala, "Saan ka nanggaling?"

He offered his hand. "I'll show you, come on!"

This is weird, I think, as he grabbed my hand, and together, we walked away. Is this normal, knowing that I like him? Na c-conscious ako bigla sa namamawis kong kamay. I moved my hand away from him, and he let me, though I could see he was slightly disappointed, or I was imagining things, at 'yun ang gusto ko makita.

We're silently walking towards the wooded area. Hindi naman siya forest type, but there are tall trees around.

In the corner of my eye, I saw my bodyguards making rounds, so I caught Almazan's eye, the head of their team, and shook my head.