The Canopies of Heart

Seventh Canopy

***

Rayne's POV

I breathed heavily as I got the last pull of my necktie. I checked if the buttons were completely put on, glad they were.

For the second time, I released a deep sigh as I watched myself in my mirror, currently on my new uniform with my tousled hair. I reached for the hairbrush and brushed it gently as It touched my hair. My hair was settled to peace as I did it back and forth.

Stupid. Bakit kinakabahan ako? When there is no valid reason to freak out. Maybe di lang talaga ako sanay na magsuot ng ganito. Malayong malayo to sa long sleeves at below the knee checkered skirt ng Vinyl.

I glanced myself in the mirror in an unlikely manner. I really do look different. The suit is partly perfect and faultless, I guess.

Kinuha ko ang knapsack ko at sinuot ang black leatherette shoes. Buti na lang at di high heels ang required doon kundi maaga akong mamamatay sa dahilang pagkakatapilok.

Bumaba na ako at dumiretso sa living room kung nasaan si Ryethea at Ryu. Mang hihitch na lang ako dahil ihahatid din naman si Ryu and that cuckoo will probably not go without me.

Tssss, still no sub driver. Nakakabanas na, Ricky Sy.

I saw Rye reading a vogue magazine while Ryu, eating the display cookies like she always does. Nandoon rin si Van, chitchatting with Rye while watching ANTM.

Ryu was all prepped-up and she looked fancy with it kahit di ko gaanong makita ang overall dahil nakaupo siya.

I walked towards them and wore my popular deadpan face. Rye noticed me and weirdly dropped the magazine she was reading on the floor, her eyes straight on me.

Same thing with Ryu, she also dropped the victimed cookies on the floor and had her jaw dropped while looking at me.

Tumingin sa direksyon ko si Van. Thank god, she wasn't out of her mind. She just pinned a smirk and continued watching tv. Fine, she's an awesome cloth picker. She's brilliant with tactics.

"Close mouths. Flies grab opportunities," I said and smirked.

Ryumi's POV

Maaga kaming pumunta kina Nee since first day namin ngayon. And to mention, mang hihitch lamang ang weirdong yun since wala pang siyang driver. At di rin ako pupuntang Ashton kung wala siya, baka makagastos pa sila ng flyers sa pagpapahanap sa'ken.

"At last, nagmukha ka ring tao," walanghiyang komento ni Ate Ryethea nang lumapit na ako sa sasakyan. Nagpaalam na ako kay Dad na sakanya na ako magpapahatid. Ayoko ng limo, masyadong revealing. Hihi.

Sumimangot ako."Nahiya naman ako sa mukhang tao," sagot ko at tumawa naman siya. Abnormal.

"Eto naman, joke lang lil sis. Hop in," tugon niya at tsaka isinuot ang sunglasses niya. I really idolize her, she's really cool gaya ni Nee.

Pinaharurot niya ang sasakyan at ini-on ang stereo. Busy naman ako sa paghalungkat ng mga stocked candies and chips niya sa likuran.

"Seat belt before stomach," utos niya at bahagya naman akong natawa. Bakit kasi ako matakaw?

~~

"Goodmorning Ms. Ryethea, Ms. Ryumi," bati ng mga muchacha nina Nee pagpasok namin sa may carpark. They never fail to do that.

"It's me again!" maingay kong sagot habang sumusunod kay Ate na nagtuloy tuloy lang sa paglalakad papunta sa loob. Bitter sa mga muchacha.

"Hey there," bungad ni Ate Rye kay Ate Raylee na nanonood ng ANTM sa living room. Inayos niya ang upo niya at inayos ang suot niyang reading glasses.

"Hello, guys! Have a seat." Tinuro niya ang dirty white contemporary mid-century modern sofa. Nagningning ang mga mata ko nang makita ang display cookies sa glass table. Hindi ako nagpatumpik tumpik to have a piece habang kumukuha naman ng magazine si Ate Rye.

"The uniform suits you well," komento ni Ate Raylee at ngumiti sa'ken. Antagal akong pinauwi nito kagabi. Nagstalk pa kasi kami ng best-selling shops dito sa Pilipinas. Hihigitan raw kasi nila ni Ate Rye. Mga sosyal na ambisyosa.

"Shempre," I replied with my mouth still full of cookies. Kung nandito lang si Nee, malamang nabatukan niya na ako.

"Hoy, babae. This brat went home late dahil sayo. Anong kababalaghan ang ginawa niyo?" tanong ni Ate at tumingin kay Ate Raylee.

"A satisfying session of stalking," she said while her eyes still on the television.

"Stalking of what?"

"Philippines' best-selling and highest grossing shop which happened to be located near Ashton High," plain niyang sagot.

"So?" excited yet kabadong tanong ni Ate.

"Next target is..Crap Cups. A coffee and pastry shop near Ashton. A sort of coincidence."

"Owner is?"

"Kaye Alysandre Cruz," Agad na lumingon si Ate Raylee kay Ate Rye and had their mind-convo like any other best friends. Di kami naggaganyan ni Nee, masyadong kill joy yun eh. Tsaka, magkaiba ang mind set namin.

"Pardon? Cruz?"

"Yeah, and obviously our dads' business partner. Medyo mahirap kabugin. And guess what, she's also from Ashton but hindi siya grumaduate doon. She's finishing her studies in Poland."

"Tssssss," Ate Rye grinned and maybe thinking an evil plan.

I was bothered upon Ate Rye dropping the magazine on the floor, creating a noise. I looked at the direction she was looking at. 

Jaw and cookies dropped.

Standing there was Rayne on her uniform. She's very pretty and attractive kung di nga lang siya pokerface. Ano bang nakain nito at nag-ayos siya?!

Jusme, baka may ligaw na kaluluwa na namang sumapi nito gaya noong bumisita kami sa isang orphanage kasama si Michi.

Lumingon naman si Ate Raylee kay Rayne ngunit ngumiti lamang ito at bumalik sa panonood ng tv. Di rin naman siya mai-insecure kasi pareho silang maganda, pero mas si Nee pag nakaayos siya.

"Close mouths. Flies grab opportunities," sabi nito. Napaka-hot niya! Proud bessy here!

"Wow, gondo natin ah!" panimula ko ngunit inirapan lamang niya ako. Wala man lang bang good morning?

"Goodmorning, Rye," bati niya kay Ate. KAY Ate lang, saklap.

"Sige, poste ako dito. Hangin pala, invisible!" Kunwari'y tinatakpan ko ang sarili ko. Baliw baliwan lang.

"Geez, silly."

"So, ano pang inuupo upo niyo dyan? Let's go," dagdag niya. Agad kaming tumayo, excited si manang.

We hopped in the car at tsaka kinuha ni Ate Rye yung cover sa taas kaya rampang rampa kami sa sikat ng araw. California style.

Nasa shotgun si Ate Raylee habang nasa backseat naman kami ni Nee kung saan abot na abot ko ang mga jellies at chichirya. 

"Ready?" mahinang tanong sa akin ni Nee habang sinasaksak ang earphones niya sa kanyang tenga.

"Ready!" I tensely shouted yet partly full of excitement.

Ashton High, here we go!

----------END OF CHAPTER SEVEN----------