Veronica

Chapter 7: Apollo

Today is a fucking day, i tried to calm myself through massage and face rejuvenation, but nothing worked! I still feel irritated and groggy, hindi nakatulong ang last day of menstruation ko!

Kung sana lang na hindi na ako nakipag-puyatan kay Dad, edi sana menstrual irritation nalang 'to, but whatever si Dad naman 'yon kaya okay lang.

I got inside my car and drove my way to P.A.U. Since Manuel had many appointments to his company, he can't pick me up and drive, I had to do so, appointments! Fucking appointments! Na stress pa tuloy ako sa traffic! Argh! Distracted by my thoughts a bicycle suddenly appeared in front of me, I stepped at the breaks quickly, and horned at the bicycle, lumingon lamang siya at hindi na huminto, and another car bumped me, fuck! Could this day get any worse?

Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at kinusap ang driver ng isang kotse, "I'm sorry sir," I took my wallet out and pulled my number card, "here, just call me when you're free so that we can fix things, I'm just in a hurry and running late," tumingin sa akin ang lalaking may katandaan na, "huwag na iha! Naku baka mahuli ka pa! Hindi naman malala at gasgas lang! Sige na bilisan mo na!" ngumiti ito, agad akong nagpasalamat, and drove my car.

Mabuti nalang ay hindi ako na late pero hindi rin maaga, as I walked to the corridors andami na naman nakatingin ng masama sakin, lalo na yung grupo kahapon, hindi ko na napigilan at lumapit na ako, "why are you looking like that?" I asked threateningly,

"wala kang pake sa way ng pagtingin ko!" malditang sagot nito, tinulak ko siya hanggang tumama ang likod niya sa pader, I hold on to her jaw tightly, "aray! Masakit!" reklamo niya, "the next time you look at me like that, I will get those eye out using my bare hands! You bitch!" namutla ang mukha nito, binitawan ko na siya at tumalikod. Takot naman pala, tsk!

I was shocked when someone held my shoulder, pagtalikod ko ay nakita ko ang babae kanina, she slapped my face,

shit! My rejuvanating cream!

I glared at her, at sinapak at tumumba sa sahig, sorry bitch, but I don't slap! I looked at the guy beside her at nakitang namumula ang mukha at pumutok ang nguso, he's wearing glasses, not too thick just right, tinamaan kaya siya? His face really looks familiar, naningkit ang mata ko at tinignan ang mukha niya ng maigi, fucking right! "you!" duro ko pa, "ikaw yung fucking bicycle driver! Bwisit ka! Nandito ka lang pala! " I shouted, natakot ang mukha nito, he looked smart, I looked at him, "ano course mo?" I asked angrily, "C-criminology." He answered. I heard them again.

I held his wrist and pulled him away from the crowd, we walked and walked until we reached the storage room, "pangalan?" I asked impolitely, "Noah Zerhkon Armani" nice name, I looked at him, he looked cute, slightly curled hair, defined jaw, deep set of eyes, with light brown eyes, that made me remember Apollo, hmm, Adam's apple looking good!

Big arms yet smaller that Manuel, great chest but Manny's are greater, good-why the fuck was Manuel in the thought? "anyways, go to my house," I handed him my address, "right after classes, I need your help." I glared at him, "why would I help you?" he looked calm now, "because-Duh!- you are the fucking reason that my car was bumped and made me late!" I shouted.

Next thing I knew he was walking towards the door, "hey! Saan ka pupunta?!" binuksan niya ang pinto, "four pa naman 'diba?" he smirked, lumabas na siya and I was left, now that I'm super late I decided to just ditch my class and eat to calm myself, probably an hour from now I'll come to my classes.

"I'LL take two servings of that Chocolate Chip Cookie, a Red Velvet Cupcake, and Vanilla Shake." I handed my money and sat down to table sa corner, I am here sa Sugarcoat Café, well masasarap kasi ang cookies nila and shakes, plus those were most of my comfort food. I was waiting and waiting till I saw Manuel enter the shop, he took all the women's eyes in just one smirk, Timothy then followed plus two other person na hindi ko kilala, my order came, "uhm, miss paki-take out nalang, thank you." Shit!

Hindi ako pwedeng makita ni Manuel dito, maybe she knows that ate is allergic to Choclate and my cookie had some! I waited for my food to come and got out of the store hastily, nag hanap ako ng mapag kakaininan na walang tao masiyado, I sat down sa place and started eating peacefully, "okay ka na?" I jumped a liitle when I heard a voice, I looked at where it came from and to my surprise I saw Noah, "oh? Ba't andito ka?" I took a sip from my Vanilla Shake,

"just like you na late din ako, kaysa mabungangaan ng prof, nag ditch nalang ako." He answered, "ano pala yung gusto mong sabihin at pinapuputa mo ako sa bahay mo?" he opened his palm asking for cookies, "no! These are mine!" I glared at him, "woah, chill woman." I stoped the glare and hand him the paper bag of Red Velvets, "'diyan ka nalang bumawas." Umirap pa ako, "you really like cookies that much?" I looked at him, "I'd kill for these!" I said trying to sound scary.

"So anong sasabihin mo sakin?" he asked again, bakit ba ang kulit mo? "I'm not in the mood okay, sa bahay na tayo mag usap," the bell rang and that's the times up for my break, I stood up and picked the paper bags, I should give these to Eliza since she loves eating.

"SAAN ka nanggaling Veronica?" bungad ni Karina, "alam mo ba na pinag-alala mo kami?" Eliza held my face, looked all around it like she was looking for bruises, "Please wag mo nang gagawin ulit 'yon, hindi namin alam kung saan ka nag-punta, ang alam lang namin napaaway ka." Elena said full of concern, we sat down and I gave them the goodies.

I didn't know na ganoon nila ka-mahal si Veronica, to see their faces like that, I can see the care and the love in them, ate was truly blessed to have these friends.

"Veronica!" somebody behind me called, "Don't do that again, dude!" it was Emma, "we we're out to find you since hindi ka pumasok! Ganiyan din ang nangyari sa'yo noon!" Dani said, "Girl! Omaygadd! San ka ba nanggaling kasi, sana sinabihan mo man lang kami!" Shari the hugged me, "yari ka kay fafa Manuel, on the way pa naman siya, fresh from his kumpaniya!" pananakot niya pa.

Maya-maya pa ay may umupo na lalaki sa tabi ni Elena na na'sa tapat ko, it was Manuel, his aura looks dark and he is cold, he usually greets me warmly but now, no greeting, and it's freezing the hell out of me, I got irritated again, bakit ba siya nagagalit? Edi 'wag niya!

Nagsiuwian na kami but still, Manuel wasn't approaching me, I drove my way to the house and saw Noah at the gate, naka-upo at nagbabasa ng libro with galsses still on, I don't know how long i've been staring at him, nagulat nalang ako nang lumapit siya sakin, still reading the book and nilagpasan ako, wow, gano'n ka-seryoso siya mag-basa? "Noah!" I called out, lumingon siya sakin and lumapit, "bakit ngayon ka lang?" he asked, "kanina pa ako dito, ni hindi mo nga ako napapansin dahil sa libro mo," Tumingin siya sa librong hawak at tinago na 'yon, "bakit nag-babasa ka ng ganiyang kakapal na libro? Nerd ka?" shock was written on his face, "wow, what a stereotype." He said sarcastically.

"SO anong sasabihin mo?" Umupo na siya sa couc, "first, I need to know you, Crininology? Right?" tumango siya, "anong gagawin mo after?" I asked him, "I wll be a detective." Shoot! Yes! He is can be at use of me! "I need you to do me a favour, do you know me?" i sat at the sofa sa tapat niya, "you're Veronica?" I looked at him in the eyes, "no, I'm not Veronica," he stood up, "eh sino ka?!" sigaw na tanong niya, "Fucking! Can you just fucking sit down!" Nagulat siya ng bahagya at umupo ulit, "I'm Venice, Veronica's twin sister," he calmed dowm, "eh, bakit ka nagpapanggap na siya?"

I told him my story, Veronica's death, "so why do you need me?" I sighed, "I just need someone to talk to and to help me investigate, ang hirap lang kasi na wala kang makausap about sa mga nalalaman mo, it'll drive me insane! Plus in investigation, you can be at help," I smiled, "so, are you in?" He looked away and played with his fingers, "okay," I stood up, "what you first need to do is to buy me cookies and red velvet cupcakes!" I said cheerily, he looked at me weirdly like I said something wrong, "the fuck?" he questioned, "go and buy me please? Tsaka ko na ibibigay ang gawain mo 'pag naka balik ka dito." I smiled, he sighed in defeat.

Atleast now may karamay na ako dito, he's also cute!

J.S.|Dreamist

Ps. Well may sugarcoat po talaga, but hindi po café, check their Facebook page, they deliver freshly made goodies!!

@Sugar coat

Ayarnn, just message them and they'll do the work!!