When Destiny Plays (Soon to be Published under Grenierielly Publishing)

Chapter 38

Alishabeth made her way to the restroom to calm herself. She had been crying for almost 10 minutes. She couldn't even wipe her tears, but she realized that her friends were probably wondering where she was and what happened to her.

Flashback came as Sabrina's evilness wouldn't stop. The sound of the water running down the faucet was the only sound Alishabeth heard—when she closed it, her surrounding was filled with silence.

She took a glance in the mirror and used her handkerchief to wipe her tears. She closed her eyes as she began to breath heavily. Opened her eyes once again and smiled faintly as she saw her reflection in the mirror, just pretending.

***

"Nasaan na kaya si Alishabeth?" tanong ni Carmine habang nagmamasid-masid sa paligid niya.

"Hinahanap ko rin siya kanina pa e." Koeli scratched her head as she felt frustrated.

"Kanina pa siya hinahanap ni kuya," paalala ni Blake sa kanila habang patuloy pa rin sa panonood sa kuya niya.

"Practice lang naman nila 'to e," sabi naman ni Paul.

"Kaso gusto rin kasi makanood ni Alisha saka gusto rin siyang makita ni Glenn," ani Koeli.

Alishabeth promised to be back but she never came back. Another five minutes had passed and there was still no sign of Alishabeth there. The first game had ended, Glenn quickly approached them.

He was soaking wet and needed water. Luckily, his brother brought him a bottle of water. He even looked everywhere to search for Alishabeth and hoping that he would find her.

"Hindi ba siya pupunta?" malungkot na tanong ni Glenn.

Bumuntong hininga si Koeli at umiling. Umupo naman si Glenn sa tabi ni Rei at nagpahinga. Inaabot sa kanya ni Rei ang towel na pinahawak niya rito kanina—aabutin na sana ito ni Glenn ngunit natigilan siya.

"Alisha!" sigaw ni Carmine at agad itong tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo niya upang lapitan si Alishabeth.

Pinagmasdan naman ni Blake si Glenn at agad na nahalata ni Blake na ang lungkot nito ay napawi. He seemed happy after seeing her. Parang nawala ang pagod niya nang makita si Alishabeth.

"Akala namin... hindi ka na makakarating! Walang hiya talaga, yawa!" Alishabeth noticed that Koeli was pouting so she quickly gave her a hug.

"Sorry ngayon lang... sorry talaga," kabadong sagot ni Alishabeth sa kanila.

Agad nang tumayo si Glenn at nilapitan ang dalaga. Ang mukha niya ay seryosong nakatuon kay Alishabeth. Napalunok naman si Alishabeth nang mapagtanto niyang galit ito sa kanya, ngunit napawi nang bigla siyang hatakin ni Glenn at niyakap nang mahigpit.

"You made me wait," bulong ni Glenn sa kanya habang yakap-yakap pa rin siya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Alishabeth at uminit ang mga pisngi niya sa sobrang gulat. Hindi niya inaasahan ang yakap ni Glenn, sa harapan pa ng maraming tao—lalong lalo na sa harapan ng mga kaibigan nila. Pati ang mga kaibigan nila ay nakatitig lamang sa kanilang dalawa, tahimik silang pinagmamasdan habang ang mga mata ay nanlalaki.

"Teka, kinikilig ako!" Napakurot si Koeli sa braso ng katabi niyang si Carmine.

Ngumisi si Carmine at gumanti. "Teka, kinikilig din ako!" Kinurot din nito ang braso ni Koeli.

"Ang lagkit mo naman," Alishabeth said.

Tinanggal ni Alishabeth ang mahigpit na yakap ni Glenn sa kanya at inilayo ang katawan niya mula rito at muling pinagmasdan si Glenn na puro pawis at halatang hindi pa nagpupunas.