That Game Of Promise

CHAPTER 12

"HUAH! Busog ako doon, ha!" sigaw ni Lumiere habang tinaas ang kanyang kamay at inilagay ito sa kanyang tiyan.

"Stop that you're sounding like a pig..." Mahinang reklamo ko kay Lumiere.

"Indeed, maybe bibisitahin ko ulit ito. And sa susunod baka pwede na nating isama sila Ad at Drew," ani ni Xamier habang nakangiti. Maybe him and the twins got along just fine after the incident.

"I agree with you there," masaya kong saad.

"Huh? First time yun, ha," ani ni Lumiere at tumingin ako sakanya with a question mark above my head.

"It's actually your first time na gustong makisama other than me of course,"

"...Really?" pabulong kong ani, well I guess times are changing and I'm changing too.

"Ah-," pahirit ni Lumiere at nung tinignan ko umuulan pala sa labas at halos nawala ang mga tao sa labas ng mall.

"May payong ba kayo?" tanong ni Lumiere, at parehas naman kaming umiling ni Xamier and she sighed.

"So am I," ani niya at tumingin sa buong paligid.

"How about bumili tayo sa umbrella shop?" suggest ni Xamier. At naliwanagan kami sa sinabi niya.

BUMILIA KAMI SA umbrella shop at maraming tao sa loob, siguro wala rin silang payong at napansin kong pinagtitinginan ako ng lahat dahil nasa likuran ko si Xamier na parang aso.

"Girl, tignan mo ang pogi nung lalaki na iyon oh!" rinig kong bulong ng isa sa mga babae.

"Oo nga, pero parang girlfriend niya iyong babae, eh," sagot nung babaeng kausap.

I clench my fist and sighed heavily, "Why are you following me?!" inis kong tanong sakanya.

"...I have no money left," deretsahan niyang saad.

"HUH?!" gulat kong ani at napahampas nalang ako sa aking sentido.

"Bakit di mo sinabi samin? At ikaw pa nagsuggest na bumili tayo sa umbrella shop,"

"Ayoko namang mababasa kayong dalawang babae sa ulan kasi wala kayong payong,"

I just sighed and pick an umbrella and slowly opened my wallet, "Fine then, you owe me-," I saw my wallet and it only has 50 pesos on it. I look at the umbrella and it's exactly 50 pesos.

"What's the matter?" tanong ni Xamier sakin.

"I'm out of money.... I didn't brought that many today," ani ko at napabuntong hininga nalamang ako.

"Guess I'll just have to borrow money from Lumiere," saad ko at nilibot namin ang buong store, looking for her pero hindi namin siya nakita anywhere.

"Where the fuck is she?" pabulong kong sabi at biglang nag-vibrate ang aking cellphone. Tinignan ko ito at bumungad ang pangalan ni Lumiere.

"Lumiere..." bulong ko at naramdaman kong tumingin si Xamier saking phone mula saking balikat. Pinindot ko ang kanyang message.

I'm sorry Morgan, I have
some business to attend to
kaya nagmadali akong bumili
ng payong at umalis...
I'm terrible sorry to leave
you both without telling you.
by: Lumiere

Ang nasa message nya, at nagreply naman ako

Idiot, then just go if
it's an important matter,
you don't have to tell me
because I'll understand.
Take care
by: Morgan

Narinig ko namang humalakhak ng mahina si Xamier, "You're so harsh, but you have a very soft heart," ani niya at hindi ko alam at biglang uminit ang aking mukha.