Free From The Cage

Chapter 14

"Ice! Why you didn't tell me that there's nothing going on between you and Rav?"

"Syre, how many times do I have to tell you also that we're only friends?"

"Ah, eh, sabi ko nga Ice. You know kung di pa ko pumunta sa kanila kahapon, i wouldn't know and see that he has a girlfriend already?"

"You mean you saw Mandy there yesterday?" Her side eyes looked at me.

"Wait! Don't tell me you know about it also?"

"Y-yes, ofcourse," then gave her a small smile " I also met her the other day."

"Argh! Bakit ako na lang ang hindi nakakaalam?"

"Bago ko lang din nalaman."

"I thought you two.. are..."

"Oh no! Hindi kami talo, kung ano anong iniisip mo, Syre."

"How can you blame me?, the both of you are suspicious, you go alone without us knowing it."

"Syre, it doesn't mean that if we go alone, there is something between us. Don't worry also maybe Rav has a way of telling you about Mandy, ofcourse, you are his closest cousin."

"Ice has a point there, Syre. Tama na nga yang panggigisa mo kay Ice. Let's review na, tomorrow is our midterms."

While we're so focused on our reviewing, someone sit beside me.

"Ang babait niyo namang tignan kung ganyan kayo. I bet, tita Syrel will definitely be happy knowing Syre is serious in reviewing." I just rolled my eyes to his retort.

"Hey! Kailan ko ipapakilala sakin yang babae mo nang magisa ko!"

"Easy Syre, that's why I'm here to invite you guys, let's hang up on my house guys after our midterms, Mandy will be there. Ipapakilala ko kayo. Ano G?"

"No problem with me," Eli said.

"100% yes," Syre answered.

Then they looked at me waiting for my answer.

"I'm sorry guys, but I have an important event to attend. Mom ask me to accompany her."

"Ice naman." Pagtatampo na sabi ni Syre.

"I'm sorry. Rav bawi ako next time, okay?"

"Okay. Sige basta next time ha?"

"Yes."

"Okay. See you this coming Saturday guys. I have to go."

"Bye" sabay sabay naming paalam sa kanya.

"You can't really come huh?"

"Y-yes, we have an event to attend."

"Hay sa wakas, natapos na din ang exams, I hope pasa yung mga scores ko."

"Me too, Syre. Papasa naman siguro tayo because we really reviewed."

"Mabuti pa yung isa dyan, hindi namomroblema. Iba talaga pag mayroon nito." Sabay turo ni Syre sa kanyang ulo.

"Kayo talaga."

"Di ka talaga pupunta bukas?"

"Yep."

"Okay, mukhang di na mapipilit."

"Huwag mo kasing pilitin ang ayaw, sige ka, baka sumama yan."

"Puro talaga kayo kalokohan. Una na ako ha. Take care." Then I kissed them in their cheeks and bid my goodbye before riding in my car.

"Anak, your tita Giselle and I talk a while ago through call and we discussed what we agreed last time and because of that, we'll have dinner tomorrow. Archer will be here."

"A-archer? I thought he went back already last week"

"Actually, business matters anak kaya umuwi ulit. Maybe mapapadalas na ngayon ang pag uwi niya."

"But I have to go somewhere mom." I still don't want to meet him. I'm not yet ready to see him.

"Anak, please." I sighed.

"Okay mom."

I don't have any choice but to follow mom, it's also my will to continue this, might as well meet him the sooner. Two months na lang at titira na kami sa isang bahay. "

I wore the white sleeveless dress above the knee and a black sandals to pair my dress. I did not put any make up and let only my bare face. Mom asked nanay Cely to call me because our visitors are here already.

As I go to our dining room , I see the back of the couple and the back of a man. Looks like familiar but anyway, I would not give him my attention.

"Ice, come here." Mother called me that makes the couple also look at me.

" You're really beautiful hija." Then give me a kiss on my cheeks.

"Thank you po."

"By the way hija, this is my son, Archer."

Both of us looked shocked! Who would have thought that the Pierce i know is Archer.

"Oh! Looks like you knew each other" Tita Giselle say the moment she notice both of our expressions.

"Ahmm he saw me in the park before."

"Is that so?"

"Yes ma." Archer answered for me.

We share a peaceful dinner with a bit of awkwardness for me and Pierce i mean Archer.

After the dinner, both of our parents went to the living room, while mom asked me to tour Archer in our house.

We end up sitting on the pool while we let our feet feel the cold water of it.

"Pierce, i mean Archer", he laughed with my confusing face.

"If you're comfortable with Pierce just call me Pierce." I saw the pain in his eyes the way he pronounce that name Pierce.

"It's actually okay, I think you're not comfortable calling you Pierce."

"It's okay, I think I need to finally moved on. It's been years since the last time i hear someone call me Pierce that's why I'm a little bit stupefied hearing that."

"I'm sure that someone really has a special place in your heart." He smiled and become silent. I think he doesn't want to continue what he was saying a while ago.

"But why you introduce yourself as Pierce to me?" Maybe I'm really eager to know the history in that Pierce but i think it's a bad move for me to ask. He became more silent than the usual. Minutes had passed but he still silent, so I think I really did a bad move asking him about that.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked."

"It's okay, because you look like her when I first saw her."

"Then where is she? Why would you agree with this set up if you have someone already. I don't want to be the cause of problems between the both of you. Don't worry I'll talk to my mom and tita." I was about to stand up when he stops me by holding my hand.

"No need to do that."

"But, you will hurt her feelings" the pain is very visible in his brown eyes, there's a struggle between himself whether to acknowledge what I said or not.

" I think she won't. She's... She's already... gone." then he let go of me and sit down again.

Stupefied with what I heard, I think I'm lost for words. "I'm sorry." That's only the words that I could tell to him. No matter how hard I try to speak, but nothing comes from this mouth of mine. So I sat beside him as if telling him that i'm here for him just like what he do before when I need someone for me.