Last Summer

17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Ma, this is Elijah Fernandez." Pinakilala ko si EJ kay Mama nang bumalik na siya sa bahay. I was tempted to tell her that EJ's my boyfriend but I can't because of Liam's favor.

"Oh, hello, hijo." Ngumiti si Mama kay EJ at nagmano si EJ.

We ate dinner with Abuela and Elijah at panay ang pag ngiti ni Savvy, nang-aasar. Bella's unusually silent today. Ano kaya ang nangyari? I'll talk to her later in private.

Mom offered Elijah to stay in the guest room kaya habang nag-aayos siya ng gamit sa kwarto ay kinausap ko si Bella. I'm worried about her.

"Hey." Pumasok ako sa kwarto ni Bella. Nadatnan ko siyang nakahiga lang sa kama niya at parang ang lalim ng iniisip niya. Tumabi ako sa kanya at nilingon niya ako. "Okay ka lang?" I caressed her hair.

"Ate...", She sat down and hugged me. I gently caressed her back to comfort her at namalayan kong umiiyak na siya.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I'm not used to seeing Bella in this state. This is the first time she cried in front of me and I could see that she's in pain.

Kumawala siya sa pagkayakap sa'kin at pinunasan ang basa niyang pisngi. Namumula ang kaniyang ilong at bumubuhos pa rin ang mga luha niya.

"I-I'm not used to this. My heart is aching, ate." She sniffed before looking into my eyes.

My heart is also aching seeing you in this state, Bella.

Biglang pumasok si Savvy at tumabi kay Bella— whose in the center. "What happened?" Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ni Bella at iniharap sa kanya. Umiwas si Bella at yumuko. "Ate, anong nangyari?" Binaling ni Savvy ang atensyon niya sa'kin.

"Hindi ko rin alam."

Bumalik si Bella sa pagkahiga at tinakpan ang kanyang sarili ng comforter. She needs her space kaya tumayo na kami ni Savvy.

"Ate is always here for you." I touched her hair before heading out to the door. Sumunod si Savvy sa'kin at bumalik na sa kanyang kwarto. Ako naman ay pumunta sa guestroom.

"I'm here to say good night." I tiptoed and wrapped my arms around EJ's neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He smiled and wrapped his arm around my waist to give me support.

"Good night, love." He kissed my forehead.

Bumalik na ako sa kwarto ko at nag-shower. I grabbed my phone to check while drying my hair. Nakita ko ang message ni Elijah. Humiga ako sa kama bago ko binuksan ang message niya.

From: Bully

My friends want to meet you. Are you up for it?

I smiled at his message.

To: Bully

yes, love.

I felt the butterflies in my stomach as soon as I realized that I called him 'love'. It's my first time to call him that. I felt happy.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising dahil may pupuntahan ako sa school. It's my last year in college and I'm going with my sisters kasi magpapa-enroll kami. I headed straight inside the shower. I wore a black bodysuit, high-waisted maong pants and white sneakers.