Under Pink Skies (Villamor Cousins Series #1)

Chapter 20

Exam days came that made us busy. Studying in the library, eat lunch then study again. Masipag din naman ako kahit papaano.

I drink my mango shake while waiting for my cousins to arrive, one Friday afternoon. The exams are already done because it's already September and that made me sigh in relief.

"Tapos na ang school, madam?"Sheen asked as they sit on the vacant seat next to mine. I sipped on my mango shake before I nodded as an answer.

"Hay! Kapagod!"reklamo ni Jean at hinawi ang pawis sa noo. I laughed and turned my head to Hale and Kaye's direction.

Hale is watching my every move with her innocent eyes. I shivered so I looked at Kaye, currently looking at the table. Kumunot ang noo ko at bumaling kay Sheen na kasalukuyang umiinom ng watermelon shake niya habang nakatingin sa bintana.

Why are they avoiding my gaze? May ginawa ba silang kalokohan kaya hindi sila makatingin sa akin?

"Sheen," I called her and touched her arm that made her jump. Kumunot ang noo ko at binitiwan ang kaniyang braso.

She smiled, "Yup? Gusto mo?"aniya at nilahad ang shake niya. Umiling ako at pinagmasdan ang ngiti niya.

I know them because they're my cousins, so I know that smile. I think they have done something stupid and they don't want me to find out what it is. Hindi din naman ako mapilit na tao kaya hinayaan ko nalang.

They were silent and it made the atmosphere awkward. This is unusual. Kapag magkakasama kami ay hindi matapos ang topic namin. Siguro may problema talaga sila na ayaw lang ipaalam sa akin.

Tumingin ako sa kanila isa isa. Sheen is currently looking outside the coffee shop while Jean is busy with her phone. Tulala si Sheen na ikakunot ng noo ko. Kaye is also looking at the table while Hale is looking at me like I'm a fragile thing and will easily break.

"Hey! What's up? May problema ba kayo?"ani ko. They just looked at me and smiled like everything's fine.

"Tell me. Ano bang problema niyo? Bakit kayo tulala?"tanong ko at hinawakan sila sa braso. Tumingin sila sa akin at bumuntong hininga.

"M-May quiz kasi kami b-bukas, Xy. K-Kaya kami tulala."aniya at nagtinginan. Kaye nodded many times and sipped on her strawberry shake.

"Yeah--"Kaye's words got cut when Jean suddenly talked.

"Bakit hindi kumalat--"Jean's words also got cut when Sheen talked.

"Ah! Bakit hindi kumalat ang scandal ni Taylor Swift? May concert kasi siya sa North Pole!" Sheen said and laughed at her own joke. Kaye grinned while Jean and Hale remained their face straight.

"May scandal ba si Taylor Swift?"tanong ko para maibsan ang nakakailang na kapaligiran. Kaye and Sheen laughed and slightly nudged Jean and Hale's elbows.

"Wala, siguro. Kumanta kasi siya ng Love Story."ani Sheen. Tumaas ang kilay ko sa mga pinagsasabi niya.

I don't understand! What's the connection of the scandal, the North Pole and she sang Love Story? I went silent and just sipped on my mango shake.

The atmosphere was awkward the whole time. Umuwi kami na lutang pa din sila kaya hindi ko nalang din pinansin.

Dumihaya ako sa kama at tumitig sa kisame. Wondering why they act like that. Did they see a ghost? They look shocked or something.

The next morning, I woke up at around 9 am. Hindi kasi ako nakatulog ng maaga dahil sa iniisip.

What if kaya sila ganon kasi bagsak sila sa exams? Well, that's impossible.

I'm now wearing my lime green spaghetti top and paired it with my white skirt. Nagsuot din ako ng white jacket at black boots. I ponytailed my hair and put a little light make up on my face.

Kinuha ko ang car keys at pumunta sa mall mag isa.

Hinawakan ko ang kwintas na binigay ni Arc sa akin habang nag-gro-grocery ako. I used to hold this necklace everytime 'cause I love it!

Kumuha ako ng fresh milk at limang pack ng Chuckie bago ko nilagay sa basket iyon. I, then, went to the meat station to get some meat.

Papunta na sana ako sa may mga itlog  nang makasalubong ko si Fridamn na abala sa isang tawag. She looks nervous and hasty.

A pucker between my eyebrows defined. May dala siyang grocery, siguro ang tumawag ay yung parents niya? Well, nevermind.

I got through her without looking and went to the eggs station. I just shrugged my shoulders so my thoughts will get out of me.

After I paid my groceries, I went to the nearest coffee shop to drink a mango shake. Hinubad ko ang jacket sa balikat dahil sa init pagkalabas ko ng mall.

I searched for my car keys inside my sling bag then went inside my car.

Umorder ako ng mango shake nang lumapit ang waiter sa akin. I got my phone out from my bag to check my social media accounts.

In just 1 minute, my order got served. Isinalampak ko ang earphones sa aking tenga at pinatugtog ang Back To U ni Slander at William Black.

I sipped to my mango shake then watched the blue skies above. It's still eleven so the skies are blue. Napatingin lang sa cellphone nang biglang tumunog iyon dahil sa isang notification.

fridalicious posted her tweet on Twitter.

Kumunot ang noo ko at binuksan iyon. Why am I suddenly notified on her tweets? I didn't even follow her on Twitter!

Sinwipe ko nalang iyon pakanan para mawala na. I didn't bother to read her tweet because probably, her tweet will be as OA as her.

I sipped to my mango shake and continued watching the skies when a notification beeped again.

Inis kong in-open ang cellphone at bahagyang ngumiti nang makitang si Arc ang nagmessage.

I opened his message for me, smiling. Lakas ng tama ko dito!

My smile widened when his message for me is a qoute. A qoute for love.

arc.ybañez: what if you're the one but I wasn't?

Kumunot ang noo ko. Did his feelings change? Does he love me or like me now? I hope so.

These past few days, he kept on sending me qoutes that can make me smile but sad in the same time.

He gives me gestures that made me expect and assume that he'll love me back. But, just like Hale said, Assuming can lead to pain, so don't assume too much.

Kumurot ang dibdib ko dahil sa mga iniisip kaya bumuntong hininga ako at pilit na ngumiti. I don't want to hurt myself but I did.

xylenalvarado: don't give me gestures, please. :(

As I type my reply, my tears started to fill my eyes. Ngumiti ako at huminga ng malalim.

Giving so much affection towards a person and getting none in return could hurt you. Just what Hale said to me.

—

xoxo