Luck with you, Ace (Villamor Cousins Series #2)

Chapter 06

Thankfully, the following days weren't as toxic as before. We were working on our thesis and a lot of return demonstrations, but they're better than surprise quizzes. I get to prepare for the presentations but not the quizzes.

Wala pa ring alam si Dad sa mga pinanggagawa ko. Pati na rin ang score ko noong nakaraan. Mabuti naman at gabi-gabi akong nagdadasal na sana hindi niya ako susugurin bigla rito sa condo.

Patuloy pa din kaming nagkikita ni Ace sa library. Nakahiligan na rin naming umupo roon sa pwesto namin. Our bonds are getting better and better each day. He's also getting softer and softer, he can now open up to me without reluctance.

One thing is never changing, though: his commitment to his studies and how he really values his study time. He's also always there for me whenever I need to understand something.

Malapit na ang midterm exam kaya sobrang pagsusunog ng kilay ang ginawa ko para makuha ang gustong grado ni Daddy. Hindi rin nawawala ang pressure at kaba ko sa bawat oras na nag-aaral ako. Hindi ko na alam kung anong insulto ulit ang aabutin ko kapag papalpak ako muli.

One sunny Friday afternoon, I walked through the pathway near the field while hugging my books tight. Masaya akong naglalakad sa pathway nang matigilan nang makita si Ace sa ilalim ng puno. It was not surprising anymore that he's reading a book with his specs on. I found him so attractive with his white v neck t-shirt and his black pants.

We've been hanging out in a month already. In that one month, we get to know a piece of each other. He always offer help for my subjects as well. Hindi niya naman alam na may problema si Daddy sa grades ko kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit payag na payag siyang turuan ako na walang bayad. But he was always there, we get to study with each other, and there's no day that he won't teach me something out of my textbooks.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa bulsa ng pantalon ko at tinignan ang oras; alas tres pa naman. 3:30 pa ang oras ng last class ko kaya nagpas'ya muna akong umupo sa bermuda grass, sinadyang malayo kay Ace para pagmasdan siya.

I squatted and put my books on my lap. Nagpangalumbaba ako at wala sa sariling ngumiti. Napabungisngis pa ako nang may nahulog na isang kakarampot na dahon sa balikat niya.

I bit my lower lip when I realized what I was doing. Tanga na po talaga siya, for real, hindi na po siya joke time.

Napawi ang sayang saglit na nararamdaman ko nang may makita akong babaeng tumabi sa kaniya. My brows furrowed when I saw Ace nodded at her... and proceeded to talk to her like they've known each other for so long.

The pace of my breathing became slower and a faint squeeze of my heart surfaced. Pinagmasdan ko pa sila saglit, ngunit ngayon ay matuwid nang nakaupo.

The girl was wearing jeans and a blue oversized shirt. Napataas ang kilay ko nang makita ang nanliliit niyang mata at malaking ngisi kay Ace. Umirap ako at tinignan ang sarili.

Mas maganda naman ako! Sino pa ba ang nagsusuot ng oversized shirt ngayon na color blue?!

Her head turned to me suddenly. Umirap ako nang ngumisi siya na parang nang-iinggit. Handa na akong tumayo nang biglang lumapit ito sa akin at saka umupo sa gilid ko. Umusog ako papalayo sa kaniya at nag-iwas ng tingin.

Ace stared at us on the other end. Umirap din ako sa kaniya at nagkrus ng braso.

"Excuse me? Why are you sitting beside me?" supladang tanong ko at tinignan si Ace na nakakunot ang noo sa akin.

Pagkatapos niyong magharutan, pumupunta ka sa 'kin?! Aba!

"Third year student ka, hindi 'ba?" she asked that made me blink at her many times. Ngumiti siya at nilagay ang iilang hibla ng buhok na nakatakas sa messy bun niya sa likod ng tenga niya.